University of Virginia Library

ACT III.

SCENE, A Tower.
Erragon alone.
ERRAGON.
A glorious opportunity once lost,
Fate seldom will restore. Amidst his guards,
With his own sword, I should have stabb'd the tyrant,
Then fallen a noble victim of revenge.
'Tis past; and Erragon's his prisoner.
To what infernal purpose would he turn
My rumour'd death?—It is not worth a thought.
Malvina gone, let him possess a world,
That holds no joy for me. Ah, best-beloved!
Where are our former sweet delusions fled?
My glittering spires, and airy castles sink:
And I am left upon a lonely shore,
To find my weary way to death's dark house.
Here let me ponder then; where nought is heard,
But sea-fowl, screaming to the torrent's roar,
Till comes the destin'd hour.

Enter Hidallan.
HIDALLAN.
Sullen and sad,
Lo, where he stands. And now I'll execute
This king's injunction. But, for the world's wealth,
Not urge the unhappy wretch to a false oath.

ERRAGON.
Thou com'st fate's harbinger? Lead on; I follow.

HIDALLAN.
Stranger, commanded by the king I come,
With offer'd terms, that may prevent thy fate.
Swear to the death of Erragon, and live.

ERRAGON.
The king has heard my peremptory word.
But wherefore? to what purpose would he urge
So infamous a falsehood?

HIDALLAN.
To thee surely
Little imports the purpose; so thy life
Becomes the recompence. His happiness
Depends upon it. The happiness perhaps
Of one, whom dearer than his life he loves;
The beautiful Malvina.

ERRAGON.
What Malvina?
—My heart misgives.

HIDALLAN.
The wife of Erragon;
Whom he made prisoner; and at once became
The captive of her charms.

ERRAGON.
Spirit of Loda!
—Made prisoner? within his palace lives she,
Immured? devoted to his lawless will?
Thou hast beheld her? miserable woman!
Him too, the lustful tyrant, thou'st beheld?
Feels his flagitious soul no visitings
Of horror, of compunction?

HIDALLAN.
Whence these starts?

ERRAGON.
Thy reverend age is shocked. Thy cheeks turn pale.
Thy heart sheds fellow-drops of blood with mine.
Thy virtue will save her's.

HIDALLAN.
Perhaps he means
To wed her?

ERRAGON.
Wed her? Erragon alive!
And will not every husband's vengeful sword
Down to the howling ghosts th'adulterer plunge?

HIDALLAN.
Thy words burst wildly forth. These violent transports
Have more than common cause?—who art thou?—

Enter an Officer.
OFFICER.
Connal
Demands an instant answer from Hidallan.
Wherefore, I know not; but his mind's emotion
Gives cause of apprehension.

ERRAGON.
Hush, my heart!

HIDALLAN.
Speak thy resolve at once.

ERRAGON.
My destiny,
My destiny drives on! I must behold her.

HIDALLAN.
Wilt thou, in presence of Malvina, swear
That Erragon is dead?

ERRAGON.
Lead to Malvina!

[Exeunt.
SCENE, Malvina's Apartment. A sword and helmet on a table.
Malvina and Virgin.
MALVINA.
The sanctuary! what's sanctuary to me!
I'll no more thither. To the steep rock lead,
That frowns on that black flood. There, safe from Connal,
Deep in the watery world my ghost may rest.

VIRGIN.
Still, still would I fain hope.

MALVINA.
Turn thine eyes there!
Seest thou that sword? oh, death to every hope!
That helmet?—it once graced my warrior's brow!
Where is he now?—And shall Malvina hope?
Leave, leave me to despair!

[Exit Virgin.
Enter Minla.
MALVINA.
That stifled groan,
Minla, without a word, proclaims the worst!

MINLA.
Too suddenly I would not wound thy ear,
With what, however slow, must come too soon.
The worst, alas, has chanced!

MALVINA.
He's dead?—I see
The fate of Erragon in that pale glare!
My husband's murdered?—here I feel the wound,
Deep in my brain! it maddens! to behold
His poor, wan phantom! lo, it passes on!
And shakes its shadowy sword; and half uplifts
The helmet from its brow, purpled with blood!

MINLA.
Thy fancy forms vain fears. He's gone—

MALVINA.
I know it;
For ever gone; where spirits of past times,
Warriors and kings, his high-born ancestors,
Meet, and all-hail their hero. While Malvina,
His miserable Malvina!—lead me to him!
My eyes would gaze o'er every gaping wound;
My heart expire upon his breathless breast!

MINLA.
Ah, all at random drives thy mind, dear lady.
He died at Sora in the civil broils.
So speaks the harbinger, who saw him dead.
Who saw; and oh, my bosom more than bodes;
Who did the murd'rous deed.—Your eyes are fixt?
No words give utterance to your bursting heart!

