University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

—THE ISLAND.
Enter two CANONS REGULAR.
FIRST CANON.
There's not the faintest zephyr blowing,
And yet the lake's calm waves are rippled,
Doubtless, o'er its bosom, pilgrims
To the island are approaching.

SECOND CANON.
Let us, to the shore descending,
Learn who are the daring mortals
Who are bold enough to visit
Our obscure and distant dwelling.

Enter LUDOVICO.
LUDOVICO.
To the waves I have confided
My strange bark, or rather coffin:
Who, through fire and snow, e'er ventured
In his sepulchre till now?
What a pleasant prospect opens!
Here methinks the spring has summon'd
To her gay and varied Cortes
The noble and plebeian flower:
There a dismal mountain riseth,
And the two so greatly differ,
That their very opposition
Binds them in a closer bond:
There are mournful night-birds wailing,
With their screams awak'ning terror;
Here are joyful song-birds warbling
Notes that fill the heart with joy:
There the angry torrent rusheth
Headlong down the frowning mountain;
Here the gentle streamlet glideth,
Giving mirrors to the sun:
Half-way 'twixt these different regions,
One so fair and one so frowning,
Riseth up a stately building,
Which awakes my love and fear!

FIRST CANON.
Happy traveller, who hither
Has to-day thy courage brought thee,
To my arms approach.

LUDOVICO.
'Twere better
That before thy feet I kneel,
But conduct me now in pity
To the grave and reverend prior,
Who this sacred convent rules.

FIRST CANON.
I am he, although unworthy;
Speak, proceed, what interrupts thee?

LUDOVICO.
Father, if my name I mention,
Much I fear that you will fly me,
Fright'ned at the sound; for truly
All my actions are so wicked,
That the shining air around us,
Not to see them, would be cover'd
With a cloudy veil of mourning.
I am an abyss of horror,
And a stormy sea of fury;
I am a map of misbehaviour,
And the world's most awful sinner—
In a word, lest breath should fail me,
I am Ludovico Enio:
I have come the cave to enter,
Where, if any satisfaction
Can be made for crimes so deadly,
My repentance there shall make it.
I have been absolved—confessing
To the Bishop of Hibernia
All my sins; who being acquainted
With my wish and my intention
Here to come, with love and council
Strengthen'd my weak resolution,
And for thee these letters gave me.

[Gives them.
FIRST CANON.
Ludovico, do not venture
On so great an undertaking
In one day, it is a subject
That requires deliberation—
Stay with us our guest a short time,
And reflect more calmly on it.

LUDOVICO.
Oh! my father, I shall never
Rise from where I now am kneeling
Till you grant me this great favour—
It was God's own inspiration,
That did drive me longing hither,
And not vanity, ambition,
Nor desire to know the secrets
Hidden here: do not, I pray thee,
Interrupt my good intention,
For it is a true vocation;
Oh! my father, yield in pity,
Grant this favour to my suff'ring.
Grant my grief this consolation,
Grant this soothing to my sorrow.

FIRST CANON.
Little think'st thou, Ludovico,
What is the great boon thou'rt asking,
For it is through Hell's dread torment
That you seek to pass: your valour
Will not bear you through the ordeal!
Many are there, Ludovico,
Enter here, but few return.

LUDOVICO.
Fear doth not at all affright me,
For once more I do protest me,
That my only wish or object
Is to purge my crimes—whose number
Far exceeds the sands of ocean,
Or the atoms of the sunbeam:
I have hope and firm reliance
In the Lord, whose name shall conquer
All the powers of Hell.

FIRST CANON.
The fervour
Of the words you speak compel me
Now the awful doors to open:
This is the cavern, Ludovico!

[Opens the mouth of the cave.
LUDOVICO.
Heaven preserve me?

FIRST CANON.
Art thou frightened?

LUDOVICO.
No; and yet it makes me tremble.

FIRST CANON.
Once again, I now implore you
For no other cause to enter
Here, except to ask for pardon
For your sins.

LODOVICO.
I now am standing,
Father, in the cave's dark entrance;
Listen to my protestation—
Men and beasts, and skies and mountains,
Day and night, and ye bright planets,
Sun and moon—all, all things listen
To my thousand protestations:
'Tis alone to suffer torments
For the sins that I've committed
That I enter here; my penance
Can be little satisfaction
For my crimes; but something tells me
I shall find my soul's salvation.

FIRST CANON.
Enter then; and ever with thee
In thy mouth and in thy bosom
Bear the sacred name of Jesus!

LUDOVICO.
Lord! Oh Lord! be ever with me,
In thy faith, as in strong armour,
In the open field I struggle
With my enemy, victorious
From the fight may thy name draw me!
Many times the sacred symbol
Of my faith upon my forehead
Shall I make. Oh Heaven preserve me!

[Here he goes into the cave, the entrance of which closes after him.
FIRST CANON.
In all the persons who have entered
Here, I never saw such courage:
Grant him, gracious Lord, thy favour,
That he may resist the demons
And their strong temptations, trusting
To thy name and presence only.

[Exeunt.