 | The Knight of Rhodes |  |
39
ACT III.
SCENE I.
Damaral's Palace.Enter Hali.
HALI.
The lark, when high in his aërial flight,
Arrested by the practis'd fowler's voice,
Will sink unconscious of the fatal net
Spread for his ruin. Not a beast that ranges
In licens'd freedom the wild wilderness
But may be trammell'd by the hunter's art:
And man, imperious man, who thus subdues
All meaner natures, let a bait be offer'd
Of pow'r to tempt his wayward appetite,
Sinks from his fancied eminence, and falls
The poor degraded victim of temptation.
The haughty Damaral himself, that hero,
That demi-god, he whose resistless sword
Spread through the Turkish legions wide dismay,
Caught by a wanton female's vain allurements,
40
'Tis ready for him—the deep mine is charg'd,
And nought is wanting but the needful hand
To apply the match.—Would Omar but arrive
To second my bold effort—
Enter Almeida.
ALMEIDA.
Hast thou heard
One Omar, envoy from the Turkish Sultan,
Hath reach'd our harbour?
HALI.
Omar, didst thou say?
(Aside)
By heav'n! he comes propitious to my purpose—
(To Almeida)
Omar!—I know him not.—Is it yet bruited
What is his mission's object?
ALMEIDA.
If report
Speak justly of his purpose, he's empower'd
For the surrender of our guest to treat.
But who are these?
Enter Raymond and Omar.
RAYMOND.
I come from our Grand-Master,
To impart to Damaral what has late occurr'd,
And for this envoy from the Turkish camp
To ask short parlance with the captive Hali.
41
Damaral will give thee audience. For the rest,
Behold the captive Hali.
OMAR.
Art thou he,
To whom the fair Ismena was intrusted?
HALI.
I have that charge.
OMAR.
I would impart to thee—
Your favour, gallant knights! I've that to say
Which female delicacy renders sacred.
RAYMOND.
Take thy full license—say whate'er thou will'st—
I will to Damaral straight, and then rejoin thee.
ALMEIDA.
This way, good Raymond—
[Exeunt Raymond and Almeida.
HALI.
Doubly art thou welcome!
Our harvest's ripe, and waited but thy hand
To reap it fully. Precious are the moments
Which fortune gives us. Let them not be lost.
Com'st thou to treat for our release?
OMAR.
Such is
42
As thou hast prosper'd, I must act. Instruct me—
Shall I urge on my suit, or, to gain time—
HALI.
Give him no time—for, if he once reflect,
Our project will be vain.—Give him no time—
Press home thy suit, and leave the rest to me.
But soft—his friend returns.—I've more to say,
Which calls for privacy—
Enter Almeida.
HALI
(to Omar).
Thy words are sage,
And shall be graven in thy servant's heart.
(To Almeida)
Save thee, good sir.
ALMEIDA.
I pray you rest within.
While in our hospitality ye share,
Ye may what yet remains at ease discuss.
OMAR.
We thank thee for thy kindness—pray lead on.
[Exeunt.
SCENE II.
Another Apartment in Damaral's Palace.Damaral and Ismena.
ISMENA.
Ah cease, my lord! I may not hear thee more.
43
A glow of gen'rous sentiment so warm,
That an unpractis'd heart like mine might melt
To its undoing, were I to believe thee.
DAMARAL.
Trust me, my fair, mine is no flatt'ring tongue;
Untutor'd in the eloquence of love,
It fails to speak the dictates of my heart.
Could'st thou read that, thou would'st not doubt my truth.
ISMENA.
I would not doubt it—pardon me, my lord—
I know not what I say—I ought to doubt it.
'Tis dang'rous to believe. A lover's vows
Are light as air, no sooner breath'd than gone.
Who trusts to them is lost.
DAMARAL.
A lover's vows
Are true as holy faith when honour breathes them.
Credit me, fair, not love itself could tempt me
To vouch an ardour which I did not feel:
Nay, did I think thy heart avow'd a passion
For him to whom thy Sultan hath assign'd thee,
I'd not aspire to gain thee. If thou lov'st him,
Confess it, and, howe'er severe the trial,
Whate'er may prove the pang, I'll own his right,
And bury my presumptuous love in silence.
44
Love him? Love Selim? No! Whate'er my fate,
No pow'r shall make me own him as my lord.
Rather, secluded from the sight of men,
Would I in solitude consume my youth,
Or, doom'd to bondage, by incessant toil
Procure a scanty sustenance, than wed him.
DAMARAL.
