University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

A Hall of Audience. The Throne in the Middle of the Stage; Alphonso writing at a Table; Don Manuel standing near him; Lords and Attendants in the Background; Antonio, Garcia, and other Nobles in front.
Ant.
Hear ye aught farther, Lords, of these fierce tumults
That all night long have raged throughout the city?

Gar.
Nought, save low-whispered rumour. Since the Princess
Fled here for refuge none hath passed the barred
And guarded gates.

Enter Alvarez.
Ant.
Here comes one full of news,
To judge by his speed.

Gar.
Ay, and of evil matter.
What tidings, Don Alvarez? Is the Prince
Advancing on the Palace?

Alv.
With a course
Rapid and furious as the lava tide
Sweeping from far Vesuvius; turbulent
As our own Lisbon seas; angry and fierce
As winds in the Equinox. The King should hear—

Ant.
He hath heard.

Alv.
And still unmoved!

Gar.
Do many follow
The fiery champion?

Alu.
A fast-growing host,
Soldiers and citizens commingling, crowd
The narrow streets; even the slight beardless boys
And fearful women follow his thick ranks,
Mixing their shriller cries with the deep threats
Of armed warriors. The whole city rings
With “Inez! Lady Inez!”

Man.
(Apart.)
A brave war-word!

Alv.
All the night long hath he with that name stirred
The slumbering people; and as the dread hour
When she must die draws near, with wildest threats
Invests our walls.

Man.
Hold the guard firm?

Alv.
As yet.

Alph.
(To an Attendant.)
Despatch the messenger to Rome, good Carlos,
Without delay: there be his missives.—Manuel,
Haste to the citadel. Thou know'st thine errand.

[Exit Manuel.
Gar.
(To Antonio.)
Is Inez prisoner there?

Ant.
If still she live,
She is.

Alph.
(Advancing.)
Now, gentles, know ye if the rebels
Be near the Palace?

Alv.
Good my liege, they close
Around the walls.

Alph.
Dismiss the guards. Fling wide
The iron gates. I'll front them singly here
Before the insulted throne.

Alv.
Nay, nay, beseech thee
Deprive not of their proudest privilege
Your faithful soldiers, Sire.

Ant.
Nor trust too far
The fierce tumultuous crowd, who passion-driven
Rush maddening through the streets, like furious bulls,
Blinded and stumbling with their own brute rage.
Such herds are dangerous.

Alph.
Dismiss the soldiers;
Fling wide the palace-gates. The herd ye speak of
Will own their master. Wouldst thou have a King—
I'll proudly say a just one—quail before
His subjects? Fling the barriers wide!

Enter Constance and Ladies.
Con.
They come!
They crowd the courts! The vestibule, the hall,
Are filled with the fierce people.

Alph.
Tremble not:
Degenerate though he be, thou art as safe
As in thine own Castillian home. Be sure
That ye are safe.

Enter Pedro, followed by Soldiers and Citizens. The King stands before the Throne; Constance and her Ladies beside and behind him, whilst the Nobles and Courtiers, close before him in front.
Ped.
Inez! Disperse yourselves
Throughout the Palace. Line the courts. Let none
Escape unquestioned. Inez! Here we parted.
This was her prison. Waste no moment, friends!
The dial points the hour. The bell hath rung.
Release her, or she dies.
[Perceiving Alvarez, and seizing him.
Ha! Art thou there?
My wife! my wife! I trusted her to thee
As to a noble soldier in all honour.

Alv.
And in all honour was she dealt withal;
But yesternight an order from the Council
Removed the lady from my ward.

Ped.
To death?
If thou be slain, streets, churches, palaces
Shall light thy funeral, Inez! Fire the city!
Make Lisbon one black ruin! Portugal
One mighty grave!

Alv.
Be calmer, Prince. They bore
The lady to the Citadel, a prisoner,
But not to death.

Ped.
On to the castle! on!
He who first scales the walls, with this good sword,
I'll dub him knight. On! on!

Alph.
(Advancing.)
A brave emprise!
A tempting guerdon! Yet if still she live,
And but one man-at-arms approach the fortress,
The headsman knows his signal.

First Cit.
'Tis the King.
Seize him!

Alph.
(To the Nobles.)
Stir not a step; draw not a sword.
I'll waste no life in my defence, nor spill
One drop of blood, save that the rebels seek,
Save mine.

Sec. Cit.
Surround him! Fell him to the earth!

Ped.
(Striking him down.)
Down to the dust thyself, vile caitiff! What,
Afore my very eyes lay thy foul hands
On the King's sacred person! on my father!
I have but stunned the reptile! Drag him hence!
Look ye keep reverent distance, Sirs! Stand back!
By Heaven! he dies upon my sword who dares
Advance a step unordered. Back, I say!
Stand from about us!—Father!

