University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

The Grand-Master's Palace.
Villiers, Raymond, Davila, and other Knights discovered.
RAYMOND.
So ended my discourse with Damaral.
In my relation I have much suppress'd
Of what rude passion utter'd.

VILLIERS.
It is pity,
That such a gallant gentleman as he is
Should thus give way to moody discontent.

DAVILA.
He hath a spirit which disdains controul:
The shadow of authority disturbs him.
I never saw so proud a man, or one
So little form'd to struggle with reverses.
His recent disappointment taints his mind,
And brooding envy works so strongly in him,
That, did occasion suit—

VILLIERS.
Think better of him,
Nor breathe suspicion 'gainst his high desert.
Though rough, he's honest, and, though hasty, loyal.

DAVILA.
You judge him by yourself. A noble nature
From the clear mirror of its own pure soul
The characters of other men reflects,
Sheds a resplendent ray of glory round them,
Transforming all their frailties to perfection.

VILLIERS.
If to think well of others be a weakness,
I am indeed most weak. We all have frailties,
And that, of which we're conscious in ourselves,
We should with charity excuse in others.
The gallant Damaral has approv'd himself
Our Order's best support: let us then weigh
His merits 'gainst his faults, and we shall find
How they prepond'rate.—But no more—He comes.

Enter Damaral.
DAMARAL.
Here on thy summons I attend.

VILLIERS.
'Tis well.
Thou know'st the cause wherefore we thus assemble,
But we are yet to learn why thou disdain'st
Our mandate.

DAMARAL.
Noble sirs! Ye have known me long,
My merits and defects. I need not tell you
I am a man of plain, unvarnish'd manners,
Unpractis'd in the modes of courtly life,
Who never studied grace, or learn'd to mould
My phrases to the fashion of the time.
What passes in my heart my tongue will speak,
And, when I'm mov'd by choler, I am apt
To give free utt'rance to my sudden thought.
This ye all know; and, if too strongly now
Or hastily of what ye plann'd I spoke,
Let your good favour pardon my defect.

VILLIERS.
'Tis spoken like thyself.—Thou know'st the Turk
Asks with strong instance the release of her
Whom brave Du Mesnil took. Could our compliance
Obtain from them a truce, the Christian pow'rs
Might then have time to send their wish'd-for aid.

DAMARAL.
And thereto do your councils tend?

VILLIERS.
They do.

DAMARAL.
To treat with Mustapha?—We never yet
Held parley with our unbelieving foe.
'Tis 'gainst our rule. Yet, as you sagely judge,
Th'occasion seems to warrant it. Then why
Reject what our necessities require?
Whom send you forth?

VILLIERS.
That is a point, whereon
Thy judgment may assist us.

DAMARAL.
'Tis indeed
A service which discretion will require,
And yet 'tis such as will degrade the doer.
When heard ye, since our Order had existence,
That any knight so far forgot his station,
As the forbearance of the foe to court?

VILLIERS.
So stand the rule and practice of our Order.
Yet this, methinks, is an exception to it:
For, after all, what is it but t'arrange
Terms of exchange for those we captive hold?

DAMARAL.
True—'tis no more.—Yet that is all too much,
And may have consequences—no!—'tis certain
Ye cannot send a knight.—But then whom else?—
Let me reflect.—A thought has just occurr'd,—
How far 't may be expedient you must judge,—
Why, when none else can fitly be employ'd—
For so it is—should you not try the captive,
Who hither with the damsel came?

DAVILA.
The captive?
What know'st thou of the captive?—Trust to him!

DAMARAL.
In what respect, I pray, can he deceive us?
What is the object of his purpos'd mission?
The freedom of the damsel. What the terms
On which that boon depends? A truce. Who then
So fitly may be trusted with the charge,
As he who feels most int'rest in her welfare?
He seems well suited to the task, and trusty.

VILLIERS.
We know him not. If thou hast cause to trust him—

DAMARAL.
Cause, say'st thou?—No—I talk'd with him indeed—
The lady much commends him.—For myself,
I have no cause—but she must know him best.—
(Aside)
How ill I play the hypocrite! (To Villiers)
'Tis certain
He has an int'rest, which none other has,
To prompt him to exertion.

VILLIERS.
He hath so.
Shall we commission one to bring him hither?

DAMARAL.
'Twere sagely done.— (Aside)
If I stay longer here,
My feelings will betray me. (To Villiers)
There's a matter,
Which presses strongly, and requires my presence.
I'll send him to thee. Judge of him thyself;
And give him thine instructions.—I will send him.
[Exit Damaral.

DAVILA.
What? So abruptly gone?—I marvel much
He thus should change without apparent cause.
To Raymond now all fury, venting threats
'Gainst any who should dare remove the maid;
Now, first to send her back.—And then the captive—
'Till now a total stranger; yet he vouches
He is deserving trust. He may be so;
But I would have other security,
Than that he gives us.

VILLIERS.
Be content, I pray.
If he be such as Damaral has describ'd,
It may be well to use him.

DAVILA.
I have done.—
Raymond! a word.—Let's watch this trusty captive.
I like not over confidence.

RAYMOND.
Agreed.

VILLIERS.
Come with me, friends! Let us th'instruction frame
For our new messenger. Should our attempt
Meet with success, our pains are well bestow'd;
If not, upon our arms and oft-tried valour
Let us depend, and look to heav'n for safety.

[Exeunt.