University of Virginia Library

Scene VII.

—The Walls of the City. The Plains beneath, with the Moorish Camp and Army.
Gonzalez—Garcias—Hernandez.
(A wild sound of Moorish Music heard from below.)
Her.
What notes are these in their deep mournfulness
So strangely wild?

Gar.
'Tis the shrill melody
Of the Moor's ancient death-song. Well I know
The rude barbaric sound; but, till this hour,
It seem'd not fearful.—Now, a shuddering chill
Comes o'er me with its tones.—Lo! from yon tent
They lead the noble boys!

Her.
The young, and pure,
And beautiful victims!—'Tis on things like these
We cast our hearts in wild idolatry,
Sowing the winds with hope!—Yet this is well,
Thus brightly crown'd with life's most gorgeous flowers,
And all unblemish'd, earth should offer up
Her treasures unto Heaven!

Gar.
(to Gonzalez.)
My chief, the Moor
Hath led your children forth.

Gon.
(starting.)
Are my sons there?
I knew they could not perish; for yon Heaven
Would ne'er behold it!—Where is he that said
I was no more a father?—They look changed—
Pallid and worn, as from a prison-house!
Or is't mine eye sees dimly?—But their steps
Seem heavy, as with pain.—I hear the clank—
Oh God! their limbs are fetter'd!

Abd.
(coming forward beneath the walls.)
Christian! look
Once more upon thy children. There is yet
One moment for the trembling of the sword;
Their doom is still with thee.

Gon.
Why should this man
So mock us with the semblance of our kind?
—Moor! Moor! thou dost too daringly provoke,
In thy bold cruelty, th' all-judging One,
Who visits for such things!—Hast thou no sense
Of thy frail nature?—'Twill be taught thee yet,
And darkly shall the anguish of my soul,
Darkly and heavily, pour itself on thine,
When thou shalt cry for mercy from the dust,
And be denied!

Abd.
Nay, is it not thyself,
That hast no mercy and no love within thee?
These are thy sons, the nurslings of thy house;
Speak! must they live or die?

Gon.
(in violent emotion.)
Is it Heaven's will
To try the dust it kindles for a day,
With infinite agony!—How have I drawn
This chastening on my head!—They bloom'd around me,
And my heart grew too fearless in its joy,
Glorying in their bright promise!—If we fall,
Is there no pardon for our feebleness?

[Hernandez, without speaking, holds up a cross before him.
Abd.
Speak!

Gon.
(snatching the cross, and lifting it up.)
Let the earth be shaken through its depths,
But this must triumph!

Abd.
(coldly.)
Be it as thou wilt.
—Unsheath the scimitar!

[To his guards.
Gar.
(to Gonzalez.)
Away, my chief!
This is your place no longer. There are things
No human heart, though battle-proof as yours,
Unmadden'd may sustain.

Gon.
Be still! I have now
No place on earth but this!

Alph.
(from beneath.)
Men! give me way,
That I may speak forth once before I die!

Gar.
The princely boy!—how gallantly his brow
Wears its high nature in the face of death!

Alph.
Father!

Gon.
My son! my son!—Mine eldest-born!

Alph.
Stay but upon the ramparts! Fear thou not
—There is good courage in me: oh! my father!
I will not shame thee!—only let me fall
Knowing thine eye looks proudly on thy child,
So shall my heart have strength.

Gon.
Would, would to God,
That I might die for thee, my noble boy!
Alphonso, my fair son!

Alph.
Could I have lived,
I might have been a warrior!—Now, farewell!
But look upon me still!—I will not blench
When the keen sabre flashes—Mark me well!
Mine eyelids shall not quiver as it falls,
So thou wilt look upon me!

Gar.
(to Gonzalez.)
Nay, my lord!
We must begone!—Thou canst not bear it!

Gon.
Peace!
—Who hath told thee how much man's heart can bear?
—Lend me thine arm—my brain whirls fearfully—
How thick the shades close round!—my boy! my boy!
Where art thou in this gloom?

