University of Virginia Library

ACT II.

Almanzor's Palace at Bagdad.
Almanzor—Almanzaris.
ALMANZARIS.
Not mine alone the wish. This day, Horasbec
Calls you to join the chase. All Bagdad throngs
To view the passing show.

ALMANZOR.
These pomps of peace
Suit not a warrior's spirit.

ALMANZARIS.
Why Almanzor
That frown of discontent, when fortune seems
To wait on every wish?

ALMANZOR.
Ah what avails
This arm resistless, what my charmed life
That mocks the force of weapons forg'd by man,
Since, by dire vows compell'd, my conquest crowns
Horasbec's triumph? Ah! might Rezia chuse
A warrior worthy of her charms, Almanzor
Had never brooded o'er successless love,
Nor curst malignant fate.

(Horasbec enters.)
ALMANZARIS.
Horasbec comes.

HORASBEC.
Almanzor, haste! fair Rezia joins the chase.
Ne'er have her charms adorn'd the festive train
That sought her smile. But on this blissful day
Fore-runner of our nuptials, Rezia's self
Bright as the sun that glads the expecting world,
Comes forth to grace the sports. Almanzor, haste!
The pomp but waits your presence—

ALMANZOR.
Yes—Almanzor
Once more will swell thy triumph—Come, fair sister!

(Exeunt omnes.
SCENE changes to Rezia's apartment.
Salma—Mirza.
SALMA.
A dream so work her fancy! nay, you dream—

MIRZA.
Night after night the visionary form
Smiles on her sleep.

SALMA.
It passes all belief—

MIRZA.
And yet sweet Rezia dotes upon the shade.
What but the hope to meet th'expected knight
Now leads her to the chase? else, never Rezia
Had grac'd Horasbec's pomp.

SALMA.
Oh hapless maid

MIRZA.
Go then, dear mother, on this festive day,
Strangers, nay Christians, all unquestion'd flock
To joyful Bagdad. On the bridge, where Tygrit
Flows by your cottage-garden, take your stand:
And, if a knight, such as the vision pictur'd,
Draw near, beneath your roof with kindly greeting
Welcome the stranger—hence— (Salma departs)
—the Princess comes.

(Rezia enters with a numerous train magnificently attired for the chase.
MIRZA.
Sweet Mistress!

REZIA
(to her train.)
Stand apart—speak faithful Mirza!
Relieve my throbbing heart.

MIRZA.
Ah! how shall Mirza
Give answer?

REZIA.
Has no stranger Knight appear'd?

MIRZA.
Still have I watch'd in vain—my stand o'erlook'd
The passing croud—alas! no stranger knight
There met my view.

REZIA.
Yet, yet his arm shall save me—
Love! if delusive phantoms round me play,
Still as thy magic day-dreams dye away,
In visions of the night their trace restore!
Ah! in that dream may death my eyelids close!
So shall a smile on my pale lip repose,
And my sooth'd spirit rest, where peace dwells ever more.

(Exeunt Rezia and her train.
SCENE changes to a wild Desart near the enchanted Wood.
Huon and Eustace.
HUON.
I tell thee Eustace 'twas no faithless vision—
Here, what I feel is truth—if false that shape,
Life is itself a shadow—

EUSTACE.
Sir, the form
Was exquisitely touched—yet after all
Perchance, mere fancy's work—the o'er-heated brain
Has wond'rous faculties to shape at will
Its own creation—in my rocky cave,
When o'er the dying embers I have mus'd
On battles of my youth, scenes long time past,
Yet livelier far than memory e'er pourtray'd,
Glow'd in my vision—these old scars have bled
Fresh as when first the crooked scymitar
Sever'd my helm; and my lone couch has rung
To many a midnight larum—yet—my lord!
By heav'n! he hears me not—

HUON.
That smile again!
Oh let my lip once more awake the blush
That glow'd beneath my kiss! Oh once again
Imbibe the balmy breath whose fragrance pour'd
The sweets of paradise!—

EUSTACE.
His hue is chang'd—
I like it not—

HUON.
They shall not force thee from me—
My limbs are planet-struck.

EUSTACE.
Rouse, rouse you, Sir;
Some hag more horrid than the night-mare, rides
On your day-visions—I have groan'd beneath
The lumpish burthen—I have seen the fiend
With her squab brood of goblins and squint demons,
At midnight, when late feasts like lead opprest me:
But in the sun-shine, never—rouse, Sir Knight!
Haste, haste to Bagdad—there the beauteous maid
Claims her deliverer—

HUON.
There these arms shall clasp her.
When, when shall we arrive?

EUSTACE.
If fortune smile,
And the fierce Arab hordes cross not our course,
Ere twice the day-light dies, you reach the goal—
But, Sir, there is a path amid the wood,
Fenc'd by yon firs, that in two hours, 'tis said,
Leads straight to Bagdad—

HUON.
That way Huon hastes—
Lead on—

EUSTACE.
Not threats, nor bribes shall e'er induce me—
'Tis haunted, Sir—

HUON.
Nay—never fear.

