University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

—The Apartment of the Princess Isabel, with three wide folding doors, opening on a vista of extensive galleries and corridors.
At the rising of the curtain, the Princess is discovered seated near a table, L., surrounded by her tyring Maids, who are assisting her to prepare for the marriage ceremony; giving her her veil, virginal crown of orange-flowers, &c. Towards the R., numerous Nobles, Knights and Ladies, with Attendants, are standing. The Major-Domo of the palace is at the principal entrance with his wand of office as Chamberlain. Alice is near the Princess, in her best dress, and Arnaud among the Attendants.

CHORUS.
Let strains of joy, from all around ascending,
Loudly proclaim the happy pair!
Hymen and love, with ev'ry bliss attending,
Haste and unite the brave and the fair!

Isabel.
(rising.)

Lords and noble dames, for your kind
wishes, accept my feeble thanks. (aside—coming forward.)

Alas! how different were my hopes even this very day! But
a few hours ago they sweetly bloomed like summer flowers, nor
looked for such early blighting! Alice, come hither. Thou art
an humble friend, but I do esteem thee for a true one; and all
thou hast told me of thyself has won me thy protectress for life.
(looking cautiously round, and seeing all present in conversation with each other, and unobservant, she seizes Alice's arm.)
Tell
me, hast thou seen nought since of Duke Robert?

Alice.

Alas, no, noble lady; but I directed Arnaud, whom
I mentioned to your highness, to obtain some intelligence.

Isabel.

Is he here?

Alice.

He is yonder among your highness's attendants.

Isabel.

Call him to me.

Alice.

Arnaud!

Arnaud.

Eh?

Alice.
(signing to him to approach.)

Come hither.

Arnaud.
(timidly advancing to Alice, and looking round with wonder.)

Well now, who would have thought it!

Alice.
(in a low voice to him.)

The princess commands thy
presence.

Arnaud.
(with flurried embarrassment.)

The princess? Dear
me! (aside.)
Here are honours all in one day! Not long ago,
I was in company with the devil, now I'm with a princess!

Alice.
(making way for Arnaud to pass her.)

The princess,
I tell thee, would have speech of thee.

Arnaud.
(approaching, with awkwardness.)

She is—very
welcome.

Isabel.

Tell me quickly, good friend, hast thou followed
Alice's direction?

Arnaud.

Please your ladyship—

Alice.
(in a whisper.)

Highness.

Arnaud.
(confused.)

Please, your ladyship's highness, I've
not been able to set eyes on him ever since he did me the high
honour this morning of ordering me to be hanged; but I should
prefer a more gradual rising under your royal protection. (he bows very low to Isabel, who turns away much disappointed.)

Alice.
(aside to him, with vexation.)

Shame on thee—hast
thou the meanness to beg?

Arnaud.

Do you think I'm come to court for nothing? I'll
do like the rest; get all I can, and ask for more.

Isabel.
(with despondency to Arnaud.)

Thou art at liberty
to go. (retires to her seat.)

Arnaud.
(to Alice.)

Where am I to go?

Alice.

Dolt! Thou art dismissed.

Arnaud.

I'm dismissed! What for? What have I done to
be dismissed?

Alice.

Thou must retire when bidden.

Arnaud.

Well, I suppose you understand the matter best,
but it wasn't worth while to introduce the princess to me for
such a little; but never mind—I think I've given her a favourable
impression of me, and she may do something for us yet.

(he retires to his place.
Isabel.

Alas, Robert! thou art lost to me for ever.

A Voice.
(without.)

The king!

Major-D.
(repeating it.)

The king! (the Princess rises, and all resume their stations.)

Enter the King, R. holding the hand of Astoroth, as the Prince of Grenada.
King.

Now, daughter, how speed you? The night wears
fast. Thy bridegroom here hath won thee bravely; and beyond
the appointed hour of midnight, the union must not be delayed.

Ast.
(aside.)

Happily my task will soon be over. (approaching the Princess.)

