University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

An Apartment in Garcia's House.
Enter Garcia and Anthonio.
ANTHONIO.
So Spain hath lost the battle. 'Twas a plot
Of deep contrivance, though of fearful risk,
To set suspicion whispering through the camp,
Till each his fellow doubted.

GARCIA.
In the stretch
Of our designs we must not stop at hazard.
The king, whose weakness hath prepared revolt,
Totters upon his throne. His fall achieved,
Grenada's kingdom hails me for its lord:
By solemn compact with the Moor, 'tis mine
If once our gates receive him. Thence in course
Of fair succession it descends to you,
My nephew and my true inheritor.

ANTHONIO.
But is the Moor advancing on our city?

GARCIA.
Not yet. Alonzo must be first recall'd,
And, in his place, a friend to our intents
Appointed.

ANTHONIO.
Should it not be done with speed?

GARCIA.
Even now a messenger is in the camp
To summon him before Grenada's council.

ANTHONIO.
'Tis said he bore him nobly on that day,
Whose failure we upbraid him with.

GARCIA.
He did,
But not successfully.

ANTHONIO.
Yet in his fame
He'll find support. Then he has friends.

GARCIA.
What friends?
Friends found in sunshine, to be lost in storm:
There's many a breeze almost too faint to turn
A mote from its straight course upon the air,
In aspiration stronger than the sigh
That shakes a thousand friends off.

ANTHONIO.
True; but still Benducar is not one of those.

GARCIA.
We know not
Until he's tried; but let him do his utmost.
What can a worn-out veteran's honesty
Against our plausive guile? You've heard me speak
Of our Durazzo?

ANTHONIO.
I remember it.

GARCIA.
He vaunts to be a Spaniard born; yet some
Few years ago from foreign lands he came,
A stranger to our state, with ample means,
But no respectful mention. To the poor
He has been ever liberal; and hence
They watch his looks for leave to think; and act
As if their minds were vassal to his bounty.

ANTHONIO.
I've heard he is of weight.

GARCIA.
But note beside;
He, in his turn, is ready at the door
Of greater men, to do small offices,
And grow into their notice. If his art
Should rouse the people, we might reap the gain,
And nothing fear from his ambition.

ANTHONIO.
They say he's deeply read.

GARCIA.
I know not that;
But he has smooth persuasion at command,
And learning, not severe, but smiling with
The beauty of familiar ornament;—
The light without the shadow of the schools.

ANTHONIO.
Would you advise him of our purposes?

GARCIA.
No farther than may serve to crush Alonzo.

ANTHONIO.
'Tis worth some thought.

GARCIA.
He will be here anon,
By my appointment, to attend our pleasure.

Enter a Servant.
GARCIA.
How now?

SERVANT.
My lord, a stranger prays to see you;
His name, Durazzo.

GARCIA.
Bid him to approach.
[Exit Servant.
You'll find his aptness fitting, as I told you.
Judge for yourself—observe.

Enter Durazzo.
DURAZZO.
My lord, though here
At your command, I fear my zeal hath brought me
Too soon; but on a motion I retire.

GARCIA.
The time suits well, Durazzo; sit you down.

DURAZZO.
Nay, not in such a presence. Good my lord,
The king's advising counsellors partake
A portion of the royalty they guide,
And in his absence are his substitutes:
I dare not sit.

GARCIA.
My lord Anthonio, know
This man for one of merit.

ANTHONIO.
Sir, I greet you.

DURAZZO.
Why to this honour I am raised, I know not,
But I would fain deserve it at your hands.

GARCIA.
Have you not large acquaintance with the people?

DURAZZO.
I am well known.

GARCIA.
And influence?

DURAZZO.
As much
As falls to the particular lot of any
Who, like myself, with good intent alone
Purchase opinion of their countrymen.

ANTHONIO.
What say your fellows of our late defeat?

DURAZZO.
Sometimes they murmur.

GARCIA.
Are they not enraged
As we are all? O! how the Moor will stride,
And lift his dusky brow to think that Spain
For once has felt him!