Then may I hope, then may my tow'ring wishes
Aspire to thy perfections. Oh Ismena!
'Till now I never felt the pow'r of love:
A rugged soldier, 'till I view'd thy charms
I knew it but by name. Now, now I own it,
And at thy feet breathe forth my raptur'd soul.
ISMENA.
Arise, my lord—nay, kneel not thus before me—
How can I answer thee?
DAMARAL.
I ask not words:
A look, a smile, can reach my heart, and tell
What words can never speak—how now! who's that?
Enter Almeida.
Why thus intrude upon my privacy?
ALMEIDA.
Raymond awaits, and present audience craves.
45
What brings him now? Was there no other time
But this to break upon me?—Bid him hence.
ALMEIDA.
There is an envoy from the Turk arriv'd,
Who brings proposals—
DAMARAL.
Say'st thou from the Turk?
That may not be dispens'd with. (To Ismena).
For a moment
I must receive him. Trust me, fair, I will not
Be absent from thee long. (To Almeida).
Bid him approach.
[Exit Almeida.
(To Ismena)
Retire awhile, I pray; he'll soon depart,
Then with impatience will I fly to thee.
ISMENA.
I shall expect thee—think me not too bold
That thus I speak—let fair construction wait
On my defect—my heart, alas! will feel—
DAMARAL.
Thou'rt all perfection! Heav'n is in thine eye,
Thy glance is rapture, and thy touch is madness!
Curse on the chance that interrupts my transport!—
Hark!—He's at hand—away, away, away!
He may not see thee—all my soul goes with thee.
[Exit Ismena.
46
So, sir! What please you to require of me?
RAYMOND.
By Villiers am I charg'd to give thee notice
There is an envoy from the Turk arriv'd—
DAMARAL.
Well—what of him?—There is a certain matter
Which calls for my attention—so be brief.
RAYMOND.
Thus then it is. He urges the release
Of the fair maid—
DAMARAL.
Ismena?
RAYMOND.
Of Ismena.
Either for ransom, which our chief disdains,
Or by exchange for pris'ners of our own.
DAMARAL.
He hath refus'd her?
RAYMOND.
No—he deems it best
To treat with him, perhaps obtain a truce,
Which may give time for succours to arrive.
Thou heed'st me not. Attend, I pray—
DAMARAL.
To what?
47
Who, when the time demands our swords, expects
By idle courtesies to win success?
Let's hear no more on't!
RAYMOND.
I beseech your patience.
If we can save the blood of our brave friends—
DAMARAL.
There was a time when in our swords we trusted,
When Rhodian honour scorn'd to meet a foe
Except in equal field. But that is over.
Go—tell your courtly ruler I'm too old
To learn new fashions.
RAYMOND.
Nay, reflect, I pray.
DAMARAL.
'Tis beyond bearing he should thus presume
Of his own will to give the damsel up—
RAYMOND.
Thou dost mistake him—
DAMARAL.
No—I know him well—
But go, bear answer to your haughty chief,
I have accepted her in charge, and will not
To please his new caprice surrender her.
48
Since it is so, farewell!
[Exit Raymond.
DAMARAL.
Surrender her!
No! were whole hosts of Ottomans to claim her,
I'd guard her with my life!—Surrender her!
Just at the moment when she's mine to lose her!
For what? To pleasure him?—'Tis beyond bearing—
He master here in Rhodes! He to decide!
He to command me! Heav'n and earth! My soul
Labours within me, when I think upon
His elevation and mine own defeat.
A sycophantic courtier, one well read
In diplomatic lore, cunning to treat
Of embassies and such like scambling stuff,
A carpet knight, who, while my limbs were cas'd
In rugged steel, clad his in ermin'd robes,
And wielded in his weak enervate hand,
Unfit for nobler instrument, his pen,
The while in mine the faulchion of our Order
Spread wide destruction through the Turkish host—
Enter Hali.
HALI.
Pardon, my lord, if I unbidden enter
To pay my duty, and return my thanks
49
We now must leave thee—
DAMARAL.
Hast thou heard it then?
HALI.
Though freedom be a boon we all would grasp at,
Yet sometimes we are willing slaves. I fear
There's one among us, who will not rejoice
To quit a mild captivity for thraldom
More irksome far—
DAMARAL.
What mean'st thou?
HALI.
Poor Ismena!
Untoward is thy fate; thy tender heart
Will hardly bear the shock which now awaits it.
To be consign'd to hateful Selim's arms—
DAMARAL.
She shall not go—no pow'r on earth shall force her—
Let Villiers, if he dare, come here to claim her—
HALI.
