 | Alfonso, King of Castile |  |
SCENE I.
An hall in Cæsario's palace.[Shouts heard without.]
Enter CÆSARIO [a General's staff in his hand] followed by HENRIQUEZ, Citizens and Soldiers.
CÆSARIO.
Thanks, worthy friends! No further!—Pleased I hear
These shouts, which thank me for Alfonso's safety!
But though my arms have quelled the Moors, your love
Alone can shield him from a foe more dangerous,
From his proud rebel son!—Farewell, assured
I live but for your use!
First Citizen.
Long live Cæsario!
Second Citizen.
Long live the Conqueror of the Moors!
All.
Huzza!
[Exeunt.
Manent CÆSARIO and HENRIQUEZ.
CÆSARIO.
Kind friends, farewell!—Aye, shout, ye brawlers, shout!
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'Twill school your deep-toned throats to roar to-morrow,
—“Long live Cæsario! Sovereign of Castile!”—
Marked you, Henriquez, how the royal dotard
Hung on my neck, termed me his kingdom's angel,
His friend, his saviour, his ..... Oh! my tongue burned
To thunder in his startled ear—“The man
Who raised this war, and fired your son's ambition,
Your daughter's husband, and your mortal foe,
That man am I!”—
HENRIQUEZ.
Then absence has not cooled,
It seems, your hatred. ....
CÆSARIO.
Could'st thou think it? thou,
Who know'st a secret to all else unknown!
Know'st me no stranger-youth, no chance-adventurer,
Whose sword's his fortune, as Castile believes me;
But one of mightiest views and proudest hopes,
Called by injustice, panting for revenge,
Son of an hero! wronged Orsino's son!
HENRIQUEZ.
Yet might your wealth and power—yon General's staff—
Alfonso's countless favours. ....
CÆSARIO.
Favours? Insults!
Curses when proffered by an hand I hate!
Bright seems ambition to my eye, and sure
To reign is glorious; yet such fixed aversion
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I would not sell his head, once in my power,
Though the price tendered were the crown that decks it!
Yet that too shortly shall be mine!—Say, Marquis,
How speeds our plot?
HENRIQUEZ.
'Tis ripe: beneath his chambers
The vaults are ours, the sleeping sires disposed;
The mine waits but your word.
CÆSARIO.
To-night it springs then,
And hurls my foe in burning clouds to heaven—
O! rapturous sight!
HENRIQUEZ.
And can that sight give rapture
Which wrings with anguish Amelrosa's bosom?
She loves her father. ....
CÆSARIO.
Loves she not her husband?
HENRIQUEZ.
She'll hate him, when she knows. ...
CÆSARIO.
She ne'er shall know it!
All shall be held her rebel brother's deed;
And while contending passions shake the rabble,
(Grief for the sire, resentment 'gainst the son,
And pity for the Princess) forth I'll step,
Avow our marriage, claim the crown her right,
And, when she mounts the throne, ascend it with her.
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Oh! she will drown that bloody throne with tears!
And should she learn who bade them slow. ....
CÆSARIO.
Say on. ...
HENRIQUEZ.
She'll loath you!
CÆSARIO.
[With a scornful smile.]
She'll forgive me.
HENRIQUEZ.
Never, never!
I know the Princess; know a daughter's love,
A daughter's grief. ....
CÆSARIO.
And are not daughters women?
By nature tender, trustful, kind, and sickle,
Prone to forgive, and practised in forgetting?
Let the fair things but rave their hour at ease,
And weep their fill, and wring their pretty hands,
Faint between whiles, and swear by every saint
They'll never, never, never see you more!
Then when the larum's hushed, profess repentance,
Say a few kind false words, drop a few tears,
Force a fond kiss or two, and all's forgiven.
Away! I know her sex!
HENRIQUEZ.
But know not her!
Her heart will bleed; and can you wound that heart,
Yet swear you love her?
CÆSARIO.
Dearly, siercely love her!
But not so siercely as I loath this king!—
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My second nature! 'tis the air I breathe,
The stream which fills my veins, my life's chief source,
My food, my drink, my sleep, warmth, health, and vigour,
Mixed with my blood, and twisted round my heartstrings!
To cease to hate him, I must cease to breathe!—
Never to know one hour's repose or pleasure
While loathed Alfonso lived,—such was my oath,
Breathed on my broken-hearted mother's lips.
She heard! her eyes flashed with new fire; she kissed me,
Murmured Orsino's name, bless'd it, and died!—
That oath I'll keep!
Enter MELCHIOR.
