 | Otho |  |
SCENE I.
—A thick wood—distant view of a fortress—groupes of armed men, as after a battle;—sound of distant tumult—martial music. Prince Irman insensible, supported on a back by a man in armour, while others are attempting to free him from his harness.1st Guard.
(Advancing)
Stand to your ground!
(To others who approach.)
Away!—and man the pass.
2d Guard.
Silence!—look there!—the wood is full of men.
1st Gua.
(Looking anxiously)
But they are all white plumes—
(Advancing to his companion, who is supporting the Prince.)
It was a heavy blow—
3d Gua.
(Reaching the cleft Helmet of the Prince to his comrade.)
It was indeed.
Both.
No blood!—not wounded!
3d Gua.
—No!—he's only stunned—
(throwing down the Helmet)
And we are gloriously revenged for that!
(To others, who approach—as a distant shout is heard)
Back to your posts!—
2d Gua.
Away! and scour the woods—
3d Gua.
—Soft—soft—he breathes—
(Prince Irman faintly attempts to rise—staggers—and sinks down again.)
3d Gua.
My Prince!—
26
(Enter Friar.)
Friar.
(Stopping suddenly as he sees the Prince's armour lying about.)
Merciful Powers!—it was a dreadful shock!
1st Gua.
Aye Father— (reaching the cloven Helmet)
What a blade!—
Friar.
(In amasement)
And yet he has escaped!
(laying his hand upon the Prince's brow.)
1st Gua.
Unharmed,—and only stunned—but—
3d Gua.
Shall we not bear him to the Castle, Father?
2d Gua.
Aye, father, 'twould be best,—he's not safe here—
The woods are all alive with Otho's men—
1st Gua.
(Angrily)
With Otho's devils—Jesu! how they fought!
3d Gua.
To the Castle then!
(approaching the Prince, eagerly.)
Friar.
Stay—Stay—
Let him but breathe the pure, fresh air,
And he'll not want our aid to reach his halls;
And there he'll meet his Princess, as he's wont,
When he has been in blood—
(Martial flourish heard, passing, in the wood.)
Silence that horn!—
(Trumpet—the Prince starts suddenly from the bank, utters some incoherent sounds, and attempts to unsheath his sword—Friar and guard struggle with him.)
Prince.
(Vehemently)
To horse!—Away!—Away!
Fr.
Nay—nay my Lord—
1st Gua.
(Again preventing the Prince from unsheathing his sword.)
My Prince!
Pri.
(Starting, and looking earnestly at him)
—Selim!
1st Gua.
Not Selim—no, my Prince—
Fr.
—Speed to the hall;
27
(Several start at once with great eagerness.)
Pri.
(Bursting from their arms and unsheating his Sword)
Charge, charge!—they fly!—there, cleave him to the earth!
Away! Away!
(Rushes furiously out, followed by all his guards, the Friar last.)
Fr.
The sword! the sword!
(following, with violent gestures)
Aye, wrench it from his grasp—
(Exit Friar.)
(Enter Achmet, cautiously, from the wood.)
Achmet.
They're gone at last!— (listening)
Curse on the straggling cowards! we are foiled—
(Two other Figures seen, stealing upon him from the wood.)
Have lost our chief:—would I had fallen there!
Who of us all will dare to lift an eye,
Hereafter,—to that dark encountering look?
(The ruffians approach with their daggers drawn)
How shall I quail before that mute reproach!
So terrible!—so still—
(sees them)
—Who are ye?—Stand!
Come ye as friends, or foes?—
(they approach)
—Another step!—
And I shall hold ye foes—
(Looks earnestly—approaches—drops the point of his sword, and turns away in scorn)
Cowards!—I know ye both—
Away!—I hold no fellowship with you—
(going—pauses)
Ye sold your chief—abandoned him in death—
1st Ruf.
'Tis false—he sold himself—
2d Ruf.
—Aye, so he did!
Think ye they'd ever taken him alive,
But with his own consent?—
28
I saw him break his blade—and bow his head—
And yield himself a prisoner to the foe.—
Ach.
True—True, you did. His mighty heart gave up
When ye abandoned him,—or he had fought,
Till not a man survived to tell the tale.
But we!—no, you—I did my duty there:
And yet, I shall not dare to meet his eye—
For I have marched with cowards to the war.
How then will ye encounter his reproach?
That withering look!—that eyes—when ye shall see
Your chief to-morrow, going to his death.
Both Ruf.
His death!—his death!
Ach.
Aye, all alone, his head upon a block—
(The ruffians appear disturbed—hesitate—then suddenly brandish their daggers, as if unconsciously)
Aye stretched upon the wheel—
(keeping his eye upon them)
1st Ruf.
(to his fellow)
By Heaven, I will!—
(The other seizes his hand—as understanding his exclamation)
Ach.
(Going)
Gods! ye had better die ten thousand deaths,
In strife for him, than once deserve that glance;—
That lightning!—'twill reward ye for your faith—
O! may ye see him die!—
Both.
Die!—He die!
1st Ruf.
No, no, we'll save him yet,—
2d Ruf.
—or die ourselves.
Ach.
Ye save him, cowards!—he would rather die.
No, never!—never—ye that broke his heart!
Ye never can restore him to himself.—
Ye were the men that he had nursed in blood
His chosen ones!—his strength!
(pause—emotion)
—And ye deserted him!
No, he will die.—And ye shall are see your chief
Hooted and pelted by a peasant rabble—
1st Ruf.
By Heaven! they dare not.
29
We will all be there—
Ach.
Ye! O cowards! cowards!
Think ye that he would trust to you again!
Go seek your caverns, hide yourselves—and live.
For me—I will attend him to the block;
(emotion)
He yet shall look on me as he was wont,
When I had been a man,—and then—I'll die.
But ye!—O, may ye meet his eye once more!
1st Ruf.
Achmet, lead on—
2d Ruf.
—Aye, lead us where thou wilt!
We'll follow thee to death.
Ach.
Ye follow me to death! O, were ye men,
We had been masters of the citadel;
The Prince had been our prisoner!—and his guards
Had fed the vulture and the wolf this night.
Aye,—even now—had ye been men indeed,
We might have taken such a hostage here—
(Ruffians appear violently agitated)
But now, the Prince was here!
(stamping)
—Upon this spot!
1st Ruf.
We saw him too.
2d Ruf.
His guards were all about—the wood was full,
And what could we have done!
Ach.
What could we have done!
Why, borne him off, amid a thousand guards!
Had we been Otho's men.
1st Ruf.
Then we may do it now!
2d Ruf.
Aye, let us! let us!—Achmet, lead us forth.
Ach.
(Triumphantly)
Would ye redeem your souls?
Away! and I will trust ye yet.
(Rushes out as after the Prince,—followed by the Ruffians.)
| Otho | |