University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

—The Exterior of the Cathedral of Palermo.
The Church is seen illuminated, and the organ is heard while tthe King and Isabel are seen entering the Church doors, accompanied by the Court, Knights, Ladies, Alice, Arnaud, and the Attendants, in orderly procession.
As the organ ceases, and the music changes, Robert enters R. H.; he looks around him, and perceiving that none are near, he returns, and, seizing Bertram's arm, makes him enter the sacred precincts.
Robert.

We are alone and safe.

Bertram.
(who has entered with manifest reluctance.)

Confusion!
what shall I do? within the boundaries of this sainted
spot my evil power fails, and nought but wily art can obtain
me my prize. Robert, wherefore hast thou forced me to enter
here?

Robert.

This spot is sacred; it is a place of refuge where
none dare pursue. Yet, 'tis not safety that I care for. Alas!
all I trusted in has this day betrayed me.

Bertram.
(insinuatingly.)

Except thy friend that loves
thee, and wishes but thy happiness. Know'st thou not the
reason of thy ill-success? the breaking of the magic branch has
delivered Isabel to thy rival's power.

Robert.

Can nothing snatch her from his arms? tell me!

Bertram.

There is still one way left to glut thy vengeance.

Robert.
(furiously.)

I'll have it; be it what it may, I'll
have it.

Bertram.

Hear me. The spirits of darkness—with whom
thou hast already somewhat dealt—will be at thy command if
thou wilt sign a compact pledging thyself theirs.

Robert.

Give me revenge at any price!

Bertram.
(with eagerness.)

Wilt thou consent to sign?

Robert.

I will.

Bertram.

Come, then, out of this sacred ground, and full
power and revenge are thine. Thou shalt exult over thy
baffled rival, and hold thine Isabel within thine arms. Haste!
away, away!

(as they are departing, the organ is heard within the cathedral. Suddenly struck by it, Robert stops, rivetted in attention.
CONCERTED PIECE.
Bertram.
(endeavouring to draw Robert away.)
How now? why dost thou still delay?

Robert.
(listening as if spellbound.)
Those sounds—dost thou not hear?

Bertram.
(aside, gloomily.)
I hear them with dismay.

Robert.
(with tender emotion.)
Sweetly oft on my ear
They struck in childhood's day,
When for her son so dear
My mother used to pray.
(melting into tears at the recollection.
Lov'd parent! alas!

Voices.
(in the cathedral.)
Glory be to the Highest!
Joy and peace to the blest!
Sinner, from guilt who fliest,
From evil here is rest.

Robert.
The voice of Heav'n methinks is nigh,
And calls me back to virtue's way!

Bertram.
(aside.)
From this spot with me he must fly.
(to Robert.)
Wherefore here any longer stay?

Robert.
(wrapt in the sounds.)
Dost thou hear?

Bertram.
(entreatingly.)
Hence with me! away!

Robert.
If I could only pray!

Bertram.
(aside.)
I every power must try
His melting heart to sway.

Robert.
Heavenly harmony—how divine
Are thy soft and tuneful sounds!
Erring hearts, tho' wild as mine,
They recal to reason's bounds.

Bertram.
(aside.)
Whilst he tarries near this holy shrine
He my purpose confounds!
(to Robert.)
No longer stay!

Voices.
(in the cathedral.)
Joy and peace to the blest!

Robert.
Hope and peace fill my breast!

Bertram.
(aside.)
Torture wrings my breast!

(the organ and Voices cease, and Bertram approaches Robert.
Bertram.
(malignantly.)

I wonder not at thy soul's emotion.
The sounds thou hearest now bless the union of thy rival
with Isabel.

Robert.
(with re-lighted rage.)

Ha! that single word tears
my heart, and revives my fury. (stamping at Bertram.)

Begone—leave me! thou art my bitterest foe.

Bertram.
(clasping his hands together.)

I! I, Robert, thy
foe? I—who, out of the whole human race, love but thee? I,
who would wish for all the treasures of the earth but to bestow
them on thee alone?

Robert.
(struck by his manner.)

Mysterious being! Who,
then, art thou?

Bertram.

Doth not the emotion that now shakes my heart
and thine own, yet betray me to thee? Robert, rememberest
thou not this morning? Didst thou not hear and mark the
Norman minstrel's fearful recital—the fatal story of thy
mother's woes? They were but too true.

Robert.

Oh, my trembling soul!

Bertram.

Yes, a fallen Spirit was her lover and her husband.
I—I was that lover, I was that husband.

Robert.

Horror!

Bertram.

And now, Robert, my son, thou knowest me.

Robert.

Thou—thou my father? Horror and hopeless
misery!

Bertram.

I have deceived thee, but 'twas to gain thee ever
mine. Now mark me well! If before the midnight hour thou
dost not sign a bond which shall for evermore conjoin us, I
must lose thee for ever; and the midnight hour is already
nigh!

Robert.
(wildly.)

Midnight! midnight! Isabel!

(the chimes of the cathedral strike the three quarters.
Bertram.

Hark! there is but a quarter of an hour of hope left
us. (with pressing anguish, and speaking rapidly.)
Robert, my
son! Oh! let not thy wretched father be for ever parted from
thee! Sign! sign, and Isabel shall be thine—and honours and
riches, and the joys of an eternal youth shall charm thy life!

Robert.

It is decreed, and Hell bears the victory! Father,
I'll not forsake thee; I am thine.

Bertram.
(clasping Robert's hand with triumph.)

Oh joy!

Enter Alice from the cathedral.
Alice.
(percieving Robert.)

'Tis he; fortunate meeting.

Bertram.

Thou art resolved?

Robert.

Yes; be what thou wilt, I henceforth share thy fate.