CÆSARIO.
Melchior! why thus alarmed?
MELCHIOR.
I've cause too good! our lives hang by a thread!
Guzman is dying!
CÆSARIO and HENRIQUEZ.
How?
MELCHIOR.
Remorse already
Hath wrung one secret from him; and, I fear,
The next sit brings our plot.
CÆSARIO.
Speed, speed, Henriquez!
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Mark every face that comes or goes—Away!
[Exit Henriquez.
CÆSARIO.
I'll watch the King myself! [Going.]
MELCHIOR.
As yet he's safe.
Soon as he parted from the troops, Alfonso,
By Inis guided, tow'rds the forest sped,
To seek and soothe his late-found friend Orsino.
CÆSARIO.
[Starting].
Whom, whom? Orsino? what Orsino? speak.
MELCHIOR.
The Count San Lucar, long thought dead, but saved,
It seems, by Amelrosa's care—Time presses—
I must away: farewell.
CÆSARIO.
At one, remember—
Beneath the royal tower. ....
MELCHIOR.
Fear not my failing.
[Exit.
CÆSARIO.
[Alone.]
He lives! My father lives! Oh, let but vengeance
Fire him to spurn Alfonso and his friendship. ....
His martial fame, the memory of his virtues,
His talents, rank, and sufferings undeserved, .....
Oh! what a noble column to support
My new-raised power! [Going.]
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OTTILIA.
Cæsario, stay!
CÆSARIO.
Forgive me,
Fair lady, if my speech appears ungentle;
Such business calls. ....
OTTILIA.
[Unveiling.]
Than mine there's none more urgent.
CÆSARIO.
Ottilia!
OTTILIA.
Need I say what brings me hither?
CÆSARIO.
Those angry eyes too plainly speak, that still
Estella. ....
OTTILIA.
She? Dissembler! fiend!—Peace, peace;
I come not here to rave, but to command.
You love the Princess, are beloved again. ....
Speak not! She saw this scarf; her tears, her anguish
Betrayed her secret. Yes, you love the Princess!
But, while I breathe, if e'er her hand is yours,
Strike me dead, lightnings!
CÆSARIO.
Hear me!
OTTILIA.
Look on this [showing a paper].
CÆSARIO.
'Tis Guzman's hand.
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He bade me to the King
Bear it with other papers; but my prudence,
For mine own purposes, kept back this scroll.
Lo! here a full confession of your plots—
The mine described—the vault—the hour—the signal—
What troops are gained—the list of sworn confederates—
And foremost in the list here stands Cæsario!
CÆSARIO.
Confusion!
OTTILIA.
Nay, 'tis so! Now mark me, youth!
Either my hand at midnight as my husband's
Clasps thine, or gives this paper to Alfonso!
Prepare a friar—at Juan's chapel meet me
At midnight, or the King. ....
CÆSARIO.
You rave, Ottilia!
While Guzman lives. ....
OTTILIA.
Young man, his hours are counted:
Three scarce are his—Last night I drugged the bowl
In which he drank a farewell to the world.
Aye, aye, 'tis true! Thou'rt mine! With blood I've bought thee!
Nothing now parts us but the grave,—and there,
E'en there I'll claim thee! ..... If to-night thou com'st not. ...
CÆSARIO.
I will, by Heaven!
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Nay, sail at your own peril—
Your life is in my power! my breath can blast you!
Choose, then, Cæsario, 'twixt thy bane and bliss—
Love or a grave! a kingdom or a scaffold!
My arms or death's!—By yonder Sun I swear,
Ere morning dawns, thou shalt be mine or nothing!
[Exit.
CÆSARIO.
Is't so?—Thy blood then on thy head—This paper .....
—This female fiend ... the scarf too! ... I must straight
Appease the Princess ..... some well-varnished tale
.... Some glib excuse—Oh! hateful task! Oh, Truth!
How my soul longs once more to join thy train,
Tear off the mask, and show me as I am!
The wretch for life immured; the Christian slave
Of Pagan lords; or he whose bloody sweat
Speeds the fleet galley o'er the sparkling waves,
Bears easy toil, light chains, and pleasant bondage,
Weighed with thy service, Falsehood! Still to smile
On those we loath; to teach the lips a lesson
Smooth, sweet, and false; to watch the tell-tale eye,
Fashion each feature, sift each honest word
That swells upon the tongue, and fear to find
A traitor in one's self!—By Heaven, I know
No toil, no curse, no slavery, like dissembling!
[Exit.
| Alfonso, King of Castile | |