University of Virginia Library

ACT THE FIFTH.

SCENE I.

Isabella's apartment in Xavier's house. Isabella and the Jewess at the casement.
Isa.
Sweet wench! look down the stream—I would see hope
Come toward me in the likeness of a boat,
Mann'd by the Garcia and the Lord Alvaro
And some half-score of loving citizens,
That in my bondage feel themselves enslaved:
Look down; for I have strain'd my eyes in vain,
Even to the stretch of aching.

Jewess.
Nought see I, Madam.

Isa.
The letter you convey'd to me said six;
That point the dial's shade past long ago—
Ah! me—I fear things have gone contrary.

Jewess.
A speck flits in the distance, like a mote;
A dark spot in the light—now light gleams on it;
Now 'tis a flying thing, with oars for feathers!

Isa.
It is, it is the boat! the oars strike fast,
But, oh! my heart strikes faster; and so fast,
The rapid bark, shot faster every minute,
Seems slower ever minute. O, sweet boat!
'Light 'neath this casement with a swallow's flight—
And I'll dart down as with a merlin's wing!
[Noise without.
Keep the door fast! What's that?

Jewess.
Alas! dear lady,
Your jailor's stirring, and the guards are roused.

Isa.
Keep the door fast!—The boat's a tortoise, sure:
I'm seen; they doff their plumes in homage to me:
It flashes nearer now;—and now—and now,
They anchor close, and silently beneath:—
I thank thee, God!

[Noise without.
Jewess.
Haste, madam—haste

Isa.
God bless thee!
Be sure that I will love thee, gentle Jewess,
Ever for this; and place thee near myself—
If ever I be queen.

Jewess.
Heaven guard thee, lady.
O, haste!

[Noise without.
Isa.
A kiss! farewell. A couch is spread—
I cannot sure take hurt; and tho' I do,
[She gets out of the casement.
Worse harms are here; so, courage!—dear, farewell!

[She drops outside from the casement. Knocking without.
Jewess.
Reuben is at the door:—she's safe! she's safe!
And now the boat is struggling 'gainst the tide;
They hoist a sail in the fresh-blowing wind—
And now, it flies! it flies!

[An alarm is given without. Knocking.
Reu.
(without)
Open the door! what, ho!

Jewess.
The alarm is given—and all is doubtful yet:
They'll slay me in their wrath; but welcome, death! so met!

[Exit. Noise and knocking without.

SCENE II.

A Chamber in the Palace.
Enter King and Rachel; he attended, as departing for the chase.
Rach.
Alphonso, I beseech thee, go not forth:
To-morrow, if you will; but not to-day—
O, not to-day! A dark, mysterious feeling
Clouds o'er my heart; and even now I seem
As I were standing on the hideous verge
Of some deep, blood-wet grave: what 'tis, I know not—
Or fear, or augury; but something 'tis
That deep-pervades my being: do not go!

King.
Thou wert a dreamer ever, my fair Hebrew:
The spirit of thy Prophet Ancestry
Lives in their dear descendant. What's to fear?
The rebels now are powerless and abash'd;
Thy sire is with thee—and my faithful guards
Hold thy throned greatness unassailable:
'Tis a rare morning for the gallant sport;
And 'twill be pleasure to me; with me, the chace
Is a mad passion—like my love for thee.
Thy fears are folly, Rachel. Come, my lords—
Thou'lt better keep thy Jewish festival;
I should but drag thee from devotion, sweet!

Rach.
Upon my knees! upon my knees! dear lord.

King.
Nay, rise! my peerless Jewess: what's the fear?

Rach.
Those banish'd lords are mighty in the hearts
Of the whole city: even Alphonso's guards
Lower on his Rachel with a scowling eye;
And if dark looks could do the deed of swords,
She had been dead e'er now. And, oh! my king,
My brain hath in the night been tortur'd
By such a hideous real-seeming, dream,
That, on my life! 'twas more than visionary.

King.
A dream! a dream! Why, now I mark thee, Rachel:
Calphurnia had a dream—

Rach.
And Cæsar died!
And Rachel had a dream—and Rachel dies,
If thou, Alphonso, dost go forth to-day!

