University of Virginia Library

ACT IV.

SCENE I.

The Mosque, magnificently illuminated. A splendid marriage procession. Xarifa, supported by Moorish ladies, seems scarcely able to advance. When the procession has entered the Mosque, Alhamut and Ali remain.
ALHAMUT.
I will not to the Mosque; nor wilt thou, Ali,
If on thy brow I read thy thought aright.

ALI.
No, truly; why should we be there, to cringe
Before the Aben-zurrah's haughty daughter,
Who from the giddy throne prepares to frown
Annihilation on the Zegri race?

ALHAMUT.
With what deep art Moraizel long conceal'd
The serpent in his bosom hatch'd to sting us!

ALI.
Yes, feigning still his daughter was betrothed
To Albin Hamad. But when time is ripe,
The youth is sent where sure destruction waits;
And now, condemn'd to death, the trusting fool—

ALHAMUT.
No, Ali, no! the Aben-zurrah's daughter,
Ere yet the crown was on her brow, had tasted
The sweets of sovereignty. O'erturn'd at will
Granada's laws! extended royal pardon,
Condemn'd—protected—with the practised grace
Of long accustom'd sway.

ALI.
What mean thy words?

ALHAMUT.
The royal nuptials solemnized, I bear
The mandate for young Hamad's liberation.
And see this scroll! these magic words have power
To topple from her height this meteor queen.

ALI
(reads).
“If thou would'st rescue her thou lov'st, repair
“With speed of thought to the Alhambra gardens.
“A Mute will loiter near the orange grove,
“And point the secret way.”—How may this work?

ALHAMUT.
This by a faithful hand to Hamad given!—
He loves!—is bold—nor will suspect the snare.
My office gives me access to the gardens—
Dost thou not guess the rest? Love's twilight hour!
The gardens sacred to the queen!

ALI.
Enough.
Mad jealousy, in fierce Abdallah's breast,
Will colour high the picture to our wish.

ALHAMUT.
Come on, my friend!

ALI.
I will not quit thy side,
But share each danger that may free the Zegris
From the detested Aben-zurrah's sway.

[They go.

SCENE II.

HAMAD
chained in a dungeon.
How short were years of ill, sure, palpable,
To hours of this suspense!—Oh! my Xarifa!
Did I say mine?—Mine never, never more
Till hideous Death unite us!—Death, whose hand
Must dash the roses from that cheek! deface
What all fond nature's care but once could form
Of fair! of lovely!—steal the melting lustre
From those dear eyes!—for ever seal those lips,
Cold, pale, and motionless!—Hold! ruthless power!
And is it thus thou wilt present my bride—

Enter Esperanza.
ESPERANZA.
My lord!

HAMAD.
Kind Esperanza!—Speak—Oh speak!
And yet I dread to hear!—Is my Xarifa—

ESPERANZA.
From her I come. She bids thee be of comfort.
She bids thee live!—live if thou hold'st her dear,
Yet fly Granada's walls.

HAMAD
(pointing to his chains).
Can I obey?

ESPERANZA.
Hamad, thou can'st. Ev'n now thy chains will fall,
And, free as nature made thee, thou may'st range
The wide world o'er in liberty and peace.

HAMAD.
Is Hamad fetter'd by no chains but these?
What hand shall loose the bonds of strong affection
In childhood woven—closer knit by time?
What giant arm shall from this bosom heave
The load dishonour heaps?—Impel the spirit
With renovated spring to range the world?
To me—the desert world—Xarifa lost!
Disgraced—condemn'd—I cannot—will not fly!

ESPERANZA.
Not so. Restored to fame, to royal favour,
E'en now the officers of state attend
To loose thy chains.—They must not find me here.

HAMAD.
A moment stay, thou niggard of thy speech!
Oh, when the finest chord of all that make
The bosom's harmony is snapt asunder,
The touch of joy but wakes harsh dissonance.
Then with one word attune my soul, and say—
Say—she still loves!