Alice.

Ha! what do I hear? (approaching and recognizing Bertram.)

Save me, Heaven! it is the Fiend.

Bertram.
(angrily to Alice.)

What brings thee here?

Alice.
(falling on her knees before Robert.)

Oh, Duke
Robert, I have blessed, joyful tidings, which you will gladly
hear. The false Prince of Grenada and his phantom train,
approaching the southern gate, in vain attempted to cross the
holy threshold, and, howling fearfully, vanished from sight!

Bertram.
(aside.)

I tremble.

Alice.

The horror-struck father, shuddering at his daughter's
escape, consents to bless her, and messengers are seeking you
to receive her hand. Follow me to the altar.

Bertram.
(in agony.)

My son, go not; but follow me!
Thou hast sworn to be mine.

Alice.
(aside.)

What do I hear? Horror!

Bertram.

Let us quickly away! Time flies, and midnight
is about to strike.

TRIO FINALE.
Robert.
(with a burst of anguish.)
My brain is distracted! (to Bertram.)
Speak thy will, and I'll obey.

Alice.
(aside.)
Oh, heav'ns, he's abus'd by the Demon's spell!
(to Robert.)
Forget'st thou, then, thy vow?

Robert.
Away!
A superior claim must all o'ersway.

Alice.
(indignantly.)
What can honour's claim excel?
Let no more thy heart rebel! (with fervent aspiration.)

Guardian angels—deign, oh deign
His protection to be!
Let his heart peace regain,
And from ill set him free!

Bertram.
Oh despair! Hour of pain!
Ah, my son, my anguish see!
With thy father remain!
Let thy heart plead for me!

Robert.
(distractedly.)
Bitter pangs—racking pain,
From my bosom now flee!
If all hope must be vain,
Let my death set me free!

Bertram.
(drawing from his breast a black parchment, with hieroglyphic characters of blood traced on it.)
See—see this parchment I now unfold,
The words there written thy hand must sign.

Alice.
(to Robert.)
By your hopes of mercy, hold!

Robert.
(eyeing the scroll with horror, and shrinking from it.)
Wherefore there must my name be enrol'd?

Alice.
Fear perdition! 'Twill be thine!

Robert.
(desperately, to Bertram.)
To thy wish I incline.

Bertram.
Let us haste!

Alice.
Stay, oh stay!
Remember Isabel and thy vows!

Robert.
Away!
Begone! Begone!

Bertram.
No more delay!

Alice.
(aside.)
Inspire me now, kind Heav'n, I pray!

Robert.
(extending his hand towards Bertram.)
Give me the scroll!

(Alice, at this moment, draws from her bosom the will of Robert's mother—a parchment with a large seal appended to it by a ribbon—and rushing between Bertram and Robert, places it in the latter's hand.)
Alice.
'Tis here!
Cruel son—read this sacred command!

Robert.
Oh, Heav'n! 'Tis my lov'd mother's hand!
(burying his face in the paper with anguish.
Oh, grief!

Bertram.
(aside.)
Oh rage and fear!

Robert.
(reading with a trembling voice.)
“My son, thy mother's anxious eye
“O'er thee will watch from yonder sky!
“Fly from the snares, shun the dark spell,
“Of him by whom thy mother fell.”

(he lets fall the paper, which Alice hastily snatches up.
Bertram.
Does then thy heart waver between us two?

Robert.
(shrinking from him with involuntary horror.)
I tremble! Horrid hour! Which way decide? What do?

Alice.
(without looking at Robert or Bertram, but reading aloud, impressively.)
“My son, thy mother's anxious eye
“O'er thee will watch from yonder sky!
“Fly from the snares, shun the dark spell,
“Of him— (pointing to Bertram, without lifting her eyes from the paper.)
by whom thy mother fell.”

Bertram.
(imploringly.)
My son! Ah, turn thine eyes on me!
My pangs behold, my anguish see!
Fly not from him to whom thou'rt so dear!
Sign—and thou may'st defy all fear.

Robert.
(frantically.)
Ah! pity my despair!

Bertram.
(seizing his hand on one side.)
Oh, my son, let's away!

Alice.
(seizing his hand on the other side.)
Heaven's call now obey!

Robert.
Fierce pangs that tear my heart and brain,
To 'scape your fury all hope is vain!

Alice, Bertram, Robert.
(together.)
Guardian angels, &c.
With thy father remain! &c.
If all hope now be vain, &c.

Alice.
(to Robert.)
Heaven's call now obey!
Hence, foul fiend! hence away!

Bertram.
(kneeling to Robert)
Oh, my son! no more delay,
With thy father haste away!

Robert.
Gracious heav'n, be my stay!
Mercy shew, and guide my way!

(the clock of the cathedral strikes MIDNIGHT.
Alice.
Ha! 'tis midnight! He's sav'd for e'er!

Bertram.
(with a terrific cry.)
Ha! farewell for e'er!

Robert.
Save me from despair!

(the earth opens beneath Bertram's feet, and he sinks enveloped in flames. Robert falls on the ground overcome with terror, while Alice has sunk on her knee in gratitude.
Dark clouds, accompanied by lightnings and thunder, for a while envelope all around; but, soon dispersing, the scene changes, and displays the whole interior of the cathedral brilliantly illuminated, with the entire Court, Knights, Ladies, &c., kneeling. The High Priest advances towards Robert— who has been partly raised from the ground by Alice still clinging to him—and taking his hand, joins it at the altar, with that of the Princess Isabel. The soft and increasing pea of the organ swells through the edifice, and the voices of all within the cathedral join in the—
FINALE CHORUS.
Glory be to the Highest!
Joy and Peace to the Blest!

CURTAIN.