Jurgen: A Play in Three Acts. James Branch Cabell

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      BORGO PRESS DRAMAS BY FRANK J. MORLOCK

      Chuzzlewit

      Crime and Punishment

      Falstaff (with William Shakespeare, John Dennis, and William Kendrick)

      Fathers and Sons

      The Idiot

      Jurgen

      Justine

      Lord Jim

      Notes from the Underground

      Oblomov

      Outrageous Women: Lady Macbeth and Other French Plays (editor and translator)

      Peter and Alexis

      The Princess Casamassima

      A Raw Youth

      The Stendhal Hamlet Scenarios and Other Shakespearean Shorts from the French (editor and translator)

      COPYRIGHT INFORMATION

      Copyright © 1980, 2012 by Frank J. Morlock

      Published by Wildside Press LLC

      www.wildsidebooks.com

      DEDICATION

      For Gerry Tetrault, Dana Woloshen,

       Ernest Ibarra, and Carmen Martínez

      CAST OF CHARACTERS

      Jurgen

      Monk

      Old Monk

      Neighbor

      Dorothy la Désirée

      Hetman Michael

      Guenevere

      Knight

      Lisa

      King Gogyrvan

      Merlin

      Brown Man

      Anaitis

      Hooded Man

      Chloris

      Priest

      Queen Dolores

      Devil

      Second Devil

      Coth

      Satan

      Florimel

      Young Jurgen

      God

      Koschei

      Other Priests

      PROLOGUE

      A roadway in a medieval setting. A monk with a sack enters and falls over a rock. Jurgen, a merchant in his early forties, enters from the opposite direction.

      Monk

      Owww!

      Jurgen

      Are you all right, brother?

      Monk

      May the devil who placed this cursed stone in my way kiss my arse!

      Jurgen

      Fie, brother! Has not the devil enough to bear as it is?

      Monk

      It hurt my big toe confoundedly. Damn the devil to Hell, I say.

      Jurgen

      It does not behoove God-fearing persons to speak so ill, and with such disrespect of the divinely appointed Prince of Darkness. Consider this monarch’s industry! Day and night he toils at the task Heaven set for him—placing temptations in our way, so that by avoiding them, we may reach our salvation. And with such consummate skill and professionalism. Why, but for him, you, a monk, and I, a pawnbroker—would be penniless. And think of all the other professionals that would starve—lawyers, pimps, prostitutes. Why our whole economy would be disrupted.

      Monk

      Stuff and nonsense. Fuck the devil and all his works.

      (Exit monk with his sack.)

      Jurgen

      No doubt your notions are pious—but mine are more practical.

      (Enter an old monk of very kindly mien.)

      Old Monk

      Thank you, Jurgen, for your good words.

      Jurgen

      Who are you? And why do you thank me?

      Old Monk

      My name is no great matter. But you have a pure heart, Jurgen. May your life be free from care.

      Jurgen

      I am already married.

      Old Monk

      What? How dreadful. Such a fine clever poet like you.

      Jurgen

      Haven’t written a line—not one—since the honeymoon.

      Old Monk

      Ah, I suppose your wife’s opinion about poetry does—

      Jurgen

      —Does not bear repetition, at least in polite company. I am sure you are unaccustomed to such language.

      Old Monk

      I fear Dame Lisa does not understand you, Jurgen.

      Jurgen (astounded)

      Sir, how is it you read a man’s most private thoughts?

      Old Monk

      It’s a knack I have. Tsk, tsk. This is most deplorable. Most deplorable. The first person to speak well of me in centuries—well, well, say no more—such a person deserves a reward. Good day, Jurgen. You will have your wish. And not just one.

      (Exit Old Monk.)

      Jurgen

      Good day to you, sir. Nice, well-behaved gentleman, that.

      (Enter a neighbor.)

      Jurgen

      Good day, neighbor.

      Neighbor

      Jurgen, Jurgen. Your wife has been carried off by a devil and disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

      Jurgen

      Really? When?

      Neighbor

      Just now. This very moment.

      Jurgen

      Well, well. A wise man always speaks well of everyone. In a cloud of smoke, you say?

      Neighbor

      The devil himself carried her off. Better come at once.

      Jurgen

      I suppose I should go to make sure. But I have confidence in Lisa. She can take care of herself in any company. In a cloud of smoke. Fancy that! Well, it will be quiet at home for a change. Though I may have to cook my own supper, I fancy I shall digest it better.

      Neighbor

      Come along.

      CURTAIN

      ACT I

      SCENE 1

      In the Garden of Youth. A beautiful garden. Several young lovers in medieval dress. Dorothy la Désirée, a beautiful girl of sixteen, is wandering by herself and meets Jurgen, who enters dressed in a beautiful shirt.

      Dorothy

      Why have you come to this garden, stranger?

      Jurgen

      Well, because I am looking for my wife whom I suspect was carried off by some poor devil.

      Dorothy