 | Cosmo De' Medici |  |
SCENE IV.
Grand Hall of the Ducal Palace. Cosmo seated in the Ducal Chair; the Duchess near him. Nobles, Cavaliers, Ladies, Gentlemen, &c. &c., ranged on each side. Triumphal music.Cosmo.
Nobles, and cavaliers, and gentlemen!
Equally noble in your several virtues,
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In the address, spontaneous and full-hearted,
Thus tender'd to ourselves; whereof a part
So large doth of far better right belong
To the high memories that crown this day!
Bear, then, in mind the glorious names of those
Who fell, when Marciano's victory
Laid broad foundation for our towering sway.
[Triumphal music.
'Tis our regret, at such a ripen'd season,
The Princes should not with their presence grace
This Anniversary, which, though so brief
In't's outward show, is one of Time's best harvests.
I doubt not hither they are spurring apace;
And ere the sweeping shade of man and steed
Be lost in widening night-fall, they'll appear,
And add their greeting to our own best welcome.
CHORUS.
'Twas ancient Saturn's children fell
By his stern hand and fate's decree,
Lest they, unnatural, should rebel,
And desolate heaven's majesty.
But that primæval king,
Deceiv'd, and dim-eyed, crush'd a stone
That form'd the basis of his throne—
And lost stars o'er him swing!
By his stern hand and fate's decree,
Lest they, unnatural, should rebel,
And desolate heaven's majesty.
But that primæval king,
Deceiv'd, and dim-eyed, crush'd a stone
That form'd the basis of his throne—
And lost stars o'er him swing!
Long hid in Latium's forests old,
With him came forth the Age of Gold;
Kind deeds, and lovely arts, and creeds
Whose altars bore not aught that bleeds,
But, images of clay:
Thus did the father of great Jove
The earth with gifts divine improve,
Which gild the present day.
With him came forth the Age of Gold;
Kind deeds, and lovely arts, and creeds
Whose altars bore not aught that bleeds,
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Thus did the father of great Jove
The earth with gifts divine improve,
Which gild the present day.
[The Duke descends from the Chair of State.
Cosmo.
Now to the banquet-hall! My noble friends!
Thus rich in Florence' beauty, little need
Have we of garish torches, dead at the core;
With such soft brightness burning from within,
And radiant to the foot—Who's this? with's spear,
And grey with dust!
Enter Dalmasso, hastily.
See you aright, sir?
Dal.
Duke!
Your Highness' private ear—
Cosmo.
Come, sir; be brief.
[They step aside.
Dal.
The Prince Giovanni—
Cosmo.
Wherefore stays he thus?
Giovanni and young Garcia should be here:
I'm anger'd at their stay—ha! what has happen'd,
That thus aghast you look?
Dal.
Giovanni's dead!
Cosmo.
Who?—dead?—who's dead?
Dal.
Giovanni—Prince Giovanni!
We've found his body in the forest.
Cosmo.
And dead?—utterly?—the last spark gone?
Dal.
Quite cold!
Cosmo.
Stand fast!—remain you here.
Duch.
(advancing).
We wait
Your Highness' pleasure.
Cosmo.
I shall join you anon.
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Immediate audience claims. Duchess, lead on!
[Exeunt, all but Cosmo and Dalmasso.
Cosmo.
Repeat thine horrid news: or if't may be,
Correct and qualify—say he is dying,
But by a timely aid may yet be saved!
Tell me thou art not in thy proper mind,
But do not tell me that my son is dead!
Dal.
Would I were mad, or wild with wine, or dreaming!—
But 'tis too true!
Cosmo.
How should he die!—what dastards
Stood by to see the forest boar's fierce tusks
Root out his life?
Dal.
'Twas no fierce boar that did it,
Nor wolf—
Cosmo.
Aha! death's face grows darker! what, then, did it?
Dal.
We know not: in the forest's depths we found him.
His wild steed, bounding past us, help'd the search.
His blood had still some warmth—but he was dead.
Cosmo.
Art sure?
Dal.
Most sure: one huntsman only with me,
We could not thence remove him.
Cosmo.
Lies he there
E'en now?
Dal.
He does: the huntsman seated close,
With face as white. Near him this broken point,
As of a sword-blade—
Cosmo.
Whose is't?
Dal.
I know not;
But by his side we found his own.
Cosmo.
Unsheath'd?
Dal.
Unsheath'd and stain'd, as tho' he had fought.
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No, no!
He hath been foully murder'd, and 'twas drawn
To cheat stern retribution—who has done it?
Where's Garcia—where was Garcia when 'twas done?
Dal.
The Princes parted from us when the chase
Was at a headlong height; when he rejoin'd us
He came alone, nor knew he aught of it—
As it did seem.
Cosmo.
Oh! I will find the truth,
Were't from the very stones! My passionate grief
Shall breed an inspiration and a power
Oracular—executive!
(After a pause)
Now, mark me fixedly:
When that the banquet doth confuse all thoughts
With dazzling vanities and high-wrought blood,
Hie thou away into the forest gloom,
With fit attendants, whom thou well can'st trust.
There, from grey dawn to dusk thy vigil keep:
Then, secretly return. As secretly
Bring thou my son's dead body with all care,
And forthwith place it in the anteroom
Of mine own private chamber! Go at once;
But let no syllable of these commands
By thee be breath'd, or those who shall attend thee;
Nor aught relating to this dark event.
Dal.
Your Highness' orders shall—
Cosmo.
Dost understand?
Dal.
I do, my liege.
Cosmo.
Go then, at once, I pray you.
Exit Dalmasso.
What's all this coil of state—ambitious hopes,
Wars, well-won honours, policies, designs,
Ponderings and weighings, aching sleepless nights,
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To work out good results!—thus in a moment
Comes simple death, and all's at once dispers'd
Like straws before a sudden-open'd gate!
But what's ambition's wreck to this my loss?
And lamentation startles into horror
At something that's behind! I will know all,
Tho' half should crush me! Slaughter'd son! thy blood
Will rise up in a haze as wide as twilight—
Concentrate—form and lo! the mighty image
Shall, like the solemn voice of desert winds,
Pronounce thy murderer's name! I would evade
The appalling force of thoughts—but why evade?
Best meet them, for results they e'en must have
Which I should meet—and therefore, that I will!
Why comes not Garcia, choking with grief and haste?
He saw his brother last—he last was with him,
And must know somewhat of his death, or loss!
Why not? I fear to answer to myself!
[Exit Cosmo.
| Cosmo De' Medici | |