Enter Manrique.
Man.
Your courser, my great liege! strikes up the ground,
'Till the air startles with an upward shower
Of grass and dust: he stands magnificent!
And with a tossing head, champing the bit,
And his mane shaking like a cloud i' the wind,
Reproaches royally his royal lord—
Delaying high enthronement on his back:
The dogs make music; and the huntsman's soul
Frets in his eye!—Will 't please my liege to mount?

King.
You come in time, Manrique. All to horse!
Sweet Rachel, we will hear thy dream to-night,
And thou shalt laugh then at thy now affright.
Come, come!

[Exeunt all but Rachel.
Rach.
He's gone—and my misgiving heart
Shakes with the palsy of some ominous fear:
It is as he had left me to fall back
Into my grave! Unlock my tears, dear God!
That I may weep this burthen from my soul:
I must behold my royal lord again?

Enter Xavier.
Xav.
Why weeps my daughter in her pride of power?
Why weeps the Hebrew queen of Arragon?
Go, deck thee for our holy festival:
Israel expects thee in her joyous temple,
There to preside—her glory visible!
What sorrow is the fountain of these waters?
Tell me, my queen.

Rach.
'Tis felt—not to be told.
The king e'en now hath left me for the chase.

Xav.
That's leaden sorrow! You grow tame, proud lady.

Rach.
All brows bend on us with suppress'd disdain:
The very soldiery, power's common tools,
Scowl on thy daughter and her lofty sire—
As they did wish their swords were in their hearts.

Xav.
A potent fear! were wishes sharp as swords:
I do begin to weary of thy terrors;
Thy love hath made thee very simple, Rachel.

Rach.
Sire! you have credence in the might of dreams;
And of the mightiest, one hath shook my soul.

Xav.
Frail fret-work of the brain!—Yet I do listen.

Rach.
Thou stood'st before me in a cloud of fire—
Which left thee; and all then seem'd black as night;
But thou wert still most clearly visible:
And then there came a dagger to thy hand,
And thou withal didst pierce me thro' and thro';
Each stab was a life-losing agony!—
That I did shriek, and shriek; and at my feet
The king lay dead, as thou hadst murder'd him,
Thro' wounding me: then rose the cloud again,
In likeness of Alvaro—who did clasp
And burn thee, till thou wither'dst into ashes;
Which I fell down and kiss'd—and kiss'd; and waking,
Did almost feel them on my feverish lips!

Xav.
I prithee, go; and in the inner chamber
Of the great temple, 'wait thy father's coming.

Rach.
Sire, I would fain remain here in the palace:
I have an ill-foreboding soul, that tells me
There's danger in our going forth to-day.

Xav.
Not go? not worship?—Stay at home for fear?
To Jewry—and more foul, to Christendom
Make proclamation that our power is air?
For fear, insult the God of Israel!
And with neglect abuse his ordinance?
Go!—that is well; else wert thou not my daughter.
[Exit Rachel.
Dreams have been warnings to our tribes for ever;
But I were happy, if this dream were all:
Those proud lords' banishment stands unenforced;
There walks a lurking peril thro' the streets;
Men's souls look thro' their eyes, and sullenly
Speak of a deed to come. I've learn'd a truth:
Our sun hath shone! the weight of the world's scorn
Is heavy on us, that we cannot rise;
Or rising for an instant, cannot stand:—
And 'tis a truth that makes me wish to die.
And yet, sweet Rachel! I would live for thee;
Live to maintain thy greatness with that genius
That's strong in Xavier's soul. Still have I power:
Let citizen and soldier hate their fill!—
They dare not strike, whilst at my dagger's point
I hold this Christian princess.
[Enter Reuben, bleeding and faint.
The misery?

Reu.
My life and the small riches I possess
Are forfeit all—my life's half gone already—
Pluck out the rest!—the Christian is escaped.

Xav.
Death seize thee wholly! Dar'st thou say, the princess?

Reu.
Kill me! 'tis so.

Xav.
Now, Xavier's curse fall on thee!
Thou wert concerting some low scheme of gain;
She made a loophole of thine avarice!
Hadst thou brought news that half the world was drown'd,
'Twere tidings of a jubilee, to this!
The strong-hold of our power, our certain safety,
Thy care hath turn'd to utter foolishness.—
Get thee away! The curse of Israel on thee!

Reu.
I bleed, Sir; and had fought unto the death,
Could it have aught avail'd—but she escaped:
I slew the trait'rous wench that aided her!
It chanced in this wise—

Xav.
Ay; it chanced: suffices;
No need o' the history; 'twill mend no marring.
Get to the temple! and there 'wait my coming.