No, no, my lord—invested as he is
With all the pow'r and influence of your Order,
He has more certain means to work his ends.
He's cool and politic; thou wert his rival;
He knows thou'rt his superior in renown,
50
That hatred, which a little soul will feel
For those it fears.
DAMARAL.
I care not for his hatred.
HALI.
I look'd for such reply; it well becomes
The hero, whom, of those who grace our age,
Th'impartial voice of fame hath mostly deck'd
With glory, and bespeaks the proud disdain
Of a brave spirit, struggling 'gainst the tide
Of adverse fortune. Yet it most concerns thee
Not too contemptuously to underrate
A foe who, like thy rival, holds a pow'r
Which at a stroke may crush thee. Well are known
Thy valour, and thy high repute in arms:
But he is deck'd with such authority,
That Damaral's self must bow—
DAMARAL.
Thou know'st me not.
Let him take heed. If I am once provok'd,
My arm can reach him, though he's plac'd so high.
HALI.
'Tis bravely spoken. If my feeble aid—
I crave forgiveness—I am but a captive,
One of whose faith thou hast not had experience,
51
Of my fair mistress.
DAMARAL.
Can I ask for more?
She, who is truth and purity itself,
Assur'd me she had prov'd and found thee true.
HALI.
I have indeed been faithful to her service,
And for the man on whom her pref'rence falls
I would do much. I could, an I might speak—
DAMARAL.
Say what thou will'st. But what avails thy zeal,
When ev'ry hope, which love or fair ambition
Once fondly cherish'd, is for ever lost?
HALI.
When fortune seems most adverse, gen'rous minds
Find in themselves fresh energies. 'Tis true
A hated rival is preferr'd before thee—
DAMARAL.
Why waken thus remembrances so cruel?
Couldst thou indeed teach me to sate my vengeance—
HALI.
I could.
DAMARAL.
'Twere well thou didst.
52
Thou art not one
Whom danger can appal; thou wouldst not shrink
At glory's call to meet impending fate.
But canst thou face opinion? Canst thou brave
The prejudices which enslave mankind?
DAMARAL.
Thy questions are mysterious.
HALI.
I'll be plainer:
I will not doubt thy firmness, but will shew thee
How in thy gen'rous nature I confide.
There is a secret, which, if I disclose it,
May touch my life.—Thy patience, I beseech thee—
Most nearly it concerns thee: all thy hopes,
Revenge, ambition, love, depend upon it.
My bosom holds it: there's no human pow'r
Can tear it from me. To none else but thee,
Whose cause I make my own, would I impart it.
DAMARAL.
Whate'er it be, thou may'st disclose it safely.
HALI.
I doubt thee not; yet deem me not intrusive,
If, ere I put my life into thy hands,
I ask more strong assurance. Wilt thou pledge
53
Thou wilt not take advantage of my frankness,
Or make me suffer for my boundless zeal
For thee and thy best int'rests?
DAMARAL.
Say no more.
Damaral disdains to wrong the man who trusts him.
Whate'er may be thy secret, on the honour
Of a true knight, no mischief shall betide thee.
HALI.
I take thy pledge.—Now grant me thy attention.
I am not what I seem. I am a man
Long honour'd with the Sultan's confidence.
I know his secret thoughts, and, 'mongst them, this:
That, 'midst his Christian foes, there's not a knight
Whose worth he so esteems, whose warlike fame
So highly he appreciates, as thine own.
'Tis so, believe me.
DAMARAL.
He has had no cause
To love or praise me.
HALI.
True—of all his foes
He has had most cause to deprecate thy valour.
But far beyond the scope of vulgar minds
His spirit soars. Though in an enemy,
54
DAMARAL.
Nay, though he threaten to subvert our Order,
I scruple not to own his princely worth.
HALI.
'Tis nobly said. Now come I to the point.
As far beyond all Christian knights he rates thee,
With that becoming candour, which adorns
A gen'rous soul like his, he would evince
His full conviction of thy high desert.
DAMARAL.
What mean'st thou?
HALI.
Thus it is. When I at Cyprus
Should land my charge, he bad me find the means
Of passing hither. By the chance of war,
In this at least propitious to his hope,
Have I thus soon accomplish'd his intent.
DAMARAL.
Dost thou commission bear from Soliman?
Dar'st thou avow it?
HALI.
On thy solemn pledge
Relying, I intrust thee with my life.
'Tis in thy pow'r; thou may'st imbrue thy sword
In my heart's blood, or give me o'er to torture—
55
DAMARAL.
