 | Belisarius |  |
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ACT IV.
SCENE I.
Before the House of Belisarius.Caius.
Alas! what miseries involve the house
Of Belisarius! Like a towering oak
Which many a year had braved the storms of heaven,
Yet rooted deep, magnificent in age,
He stood but yesterday; to day an earthquake
Hath loosed his roots, he falls, and with him falls
The ivy, and the vine with tender foliage
Curling around him.
(Enter Phorbas.)
Gracious powers! 'tis he!
It must, it is reality.—Oh! say—
Alive! at liberty!—By what rare accident?—
Phor.
My time is precious.—Know that to Eumenes
Was given the mandate for my execution
In darkest privacy.—I stood prepared.
When he with voice indignant fired the guards,
Who urged me to escape. One only murmured,
A wretch long used to Narbal's cruel deeds,
A stern assassin. Him the sword dispatched.
And by the postern door I sought these walls.
Caius.
Which my unguarded zeal had reach'd before thee.
Phor.
Blame not thyself. It was the zeal of friendship.
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Too rough, and blunt my speech. Ah! how Eumenes,
Could I believe—
Phor.
No more.—Attend! I mean
Tho to his Empress' arms he fly for shelter,
There to pursue, and sacrifice this Narbal.
Go thou with winged haste to old Nicanor,
Bid him with utmost speed direct the veterans
By different avenues to gain the forum;
There will I meet and head the sacred band.
Caius.
My speed is needless.—Lo! the warrior comes!
Enter Nicanor.
Nic.
Why loiters Phorbas in these paths of danger?
Before Eumenes' trusty messenger
Disclosed thy fate; my mind, as if with his
Holding free intercourse, had all things ripe
For some great, glorious action.
Phor.
How consent
Time and occasion with thy generous purpose?
Nic.
Already discontent with murmuring sound
Hath pass'd thro all our streets, and now the voice
Of bolder indignation rises high.
The people gather all in groupes and clusters
Haranguing one another; tho their clamours
Are intermix'd, and all among them speakers,
They aim at one sole end, to storm the palace,
And rescue thence the hero they adore.
My veterans all are ready, at a moment
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Thy freedom is the best, most prosperous omen,
Insuring our success. Thy youthful presence
Will make us who already are prepared,
And dreadful to our foes, invincible.
Phor.
O noble friend! and worthy highest praise!
How I revere thy venerable age!
Then Belisarius shall again behold
The all-chearing sun, and vindicate his actions
In its meridian splendour.
Nic.
Shall he not?
Yes; or these hairs of dry antiquity
Shall be trod low beneath the reveler's foot;
And courtly sycophants with silken smiles
Shall mock these wither'd limbs.—O son of him,
Whom I these thirty years have call'd my friend,
Whose new-strung arm I saw like lightning blast
The Huns' fierce van! Haste! lead us, lead us on!
The step of age shall follow swift behind,
And in this cause of justice, more than emulate
Thy youthful ardour.
Phor.
Where are posted now
The reverend sons of war?
Nic.
All in their arms;
Received in friendly houses in the forum.
They wait the trumpets' sound to call them forth.
Their heads are hoary, but their valiant hearts
Shall urge them on to raise a dreadful storm,
Like winter, when compelling all the winds
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And desolates the fields.
Phor.
Thou brave old man!
Thy spirit rouses mine to rapturous daring!
Haste! call them forth! march down the open space
By yonder temple; there I mean to join them.
I, in disguise, shall to the virtuous priest,
Who is my friend.
Nic.
I go. The word is justice,
And the thrice-honour'd name of Belisarius.
[Exit.
Phor.
Thou Caius to the palace; be it thine
To act as thy own reason dictates there.
Be mindful ever of Eumenes' orders.
We have our friends amid the guards. The time
Requires all speed.—Thy asking eye inquires
For those within. Marcella is recover'd.
I left her wrapp'd in sweetest sleep. Farewell.
She too may need thy aid.
Caius.
May heaven protect thee!
And crown thy head with victory and glory!
[Exit Caius.
Phor.
O vengeance! whether by the side of Jove
Thou sitt'st, intently gazing on his face,
Watching his frown, to snatch the fiery bolt
From the crook'd beak of his imperial bird!
Whether thou ridest along the sultry sky,
While pestilence and famine yoked, draw on
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Hastes close behind! Whether amid the ranks
Of homicidal Mars, thy two-edged sword
Thou surfeitest with slaughter! to my aid
Be near dread goddess! In a cause more just
Ne'er did thy breath inspire the human soul.