MALVINA.
No words should utterance give, if it would burst.
But ah, it will not, Minla! in thy bosom
Let me suppress the rest; thy friendly bosom,
That answers sigh for sigh. Say, has the villain,
Struck with remorse and horror, own'd the crime!
For apprehensive conscience brings to light
Murders, that secret night had curtain'd close.
Fast as thy love can speak, unfold the tale
Hidallan tells; for he has told thee all.

MINLA.
No, not in words directly told me all.
Yet, forcibly as words have power to vouch,
His whole behaviour warranted.—He spoke
In such strange starts of passion; with a voice
So broken; with such caution; couched in words
Of such alarming import—ah, Malvina!
This harbinger's the horrid murderer,
Sent by the savage Connal.

MALVINA.
Thy suspicions,
Minla, strike out a fearful flash of light,
That naked lays the heart of this black fiend.
Most mortal was his hate to Erragon.

MINLA.
Which he, by this insidious villain's hand,
So fatally has wreaked.

MALVINA.
If it be so—
But then this sword and helmet found i'th'cave!

MINLA.
The murderer's trophies, dropt in the affray;
Which stronger makes the charge. But oh! my father,
(Were more proof wanting), when he sent me hither,
To warn, and to prepare thee for th'event,
Gave the dread tidings, by that sole injunction,
An oath's full warranty.

MALVINA.
More horribly,
Each moment, glares the truth. And will no bolt,
Down to the centre, the assassin hurl!

Enter Virgin.
VIRGIN.
A stranger, just arrived from Locklin, lady,
Intreats an interview.

MALVINA.
Minla, 'tis he!
His tongue would tell the tidings of that murder,
Which his hands perpetrated.—Hence, hence with him!
Let the wild ocean's waves between us roll!
More dreadful than the glare of midnight-ghost,
His presence would appal me! stop, forbid
His fatal entrance.

MINLA.
Vain were the attempt.
Commissioned by the king, th'assassin comes;
Whose force defies resistance. He must enter.

MALVINA.
Inhuman! would'st thou have my eyes meet his;
Behold the barbarous hand that did the deed,
Red with my husband's blood? first shall his sword—
His sword? Yet, yet a moment's pause.

MINLA.
Some answer
Must be dispatched.

MALVINA.
His sword!—ah, whither drives
The transport of that thought?—I'll see th'assassin,
Confront him; search his secret soul; and then—
I am wrought up! go, Minla; give him entrance.
Now for a deed of dreadful justice! love
[Exit Minla.
Marshals me on! vengeance and love! hark, hark!
'Tis Minla. She comes forth. She points towards me,
And with her the assassin! see, she leaves him;
And this way doth he move. Why shrinks my heart!
Muffled he comes, like murder! now, dear shade!
Ghost of my martyr'd lord! behold thy wife,
Beyond the weakness of a woman dare,
And give thee blood for blood!

Enter ERRAGON.
ERRAGON.
Be still, my soul—

MALVINA.
Infernal monster!—
[offering to stab him, she starts back.
—Ah! support me! save me!
Tremendous power of Loda!—if thou comest
[to Erragon.
The spirit of my husband, from the tomb—

ERRAGON.
I am thy husband. Be composed, my love;
Thy Erragon.

MALVINA.
My Erragon! earth open;
And hide me from his sight!

ERRAGON.
Down, dreadful thoughts!
That make my blood run chill. While I have power
To hear thee, oh, unfold the cause. Thou speak'st not!
Thy pale lips tremble! let thy husband's arms
Warm thee to life and love.

MALVINA.
Not till thus humbled,
I have implored forgiveness for th'attempt
Gainst thy dear life, and called the spirits of earth,
And air to witness, that I thought thee dead;
Murder'd, alas! and at thy murderer aim'd,
Mistaking, the rash sword.

ERRAGON.
From lips like those,
Breathing sincerity; and truth, and love.
Wants there another word to win conviction?
No, I at once behold the tyrant's hand,
Work darkly on to his infernal purpose,
Marriage with thee. But never would Malvina
Wed such a wretch, whom every human heart
Must shudder at with horror?

MALVINA.
Wed him! oh
Lived there no man but he; to shun his arms,
Fearless I'd plunge myself from the steep rock,
To the wild ocean's monsters.

ERRAGON.
Stop thy tears.
They find the way into thy husband's heart,
The well-known way, Malvina.

MALVINA.
Such a tale
I could unfold to thee. But let it die.
Believe me, oh believe! Malvina hates him
Worse than the midnight-fiend; and thee enshrines
Here in her soul, with every gracious act
Thy love's dear monuments,

ERRAGON.
I do believe;
Thy anxious spirit, starting from thy eyes,
Proclaims the truth. In this embrace, my love,
Be all forgotten.

MALVINA.
Still in dark disorder
A thousand questions cross upon my mind.
Scarce can I ask thee, how thou hither cam'st,
Scarce scarce believe thee here.

ERRAGON.
Since our sad parting,
Fortune I've met in all her ireful moods,
In my long sorrowing search of thee, Malvina;
Till last night's tempest cast me on this coast,
Where all our woes will end. From Connal now,
Of my own death to tell thee I am come.