ESPERANZA.
Too well she proves her love!
No farther ask—But live!—She thus commands—
And fly!—Oh fly!

[Exit.
HAMAD.
Restored to fame and honour!
Xarifa true!—Yet that I fly enjoin'd!

Enter Alhamut and Officers of State, &c. They loose Hamad's chains, and Alhamut presents him his sword.
ALHAMUT.
'Tis King Abdallah's will that Albin Hamad,
The flower of Moorish knights, receive his sword,
And live, renown'd for deeds of martial prowess,
Which forced applause from the astonish'd foe.

HAMAD.
Oh, let me at my monarch's feet—
(Aside, checking himself).
But no—
He loved her—Gods! what dreadful thought has flash'd
Athwart my madd'ning brain?—Away—away,
Dastard suspicion! No—he spoke me fair.
(To Alhamut, &c.)
Thanks, my good friends, thanks for your courtesy:
I pray you leave me.
[They go.
Peace, tumultuous thoughts!
[A Mute lingers behind, and puts the scroll into Hamad's hand—he reads it eagerly.
She bids me rescue her!—Now all is clear—
Thy words of mystery, good Esperanza,
Were love's own language!—Yes, she bids me live,
And live for her!—She bids me fly these walls,
But with her fly! with her in native freedom
Range the wide world in liberty and peace!

[Exit.

SCENE III.

The Alhambra Gardens. Xarifa in bridal robes, surrounded by a train of Moorish ladies. She is seated, and appears insensible to every thing around her.
FIRST LADY.
The queen revives! the flower-perfumed airs,
And rich delights th'Alhambra gardens yield,
Are grateful to her senses.—Royal mistress,
Accept our homage!

[They crowd around to do her homage; she turns away, shuddering.
SECOND LADY.
How may we best obey our sovereign lord
In duteous service to Granada's queen?

[They present offerings; she looks wild and distressed, and waves them off.
FIRST LADY.
Will not your majesty regard your slaves?

SECOND LADY.
The queen rejects our services, methinks.

[Esperanza enters at the back of the stage, and comes forward fearfully.
ESPERANZA.
My queen!—my mistress!—speak.
[As she draws near more tenderly.
My friend!—Xarifa!

[Xarifa starts on hearing her name pronounced tenderly, recognizes Esperanza, and falls on her neck in a flood of tears.
FIRST LADY.
Shall none but she, the Spanish slave, find favour?

SECOND LADY.
We yet may be revenged of these proud slights.

ESPERANZA.
Ladies, I pray withdraw awhile. The queen
Will meet ere long with smiles your gentle cares.
[They withdraw.
We are alone! 'Tis Esperanza!

XARIFA.
Lives he?

ESPERANZA.
He does.

XARIFA.
And free?

ESPERANZA.
Released from chains,
Blest in his monarch's favour—

XARIFA
(starting and shuddering).
Blest!—Ha!—blest!—

ESPERANZA.
Would'st thou not have him so?

XARIFA.
It was for that
I gladly would have died!—and have done more.
Have done what makes grim Death look lovely fair,
That I would fondly woo his cold embrace,
Change for his pure white shroud these bridal robes,
And lay me in his earthy bed for ever!
Oh yes! I would have Hamad blest!—and yet
'Tis hard to think him happy—and I—thus!
Hadst thou but said content!—Oh no, 'twere poor
By so much woe to purchase but content
To him I love!—
[Starting with horror.
Ha! “love!”—It is a crime
To speak that word!—A faithless wife already!

ESPERANZA.
Remember that he lives!—that Hamad lives!
Forget all else—

XARIFA.
“Forget!”—Thou hast not loved!
Or if thou hast, he whom thy heart had chosen
Forsook thee—

ESPERANZA.
No—he died.

XARIFA
(taking her hand with kind compunction).
Poor Esperanza!
Yet not like me, undone; for thou art free
To weep his loss!—Alas! thou art most happy!
I must not even think of Hamad's worth—
Must nothing feel of all that seem'd life's functions,—
And yet must live!—The viewless air, if tainted,
The worthless reptile with its puny sting,
Can still this motion we call life!—and can
Nor madden'd brain, nor broken heart arrest
These stubborn beatings forcing on existence?

