University of Virginia Library

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.