University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

The grand hall of the castle lighted up magnificently. Leonora, Mencia, Carlos, and company discovered; music, which presently ceases, and Enter a Servant.
Leo.
(aside to servant).
How is thy master? Has he left his chamber?

Serv.
(aside to Leonora).
Yes; he will soon appear; he is preparing.

Leo.
(aloud).
Indeed, indeed, I have been much concern'd
That Don Henriquez has, from sudden illness,
Been tardy in respect to noble guests
Whom he so truly honours; but I hope—
(Flourish of trumpets.)
Ha! who is this? Some guest in princely state.

Enter Servant.
Serv.
The king is at the gate.

Leo.
The king! a great surprise! unlooked-for honour!
I'll to the gate. (To the music.)
Strike up a royal welcome!

[Exeunt Leonora, Carlos, and others, while the music plays a grand martial air; then
Re-enter Leonora, &c., conducting the King, attended, who receives the homage, and continues speaking in dumb-show to many of the company, till the music ceases.
King
(to Leonora).
Fair hostess, I am come in homely trim
For such a gay assembly.

Leo.
Your poor servants
Are greatly honour'd by this condescension;
A glad surprise, so far beyond our hopes.

King.
Ay, and beyond mine own, fair dame; but finding
From wrecks of mountain torrents, or neglect,
The straight road to Zamora was impassable,
I took the wider compass, and proceeding
Through these domains by favour of the night,
Your castle from its woods look'd temptingly,
And beckon'd me afar to turn aside.
The light from every lattice gaily stream'd,
Lamps starr'd each dusky corridor, and torches
Did from the courts beneath cast up the glare
Of glowing flame upon the buttress'd walls
And battlements, whilst the high towers aloft
Show'd their jagg'd pinnacles in icy coldness,
Clothed with the moon's pale beam.
—It pleased my fancy;
And here I am, a hasty visitor,
Who must Zamora reach by early day;
Where many a lofty lord, and learned clerk,
And all the rogues and robbers of the district
Await my coming.

Car.
All of them, my liege?

King.
I spoke at random, like a graceless layman:
More than the church's portion were presumption,
A tithe of them will do.—Here is Henriquez.

Enter Henriquez, richly dressed.
Hen.
My humble homage to your highness: welcome
To my poor house, so honour'd by your presence.

King.
I thank thee, brave Henriquez, but I fear
'Tis an untimely visit; thou'rt unwell.

Hen.
Nought but a passing ailment; do not name it.

King.
In faith your face is wan, and strangely changed,
And would become a sober beadsman's frock
More than a festive mantle. How is't with you?
Retire again to rest.

Hen.
My face speaks falsely, I am much recover'd.
Here is the cup of welcome; will your grace
Be pleased to honour me.

[Taking a cup from a servant, and presenting it on one knee to the King.
King.
All good be on your head, and this fair dame's!
[Bowing to Henriquez and Leonora, and then drinking.
Fair ladies and brave lords, well be ye all!

[Bowing to the company, and drinking again.
Hen.
(to the servant, who is pouring out a cup for him).
Up; fill it to the brim.
Health to the king, and a long happy reign!
[Drinks.
To all my honour'd guests health and good welcome!

[Drinks again.
King.
A goodly company: here are, methinks,
High blood enough, plumed hats and coronets,
To furnish out a court.

Leo.
They honour this poor feast which I have fashion'd.
To grace my lord's return.

King.
You have done well; and I should grace it too,
Who was the greatest gainer by his absence,
When he with brave companions like himself
Against the Moors did for the state good service,
As Alcantara, by their valour won,
And now a noble hold for Christian knights,
Can nobly testify.
I speak not of the Navas de Tolosa,
Where he upon that memorable day
Broke through the Moslem chain of armed guards,
Changing their strength to slaughter and dismay:
We are too apt to speak of recent services.
Former or recent, would I could repay them!

Hen.
Your bounty has already done it nobly.

King.
Fy, fy! a trifle; what would scarce maintain
A rustic lord, who dozes life away
In his porch'd hall, where hawks wink on the perch,
And hounds lie sleeping round him. Take this ring:
My royal father wore it many a day;
And whatsoe'er thou shalt request of me,
Returning to my hand this pledge again,
It shall be granted, were it half the realm.

Hen.
(receiving it on his knee).
I thus receive it with all humble duty.
[Rising with forced animation.
But let us now be gay: the time wears on.
By early dawn I must attend your highness,
To reach Zamora by th' appointed hour.

Leo.
I am rejoiced to see you so recovered.

[To Henriquez.
Hen.
I thank you, lady; let your guests receive
Your present courtesies.—Where are the minstrels?
Let them strike up a dance: we are too still.

Leo.
Doubt not we shall be gay; but we expect
Some merry masquers here to join our revels;
They should have come ere now.

Hen.
Wait ye for such? Are they not come already?

Leo.
How so, my lord?

Hen.
The world is full of them:
Who knows the honest unclothed worth of those
That by your side may stand, drink from your cup,
Or in your bosom lie? We are all masquers.

King.
Your wine has cheer'd you to a gibing humour;
You are severe, my lord, on this poor world.

Hen.
If I have said amiss, e'en let it pass:
A foolish rev'ller may at random speak:
Who heeds his idle words?—Music strike up.

[Music; the King retires with Henriquez to the bottom of the stage, and the guests prepare to dance, when Blas with a face of horror enters the hall, and beckons Carlos aside.
Car.
What dost thou want?

Blas.
A fearful thing has happen'd;
And to my lord, or Donna Leonora,
It may not hastily be told.

Car.
What is't?

Blas.
A murder'd body near the castle lies,
But newly slain; and they who found it swear
(For well they know his form and countenance),
It is Don Juan's body.

Leo.
(who has stolen near them to listen).
Don Juan's body, saidst thou? Is he dead?

Blas.
Yes, madam, they have found him in the wood
Lifeless and—

Leo.
Oh, I guess thy horrid look!
And he is murder'd? Dreadful, barbarous deed!

[Exclaiming aloud.
[All quit their places for the dance, and crowd round Leonora, who is supported by Mencia, appearing also affected, whilst Henriquez, at a distance, observes them intently.
Leo.
(recovering).
O Carlos! tell my lord the horrid tale.
I must retire.

[Exit with Mencia and other ladies.
King
(coming forward with Henriquez).
Some strange commotion here!

Hen.
(to Carlos).
What has befallen?

Car.
What will most keenly rend your noble heart;
Yet to a soldier I should tell it plainly:
Don Juan, from some secret villain's stroke,
Has met his fate this night, and near your walls.

Hen.
Away! Howl not so wild a dirge to me:
Far distant from these walls, full many a league,
Don Juan surely is. Ye are deceived.

Blas
(shaking his head).
No, no! O no!

Car.
I fear he tells us true.

Hen.
He wrote to me, not many days ago,
A letter, dated from his northern seat,
Which made no mention of his visit here:
If what you say be true, it is most strange.
I'll be assured if it, indeed, be so.

[Going hastily.
Car.
(preventing him).
Retire, and I will see it ascertain'd:
You shall not look upon so sad a sight.

King
(to Henriquez).
Retire, my lord: it were not fit you went.
Your noble guests beseech you to retire.

Hen.
I will obey your grace. I thank ye all.

[Exeunt Henriquez and Carlos severally.
King
(to the guests).
Were it not well that we should all retire?
Our banquet to a funeral wake is turn'd,
And cannot cheer us now.

[Exeunt.