Beneath thy tutelary care I move.
Fill all my breast! with more than mortal vigour
Brace up each sinew! that from this day's actions
Guilt and successful villainy may tremble
Mid the bright blaze of their prosperity!
[Exit.
SCENE II.
An Apartment in the Palace.Nar.
Rise they in arms! the shallow populace;
Or is it but some vain and idle rumours?
Or rash and ill-concerted scheme of weak
And desperate villains, quell'd as soon as plann'd?
Yet wherefore then these terrors! Such commotions
Fann'd to a flame, have oft whole states consumed,
And laid strong-built authority in ashes.
Enter Decius.
What of these tidings?
Dec.
Ruin and despair.—
Thro every street sedition pours amain
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Acts as a potent charm to stir men up
To boldest acts of treason.
Nar.
Head the guards!
And join to them thy forces from the suburbs.
Go in thy strength, and e'er it gains a leader,
Crush the abortive mutiny.
Dec.
No storm
Of common violence impends; I saw
Nicanor and his veterans thro the forum
Slowly proceed; upon their faces sit
Dire rage and intrepidity.
Nar.
Away!
Collect thy troops.
Dec.
They are already posted
Before the palace gate. The guards are doubled.
Nar.
Confusion! doth Nicanor head the crew?
And guide their frenzy?—Yet e'er they advance,
Fly! hither bring Marcella! Times like these
Uncommon deeds demand: Lead to the prison
Junius and Antonina—Pity bids us.
That they may see, and comfort in his sufferings
Him whom we labour to restore to freedom.
Of this be mindful.—Hostages like these
Are guards and armies.—To Marcella's ear
We shall our actions vindicate. The blame
Is all Justinian's.—We advised to spare
The life of Phorbas.
Dec.
I obey thy orders.
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Yet stay.—Marcella is endow'd with beauty,
Might steal an hermit from his solitude,
And make him mingle with the world again.
Dec.
She is most lovely.
Nar.
Beauty sways not me.
A toy to please light minds, mere glittering tinsel.
But by her husband's death—
Dec.
I see thy purpose.
And was she not with hatred and resentment
Against thee bent—Besides her grief is young,
And now usurps dominion o'er her soul.
For much she loved.—
Nar.
She loved ambition, fame,
Greatness and pageant state. So do they all:
The real objects which the sex admire;
These, when enforced by flattery are resistless.
Much did she love; but who pretends to guess
How far the soul of woman may be moved;
By nature form'd in her fantastic mood,
They veer for ever, and are often won
To what is deem'd impossible.—With speed
Conduct her hither.
[Exit Decius.
Nar.
Now to search her heart.
Can I not raise her to the height of power?
Can I not swear? unswear? restore her father
To wish'd for freedom? to his wealth and honours?
Boast with what zeal I strove to save her Phorbas?
Act as the guardian genius of her son?
Desperate their state and mine.—By this alliance
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Thou with thy oily tongue, Hypocrisy,
Assist my purpose! In my eyes light up
Thy honest-seeming taper! O'er my face
Spread be thy tints, well-taught to emulate
The hue of virtue! On thy downy wings
Let me insinuate my winding course!
Glide through each obstacle! and rest at length
On the fair swelling bosom of success!
[Exit.
SCENE III.
The House of Belisarius.Marcella, Antonina.
Mar.
My Phorbas safe; of his dear life assured;
I rise superior to each human ill.
And all my soul with fortitude inspired,
Contemns malicious fate; and prompts to deeds
Transcending my weak sex. Despair is pass'd.
I feel new hopes, and every thought looks forward
To brighter days, to more auspicious times.
Ant.
Did I not tell thee thousands would arise,
Armies conspire, to aid in his distress
Thy godlike father? and avenge injustice?
Enter Decius.
Mar.
Why enters Decius with unbidden step
These hallow'd walls?
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No enemy I come,
Or secret spy. If heretofore I err'd,
If my rash tongue offended, let repentance
Atone the fault; and by my future deeds
Judge my sincere respect.
Mar.
Hath fear then seiz'd thee?
Art thou alarm'd? Doth Narbal's base heart tremble?
Is it to deprecate revenge thou comest?
No; let it take its course. The people's voice,
Like that of some divinity, calls loud
For punishment upon his head and thine.
Dec.
With temper hear me. Not impell'd by terror,
But to uplift the fallen, console affliction,
Am I by Narbal sent. Fenced round by arms,
And strongly guarded by imperial power,
What can the giddy multitude against us?