Beauteous Isabel, deign to accept from a
lover's hand these proffered tokens of his tenderness; they are
such as he has deemed most precious, and most worthy of your
acceptance. (his four Pages advance with golden caskets containing presents. They kneel, and lay them at her feet.)

King.

Prince of Grenada, one half hour before midnight,
follow us to the cathedral. Seek admittance with your train at
the southern doors, so shall we avoid all hindrance and delay.

Ast.

I will prepare to execute your bidding. (aside.)
Rejoice,
powers of darkness, another victim is ours! (bowing low to Isabel.)

Within an hour's time, princess, I will appear, and
claim you mine for ever.

Exit with his Attendants, R.
King.

Let those presents be borne to the inner chamber of
the Princess. (the caskets are taken away by the Attendant Maidens, L.)

Follow, fair dames, and let your care take order
of their disposal.

Exeunt Ladies, L.

Noble knights, we will retire till the appointed time of—Hark!
I hear a footstep in the private gallery! See who thus intrudes
without our permission (the Knights hasten outside into the central gallery, which is distinctly displayed—when Robert is seen approaching from the furthest end, holding aloft in his hand the magic branch. The Knights, who have approached to stop his advance, are struck motionless by the spell, and remain rigid in the attitude of the moment.)

Daughter, be thou ready by our
return. Ha! what do I behold? The vile Duke of Normandy
within my palace! Villain!

(drawing his sword, he rushes to strike Robert before he enters, when, coming within the influence of the charm, he is rooted to the spot, like the rest.
Isabel.

What heavy langour weighs upon my eyelids!

(she sinks upon a couch. Robert enters the apartment, and the folding doors close of themselves, shutting out the King and all who left the chamber.
RECITATIVE.
Robert.
Charmed branch—thou work'st well!
Fast their senses are bound;
Ev'ry eye, by thy spell,
Seal'd up in sleep profound.
(he lays the branch on the table.
Thy voice now, Isabel,
To thy aid none may call!
From this place, where now lies
The treasure most I prize,
I'll bear thee, 'spite of all.
Vain will be thy pleading sighs,
Vain all thy tears,
Thou shalt not bless a rival's arms.
(approaching, and gazing upon her.
How fair she thus appears!
Let me gaze on those charms!
AIR.

(he again lays down the branch on table.
Isabel.
(gradually regaining perception.)
Where am I? what voice calls out arise?
'Twas a horrible sleep fell at once on mine eyes.
(seeing Robert and starting up with sudden terror.
Amazement! Robert within these walls?
His presence at this hour my heart appals!

Robert.
(exultingly, aside.)
She is mine; from all aid apart;
And I now my rival defy.
Fiendish rapture my breast swells high,
To see the emotion of her heart.

Isabel.
(aside.)
From his looks my heart shrinks with fear.
(turning with assumed firmness to Robert.
By what foul sorcery, what magic art,
Say, Duke of Normandy! hast thou gain'd admittance here?

Robert.
I'm here a rival to defeat whom I abhor.

Isabel.
(with indignant scorn.)
Nobler had been thy vengeance, by far,
Hadst thou this day that rival fac'd,
Nor basely shrunk from manly war.
Go, go! In knighthood's page thou'rt now disgrac'd!

Robert.
(with violent agitation.)
Chafe me no more! Silence were best.

Isabel.
(aside.)
Wild alarm shakes my breast!

Robert.
Cease to reproach me, else my madness dread;
Tremble to goad me on to wild despair!
All here around now resemble the dead;
For earthly pow'r no more need I care.

Isabel.
O'er me, oh Heav'n, thy kind protection spread,
Oh shield me from his madness this fell hour!
All here around must now bend to his pow'r;
'Twere vain to call! (imploringly.)
For mercy, fly.

Robert.
No!

Isabel.
Go hence away!

Robert.
No!

Isabel.
(despairingly.)
For aid in vain I pray!

Robert.
(seizing her in his grasp.)
Thou must be mine own for ever!

