University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

The Lists.
In the farther part of the stage preparations for the execution of the Queen. The Zegri Knights armed cap-à-pie on horseback, with their lances in the rest. After they have paraded the lists, the Queen is led in, covered by a black veil, to slow and solemn music, and conducted to a seat apart from the King, who ascends a throne. Alhamut lifts his vizor, and speaks.
ALHAMUT.
Mighty Abdallah! see your faithful knights,
Who, when the morning dawn'd, already arm'd,
Their trusty lances grasp'd; and confident
In their good cause, in Allah, and the Prophet,
Thrice by the trumpet's voice have vainly call'd
On knighthood to defend thy faithless queen—
The hour appointed by the law is pass'd!
If none embrace her cause, 'tis Heaven's decree,
Thy queen is guilty!—Wherefore this delay?

KING.
Valiant Alhamut!—yes, thy words are just.
Allah has blest, my friends, the loyal swords
Your faith unsheathed against her double treason.
(Rising.)
The queen is guilty! Let devouring flames
Prey on those charms, by angry Heaven lent
To wreck a monarch's peace.
Moors enter with torches to light the funeral pyre, and as the Officers of Justice approach Xarifa, Esperanza rushes in, and the Queen falls on her neck. Suddenly a distant trumpet is heard—Esperanza clasps her hands, and exclaims,
A challenge sounds!
'Tis on the gale!—Forbear, ye bloody men!
Again!—Again!

XARIFA.
Then Heaven has not forgot me!

ALHAMUT.
My liege, delay not. Justice claims her victim.

ESPERANZA.
Nearer, and nearer still!—They come! they come!

Enter Juan and Hamad on horseback, armed cap-à-pie, their vizors down. They stop before Xarifa, dismount, and kneel before her.
JUAN.
Low at your feet, behold, much injured queen,
Two stranger knights, who to your cause devote
Their arms, their lives!—Accept our service, lady,
And we will fall within this listed space,
Or see thy honour, clear'd from slander's stain,
Beam doubly radiant, as the glorious sun
Smiles in his might upon the cloud dispersed.

XARIFA
(rises, and raises them graciously).
Brave knights, and friends of the defenceless, rise!
The thanks and blessings of a broken heart
Were as a faded wreath, unmeet to grace
Your noble brows! But deeds of godlike goodness
Yield their own meed to souls of godlike mould!
Heaven is my witness that my cause is just!
And hope, that almost had forsook my breast,
In you reposed, becomes strong certainty.
Angels, to pure intentions ever friendly,
Will hover watchful o'er the kindred spirits
Lodged in those gracious forms!
[Aside to Esperanza, while the knights remount their horses, and prepare to fight.
'Tis Juan's self!
But who is he?—the younger knight who spoke not?
Methought he trembled.

ESPERANZA
(half smiling).
He alike is brave!

XARIFA.
Nay, guess my thought, dear Esperanza, he
Whom I dare not name—

ESPERANZA
(whispers).
'Tis he—'tis Juan's son!

XARIFA.
His son!—Mysterious Heaven!

ESPERANZA.
We are observed.

[The knights have now taken their positions.
JUAN.
Base, recreant slaves! true knighthood's lasting shame!
Thus in the rest I place my trusty spear
In the pure cause of innocence!

HAMAD.
And I!
I have no breath to waste in empty words,
Which could not speak your infamy.—Come on!
This to thy traitor's heart!

[Hamad engages Alhamut, and Juan, Ali. Their spears are broken; they dismount, and fight with their swords. Juan and Hamad conquer. Alhamut falls on the front of the stage. Hamad points his sword at his breast.
HAMAD.
Villain, ere yet this hand dismiss a spirit
Recoiling hell shall shudder to receive,
Declare Xarifa's angel purity.

ALHAMUT.
The voice of Hamad!—Heaven! thy hand is on me—
Release my bosom—Oh!—the skies are dark—
And Paradise—for ever—closed—

HAMAD.
Speak, traitor!