For thee Marcella, Narbal is alarm'd;
For thee he feels, and for thy widow'd state.
Guiltless of Phorbas' death, he only begs
To undeceive thee, and with friendly heart
Take thee to his protection,
Mar.
Undeceive me!
No; never will I meet his hateful presence.
Dec.
Then must I gently force thee to the palace.
Thee Antonina, he in kindness suffers
To visit Belisarius in his prison.
Go, with the tender Junius.—Let thy tongue
With soothing accents cheer the hero's soul;
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So he exert his influence to disperse
The irritated multitude, and order
Nicanor and his veterans to retreat.
Ant.
Shall I destroy our only means of safety?
Mar.
Oh! never may thy tongue belie thy heart!
Or a breath issue from thy lips to check
The surging billows which shall overwhelm
Deceit and cruelty!—Lead to the palace,
Thou servile minister of him who sent thee.
I to this odious interview. While thee
(to Antonina.)
A sad, but not ungrateful task awaits.
Tell Belisarius that his daughter strives
To follow with unequal pace his footsteps.
Reason again may shrink beneath affliction;
But while my mind it's sacred dictates hears,
Misfortune's iron hand, howe'er oppressive,
Shall nought avail to turn it from it's course
Toward honour's dome, and the pure shrine of virtue.
[Exeunt.
SCENE IV.
The Palace.Eum.
The present is an awful dubious hour,
Of dread suspense, and pregnant with the fate
Of deeds mysterious. May no envious chance
Render their birth abortive!—Still I move
With unsuspected feet.—O Belisarius
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Of Phorbas' safety; dare not trust thy own.
Heroic mind! whose virtue will not swerve
From its exalted course! In prosperous hour,
Or in adverse, most singularly great,
He follows his sublimer plan of conduct;
And walks, in these degenerate days, alone;
A bright example to the inferior kind
What man should be; a creature nobly-form'd,
Of spotless elements, and half divine.
But scrupulous exactness doth not suit
This vile, base æra; this adulterous age
Admits not purity unmixt, unstain'd.
In seasons rank like these, what else were vice,
Is become virtue Mutiny, rebellion
Cast off their odious vestments, and are dress'd
In robes of comeliness, and real grace.
Enter Caius.
What means this pallied hue? this face of horror?
Caius.
Oh! I have seen, what, like Medusa's locks
Might rivet me immoveable to earth.
When will the hand of persecution cease?
The measure of calamity be full?
Eum.
What hast thou seen?
Caius.
Alas! with rancour swollen,
This low-soul'd caitiff, his destructive snares
Spreads not for men alone, the weaker sex,
The hapless infant, his fell rage pursues.
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I saw by Decius to the prison borne,
With the young hope of Phorbas; while Marcella
With looks of woe, thro' which shot orient beauty,
And conscious greatness, and insulted worth,
By Narbal met, was led to his apartment.
Eum.
What wills the monster? with what new designs
Teems his prolific brain? He thinks perchance
By these loved objects to avert the blow,
And shun the people's fury.
Caius.
Rather say
As the fierce panther tears the harmless flock,
These are the fated victims of his malice,
And savage cruelty.
Eum.
Where slept our caution?
Why did we plant not an encircling band
Around their sacred walls? Why did not Phorbas
Remove them from the threatening arm of danger?
Not leave them thus defenceless to their foe?
Caius.
Occasion hath not smiled upon our purpose.
Neither could Phorbas ward the sudden blow,
Scarce safe himself, and in disguise compell'd
To join Nicanor.
Eum.
Let us watch with care
The step of opportunity.—He comes
To crush oppression, and revenge his wrongs.—
Still sound the guards; and with our chosen number
Seize we the lucky instant to forsake
The dastard slaves who sanctify injustice.
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Better with them to die, than mid a crew
Of tainted lepers catch the dire disease,
And linger on a hateful life with them.
[Exeunt.
SCENE V.
An Apartment in the Palace.Narbal, Marcella.
Nar.
Let not the frown of scorn usurp that brow,
The seat of mild complacence; in these eyes
Let not pernicious anger light his fires,
On me they ought with gentler beams to shine.
Mar.
On thee! O patience heaven!
Nar.
On me Marcella,
Who eager strove with ineffectual zeal
To save thy Phorbas. My advice was mercy.
Mar.
Dost thou blaspheme with thy unhallow'd tongue,
Prophane and impious, the sweet name of mercy!