True—my word is pledg'd.
Thou'rt safe—proceed—
HALI.
Behold this scroll—nay, start not—
I had it from my royal master's self—
DAMARAL.
Keep it away—I may not look on it—
HALI.
It breathes no pestilence—thou may'st with safety
Peruse its characters. Thou know'st already
What is its end and purport. It contains
The sentiments of one who feels thy worth.
DAMARAL.
I know not if I ought—already, saidst thou,
Am I advis'd of its contents?—Here—give it—ha!
(Reads)
“From Soliman, the master of the world,
“To valiant Damaral health”—
HALI.
I told thee so.
Thou see'st the Sultan owns thy high desert,
And would embrace thee as a friend.
DAMARAL.
I do—
But on what terms?
56
Read on.
DAMARAL
(reads).
“Thou aim'st at pow'r;
“But courtly artifice will thwart thy wishes;
“Villiers will gain the government of Rhodes.”—
How learnt he that?
HALI.
From him are not conceal'd
The machinations of your Christian princes.
Imperial Charles, who knew thou would'st not yield
Implicit def'rence to his haughty will,
Supported him against thee.
DAMARAL.
Was it so?
By heav'n! I thought it—but I'm glad I know it.
(Reads)
“Should Rhodes by thy assistance ope her gates,
“On thee its sov'reignty will I confer:
“I will maintain thy throne, and from thy loins
“Shall issue dynasties of future kings.”—
Here—take it back again—it must not be—
HALI.
Not be? Forbid it fate! Shall great revenge,
Shall regal dignity be slighted thus?
Wouldst on thy rival's head avenge thy wrongs,
Snatch from his feeble hand th'imperial sceptre,
57
Wilt thou stand tamely by, while from thine arms
They tear Ismena, while her peerless beauties,
Thine own, if thou assert them, are consign'd
To him she most detests, when by a word
Thou may'st proclaim to all the world thy love,
And place a diadem upon her brow?
DAMARAL.
Give me some pause—
HALI.
Will Villiers, think'st thou, give it?
Perhaps his orders are already issued
To rob thee of thy love.—Give thee some pause!
Would that my words were light'nings to inflame
All that is man in thee!
DAMARAL.
I am a man.
Thou'dst have me more.
HALI.
I would. I'd have thee rise
To the true level of thy princely soul,
I'd hail thee king, I'd give thee thine Ismena!
Thou know'st my master's power; he can, he will
Fulfil his promise.
DAMARAL.
'Tis a tempting proffer—
58
HALI.
Can it be rated at a price too high?
DAMARAL.
I do confess—but say, should I accept it,
What surety is there that, if Rhodes were his,
He would these ample promises fulfil?
HALI.
His honour. 'Tis a high and sacred pledge,
Which ne'er was forfeited. I took thy word,
And scrupled not t'intrust thee with my life—
DAMARAL.
Thou didst.—But still the plan's impracticable.
We are beleagur'd round; none can go forth:
And if one might, where could I find a friend,
Whom I might trust with Mustapha to treat?
HALI.
Canst thou trust me?
DAMARAL.
I think I may.
HALI.
Thou may'st.
DAMARAL.
Nay, credit me, I think it. But thou canst not—
HALI.
There's nought more easy. Grant me thy attention.
59
Give semblance of consent: then, when his choice
Of one to treat of it with Mustapha
Is undecided, name me.
DAMARAL.
He'll not hear on't.
HALI.
Why not? I shall be only charg'd to bring
The Turk's response. A captive may do that,
And save your knights from a degrading function.
Nay, they will have security enough
For my fidelity and prompt return,
When they reflect that on them must depend
Th'enlargement of Ismena. Gain but this,
And trust to my address for full success.
DAMARAL.
There's much in what thou say'st—
Enter Almeida.
ALMEIDA.
Most noble sir,
Thy presence is requested at the council,
Where Villiers waits thy coming, to decide
What answer shall be render'd to the Turk.
DAMARAL.
My instant presence at the council, say'st thou?
(To Hali)
'Tis somewhat sudden.
60
'Tis a hint from fortune.
Neglect it not. Thy fate rests on the moment.
A throne—Ismena—vengeance—
DAMARAL
(to Almeida).
I'll obey him.
[Exit Almeida.
DAMARAL.
The die is cast—my fate is on the stake—
I will rely upon the Sultan's faith.
Expect my prompt return. Prepare thee straight.
[Exeunt.
END OF ACT III.
| The Knight of Rhodes | |