Isabel.
(with excessive terror.)
Oh fear!

Robert.
Isabel, fly hence with me!

Isabel.
Come not near!

Robert.
No power of man my will can now restrain.

Isabel.
Protect me, Heaven!

Robert.
I dare no more delay.

Isabel.
For mercy's sake!

Robert.
Come!—thy cries are vain.

Isabel.
Begone!—let me go!—false knight, away!
(with a desperate effort she breaks from his grasp—while he, in anguish and agitation, buries his face in his hands.
AIR.—Isabel.

Robert.
(who has been violently struggling with his feelings.)

Her touching accents melt and disarm me! (turning tenderly towards her.)

Oh, Isabel! in a few moments more thou wilt be
torn from me for ever; and to lose thee is to lose my life.

Isabel.

Fly, while yet 'tis time!

Robert.

Not without thee! My heart is firm again. In
vain dost thou shrink from me—mine thou shalt be. Hopest
thou for aid?—behold! (he flings open the doors, and discovers the motionless group as before.)

All that stirred with life within
thy father's palace is now even as these are. My power hath
compassed it!—think'st thou to defy it? Follow me with
willing step, or I will bear thee off by force.

Isabel.
(in the extremity of terror.)

Come not near me!

Robert.

Thou art my prey—and thus, thus I seize thee.

Isabel.

Approach not! stir not!

(sinking on her knee near the table, she has unconsciously grasped and extended towards him the cypress branch, and he is, like the rest, rivetted to the spot by its power.)

Ha! fearful sight!—my heart is chilled with horror! (rising.)

What potent and unholy spell is this which my unconscious
hand hath grasped? His frame is motionless!—his eyes are
fixed!—a marble statue stands before me! Talisman accursed,
whatever be thy evil power, let it cease, as thus I break thee!

(she snaps the branch in twain, when Robert and all the rest begin again to move, and by degrees regain their senses.
The Ladies, with Alice, at the same time re-enter from Isabel's chamber, and join the rest.
CHORUS with Principals.
All.
(with bewilderment.)
What pow'r unholy
So long hath bound us?
What spell hath cast
Its magic chain?
Doth still around us
Some evil reign?
(seeing Robert.)
Amazement!
What new surprise
Assails our eyes?
The Duke of Normandy!
Can it be?
'Tis he!

King and Knights.
Thou art come as a foe,
To deceive basely trying;
Thy attempt, craven Knight,
With thy life thou shalt pay!

Robert.
If I've dar'd hither come
Ev'ry danger defying,
'Twas to bear Isabel
From my rival away.

Isabel.
(to her father.)
Your wrath, oh stay!

Alice.
(aside.)
His life must pay!

Isabel.
(casting herself on her knees between the Knights and Robert.)
Mercy shew!
Be not bent on destroying!
Father!—Knights!—
Let me not vainly pray!

King and Knights.
Do not hope to escape,
Tho' thy falsehood denying!
Thou hast dar'd, to thy shame,
Honour's law to betray.

Isabel and Alice.
(aside.)
Vain's the chance
From his foes of his flying!
For his love
With his life he must pay!

Robert.
(drawing his sword.)
On my sword and this arm
To defend me relying,
I defy your revenge!
No fear can my bosom sway.

All.
On his sword and his arm
To defend him relying,
He defies our revenge;
No fear can his bosom sway!

Knights.
(unsheathing their swords.)
Thus for defying us
Dearly thou'lt pay!
Death to the traitor!
Thy sentence obey!

(they rush upon Robert, when suddenly
Bertram enters C., and beats down their swords. The Knights recede from him.
Bertram.
Stay!—false Knights, stand back!—away!
The first who comes nigh, that instant I slay.

King & Knights.
Ha! rescue at hand! But escape still is vain;
From death he shall not fly.

Isabel & Alice.
(aside.)
Ha! rescue at hand? Oh, blest day!
Then hope once more is nigh.

Bertram.
(seizing Robert's hand.)
Haste thee, Robert, with me;
None shall make thee their prey.