Coeval daughter of the eternal mind!
With whom, and Themis sitting far apart
Almighty Jove holds converse?
Nar.
Cease this strain,
This idle rhapsody of words, nor soar
Upon enthusiast wing too high a pitch.
Why should Marcella mingle with the stars,
When, on this earth, unless perverseness blast
Their vernal prime, the flowers of soft delight
May at her bidding spring, and gayly bloom?
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To what base purpose, is the gall within,
Converted on that traitor tongue to balm?
Nar.
Hard task is mine; to combat with aversion,
And from thy breast that prejudice remove
Which blinds thy better sight.—By what persuasion
O loveliest of thy sex, shall I convince thee
With what warm ardour, even of affection
I struggled to preserve ill-fated Phorbas?
To Theodora, to Justinian's rashness
Impute his death.—Within my tortured soul
Pity, respect, and admiration join'd,
Felt for his sufferings; it now bleeds for thine.
Mar.
May I believe thee? Wert thou thus humane?
Nar.
Witness O holy truth! O sacred pity
Speak in these tears which recollection pours
At his loved name.
Mar.
Then have I wrong'd thee much.
Thou wert his friend!
Nar.
I was.
Mar.
And now art mine?
Nar.
Cannot Marcella find a softer name?
If tenderest love—
Mar.
Hah!—
Nar.
Tenderest, truest love—
Mar.
Traitor, no more.—Already have my ears
Too long with criminal attention heard
The odious sounds of that detested tongue.
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Tho beyond life itself thy charms I prize;
Yet not to guess Marcella's lofty soul
Towering above the rank of womankind
Would shrink, suspecting art, beneath the words
Which strike the meaner of her sex, was weakness.
Hear then the language of unvarnish'd sense,
Of plain unerring reason.
Mar.
What preceded,
Was opposite to these?
Nar.
The true construction
Is, that my love, impatient of controul,
O'erpass'd my argument.—Marcella stands
By the warm passion unassailable,
Hard of access, nor easy to be won;
Or, tho dissimulation I abhor,
Still thinks me false.—Now reason speaks to reason.
Mar.
The ways of heaven are just, tho deep conceal'd
From mortal sight. Else, O ye living powers!
Might I complain, and ask for what offence,
What unknown crime, I thus am doom'd to listen
To words which shock each feeling of my soul.
Nar.
Yet hear me; nay, and hear me with attention.
Thou tread'st the dark and gloomy path of danger,
Which leads to shame, to misery, and death.
Pride, anger, and punctilious nicety
Impell thy steps.—While riches, honour, power
Call thee to share with them their envied state,
And rule his willing heart, who rules an empire.
Mar.
How long! how long must I submit!—
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The fate
Of all thy soul holds dear on thee depends.
Dost thou not wish the freedom of thy father?
To see him shining with redoubled lustre
In the calm eve of life? To view thy son
Received and fostered in the arms of greatness?
Till he arrive at that exalted station
Which bounds the daring journey of ambition?
Thy mind is moved—thou wilt relent Marcella—
These humid eyes foretell the melting heart.
Mar.
From many a various source may tears descend.
But say mine spring from poignant grief alone,
Is there not cause?
Nar.
There is—for thou hast lost
One, in whom every rare accomplishment,
As in assemblage, met. Faith, virtue, wisdom,
Courage and generosity conspired
His character to form.—Accursed be those
Who told him Narbal ever was his foe!
I would have died, I would have died to save him.
But nought my words, my suppliant knee avail'd,
Fate steel'd Justinian, and I lost a friend—
A friend hereafter—when convinced he knew
How to one point our kindred bosoms beat,
And time, the wounds of prejudice had heal'd.
But thy affection, and my grief conjoin'd,
In vain would penetrate the realms of death,
And bid the disembodied shade assume
It's warm and active functions.—O Marcella,
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But thee, the soft associate of his soul?
And who with shielding wing should thee infold
From the big tempest of adversity,
Who lead you all to safety, but his friend!
Since he is dead—
Mar.
He is not dead, thou murtherer!
Let thy own coward fears assist my speech
To drive the strong conviction to thy heart
And wrap it in despair.—He is not dead.
Ye thunders! dreadful monitors of wrath!
Join your terrific notes! and loud proclaim
He is not dead! Like Jove himself he comes
In clouds portentous, and assembled storms,
To pour destruction on the sons of guilt.
He lives! he lives! to punish thee he lives!
