 | Lara |  |
SCENE II.
—The Sea Beach. To the right the Castle of Lara. A ship moored to the shore. Ezzelin discovered standing at the back of the stage, with his hand on his sword. A page is near him, bearing his helmet and gauntlets. Marquis and other Nobles grouped to the right. A herald stationed on a rock, sounds a trumpet; the sound of which is answered by echoes. Countess, Helena, Ladies, Peasants.FINALE.
Lam., Cou., Cho. & Kal.
Night has fled from daylight's warning;
Yonder see thy foeman stand,
Hither came he with the morning,
And is waiting, sword in hand.
Ezz.
Night has fled at daylight's warning;
Here thou see'st thy foeman stand,
Come, or merit endless scorning,
I await thee, sword in hand.
Lam.
(perceiving Lara)
'Tis he!
Cou.
To show that thou deserv'st my love,
Thy vengeful arm no more restrain;
At once the deadly stain remove,
Or quit my sight, ne'er to return again.
Lam.
Time is pressing, let us not be slow.
Cou.
Ezzelin uttered falsehood, you swear.
Lara.
No, lady, no,
The falsehood's mine.
43
Great heav'ns! what dost thou say?
Lara.
Attend to me, attend, I pray.
Aloud before you all, I do declare
This ancient castle not my own;
No, not within its walls one single stone.
That the title which now I bear
I have usurped—a right to bear it cannot claim—
That by fraud I did pretend
From Lara's ancient lineage to descend,
And wrongly decked myself with Lara's honoured name.
Cou.
Oh heavens!
Lam.
My Lord!
Lara.
Nay, good Lambro, do not greet me so.
Good old man I am not your master—no—oh no!
I have deceived you all, the Count of Lara's dead.
Conrad—Conrad—the Corsair you behold:
Lady, there's the secret: kept with dread.
Now the truth, yes, the truth, to thee at last is told.
Branded, this spot I leave,
Laden with foul disgrace;
Turn not aside thy face—
One smile in mercy give.
Lady, I bend before thee:
Smile, smile, I do implore thee.
ENSEMBLE,
Cou.
Thus—thus could he deceive?
Though he's laden with disgrace,
Still safely from this place
Let him go—let him live.
Kal.
Oh! dearest master, leave
This unknown, unkindly race;
There's hate in every face,
Ne'er the wrong will they forgive.
Lara.
Why need I seek to live,
Laden thus with foul disgrace?
Branded a coward base,
Ne'er myself shall I forgive.
44
Bold only to deceive,
Little heeding foul disgrace,
Safe let him quit this place,
Branded coward—let him live.
Lam.
Me can he not deceive:
No! 'tis written in his face
He's sprung from Lara's race,
He's a Lara, I believe.
Kal.
I follow thee,
Lam.
I follow thee,
Ezz. & Cho.
In safety now depart—
Cou.
Depart, without delay, forgiven by me thou art.
Lara.
My native land, once more I leave thee—
Blest home, my fathers called their own;
Yet scarce a parting sigh I give thee,
Gulnare, my heart is thine alone.
[He enters the ship.
Kal.
Thou land of grief I gladly leave thee;
Here nought but sorrow have I known—
Henceforth, poor heart, no ill can grieve thee,
For Conrad will be mine alone.
Lam.
Farewell, my native land, I leave thee,
And wandering seek some land unknown;
Yet scarce a parting sigh I give thee,
For Lara do I live alone.
Cou.
Unhallow'd spot, I gladly leave thee,
To me thou bringest grief alone;
Go—go in safety—I forgive thee,
Go, Conrad, for thy crimes atone.
Ezz. & Cho.
Away, away, thy life we give thee—
Some country, where thy guilt's unknown,
At last, in mercy, may receive thee;
There, Conrad, for thy crimes atone.
| Lara | |