Robert.
Ha! thou here, brave ally?
(to the Knights.)
Then your rage I defy—
Ye are baulk'd of your prey.

King & Knights.
Their escape still is vain;
Even now both shall die!

Isabel & Alice.
(aside.)
The protection of Heaven attend on his way!
Oh, grant from his enemies yet he may fly!

(Robert has been drawn away by Bertram, and a party of the Knights follow in pursuit.
King.

Bid hither the attendants of the princess, and inform
the court of our setting forth.

Two Pages exeunt R.

The hour is fully come; Grenada's Prince will reach the church
before us. Lead on, signiors—daughter, your hand.

Exeunt King and Isabel, R., followed by the rest. Alice is going among the last.
Arnaud appears from behind a pillar, and stops Alice by twitching her gown.
Arnaud.

Alice, here has been a pretty business! If this be
court-living, I refuse to accept office. Our little cottage in
dear Normandy, pretty Alice for my wife, with a score of
children, will be much more agreeable.

Alice.

What has happened, Arnaud?

Arnaud.

What, don't you know?

Alice.

All I know is, that in yonder room a sudden and
mysterious lethargy fell upon me, and when I recovered, I
found that my companions had been, like myself, deprived of all
sense.

Arnaud.

Well, and so was I. Left without any common
sense at all—and all by some magical, mystical, diabolical
operation; I can tell you all from the beginning. I was gaping
about, when who should I see coming along the gallery yonder,
but Duke Robert, carrying a little tree in his hand—which I
supposed he might be bringing to the Princess as a wedding
present—when all of a sudden “Seize him!” cries the King;
“seize him!” cries I; and I had no sooner cried it than—slap!
I was seized myself all of a heap!

Alice.

Wonderful!

Arnaud.

Wasn't it? Well, I felt, first particularly strange,
then I felt—I felt that I hadn't a bit of feeling!—and when I
woke, after a sort of a queer kind of a nap, I found I had been
sleeping upon my legs, with my neighbour's fingers stuck in my
mouth, and a large spur half-an-inch up my calf!

Alice.
(anxiously.)

And what of Duke Robert?

Arnaud.

Stop a bit. When the king, having ended his
little nap, like myself, saw our devil of a duke—

Alice.

Fie, Arnaud!

Arnaud.

Well, our duke, Robert the Devil, he ordered him
to be killed!

Alice.

Oh, Heaven!

Arnaud.

I got a little out of the way, behind a pillar, that
I mightn't be killed by mistake, when, bounce! something flew
by me, and in a moment, bounce! it flew back again with Duke
Robert; and, oh, Alice, only guess who that something was.

Alice.
(eagerly.)

Speak!

Arnaud.

That something that whisked away Duke Robert
as if he had been a little spaniel dog, was no other than my
infernal friend of the Rocks of St. Irene; and as he passed me,
he smelt—augh! as if he had just come out of Etna!

Alice.

Which way did they go?

Arnaud.

I didn't exactly look. I thought it best to shut
my eyes, for fear I should see something I shouldn't like—some
horn or tail; but when I ventured to open them again, the
first thing I saw was the tail of your gown. But I say, isn't
the princess going to be married to-night?

Alice.

Yes, at midnight.

Arnaud.

And are you to follow her?

Alice.

Certainly.

Arnaud.

Well then, Alice, if you follow the princess, and I
follow you, why shouldn't it follow that we be married at the
same time?

Alice.

How silly thou art, Arnaud.

Arnaud.

What, to be married?

Alice.

Not to know that humble folks like us must wait our
time.

Arnaud.

But I've waited a devilish long time already. Let
the princess be served first with all my heart; but your turn,
if I can manage it, shall be next; and though your dish may be
the more homely of the two, I warrant me it shall be quite as
substantial. So, come along, and take no more care about
Duke Robert, for it's very plain he likes to go to the devil his
own way. Come along.

Exeunt Arnaud and Alice, R.