Politian Act 1 Scene 4 Edgar Allan Poe

    A Lady’s apartment, with a window open and looking into a garden. LALANGE, in deep mourning, reading at a table on which lie some books and a hand mirror. In the background JACINTA (a servant maid) leans carelessly upon a chair.

LALANGE. Jacinta! is it thou?

JACINTA. (pertly.) Yes, Ma’am, I’m here.

LALANGE. I did not know, Jacinta, you were in waiting.
        Sit down! — let not my presence trouble you —
        Sit down! — for I am humble, most humble.

Jac. (aside.) ’Tis time.

(Jacinta seats herself in a side-long manner upon the chair, resting her elbows upon the back, and regarding her mistress with a contemptuous look. LALANGE continues to read.)

LALANGE. “It in another climate, so he said,
        “Bore a bright golden flower, but not i' this soil!”
        (pauses — turns over some leaves, and resumes.)
        “No lingering winters there, nor snow, nor shower—
        “But Ocean ever to refresh mankind
        “Breathes the shrill spirit of the western wind.”
        Oh, beautiful!—most beautiful!—how like
        To what my fevered soul doth dream of Heaven!
        O happy land! (pauses.) She died!—the maiden died!
        O still more happy maiden who couldst die!
        Jacinta!
(JACINTA returns no answer, and LALANGE presently resumes.)
        Again!—a similar tale
        Told of a beauteous dame beyond the sea!
        Thus speaketh one Ferdinand in the words of the play—
        “She died full young”—one Bossola answers him—
        “I think not so—her infelicity
        “Seemed to have years too many”—Ah luckless lady!
        Jacinta! (still no answer.)
        Here’s a far sterner story
        But like—oh, very like in its despair—
        Of that Egyptian queen, winning so easily
        A thousand hearts—losing at length her own.
        She died. Thus endeth the history—and her maids
        Lean over and weep—two gentle maids
        With gentle names—Eiros and Charmion!
        Rainbow and Dove!—Jacinta!