Gar.
Let us go hence!
This is a dreadful moment!

Gon.
Hush!—what saidst thou?
Now let me look on him!—Dost thou see aught
Through the dull mist which wraps us?

Gar.
I behold—
O! for a thousand Spaniards! to rush down—

Gon.
Thou seest—My heart stands still to hear thee speak!
—There seems a fearful hush upon the air,
As 'twere the dead of night!

Gar.
The hosts have closed
Around the spot in stillness. Through the spears,
Ranged thick and motionless, I see him not;
—But now—

Gon.
He bade me keep mine eye upon him,
And all is darkness round me!—Now?

Gar.
A sword,
A sword, springs upward, like a lightning burst,
Through the dark serried mass!—Its cold blue glare
Is wavering to and fro—'tis vanish'd—hark!

Gon.
I heard it, yes!—I heard the dull dead sound
That heavily broke the silence!—Didst thou speak?
—I lost thy words—come nearer!

Gar.
'Twas—'tis past!—
The sword fell then!

Her.
(with exultation.)
Flow forth, thou noble blood!
Fount of Spain's ransom and deliverance, flow
Uncheck'd and brightly forth!—Thou kingly stream!
Blood of our heroes! blood of martyrdom!
Which through so many warrior-hearts hast pour'd
Thy fiery currents, and hast made our hills
Free, by thine own free offering!—Bathe the land,
But there thou shalt not sink!—Our very air
Shall take thy colouring, and our loaded skies
O'er th' infidel hang dark and ominous,
With battle-hues of thee!—And thy deep voice
Rising above them to the judgment-seat
Shall call a burst of gather'd vengeance down,
To sweep th' oppressor from us!—For thy wave
Hath made his guilt run o'er!

Gon.
(endeavouring to rouse himself.)
'Tis all a dream!
There is not one—no hand on earth could harm
That fair boy's graceful head!—Why look you thus?

Abd.
(pointing to Carlos.)
Christian! e'en yet thou hast a son!

Gon.
E'en yet!

Car.
My father! take me from these fearful men!
Wilt thou not save me, father?

Gon.
(attempting to unsheath his sword.)
Is the strength
From mine arm shiver'd?—Garcias, follow me!

Gar.
Whither, my chief?

Gon.
Why, we can die as well
On yonder plain,—ay, a spear's thrust will do
The little that our misery doth require,
Sooner than e'en this anguish! Life is best
Thrown from us in such moments.

[Voices heard at a distance.
Her.
Hush! what strain
Floats on the wind?

Gar.
'Tis the Cid's battle-song!
What marvel hath been wrought?
[Voices approaching heard in chorus.
The Moor is on his way!
With the tambour peal and the tecbir-shout,
And the horn o'er the blue seas ringing out;
He hath marshall'd his dark array!

[Ximena enters, followed by the Citizens, with the Banner.
Xim.
Is it too late?—My father, these are men
Through life and death prepared to follow thee
Beneath this banner!—Is their zeal too late?
—Oh! there's a fearful history on thy brow!
What hast thou seen?

Gar.
It is not all too late.

Xim.
My brothers!

Her.
(To Garcias.)

Xim.
Bless me, O my father!
And I will hence, to aid thee with my prayers,
Sending my spirit with thee through the storm
Lit up by flashing swords!

Gon.
(falling upon her neck.)
Hath aught been spared?
Am I not all bereft?—Thou'rt left me still!
Mine own, my loveliest one, thou'rt left me still!
Farewell!—thy father's blessing, and thy God's,
Be with thee, my Ximena!

Xim.
Fare thee well!
If e'er thy steps turn homeward from the field,
The voice is hush'd that still hath welcomed thee,
Think of me in thy victory!

Her.
Peace! no more!
This is no time to melt our nature down
To a soft stream of tears!—Be of strong heart!
Give me the banner! Swell the song again!

The Cits.
Ere night must swords be red!
It is not an hour for knells and tears,
But for helmets braced and serried spears!
—To-morrow for the dead!

[Exeunt omnes.