Reu.
I'd to the surgeon's—but I'm fain to die.

[Exit.
Xav.
Our downthrow is afoot—and that proud laurel
I planted loftily, that it might spread
Over a kingdom, withers with one leaf!
But this, at least, shall be a day of glory
And pomp and triumph to all Hebrew hearts:
The troops shall gird the temple; and the king
Be summon'd from the chase—or live, or die,
The soul of Xavier fareth royally!

[Exit.

SCENE III.

A Public Place of Assembly.
Enter Garcia, Lords and Citizens.
Gar.
You left her highness safe?

A Lord.
In a good citizen's house,
Recovering from the terror and fatigue
Of the morn's perilous doings.

Gar.
At her sight
The popular heart will throb exultingly,
With uncontrollable passion—all must die!

Enter Alvaro and others.
Alv.
All! all!
Rachel is in the snare; and the cursed Jew,
Clad in his priestly vestments, even now
Enter'd the Temple: there the troops are placed;
But, with a fierce reluctance, one and all
Wince 'neath the gall of Hebrew government:
By St. Iago! they'll not stir a man!

Gar.
Is the king forth?

Alv.
An hour ago.

Gar.
Enough!
Quick; let the signal-bell of Mary's Church
Peal death to every Jew in Arragon!

[Exeunt some.
Alv.
Great glee, great glee is in Alvaro's heart!
I long to grapple with these scoundrel Hebrews.

Gar.
My country! wipe the sorrow from thine eye;
Mantle thy native cheek with native smiles—
Blush out thy pleasure!—and from Jewish graves
Start up again in Christian liberty!

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.

The Jews' Temple, with an Altar &c. Rachel discovered, leaning on the Altar.
Rach.
There is a peace and holy quiet here,
At variance with my spirit, which it lulls not:
The shadow of some lowering ill falls on me,
Arguing the substance nigh—O, what's to fear?—
That horrible dream! 'tis on my vision now;
And like the ghost o' the murder'd, will not vanish!
Ha!
[Confused noises in the distance. The signal-bell rings.
That dull bell seems tolling for my death—
There's tumult in the streets, and in the temple!
What should the meaning be?—is the end come?

[The bell ceases. Tumult within.
Reuben staggers upon the Stage.
Reu.
Daughter of Xavier! fly—i' the instant, fly!
The Christians are upon us, and the soldiers
Join in the slaughter. Curses on my head!
Ten thousand, thousand curses on my head!
That let the princess 'scape: she stands on high,
Setting their hearts on fire with gazing merely!—
O, get thee from this place!—

Rach.
Whither? Oh! whither?

Reu.
I'm gashes; and my tears are drown'd in blood!
Nay, they weep blood for thee—O, thou art lost!—
Life and life's goods
Are gone for ever—all is night with Reuben!—

[Falls, so as to be concealed by the Altar.
Rach.
O, mercy! God of Israel—mercy! mercy!

[Noise of a bolt falling.
Enter Xavier, in his Priest's habit.
Xav.
'Tis bolted; and a breathing space is left us.
Rachel, our hour is come; think on thy soul,
For it must straight to Heaven: this being fades—
Even now the consciousness of life's half gone,
And at the portal of Eternity
Darkly we stand sublime. O, what a terror
Stares in thine eye!—Scion of Israel's kings!
Fear'st thou to die? I've heard thee speak of death
As of a pleasing and an intricate maze,
Leading in mystery to mystery,
Even to be coveted: how is it now?—
Thy soul is dead already!

Rach.
Horrible! horrible!
My love hath made me coward—Oh!—'tis fearful:
'Tis cruel, now to die—in youth to die—
Ere a grey hair is on my head, to die!—
Is there no hope?

Xav.
In Christian daggers—Ay!

Rach.
The king? the king?

Xav.
A name—my child! come; come.

[Noise at the door.
Alv.
(without)
Break ope the door! I saw him enter here.

Xav.
Ay, bloodhounds!—here. Now, Xavier's royal daughter!
Wilt thou be slaughtered by these Christian butchers—
Be mangled by a pack of citizen dogs—
Hold out thy throat to raging Garcia's sword—
To base Alvaro, stung by loathed lust—
Writhing with thy disdain, ope thy pure heart;
Or wilt thou perish freely—like a queen—
By thine own fearless deed?