[She feels her heart and her temples, as if distracted.
HAMAD
(behind the scenes).
Xarifa!—My Xarifa!

ESPERANZA.
Hark! methought
Among yon clustering shrubs a voice—It breathed
Your name!—All gracious Heaven! who have we here?

HAMAD
(rushing in).
My love! my wife!—Oh, this repays all, all,
To see thee once again, and clasp thee thus!

[She sinks into his arms in speechless transport.
XARIFA.
My Hamad! Can it be?—Art thou restored?
Safe, and unharm'd? Thy looks speak nought but joy!
[After gazing at him, she takes Esperanza aside, and looking wildly and anxiously in her face.
Was't all a frightful dream?—Assure my senses.
[Esperanza smiles mournfully, and she looks around and recollects herself.
Oh! no, no, no!—These fatal scenes!—too true!—
Irrevocably true!—
[Returning to Hamad with terror.
How camest thou here?
Oh fly! for ever fly!—'Tis well with me
If thou but fly, for now I know thou liv'st,
The power that pent my parting spirit in
For this dear hour—this last—last—sad farewell,
Will gently loose my bonds, that my wing'd soul
May seek the skies, and this forgotten form
Mingle with dust!—

HAMAD.
Forgotten!—thou—forgotten—
Mingled with dust!—Thy words, thy looks affright me.

XARIFA.
Already dead to thee.

HAMAD.
Ha! faithless! perjured!
Dazzled by splendor, has ambition tainted
Thy once pure bosom?—No—it cannot be—
Thou still art mine!—Come, let us fly, my love!

XARIFA.
Hold, Hamad, hold!—I never can be thine!

HAMAD.
Proud, cold Xarifa! does thy heart throw off
One Fortune has disown'd?—I fondly hoped
That King Abdallah's generous acquittal—

XARIFA.
Generous! say'st thou?—Hamad, know'st thou not
The cruel price? Behold these fatal robes!
These trappings of despair! and guess the rest.

HAMAD.
I will not tremble—No, I know thy truth!
I gave not back thy faith—thy father will not,
Cannot resume his gift—Thou art my wife!

XARIFA
(as he looks anxiously in her face waiting her answer, after an agony).
I am—most miserable!—Leave me—leave me!
Thou liv'st!—Ere long all will be well!

HAMAD.
I live!
And live for thee! or will not live.

XARIFA.
Hamad!
The choice was mine to link thy name with death,
Or mine with wretchedness!—Thou see'st me wretched!

HAMAD.
Not yet—the fatal vow—thou art not yet—

XARIFA.
I am—another's!—but not long to be so.
There's something here assures me 'tis not long.

HAMAD.
No, not a moment longer!—We will fly!

XARIFA.
I never learnt to fly from duty's voice,
Till now so sweet! and still to be obey'd
However stern!—'Tis mine to stay—and die!
But fly! thou, once so loved, and still so dear,
Fly!—Seek thou happiness in other climes,
And tell thy heart thou seek'st it for Xarifa!
'Twill e'en be so!—Thy happiness will make
Her only joy, though in the realms of bliss!

HAMAD.
Cruel! In vain thou calmly bid'st me live.

XARIFA.
Would Hamad see Xarifa thus undone,
And rob her of the meed?

HAMAD.
Am I a stock?
A thing insensible to pain?—We are one!
From infancy are one!—Our earliest sports,
Our opening minds, our fellowship of thought,
Our first affections, sorrows, hopes, and fears,
All, all, were one!—Without thee I am nothing—
[He weeps.
I do not bid thee live!—I better know
How much we are one!—Then let me die, Xarifa,
Or be thou mine!—spite of the whole world, mine!

