 | Otho |  |
SCENE II
—Magnificent Temple, at a distance—Fountain—Company in groupes. Thick wood on one side.(Enter Irman, passing thoughtfully towards the wood.)
Irman.
The evening wears apace—yet I must wait—
Well, well, 'twill soon be over.
(Enters the wood.)
(Enter Selim—seeking the Prince.)
Selim.
Yes—yes, I must—
(Re-enter Prince Irman, unobserved by Selim.)
Ah, no, no, no!—I dare not—must not—
Pri.
Selim—
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(Starting)
My Lord!
Pri.
Hast seen the rebel since?
Selim.
(Faltering in alarm.)
I? my Lord! Yes, my Lord—
Pri.
And told him of his doom?
Selim.
Yes, my Lord.
Pri.
And did he bear it well—did'st mark his eye?
His port?—did he not falter in his tread?
(melancholy tone)
—No, no, my Prince.
I saw his eye—'twas calm, and fixed—and terrible—
(In terrour.)
It was a serpent's eye!
Pri.
(Observing Selim's countenance.)
Why boy! that serpent-eye is on thee yet—
Thou wast his prisoner once?
Selim.
Yes, my Prince—
Pri.
And yet he spared thy life—
Selim.
Ah, yes!
I told him I'd a mother and he wept.
Pri.
He wept!
Selim.
(Earnestly.)
He did indeed! 'twas dark, and he was stern.
But I could feel his tears—and they were hot!
And he embraced me too—and I could feel
His heart beat mightily—and yet he spoke
With deep composure. Then I chanced to call
Upon my father, in my fears—and then!
He started up, and bade me go in peace!
And cheer that father's heart—
Pri.
No, no, that man could never weep!
He is a savage in his soul.
(voice heard calling Selim.)
Go Selim, thou art called.
(Exit Selim running—Prince enters the wood.)
(Sound of tumultuous cries approaching. Enter guards and attendants shouting the Prince! the Prince! come pass through and others divide as in search.)
(Enter Duke from the Temple.)
1st Soldier.
Not here! not here! Away!
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2d Soldier.
'Twas he! 'twas he!
Duke.
(Alarmed)
Who! What is this!
All.
The Prince! the Prince!
(part go out—others crowd around the Duke.)
Duke.
(Passionately.)
Silence! Where is the Prince?
(Enter a Lord, from the garden.)
Lord.
Gone to the palace.
(points to the wood.)
Sol.
That way!
(rushes into the wood.)
(Trumpet heard—roll of drums.)
Duke.
Why this alarm?
(Enter a Soldier, followed by the company in great consternation.)
Sol.
To arms! to arms.
(Rushes through—Duke draws his sword, pursues him and forces him back.)
Stop! or by heaven, I'll cleave ye to the earth!
All.
O, fly my Lord.
(endeavouring to lead him off.)
Duke.
(Breaking from them.)
Silence, this uproar! Are ye mad?
(To the Soldier.)
Speak!
Sol.
(Still looking about, regardless of the menacing attitude of the Duke.)
They've carried off the Prince!
(Breaks away and rushes out.)
Duke.
(Passionate vehemence.)
Who? When? Come back! I say.
(pursues him—stops.)
And he has gone!—
(Company crowd around him—enter Servants and Soldiers from their search. The Duke suddenly catches one by the throat.)
Duke.
Speak, rascal! Where's the Prince?
All.
He's gone!—he's gone!—the Prince! the Prince!
Duke.
Silence—silence! (to the soldier)
What is this!
Sol.
(Struggling)
He's gone my Lord.
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(Loosing his hold in an agony of terrour.)
My son!
(Recovers, and raises his trembling hands to the soldier.)
In mercy, speak! O tell me where he is!
Men! ye will drive me mad—
Sol.
I heard his cries—
(Re-enter Guard, as in despair.)
Guard.
'Twas be—indeed, I thought I knew his voice—
Duke.
O, speak—or ye will break my heart—
Sol.
Two mounted ruffians galloped past the wood.
Dragging a struggling man along—
1st Gua.
I heard his cries—
2d Gua.
And I—I knew his voice—
(Duke staggers—recovers—speaks in a tone of stifled agony.)
Duke.
Speed to the palace!—man the Castle walls!
And guard the prisoners. (Trumpet)
Meet me in the court!
(Ala rushes in with dishevelled hair, and throws herself at the feet of the Duke.)
Ala.
O, save him! save him!
Duke.
By heaven I will! Away! away.
(Soldiers exit.)
(Attempting to support her.)
Let's to the hall, my love.
Be not alarmed—they cannot bear him far.
Ala.
Oh, no! but—mercy! mercy!
(faints)
Duke.
No, no they dare not
(Observing her to be insensible.)
—Heaven! and I'm alone.
They'll spare his life—look up—they'll spare his life!
And hold him as a hostage for their chief.
(Enter several Ruffians who surround the Duke in silence as he is endeavouring to support the Princess.)
Achmet.
Lead us to the Prince!
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(With great majesty—looking calmly around on their number, resting Ala on a bank and stretching forth his sword to protect her—as she opens her eyes.)
Hear that!—hear that my love—the Prince is safe!
(She rises and leans against the tree—one of the ruffians makes a cut at the Duke.)
Ach.
For shame! can ye be men? Look there!
Leave that old man—
(Trumpet—shouts—enter Irman followed by his guards.)
Pri.
(Rushing forward with his sword drawn.)
Forward! forward! cut the ruffians down.
(Fights with Achmet.)
Ala.
My Prince! Oh, God!
(Ala sinks to the earth—Duke rushes to support his son.)
Ach.
The Prince! the Prince! (turning upon him)
Ruffians.
Aye! Aye!
(All attack the Prince—lights extinguished—shrill whistle heard—others arrive—the Prince is borne off.)
Pri.
(As they bear him off)
Father! guard my Ala!
(Ala falls at the feet of Achmet.)
Ala.
Mercy! Mercy!
Ach.
Away! we want no women here—away—
(Ruffians exeunt.)
Duke.
Look up, my love, look up!
(Reels and sinks by her side. Enter other attendants. Duke suddenly recovering at their approach.)
Bear her to the hall! I'll lead ye forth—
(Exeunt omnes.)
| Otho | |