Rach.
Give me the means!—
And, oh! no blood—let it not be in blood!

Xav.
Men whom each hour may call upon to die
Must wear strange armour: drink!—it is death's wine.

[Gives Rachel a phial of poison. Battery without.
Gar.
(without)
It will not ope; bring other instruments!

Rach.
Villains! I fear ye not: a desperation
Makes me immortal! Sire, I drink to thee.
[Drinks the poison.
My dream! my dream!—O, speedy remedy!—
I've dearly loved Alphonso, O, my father;
And I do fear, with love that almost quench'd
That higher love—my country; thine, my glory.
We've reign'd! 'tis something: all is over now.
Thou see'st how calmly I do bear this torture—
Thou'lt follow—Oh!—so; so; past suffering—
My soul's asleep—the king—

[Dies.
Xav.
There Xavier's life
Gasp'd into dumb oblivion! this rough frame
Holds not his being; but in thee, thou fair
And exquisite image of the living god!
He breath'd, and moved, and joy'd. Cold! cold! my child;
No fire is on the altar of thy beauty;
Thy lips are idly ope, for balmy breath
Of sighs, nor sweet word-music, ever more
Shall pass from their deep-crimson—poison'd—pale;
Thine eyes, that shone so gorgeous with rich light,
Where the soul dwelt, a clear and visible thing,
Are—my tears rise—I see not what they are.
The holy pressure of a father's kiss
Seal up thy lips!—their venom poisons not,
O'ermatch'd with sweetness. Here, even here, dead saint!—
Even at the altar's foot, sweet Hebrew Queen!—
Lie tranquilly, and holy as itself—
[He lies the body upon the altar-steps.
And I'll kneel down, and pray.
[Cries without—and noise as of the door bursting open.
[Garcia, Alvaro, citizens and soldiers, with drawn swords, rush in: Xavier starts up.
Ha! Murderers:
Lo! ye are spared your honourable work;
Great hearts have privilege to choose their death!—
Now, bloodhounds! are ye happy? Look! look there!—
What! naked weapons still?—ye'd slay a woman—
And on the senseless flesh of the fair dead
Would haply vent the manhood of your valour!—
Out! ye are worms!

Gar.
The Jew hath kill'd his daughter!
My soul is struck with pity: let him live—
Live, to make legal answer for his deeds.

Xav.
Live!

Alv.
Drag him to a dungeon! he shall know
What 'tis to rear a Hebrew commonweal!—
He, the sole Jew that lives in Arragon!

Xav.
Stay! gentle Christians—even for charity;
I'd once more kiss the dead lips of my child.
[Kneels beside the body.
Ye see—I weep; the Jew—the proud Jew weeps;
See, that he feels almost as Christians do.
God bless thee! and sweet peace attend thy soul!
[Starts up.
Now, ye inhuman dogs! leave ample space
For the great exit of a mighty soul!
[Draws a concealed dagger: they shrink back involuntarily.
The last of all the race of Israel's kings
Passes from earth to heaven—his passport, this!
[Stabs himself, and falls on his daughter's body.
Ye are baffled, dogs!—I'll die on thy hush'd heart,
My gentle daughter. Faith! I once did dream
Of building up a new Jerusalem
Here in this Saragossa; and had visions
Of Israel's resurrection: but, 'tis past—
Yet will her full hour come—hear it! 'twill come.

[Dies.
Alv.
A villain dead!

Gar.
A noble nature dead!
The king! my lords, the king!

Alv.
Come! let's beg grace.

[They all kneel.
Enter Alphonso, Manrique and attendants, followed by Isabella and attendants.
Alph.
I come too late: ye shall all die for this!
Oh! Rachel—my heart's life! What! dead? quite dead?
All winter where I left a glorious spring?
Here will I lie by thee, and rave for ever—
King of no realm but sorrow!

[Throws himself by Rachel's side.
Isa.
Methinks it were a happy lot to die,
To be so mourn'd. My intercession, lords,
Tho' weak, shall go between ye and the king,
When this his fearful violence of grief
Calms into tears. Here am I dedicate
With patient love his lost peace to restore;
Or, still disdain'd, I'll be as now are seen
The Jew of Arragon—the Hebrew Queen.

[The curtain falls.