MALVINA.
Oh destiny! thy dealings still I dread.
Past perils gallantly o'er earth and seas,
Thou hast sustained, like some good spirit of light.
So my love whispers. But my fears, the while,
My ominous fears forebode thou hast sustained them,
Only to find fate here. Thus while with hope
Thy unsuspicious heart exulting bounds,
Gleams fearfully behind thee a drawn sword.
Flight, only flight, can save thee. Then be gone,
Though the dread word is death to thy Malvina,
Be gone, my dearest husband.

ERRAGON.
And leave thee?
Thy unprotected virtue leave exposed
To the dark wiles of this insidious king?

MALVINA.
Full of distrust are guilty minds, like his.
And thine, alas, too open: on the least,
Slightest suspicion, Erragon, thou diest.
Then may thy wife indeed the tyrant wed.
But no; the self-same hour shall death's cold hand
Close our sad eyes.—He comes! the monster comes!
Oh, my dear lord! my terrors will destroy thee.

Enter Connal.
CONNAL.
Stand off. These arms alone shall lend her aid,
At this alarming hour: Connal alone
Breathe life into her lips.—Ah, could he too
Breathe love!

ERRAGON.
Down, swelling heart!

[Aside.
MALVINA.
Withhold me not—

CONNAL.
Nay, gentle lady, shrink not. To condole,
Not to insult thy sorrow, Connal comes.
Such frowns of fate the boldest may appal.
But there's an hour, which all, like Erragon,
Much reach, and sleep within the narrow tomb.
Thy tears have graced the warrior's memory.
And now, that tribute paid, my suit perhaps
May entrance find to ears so deaf before.

MALVINA.
Never—

CONNAL.
Oh, how enchanting to the love
Within my bosom, this reluctance speaks;
This sweet confusion, melting tenderness,
Though for a rival's death. Dearest of women!
Fan not a blazing fire.

ERRAGON.
Still, still be calm!

[Aside.
CONNAL.
Too far at this nice moment I'd not press;
Yet would my fond heart hope, ere the moon runs
Her monthly round, that Selma's bards might hail
Malvina Connal's queen.

MALVINA.
It may not be—

CONNAL.
It must.

MALVINA.
Impossible!

CONNAL.
How tremblingly
Thy timorous eyes glance round, on mine, on his,
As if his presence pain'd thee!—Is it so?
Speak; and he's hence for ever.

MALVINA.
Give me way—

[Exit.
CONNAL.
She's gone. Insensible as the cold tomb,
To which she flies from me.—Yet shall my love
Not quite despair.—Pondering thou stand'st; as all
Were not well done? thy tidings, were they not
Too sudden, too abrupt? didst thou relate them
So craftily, that not a doubt remain'd?

ERRAGON.
The tale I've told has banished every doubt.

CONNAL.
She loved this Erragon; destruction on him!
She doated, she still doats upon his charms.
What to my importunity may yield
Is forced by fear.—Well, be it forced by fear:
I will enjoy the triumph. Expectation!
How thou buoy'st up my spirit! 'tis not love,
But every madening passion met in one,
That swells my soul's full tumult.—Yet I'll fix
All sure; and quash, at present, future fears.
—Mark me; thus far our bidding thou hast done,
And saved thy life. Another deed remains,
The which if thy bold hand will execute,
I from thy low estate will lift thee high,
Above thy loftiest wishes.

ERRAGON.
Name the deed
That I appall'd shall shrink from.

CONNAL.
Dares thy sword?—
But we are interrupted. Minla comes.
This way, and I'll unfold to thee my purpose.

[Exeunt.
Enter Minla, with a Letter.
MINLA.

Enter Connal.
CONNAL.
That daring ruffian seems by nature formed
For every desperate purpose.—This point gained,
What, if I now indulge my longing eyes
With one more farewell? ah, I must perforce.—
Minla still here?

MINLA.
But why my mortal foe?
[not seeing the king.
Her gentle nature never, even in thought,
Hath done me wrong. Nor doth she wrong me now.
'Tis jealousy, that works me to betray,
Murder, perhaps, the noblest of her kind.
For who shall say how far the king's revenge—

CONNAL.
Revenge on whom?—thou makest me no reply?
But in confusion turn'st. Of dangerous import,
Something's engendering there. Conjure not up
Unfavorable thoughts. What is that paper?
And wherefore do thy trembling hands secrete it,
As guilt were therein folded? On thy duty,
Give me the paper.

MINLA.
Gracious Sir; this paper—
Beneath the seal of secrecy 'twas given.
And to betray that sacred confidence—

CONNAL.
Give it!

MINLA.
If thy peace of mind—if Everallin—

CONNAL.
His name a thousand apprehensions wakes.
The paper—

MINLA.
Yet forbear, thus let me rend—

CONNAL.
Minla, upon thy duty—

MINLA.
Take it then.
The fatal paper, that destroys thy peace;
And in one general ruin swallows all!

[Exit.
CONNAL.

[Exit.