DURAZZO.
If I might presume
To speak on such high matter—

GARCIA.
How! presume!
The winds that blow the rumour in your face,
Demand an answer from your passions.

DURAZZO.
Then,
As I have leave to pour my feeling forth
Without restraint before you, I will own
What pride I had was in my country's greatness,
Her fame in arms. The meanest citizen
Can claim his share of boast therein, for he
Had equals in the ranks that earn'd the glory.
To see her greatness sunk; her fame eclipsed;
And by the infidel, on whom we trod
But sixteen moons before, the vanquish'd slave
Our conqueror, the beaten our chastiser!
O! if to speak my thoughts were not t'offend
The masters of my action, I would raise
A voice within this city.—But I have
Forgot myself and you.

GARCIA.
Not so, Durazzo;
Your words are but an echo to the thoughts
That in us swell. Alonzo wrong'd you once.

DURAZZO.
He shew'd me some contempt.

ANTHONIO.
Of course you felt it?

DURAZZO.
So far as nature in her law provides;
But she's a quick performer; sudden lights
Her anger up, and soon it dies away.

ANTHONIO.
Benducar, too, repulsed you, as 'tis said?

DURAZZO.
In the same cause. My purpose was to serve
Against the Moor, and with an honest arm
Work out a station in the social frame
Of this community. Wealth I had some;
And knowledge, some of books, but more of men,
Caught in the noisy schooling of the world:
But still I had no place. They sneer'd at me;
My heart rose once or twice, but that was all;
For I was weak in power, and nothing proud;
And they had fashion's privilege to flout me

GARCIA.
Can you not now retort?

DURAZZO.
Who, I, my lord?

GARCIA.
Ay, you or any. If the mouth can praise,
The mouth can blame—the mouth can bite!

DURAZZO.
My Lord!

GARCIA.
You scan this late disaster like a man
Who loves his country's honour. To redeem
The lustre of her fame—to vindicate
Her fall among the nations, 'twere of use
Example should be made. Alonzo led
Our heroes to defeat. Alonzo, therefore,
He who could sneer at others, he should be
The scorn of every candid tongue. Where are
The people—that they call not for his life,
Surround the palace gates, and shake the throne?
Where are the people? you, who know their mind,
Awake it, and your wishes, though they stop not
Where hope doth stop, shall look at your reward
With wonder!

DURAZZO.
I am wonder-struck already;
To think that I, the child of pale neglect,
Should thus be pick'd and chosen from the mass
To serve your lofty need, and the state's interest!
As I perform, so let me prosper in
Your graces—the reward, the only one
My zeal can ask or merit.

GARCIA.
Lose no time;
You'll find the people in the public square
Full of strange fancies and imaginings,
By fear and anger bred upon defeat.
One word of dark suspicion or reproach
Would set them in a flame.

DURAZZO.
Expect to see it.
If there be any faith in destiny,
(And I have much,) the colour of my life
Was made for this occasion.

GARCIA.
Should you meet
Benducar there, accost him.

DURAZZO.
Can you doubt
He's for Alonzo?

GARCIA.
We have need to know.

DURAZZO.
I'll prove him, and report him as I prove.

GARCIA.
Farewell, my friend.

DURAZZO.
Farewell, my noble patrons.
[Exit Durazzo.

GARCIA.
What think you of our new ally?

ANTHONIO.
As one
Whose service we must use, having no choice.

GARCIA.
You like him not.

ANTHONIO.
His early sleep of pride
One ray of fortune would awake to daring.
I read it in his eye.

GARCIA.
He seems to bend
His very soul before us.

ANTHONIO.
True—he seems:
But these are ceremonials oft put on
With indignation, 'till the breath of time
Blow them aside, and shew the spirit bare
And terrible, and full of wrath to those
Who first mistook its nature.

GARCIA.
Be it so;
Still we must use him, as you say. But come;
The king expects us, and his ear will need
Some poison yet, to kill Alonzo's praises.

[Exeunt.