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| 1. | [Scene I] |
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 | The unpublished plays of Thomas Holley Chivers |  |
[Scene I]
(Ormaclade. Macdonald's residence in the background. Enter Sir Ronald and Madalena as Page.)Sir Ronald
But tell me, gentle Page! how is thy hand?
I would that it were well, we lack thy songs,
57
But more, the pleasing sadness of thy voice.
Page
I would forego the pleasures of my harp,
To know that they are masters of the day.
Sir Ronald
They are, as you desire, the masters of the day.
They nobly routed all their foes.
Page
We live!
But are you sure that we will conquer?
Sir Ronald
Yes,
Unless the sightless Chariot of Fate
Should drive his iron wheels above our hopes,
And crush the life blood from our royal Charles!
As if the eternal thunder rolled above
The fragments of dissolving empire!
Page
Shout!
And let the caverns of the mighty earth
Reverberate the loud acclaim! Shout! shout!
And make the echoes of our joyful hearts
The knell of England's destiny!
58
The Chiefs
Are shouting now upon the far-off hills,
Until the mighty mountains echo back
Their thunderbolts of vengeance on the foe!
Soon shall the mighty arm of royal Charles
Unsheathe the blazing sword, whose edge shall cut
The adamantine chains of Tyranny.
For now they cry aloud for Scotland's King,
While we stand here debating how they fought.
(Enter Francisco, the Monk, who gazes intently at the Page, who, seeing him, falls in Sir Ronald's arms.)
Page
Come, quick! away from this! my heart is sick!
Sir Ronald
For Heaven's sweet sake, Fernando, speak! what is
The matter? What could thus have harmed you so?
Page
(The Monk passes on slowly)
There, nothing now, Sir Ronald, give me air.
Sir Ronald
I pray you, tell me what it is? (The Monk passes out)
Page
(Recovering)
There, now,
'Tis nothing now. I am most well again.
59
Sir Ronald
But why do you thus gaze at nothing so,
As if you were absorbed in your own thoughts?
Methinks you are unwell.
Page
No, not at all.
I was just thinking of that beauteous girl,
The lovely Madalena.
Sir Ronald
What of her?
Page
I thought how purely beautiful she looked,
As softly radiant as the peaceful Heaven,
When first aurora comes with rosy smiles,
To ope the portals of the dappled East,
And lead the morning forth to light the world.
Sir Ronald
Who is the lovely Madalena, Page?
Page
She is the royal Prince's only child.
Sir Ronald
Ah! Young Fernando! are you sure in love?
60
Where is she now? Come, tell me where she is?
Page
Ah! if you had beheld her dark bright eyes,
When we were doomed to part, suffused with tears!
Sir Ronald
But why not tell me where she is?
Page
She is—
Her father left her at the convent—with
My mother Angelica. Would she were here.
Sir Ronald
But say, Fernando, are you not in love?
Come, do not say it is not so, you are!
These fainting fits are symptoms of such things.
Page
And then, Sir Ronald, you have been in love?
Sir Ronald
I would be, were you not now in the way.
Methinks, from what you have just said, that she
Was formed to be the partner of my joys.
Why change, as if you had entire control
Of her?
61
I have more right than you may think.
But is it true that you could love that girl?
Sir Ronald
Why ask so oft? Are you not jealous, boy?
Page
I would be jealous were you now in love
With any one beside, but you are not?
Sir Ronald
Most fascinating boy! were you but now
A woman, beautiful as now thou art,
I would prefer thee to the world.
Page
And were
Fernando any thing but what he is,
He would prefer Sir Ronald to the world.
Sir Ronald
Methinks, one smile would win me from the war
And make me subject unto her alone.
Page
Well, you acknowledge your allegiance soon,
For she is heiress to the Scottish throne.
Sir Ronald
The Mirandolean Minstrel then can stand
62
Page
True, did you ever know
A Princess marry with her father's Page?
Sir Ronald
I never did.
Page
Then why retrive the day
In love.
Sir Ronald
I only asked if it were so.
You may have been in love with her, without
Her absolutely being so with you,
For if my eyes do not deceive me, as
I do profess to be some sort of judge
In matters of this kind, you are in love.
Page
Indeed, Sir Ronald, you astonish me!
Sir Ronald
Most persons are astonished why they love.
Page
Then you have been astonished in that way?
Come—no prevarication—speak the truth.
63
Indeed you need not urge me to confess.
But should we thus marvel at such things?
I love the royal Stuart as my life;
And would, to shield him from the foe, rush in
And sheathe the dagger that was aimed at him,
In my own heart.
Page
(Embracing him)
Friend of my raptured soul!
Sir Ronald
From henceforth let the Highland Chieftain's heart
Be mingled with the Mirandolean boy's.
Page
And feel for him what now he feels for thee?
Or what the Princess Madalena yet
May feel for thee?
Sir Ronald
Ay, were thou both combined,
But are you not in love with her.
Page
I am;
But not affianced to her any more
Than unto you, or any one beside.
What if we should behold her here tonight?
64
What would Fernando say?
Page
Why, I should say
That she was worthy to be made thy wife,
Or even an heir to Scotland's throne.
Sir Ronald
But Ronald never can be hers.
Page
Why not?
Sir Ronald
He is too lowly born.
Page
Too lowly born!
A Highlander too low? Were you not born
Upon the hills?
Sir Ronald
I was—upon the mountains top.
Page
Then let your soul be like your birth nigh Heaven.
You are the Eagle—she the faithful Dove.
Sir Ronald
My tongue is bankrupt for sufficient words
To give the praise.
65
Nay, keep them to bestow
On her, who is to be thy wedded wife,
The royal daughter of the godlike Charles.
Sir Ronald
Ah, sweet Fernando, if it could be so,
The love-sick Ronald would forget the war.
Page
It will, if young Fernando have his way.
Sir Ronald
And you have known her from her infancy?
Page
I have. She was the playmate of my youth.
Sir Ronald
I loved the royal Prince before—but now,
I feel endeared to him by stronger ties.
Page
Then will you promise me one thing?
Sir Ronald
I will,
Fernando, promise anything.
Page
Perform
What you may promise?
66
Ay, indeed I will.
Page
Then, swear that you will never wed, except
The royal Madalena.
Sir Ronald
What if she
Be ugly?
Page
She is most beautiful
Yet, gentler than the gentlest of her sex.
Sir Ronald
But what if she will have me not?
Page
She will.
Sir Ronald
I swear! But wherefor do you ask me thus?
Page
It is enough that you have sworn. Come on,
The royal Madalena shall be thing.
(Exeunt)
| The unpublished plays of Thomas Holley Chivers | |