Sadak And Kalasrade ; Or, The Waters of Oblivion A Romantic Opera, In Two Acts |
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Scene 5.
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 | Sadak And Kalasrade ; Or, The Waters of Oblivion |  |
Scene 5.
—An Apartment in the Caliph's Palace.(Enter Kalasrade and Zulema)
Zulema.
Nay calm thee, dearest Kalasrade, take patience;
Quell these wild terrors.
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Patience! aye the word
Is easily spoken. Zulema, did Patience
Ever keep house with Fear or with Despair?
Song—Kalasrade.
Preach patience to the startled dove,
When angry storms uproot the tree,
Where she had built her home of love,
And thought with her fond mate to be
Happy, poor bird, and true and free;
Soothe her:—then talk of peace to me!
When angry storms uproot the tree,
Where she had built her home of love,
And thought with her fond mate to be
Happy, poor bird, and true and free;
Soothe her:—then talk of peace to me!
Bid her be calm, the mountain roe,
When struggling in the hunter's snare,
She feels the bonds that laid her low,
Looks round with wild and sudden stare,
Starts, shivers, plunges, gasps for air;
Still her:—then quiet my despair.
When struggling in the hunter's snare,
She feels the bonds that laid her low,
Looks round with wild and sudden stare,
Starts, shivers, plunges, gasps for air;
Still her:—then quiet my despair.
Zulema.
Would I could soothe thee, dear one. Azim here!
(Enter Azim.)
Azim.
Alas, dear lady, I am sent to thee
On an ungrateful errand. Amurath
Requires thy presence.
Kalasrade.
Wherefore?
Azim.
He would see
The beauteous wife of Sadak.
Kalasrade.
Dares he name
The friend whom he hath wronged? The loyal heart,
His perfidy hath broken? Tell the Caliph
The wife of Sadak bows to no man's mandate,
Save her dear husband's.
Azim.
Yet beseech thee, lady,
Listen.
Zulema.
Aye, listen, sister! Azim means us
Fairly and kindly.
Azim.
By this fairest hand,
I do. Who could deceive such innocence,
Such trusting innocence? ye knew me first
A foe, a cowardly foe, the wretched slave
Of a thrice wretched duty. But my heart
Was traitor to mine office, even before
I saw those maiden charms. And now,—oh would
My life might be your ransom!
Kalasrade.
Save us, Azim,
Release us, set us free! I know my home,
My pleasant home, lies a black smouldering heap
Of smoking ruins. Send me forth a wanderer,
A houseless wanderer, through the weary world,
And my life long shall be one ceaseless prayer
For my deliverer.
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Ah gentle captives,
Guard upon guard, spy upon spy, strong towers,
Walls inaccessible and gates of brass,
Bar ye from freedom. But for Sadak's sake—
Kalasrade.
He lives then! say he lives!
Azim.
Surely he lives.
Kalasrade.
Thanks gracious powers, he lives! Oh blessings rest
On him that spake that blessed word! He lives!
And he will rescue us!
Azim.
But thou must sooth
Great Amurath. He sent me to implore
Your instant presence; to demand if aught
Within a monarch's power could pleasure yield
To the fair Kalasrade?
Zulema.
Bethink thee, Azim,
How we may dally with him:—Yester-morn
I could have piled fantastic wish on wish,
Would have ta'en a month to tell them.
Chorus of Good Spirits
—(All along invisible.)
Hark Lady! Hark!
Kalasrade.
Who speaks?
Chorus of Good Spirits,
Hark Lady! Hark!
Zulema.
Whence comes this ravishing music?
Chorus of Good Spirits,
Hark Lady! Hark!
We are above, beneath, around,
Over the clouds we dwell, under the ground,
Spirits of air we be, Spirits of sound,
Hark Lady! Hark!
Kalasrade.
Aye I will harken. From such voices nought
Save good can issue. Spirits I attend.
Chorus of Good Spirits,
Mark Lady! Mark!
Bid them to seek the mystic fountain,
That wells underneath the burning mountain;
The fiery hill, in whose caverns low,
The Waves of Oblivion tranquilly flow;
Bid them to bring of those Waters clear,
Untasted till Amurath quaff them here;
So shalt thou 'scape the danger near.
Mark Lady! Mark!
Zulema.
All's still again. Thou wilt obey?
Kalasrade.
How said they?
The Waters of Oblivion? I have heard
Of such a quest.
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Full oft they have been sought,
And in the search have many fallen; few
'Tis deemed e'er reached the enchanted isle, where flows
The mystic fountain; None hath e'er returned
To tell the bold adventure.
Kalasrade.
I'll demand
The waters. Those sweet airs dwell on mine ear
All soothingly as pity. I have faith
In such wild melodies. Nature herself
Is full of choicest music.
Trio.—Azim, Kalasrade, and Zulema.
There is a pure and holy spell,
In all sweet sounds on earth that dwell;
The pleasant hum of the early bee,
As she plies her cheerful industry;
The whir of the golden beetle's wing,
Sailing heavily by at evening;
And the nightingale, so poets say,
Wooing the rose in his matchless lay.
In all sweet sounds on earth that dwell;
The pleasant hum of the early bee,
As she plies her cheerful industry;
The whir of the golden beetle's wing,
Sailing heavily by at evening;
And the nightingale, so poets say,
Wooing the rose in his matchless lay.
There is a pure and holy spell,
In all sweet sounds on earth that dwell:
The Indian shell whose faithful strain,
Echoes the song of the distant main;
The streamlet gurgling thro' the trees;
The welcome sigh of the cool night breeze;
The cataract loud, the whirlwind high,
Hath each its thrilling melody.
In all sweet sounds on earth that dwell:
The Indian shell whose faithful strain,
Echoes the song of the distant main;
The streamlet gurgling thro' the trees;
The welcome sigh of the cool night breeze;
The cataract loud, the whirlwind high,
Hath each its thrilling melody.
(Exeunt)
| Sadak And Kalasrade ; Or, The Waters of Oblivion | |