Hark! hark! [shouts and alarms]
and let thy spirit sink within thee!
These inarticulate sounds with one consent
All join to teach thy ears this awful truth
That Phorbas is alive.
Nar.
She rends my soul.
If Phorbas lives, where shall I fly for safety?
Or courage whence assume, but from despair?
(aside.
(Shouts, &c.) Enter Decius.
Nar.
Say, what import these shouts and dire alarms?
Dec.
My bands are routed; wild dismay and fear
Precede the veterans' steps; here fought Nicanor,
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While in the hurry of the fight, Eumenes
And Caius lined the party of the foe
With a collected squadron of the guards.
As he rush'd by, Eumenes cried aloud,
“Let Narbal know, wheree'er he hides his head
“In vain he'll shun the light'ning sword of Phorbas.
“Tell him, my guardian care procured the wings,
“With which the youthful hero flew.”—The gate
Is mann'd, but with a feeble croud, who seems
Ready to join the enemy. Thy presence
Is needed to invigorate their hearts,
And beat the assailants back.
Nar.
From Antonina
That Belisarius may appease this tumult,
What tidings bring'st thou?
Dec.
She the prison enter'd,
Resolved to cherish, rather than oppose
His indignation. Should he stoop, she cried,
Falsely accused, and with vile fetters loaded,
By any deed, to guard from just revenge,
Malicious enmity; her tongue should prompt him
To nobler purposes, a woman's hand
Dash the raised shield aside.
Nar.
What frenzy this!
Heroic greatness!—Blind infatuation.
Not to perceive that our controul e'en now
Holds in destruction rein'd.—Go, thou, Marcella,
For know we deem far other of thy prudence,
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To quell this mutiny. Disperse the croud,
And ye are free as air.—Join thy endeavours;
Be thou the herald, to the encompast gate
Bear forth his message.
Mar.
Shall we meanly bargain
For freedom? for precarious life? the sword,
Which now hangs o'er thee by a single thread,
Shall we suspend more firmly? or remove?
Shall Phorbas listen to amusive tales?
Rely on hypocritic promises?
Entangled in thy fatal net again?
No; let the hero execute his will.
Aid him ye gods! to purge the tainted state,
Clear the veil'd sight of injured majesty,
Prove his true friend, and crush his bosom viper!
Nar.
Hence then all pity! every soft emotion!
Revenge is our's—her work begins this instant.
We will not sit in calm inaction down.
If fall we must, not unaccompanied
Shall be our ruin.—Perish Belisarius!
Perish his name! his race!—Ungrateful woman!
Am I rewarded thus!—Haste Decius, hence!
His eyes—his eyes—Thou know'st what I would say.
(Exit Decius.)
Mar.
Beyond example barbarous! King of cruelty!
Hah!—but thou canst not—darest not.
Nar.
Never more
Sees he the light—ne'er more beholds thy face.
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Mar.
Where thou wilt never come. Thee the pure gods
Reserve for vengeance; thee the fiends below
Expect; the realms of Tartarus and Dis.
Where thy own guilt with punishment more fierce
Than all the infernal furies can inflict,
Shall torture thee forever.
ar.
Be it so.
But know prophetic, and ill-omen'd Sibyl,
Careless of what hereafter may betide,
The present hour is mine—nor think his eyes
Ransom his life; my bitterest foe shall die
No common death. Stern fate inwraps you all.
And e'er this great avenger can arrive,
He o'er your blood shall pass to strike at me.
Bear her to prison.
Mar.
Yes, I come my father!
But how the dreadful spectacle behold!
Blind! Blind!—In thee alas! is virtue wounded,
The glory of mortality laid low.
Pernicious monster! Oh! my darling Junius!
Lend me a portion of thy fortitude,
Intrepid Phorbas! (shouts, &c.)
Tremble thou barbarian!
Near, and more near thy dismal knell is rung.
He levels at thy head the flaming bolt,
We fall but to accelerate thy doom.
(Exit guarded.)
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Him too the arrow or the sword may pierce;
He too is mortal. (Aside.)
Ye, whose hearts are true,
Whom loyalty inspires, the love of justice,
And hate of treason, follow me your leader!
This for Justinian— (draws his sword.)
Haste we to the gate!
Within these walls, secure we may annoy,
Or single out with missile arms the foe.
Your pay is doubled. He who Phorbas kills
A thousand pieces of the purest gold
Is his reward.—Now onward to your posts!
And let your warlike shouts resound Justinian.
(Exeunt.)
| Belisarius | |