ALHAMUT.
Oh!—sheathe thy sword—already—Hamad—
Its cold—cold point—

HAMAD.
Ere yawning hell engulf thee,
The queen!—the queen!—

ALHAMUT.
The queen is—innocent!

[Alhamut sinks into his squire's arms, and is borne to the back of the stage. Shouts of triumph. Juan and Hamad lay the swords of the conquered Zegris at Xarifa's feet.
JUAN.
Lady, thou art free! a wretched queen no more;
The vow, at an unhallow'd shrine extorted,
Is void!—betroth'd to Hamad—perjury!
And he who casts thee from him, to the flames,
Has justly lost thee.

KING
(rushing from his throne).
Lost?—Presumptuous knight!
Thy valour claims a monarch's thanks; thou hast them:
But we give law within Granada's walls!
And thou, our queen once more, to fame restored,
We take thee to our bosom, and our throne.

[As he approaches to take her hand, she comes forward with disordered steps, avoiding him.
XARIFA.
Forbear, Abdallah!—Nay, approach me not.

HAMAD
(with exultation and impassioned expression).
Th'award of knighthood is held Heaven's decree!
Again thou art mine! my wife betrothed! my love!
Thou my lost happiness! my rescued bliss!
My life! my all!—

XARIFA.
Forbear!—forbear! alike.
[She motions all to stand apart with increasing agitation.
A little space I pray—Oh! farther yet.—
(To Hamad tenderly).
Thou, most of all!—My bursting heart would thank—
Would thank—my brave deliverers!—for fame—
Life's better part—restored—
[She appears unable to proceed—a pause of suspense and violent emotion on her part. Aside.
But not—for life!
To live the tyrant's wife!—Or worse—to give
To Hamad's love pollution! perjury!
Oh, horrible alike!—Death!—Death! alone.
(To Hamad with assumed firmness).
Th'award of knighthood cannot loose the vow
Breathed at the altar! breathed in truth and honour,
Howe'er extorted—
(To Abdallah with dignity).
King! I am thy wife!

KING.
Pattern of virtue! glory of my throne!

[As he approaches with rapture she still wards him off.
XARIFA.
A moment yet delay! I pray—a moment—
(To Hamad).
To thee, my Hamad, all I am was vow'd—
From childhood vow'd! lord of my first fond thoughts!
(Turning to Moraizel).
The husband thou, my father, badst me love!
And on my head (thou heard'st it) I invoked
Heaven's vengeance if in thought or deed I wrong'd him.
[She takes a dagger concealed in her breast.
Thus!—thus!—I seal, and quit alike each vow!

[Stabs herself.
KING
(rushing to support her).
Hold, frantic woman!

MORAIZEL.
Spare thy wretched father!

XARIFA
(to ABDALLAH).
I die—a virtuous queen—and spotless—wife—
Hadst thou—been gentle!—patient—I—had waited—
The sure—yet slower hand—of—sorrow.—
[She puts him gently from her, and makes an effort to approach Hamad, who rouses himself from stupefaction, and supports her.
Hamad!—
A few—pangs—yet!—to me they—are not—bitter,—
And—I am thine—again!—for ever—thine!—
[Hamad attempts to seize the dagger she has dropped. She makes an effort, and catches his arm.
Live! live!—to pay—my debt—of gratitude—
To him—thy—noble—father!—
[She motions Juan to approach, takes his hand, and points to Hamad.
Guard him!—save—him—
From—his—despair—Oh thou—my brave—preserver.
[She sinks again on Hamad's bosom.
Kind Death—deals—gently—with me.—'Tis not—hard
To sink—in sleep—thus gazing—on thee—Hamad!—
It had—been—hard—to live—another's—wife!—
And, stain'd—by broken—vows,—I were—unworthy—
[Seeing her father, who hangs over her in speechless sorrow.
Thy—blessing—on thy dying—child!—My Hamad!—
Oh!—I am—very—faint!—that pang!—it cancels—
The—fatal—vow!—and now—my love!—my husband!

[She dies in Hamad's arms, and the curtain drops.