Alph.
I abjure
For ever that fond title. Sir, my son
Was the main pillar of the throne, the stay
Of state and people, a thrice loyal knight,
Who led his country's armies, conqueror,
In twenty battles. Even Kings have vailed
Their crowns to my brave son. Thou art a rebel—
Doth the word stir thee?—chief of rebels, leader
Of the foul city's foulest crew, the spawn
Of crowded suburbs and rank lazar-houses.
Them hast thou led—chivalrous deed!—to storm
The King's defenceless palace, to make prisoner
The undefended King, that thou might'st climb
The vacant throne, and seat thee there, usurping
The crown thou shouldst inherit. Sir, my son
Was a frank, loyal knight, who would have spurned
Treason and traitor. Wherefore pause? Come on,
And drink thy monarch's blood. Dost fear to meet
My single arm? There lies my sword. My breast
Is open to thy weapon. Strike, I say!
Why dost thou falter? Strike! Strike! Strike! Thou hast given
A sharper pang already.

Ped.
Take thy sword;
Take mine. Heaven shield thine honoured life! Live! Reign!
But spare my Inez!

Alph.
Sir, I hold no parley
With rebels.

Ped.
Only tell me that she lives,
That Inez lives. There is a burning fire
Here in my brain. If thou wouldst rescue me
From crime and frenzy, say she lives.

Alph.
Dismiss
Thy followers! Clear the Palace! Cast thyself
On the King's mercy!

Ped.
(To the People.)
Quick, disband the troops;
Disperse the citizens! Away! Away!
[Exeunt Citizens, Soldiers, &c.
Now, father! Now!

Alph.
Don Pedro—

Ped.
Call me son!
Call me thy son!

Alph.
My son!

Ped.
And oh, forgive
My sinful rashness, father! I ne'er dreamt
Of thrones, or crowns, or sceptres, gilded toys
That mad ambition plays withal. My thought
Was but of Inez. Doth she live?

Alph.
She lives.

Ped.
Joy! joy! Thou hast ta'en a weight as of the world
From off my heart. Now I can breathe. The fear
The stifling, deadening, suffocating fear
That held my sense in thrall is gone. She lives!
And thou hast given thy son a second life
And dearer. Inez lives! The hour is past,
And Inez lives! And she shall live! Say that!
Say thou hast pardoned her!

Alph.
I pardon thee.

Ped.
And her!

Alph.
I pardon thee.

Ped.
Oh, father! father!
But I can die with her. Will none plead for me?
Have I no friend amidst the courtly train
To aid by one poor prayer? Rude as I seem,
Rough and unnurtured, not a man of ye
Ever craved grace or guerdon, but I straight
Became his bondsman, braving for his sake
Angry rebuke and cold rebuff, nor slackening
My honest service till his suit were won.
And now I sue for life, for more than life,
And ye stand mute!

Con.
Alphonso, pardon her!

Ped.
The Lady Constance!

Con.
Pardon her, Alphonso,
Even for my sake.

Alph.
Dost thou plead for them, Princess?

Ped.
Ay, blessings on her gentle heart! If Pity
Were lost on earth, she would be found enshrined
In woman's generous breast.

Alph.
Thou, too, sweet lady!

Con.
A kindly pardon glistens in thine eye
And trembles in thy voicc. Thou hast heard my prayer:
Hear now my thanks; and speed me quickly home,
That I the first may pour in Philip's ear
This story of true love. If still his Constance
Be dear to her dear brother, trust me, Princes,
Castille shall take on ye a royal vengeance
In firmer peace and closer amity.
Farewell to all!

Ped.
Oh, noblest maid!

Con.
Farewell!

[Exit Constance with her Ladies.
Ped.
Oh, sweet and noble maid! But Inez! Inez!

Alph.
Afore thy mad revolt, we had sent to stay
The execution, and dispatched Don Manuel
To proffer terms which now—

Ped.
Is she not pardoned?
Manuel, I have small faith in that smooth courtier.

Alph.
Listen, Don Pedro. Yonder royal maid
Hath read us a brave lesson. We have both
Done grievous wrong to thy fair wife. Thyself
By thy rash bridals, I—But we will make
A glorious reparation. Good Antonio,
Haste to the jewel-room. The very crown
Thy mother wore shall deck her brow! Convey
The rich regalia of the Queen, Antonio,
Straight to the Citadel, with fitting pomp
Of officer and prelate. She who entered
A captive and condemned, she shall come forth
A crowned Princess.

Ped.
Father! Canst thou ever
Forgive me, father?

Alph.
Can I!—Meet us quickly
At the Citadel, Antonio. My dear son!

[Exeunt.