University of Virginia Library

SCENE V.

A spacious hall in the palace.
Enter Rodrigo, with Ella hanging fondly upon him, and continue their way as if intending to pass through it, when a trumpet sounds without, and they stop short.
Rod.
It is the sound that summons us to meet:
There is no farther grace: therefore, sweet Ella,
My pretty Ella, my good loving Ella,
My gentle little one, that hangst upon me
With such fond hold, in good sooth we must part,
Here bid heav'n bless me, and no farther go.

Ella.
Must it be so? I will bid heaven bless thee,
And all good saints watch o'er thy precious life;
And they will bless and guard thee in the hour
Of fearful death. In this I have true faith;
Yet, on the very brink, to hold thee thus
Clasp'd in my grasp, and think how soon—Alas!
From many points will fly the whizzing balls,
And showering darts, and jav'lins sent afar,
Aim'd by fell strength; wilt thou escape all this?

Rod.
Fear not, sweet Ella! whizzing balls there be,
That, in midway, are from their course declined
By the poor orphan's little lisped prayer;
And there be arrows that are turn'd aside,
In their swift flight, by the soft sighs of love,
Unheard of earthly ears. This is a creed,
In the good faith of which poor seamen climb
Their rocking masts, in the full roar of battle,
And we'll believe it.

Ella.
It is a blessed one: I would believe it.

Rod.
Yes, we'll believe it. Whilst our battle roars,
Thou'lt think of me in thy lone distant tower,
And be to me a gallant armed mate,
With prayers and wishes striving powerfully.
Give me thy hand: we will not weep and wail:
We will part cheerfully.—God bless thee, Ella!
Nay, hang not on me thus.
Thou lov'st a brave man: be thou valiant then,
As suits a brave man's love.

Ella.
O no! I've fondly fix'd myself upon thee,
Most worthless and unsuited to thy worth.
Like a poor weed on some proud turret's brow,
I wave, and nod, and kiss the air around thee,
But cannot be like thee.

Rod.
Heav'n bless thee, little flower! I prize thee more
Than all the pride of female stateliness.

Ella.
Dost thou? then I am happy: I am proud:
I will not wish me other than I am.

Rod.
Ah, if we part not instantly, my Ella,
I feel in faith, rude as my nature is,
I soon shall be like thee!—My friends approach:
Let us not meet their gaze—It must be so—
Sweet one, farewell!—Wilt thou still cling to me?

Ella.
O no, I go: they shall not see thee weep,
Though I do bless thee for it.

Rod.
(leading her hastily back to the door by which they entered).
Well then, brave lass, upon thy lovely head
Heaven's favour rest!—Nay, do not speak to me.
[Preventing her as she is endeavouring to speak.
Farewell! farewell!
[Exit Ella, and he returns to the front of the stage, where he stands musing sorrowfully; when enters to him Justiniani, and, going up to him, touches his shoulder.
What dost thou want?

[Turning angrily.
Jus.
Thou'rt thoughtful.

Rod.
No, I think as others do
With such day's work before them, in good truth,
Not passing merrily.

Jus.
From the high tower I've seen th' approaching foe:
It seems a dark and strangely-mixed mass
Of life, wide moving in the misty light
Of early dawn.—I've fought in many a field,
As valiant men and armed warriors fight,
But such a strange assemblage of new modes
Of mingled war as we this day must face,
I never yet encounter'd.

Rod.
Well, we shall know the scent and flavour of it,
When we have tasted it.

Jus.
We shall be smother'd up with the mean press
Of worthless matter, as a noble steed,
Beneath the falling rafters of his shed
Ignobly perishes.

Rod.
Fear not, proud soul; we shall have men to fight,
And room enough in some nook of the breach
To grapple with them too.

Jus.
Good fortune ever shone on thee, Rodrigo:
Thou still hast been a bold careering bark,
Outriding ev'ry storm. If thou shouldst e'er
Again return to our dear native land,
Tell to my countrymen whate'er thou knowst
Pertaining to my fate this fateful day:
Let me not be forgotten.

Rod.
I will, my friend: but better fate than thine
I look not for, though still I bear myself
As one assured of good.—Thou'rt dark and gloomy—
Does aught rest on thy mind?

Jus.
(striding away from him gloomily).
No, nothing, nothing!

[A trumpet sounds without.
Rod.
Ay, hark! another of our gallant band
Has join'd us with his followers.
[Another trumpet sounds.
And now another: are they all assembled?

Enter Othus, and several of the imperial friends.
Othus.
On their high wooden turrets, and huge beams
Of warlike engines, raised aloft in air,
Gleams the first light of this high-fated day;
And, wide expanded, through the farther mists
Moves the dark Turkish host.
Thou'rt a tried soul, Rodrigo, I but new
To such tremendous, strange expectancy:
Now is the hour when the soul knows itself.

[Rising on tiptoe with a conscious smile.
Rod.
Ay, Othus, thou dost wear the countenance
Of a true man: give me thine honest hand.
Are all our friends assembled?

[Trumpet sounds.
Othus.
This says they are: and here comes, last of all,
Our northern friends. Enter more of the friends.

Now we are all assembled. Constantine,
He also comes; and sadly by his side,
In mournful dignity, moves his high dame,
Proudly contending with her woman's heart.

Enter Constantine and Valeria, attended.
Con.
(returning the general salute of the chiefs).
Good morrow, noble brothers and brave leaders:
Are we all here convened?

Othus.
Yes, our great chief and brother: of your friends
There lacks not one.

Con.
Then to their love, so help me, Mighty Power,
Who holdst within thy grasp the souls of men!
Neither shall we be lacking.—Now, Valeria.

[Drawing himself up with a proud but tender smile, as if to encourage her to behave nobly.
Val.
I understand that smile.
Here with thy gen'rous friends, whose love to thee
Most dearly cell'd within my heart I wear,
And unto whom I have desired much,
Before we part, these grateful thanks to pay—
[Making grateful obeisance to the chiefs.
Here to those noble friends, and to God's keeping,
I leave thee.—Yet, be it permitted me—
For that thy noble head and lib'ral brow
Have ever cheer'd me as my star of day,
Blessings and blessings let me pour upon them!
[Putting her hand upon his head fervently, and kissing his forehead.
For that thy gen'rous breast has been the hold
Of all my treasured wishes and dear thoughts,
This fond embrace.
[Embracing him.
Yea, and for that thou art
My sire, and sov'reign, and most honour'd lord,
This humble homage of my heart receive!

[Kneeling and kissing his hand.
Con.
(raising and embracing her with great emotion).
No more, my dearest and most noble love!
Spare me, O spare me! Heaven be thy protection!
Farewell!

Val.
Farewell!

[Valeria is led off by her attendants, whilst Constantine continues looking sadly after her for some time, then turning to his friends, who gather about him, without saying a word, they go all off the stage together in profound silence.