XARIFA.
Thy grief has robb'd thee of thy better self,
That thou should'st urge her, so respected once,
Unworthily to act. Yet is it well,
That thus, awakening slumbering conscience,
Thou warn me to preserve us both from crime.
The honour of my blood—my father's name—
The memory of my virtuous mother—all—
Rise in array against mad passion's dictates.
I am a wife! and in those holy bonds
Unstain'd will die!—I am a queen!—the throne
Is as the sun—the cloud that dims his lustre
Darkens the world beneath!—Then from the throne
Virtue's pure beams shall flow, and Moorish dames
In virtue's cause shall learn of me to suffer.

HAMAD.
Where shall I hide me? worthless as I am!
Thus at thy feet, bright matchless excellence—

XARIFA.
Rise, rise—in pity—

Alhamut, Ali, and Janisaries rush in.
ALHAMUT.
Traitor!—tenfold traitor!
Is this thy gratitude to great Abdallah?

XARIFA.
Oh! hear me—hear me!—He is innocent.
Hold, merciless—

ALHAMUT.
Nay, bind him fast—Come on—
Now to the king.

[In the struggle Hamad drops the scroll.
HAMAD.
Farewell! beloved Xarifa!
Yes, death is sure!—Nor will the guilt be mine
To disobey thy will.—Farewell—for ever!

[As they are leading him off, the King with attendants comes hastily from the distant part of the garden.
KING.
What savage broil profanes the holy stillness
Of this blest evening, and these blissful bowers,
Held sacred to Granada's queen?—Her train,
Where loiter they?—thus negligent?

[The female train rush in from all parts, terrified.
ALHAMUT.
My liege,
Your faithful Zegris, to your service vow'd,
Seeing these haunts of royal privacy
Most foully violated, and your honour
Outraged by the Aben-Zurrah—

KING.
Ha! Hamad!
He, whom e'en now mistaken mercy spared?
But speak—be brief—tell all the hateful tale.

ALHAMUT.
Forgive if loyalty unwilling wound.
Foul passion's language struck our startled ears!
We nearer drew:—Of flight the villain spoke,
And caught her in his arms—the yielding fair!—
My liege, our zeal no longer knew control:
On him we rush'd, and as he fiercely struggled,
From his false bosom fell this treach'rous scroll.

[The King snatches, and reads it.
KING.
Accursed traitor!—Thou! abandon'd woman!
The law thy doom declares!—In flames to-morrow
Thy bosom must yield up its fouler fires!

XARIFA
(clasping his knees).
Oh, hear me, king!—'tis false.

KING
(putting her away with fury).
I will not hear!

XARIFA
(clinging to him).
Dash me to fragments! trample me to dust!
I will not—will not loose thee till thou hear me.

KING.
Away, thou serpent!—wind not round me thus.
(To the attendants).
Prepare the rack! and see the flames be fierce—
They cannot match the fury raging here.

XARIFA.
Abdallah! hear me! hear me—thou! my husband!

KING.
That tender name! which to my heart erewhile
Had been so sweet! as sting of scorpion now
Is keen and poisonous.
[After an agony he turns to the Zegris enraged.
Ye envious Zegris!
At peril of your lives, and dearer souls,
Prove your tale true!—or I, by Allah, swear
My vengeance shall devise more bitter pangs,
More various, and more lasting, than even these
Your malice has inflicted!

ALHAMUT.
Is suspicion
All the reward of loyalty and faith?
Then, in this presence, thus our knighthood's pledge
We freely throw!
[Throwing down his gauntlet.
—and challenge chivalry
Throughout the world! of Moslem faith or Christian,
To take that gauntlet up!

KING.
The bold defiance
Be through the realm proclaim'd!—To-morrow's sun
Shall vindicate my queen from slander's charge,
Or smile upon the flames that wrap her shame.
The deepest dungeon, and the heaviest chains,
Meantime, be Hamad's portion—Thou, Galefo,
See this be done.—
[To the attendant ladies.
And ye, lead hence the queen,
Until our farther pleasure we make known.

[Exeunt severally.