 | Gregory VII |  |
51
SCENE IV.
—A chamber, with a grated window, in the Tower of Centius. Gregory, in a penitent's garment, stands among some dark pillars at the back.Greg.
A curse upon strong nerves and bones and thews;
They listen not to caution. What a farce
Is this vile trap!
(Advancing).
Why did I covet lands,
And new-born strength of means from coffers old?
I could have done without them—and as well.
This garment, too!—my robes of state torn off—
Guido's suggestion, doubtless, and intended
To sink my body and soul back to a monk—
His great prescription for humility!
(After a pause).
If I should die here?—'twere an unworthy end
To shovel my bones up in a little heap
In yonder corner! (Pauses.)
What I have done stands firm;
And I, the doer, throned i'the highest place—
'T will make it dangerous work for murderers.
They 'll hardly venture it. Yet it may be done.
Enter Godfrey, in his armour.
Godf.
At length the mighty Hydra is chained down!
His many-headed and arm-branching vices,
Spread out to meet the axe!
Gre.
It sounds like justice.
Godf.
Justice it is, and justice you shall have
Unto the last degree.
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And that 's the least.
What are my crimes? array them first before me!
If proved, your conscience and the popular voice
Are sure to acquit you; but I claim a hearing.
Godf.
Oh, you shall have your claim—be satisfied:
Good hearers are at call. My lords!—I pray ye
Come hither to pass sentence!
Enter Centius, Fabio, Tancredi, and Guido.
'T is the trial
Of an apostate, sacrilegious monk,
Who would amuse us first with his defence.
[Godfrey seats himself in the centre, with Centius and Fabio on one side, and Guido and Tancredi on the other.
Gre.
(aside).
They sit—their swords hang passive.
Godf.
Prisoner!
Approach and hear the charge.
[Gregory slowly approaches.
Cen.
I 'll make the first,
With your permission, lords. (To Gre).
The popular voice
Is strong against the extortions of your state;
Your new enactments gall their social life;
And your contention with the Emperor
Will ultimately cost much blood and gold,
Forced from the mass of men for no one good.
Gre.
Are you a vassal of the Emperor?
Cen.
No.
Tan.
We are loyal.
Fab.
Loving.
Gui.
So am I.
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Is Godfrey loving to the Emperor?
Godf.
Peace, criminal! Most reverend Guido, speak!
Gui.
I would not trample on a wretched man,
Full soon, perchance, to quit this mortal scene;
But duty urges me a charge to make,
Where crimes so manifold pollute the time.
How he obtained his power by fraud and force;
By murder, sacrilege, and cunning, kept it;
By rapine and extortion heaped up wealth,
For bribes and scheming villanies of all kinds;
Is common in men's mouths as Tiber's water,
Though black as Acheron when thus compared.
Edicts detestable, and heresies,
Whereby we know not aught for what it was—
Gre.
Divining, chiromancy, gift in signs;
A phœnix faculty to dance in fire,
And special learning in the magic arts;
Whereby we know not aught for what it was!
Godf.
Your gibes are loose mould on the edge of a grave,
And wait the wafting wind!
Gui.
Of heresies,
It were enough for proof, to steal one glance
At his new calendar of saints—a thought
Surpassing credence in a future age!
Of edicts—uttered with a tongue as bitter
As a green stick; yea, as the holly sap;
Or written in blood—what more detestable,
More tyrannous, than his divorce of priests
From loving wives? enforcing celibacy,
While that himself in deep-secluded hours,
So far removed from purity—
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Proceed!—
Proceed to further charges!
Gre.
Guido, beware!
And you, Count Centius, Fabio, and Tancredi,
Take you good heed of him who urges you,
From personal motives to commit foul deeds.
I do believe the popular voice is with me:
Offer me violence, and ye'll be arraigned
As base assassins; or, perhaps, torn to pieces
By Rome's infuriate mob, without a trial,
As now ye threaten me!
Godf.
Listen not to him!
Tried you shall be, condemned, and executed.
Gre.
This you determine previous to my trial,
Most second-sighted judge!
Cen.
(to Godf.)
Condemned to chains
Within this tower?
Gui.
(whispering).
For life, with little food.
Godf.
Oh, my lords, shame on all these half resolves!
He nought denies the charges here alleged;
The plague o' the time must ne'er again be sent
Into the world. By his detested arts—
Be they of magic, charms, occult, or common,
Abuse of heavenly things, or nature's weakness,
He has ensnared from all allegiance,
As from all love, the Emperor's royal mother;
The Duchess Beatrice, his kinswoman—
Both these having great weight and influence—
And Tuscany's princess. I could say much more;
For I have greater cause than any here,
To know and punish this usurper's crimes.
Gre.
It is a novel and a noble sight,
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To see the chief complainant act the judge.
Gui.
(starting up, and listening).
What?
Gre.
The judge plays conjurer now, and makes the winds
Alarm Lord Guido's soul!
Godf.
You play with words;
But if we lack an executioner,
Myself will play the headsman.
Gre.
(loudly).
You look like one, clad there in complete steel!
Instead of grave and senatorial robes,
Shining all over with imposture!
Godf.
(rising furiously, and drawing his sword).
Wolf-head!
[Rushes at Gregory.
Thou shalt not live to vent another sound!
[Shouts outside.
Gre.
My voice hath passed through yonder grated window,
To those outside! They recognise it mine!
Go some one forth, and pacify my people!
[Noise increased. Exit Centius, hurriedly.
Gui.
(aside).
I thought 't would end in this! 'T was even now
I heard a hum in the air of distant voices.
[Violent blows upon the gates, and cries for Gregory.
Re-enter Centius.
Cen.
The populace surround the tower with torches,
And threaten conflagration!
Godf.
Let them threaten!
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We 'll bear our prisoner downward to the vaults,
And wait the event.
[Shouts and blows. A glare of light from below is seen through the grated window.
Gre.
Meantime, my lords, 'twere well,
Ere we descend unto these vaults below,
I should a few mild words address to the crowd
Through yonder grate, to prove myself not murdered.
Cen.
Do so at once. Be brief.
Godf.
And then descend.
[Gregory ascends to the grating. A loud shout: he waves his hand, and it ceases.
Gre.
Be pacified, my children! I am safe:
And that I may continue safe—this instant
Burst open the gates!
[The gates are burst open. The populace rush in with torches. Godfrey fights his way out: the rest are secured.
Enter Matilda, Agnes, and Brazute, with Attendants.
Gre.
(coming forward).
Where is the man in steel!
I do not see him with the prisoners.
My faithful guards! Hark you, sir!
(Aside to an Officer).
Take a troop
And follow Godfrey wheresoe'er he flies:
Hack off his armour piecemeal from his limbs,
And if the limbs fall too, God's will be done!
Agn.
The impious villains!—chain them to the wall.
Braz.
Pyrrhicasii!
Agn.
(to Cen).
Let the populace applaud!
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The Emperor hath in Rome this night arrived.
Gre.
In good time comes he to perform his penance.
(Aside).
But one day sooner, and events had changed.
(Aloud).
A penance, measured by his weight of crime.
(To the prisoners).
We 'll think of ye, my lords, and at our leisure,
Ye shall hear further. Give me a robe!
[They cover Gregory with a splendid mantle.
Lead on!
Now for this sun-set Shadow of a King!
[Exeunt Gregory, Matilda, Agnes, Brazute, and suite, with guards and populace.
[Manent Centius, Guido, Tancredi, and Fabio, chained along the wall.
| Gregory VII | |