Comic Tragedies

Written by Jo and Meg and Acted by the Little Women

Louisa May Alcott

• Publisher: Read & Co. Classics
• Year: 2008
• ISBN:
  9781528788663
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Classics
• Index: Literature

"Comic Tragedies" is a small collection of plays written by the fictious Meg and Jo from "Little Women". Taking inspiration from Alcott's own upbringing, these fantastical plays bring the girls of "Little Women" to life. The stories include: "A Foreword, by Meg", "Norna; or, The Witch's Curse", "The Captive of Castile; or, The Moorish Maiden's Vow", "The Greek Slave", "Ion", "Bianca: an Operatic Tragedy", and "The Unloved Wife; or, Woman's Faith". Louisa May Alcott (1832 – 1888) was an American short story writer, novelist, and poet most famous for writing the novel "Little Women", as well as its sequels "Little Men" and "Jo's Boys". She grew up in New England and became associated with numerous notable intellectuals of her time, including Nathaniel Hawthorne, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and Henry David Thoreau. This volume is highly recommended for short story lovers and constitutes a must-have for fans of Alcott's wonderful work. Other notable works by this author include: "An Old-Fashioned Girl" (1886), "Eight Cousins" (1869), and "A Long Fatal Love Chase" (1875). Many vintage books such as this are becoming increasingly scarce and expensive. We are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with the original text and artwork.

NORNA

OR, THE WITCH'S CURSE.

CHARACTERS.

Count Rodolpho	A Haughty Noble.
Count Louis	Lover of Leonore.
Adrian	The Black Mask.
Hugo	A Bandit.
Gaspard	Captain of the Guard.
Angelo	A Page.
Theresa	Wife to Rodolpho.
Leonore	In love with Louis.
Norna	A Witch.

SCENE FIRST.

[A room in the castle of Rodolpho.
Theresa discovered alone, and in tears.]

Theresa.
I cannot pray; my aching heart finds rest alone in tears. Ah, what a wretched fate is mine! Forced by a father's will to wed a stranger ere I learned to love, one short year hath taught me what a bitter thing it is to wear a chain that binds me unto one who hath proved himself both jealous and unkind. The fair hopes I once cherished are now gone, and here a captive in my splendid home I dwell forsaken, sorrowing and alone [weeps]. [Three taps upon the wall are heard.] Ha, my brother's signal! What can bring him hither at this hour? Louis, is it thou? Enter; "all's well."

[Enter Count Louis through a secret panel in the wall, hidden by a curtain. He embraces Theresa.

Theresa.
Ah, Louis, what hath chanced? Why art thou here? Some danger must have brought thee; tell me, dear brother. Let me serve thee.

Louis.
Sister dearest, thy kindly offered aid is useless now. Thou canst not help me; and I must add another sorrow to the many that are thine. I came to say farewell, Theresa.

Theresa.
Farewell! Oh, brother, do not leave me! Thy love is all now left to cheer my lonely life. Wherefore must thou go? Tell me, I beseech thee!

Louis.
Forgive me if I grieve thee. I will tell thee all. Thy husband hates me, for I charged him with neglect and cruelty to thee; and he hath vowed revenge for my bold words. He hath whispered false tales to the king, he hath blighted all my hopes of rank and honor. I am banished from the land, and must leave thee and Leonore, and wander forth an outcast and alone. But—let him beware!—I shall return to take a deep revenge for thy wrongs and my own. Nay, sister, grieve not thus. I have sworn to free thee from his power, and I will keep my vow. Hope on and bear a little longer, dear Theresa, and ere long I will bear thee to a happy home [noise is heard without]. Ha! what is that? Who comes?

Theresa.
'Tis my lord returning from the court. Fly, Louis, fly! Thou art lost if he discover thee. Heaven bless and watch above thee. Remember poor Theresa, and farewell.

Louis.
One last word of Leonore. I have never told my love, yet she hath smiled on me, and I should have won her hand. Ah, tell her this, and bid her to be true to him who in his exile will hope on, and yet return to claim the heart he hath loved so faithfully. Farewell, my sister. Despair not,—I shall return.

[Exit Louis through the secret panel; drops his dagger.

Theresa.
Thank Heaven, he is safe!—but oh, my husband, this last deed of thine is hard to bear. Poor Louis, parted from Leonore, his fair hopes blighted, all by thy cruel hand. Ah, he comes! I must be calm.

[Enter Rodolpho.

Rod.
What, weeping still? Hast thou no welcome for thy lord save tears and sighs? I'll send thee to a convent if thou art not more gay!

Theresa.
I'll gladly go, my lord. I am weary of the world. Its gayeties but make my heart more sad.

Rod.
Nay, then I will take thee to the court, and there thou must be gay. But I am weary; bring me wine, and smile upon me as thou used to do. Dost hear me? Weep no more. [Seats himself. Theresa brings wine and stands beside him. Suddenly he sees the dagger dropped by Louis.] Ha! what is that? 'Tis none of mine. How came it hither? Answer, I command thee!

Theresa.
I cannot. I must not, dare not tell thee.

Rod.
Darest thou refuse to answer? Speak! Who hath dared to venture hither? Is it thy brother? As thou lovest life, I bid thee ...

Table of contents

• Louisa May Alcott
• A FOREWORD BY MEG
• NORNA
• CAPTIVE OF CASTILE
• THE GREEK SLAVE
• ION
• BIANCA
• THE UNLOVED WIFE