EUSTACE.
Not fear!
'Tis haunted, Sir, I say—

HUON.
I say, lead on—

EUSTACE.
Yes, you may smile, fair youth, but once entangled
You'll never hear the sound of mirth again.
Thousands have enter'd—none have e'er returned—
A little further this way, and I'll whisper
Strange secrets in your ear—a tiny demon,
None of your common ghosts that stalk by night,
And vanish at the dawn, there holds his court—
A little further this way—do not smile—
'Tis a malicious spirit, who in sport,
Turns with a touch these dainty forms of ours,
To shape of beasts—heard you yon hideous roar?
Fly, fly the place—

HUON.
Talk not of goblins, Eustace,
And fears of visionary phantoms born.
I haste to Bagdad—

EUSTACE.
Here! behold your guide.
I dread not flesh and blood—but Sir, I own,
This fiend unmans me—sword and shield avail not
'Gainst a malicious foe, that show'rs at will
Invisible blows—

HUON.
Peace—I will hear no more—
The way that leads to Bagdad, Huon hastes—
Thou to thy cave—farewell.

EUSTACE.
Not that—not that—
Come fiend, come goblin, while my blood is warm,
Old Eustace never will desert his Lord—

(Exeunt.
Ariel and Fairies enter.
ARIEL
sings.

(Fairies exeunt.
SCENE changes to a different part of the forest.
Huon and Eustace enter.
HUON.
'Tis vanish'd—yet methought a beck'ning flame
Still danc'd before me—if these shades be haunted,
Here dwells the enchanter, in this central spot,
Where the wild mazes meet—

EUSTACE.
Not that way, Sir,
Not for the world—your floating locks of gold
Will grieve, when chang'd to bristly hairs, they shag
Some antler'd brow—I speak not of my beauty;
Yet I had rather lay me in the grave
Such as my mother bore me, than go down
Deck'd with a cloven hoof.
(Music is heard, and the scenes described in Huon's speech are gradually displayed.)
What heav'nly strains
Draw my charm'd spirit—lo! soft gleams of light
Illume the grove, and pour their roseate tints,
Like clouds, that purpling o'er the summer sky,
Play in the setting sun-beams—light before me,
A castle floats in air; where, as inlaid
By cunning skill of fairy architect,
Gems, brilliant as heavn's bow, with changeful hues
Flame on the battlements.

(The portals of the castle open, and Oberon, like a beautiful boy, with a lily wand in his hand, advances in a car drawn by lions.)
EUSTACE.
'Tis he!—the demon—
Fly, fly, my lord—

HUON.
Behold the God of love!

EUSTACE.
'Tis the deceitful fiend—

OBERON.
Stay, Huon, stay.
Thy happiness thou fliest—

HUON.
How sweet his voice!

EUSTACE.
More fell than thunder when it rives a rock—
Youth! I will force you from the spot.

OBERON.
Oh! stay—

HUON.
Loose me—if fiends have shap'd that beauteous form,
I will not fly—unhand me—

OBERON.
Rash old man!
Yet not the sunshine purer than thy soul—
Or thou had'st felt my vengeance—with soft breath
Thus I chastise thy folly.
(Oberon gently blows his horn, and Eustace swoons at his feet.
Why thus mute
Huon of Bourdeaux? speak, and dread me not—

HUON.
Why should I fear? who art thou? speak thy will—

OBERON.
I am the monarch of the Fairy realm—
Huon of Bourdeaux hear!—I long have lov'd thee,
Not like weak mortals with capricious fondness,
As fancy wavers, but that in thy soul
I trac'd each kindly seed of opening virtue.
Manhood matures the fruit, that in thy spring
Bloom'd with delightful promise. I will aid thee.

HUON.
Hail! Fairy Monarch!

OBERON.
Interrupt me not.
Bow down—around thy neck I chain this horn:
How seeming worthless! yet the globe itself
Chang'd to a diamond sphere, would fail to purchase
This matchless gift. Soft wind along its folds
Low melodies, then breathless at thy feet,
Fierce kings, and hosts in arms that sought thy life,
Shall swoon in death-like trance—if loudly rung,
At once I stand before thee, tho' the earth
Roll'd its vast orb between us—yet—beware—
Nor waste on worthless cause that solemn call—
That solemn call once heard, the o'erstrain'd bugle
Flies back to fairy land—

EUSTACE
(slowly recovering)
Aye, aye—I said it—
'Tis the sly demon—you'll ne'er smile again—
My brain swims, and the forest dances round.

OBERON
—to Eustace, presenting to him a golden goblet, filled with wine.
Take this o'erflowing bowl—its potent juice
Shall renovate thy frame—and swell each vein
With youth's gay dancing blood—

HUON
—to Eustace.
Nay, fear not, Eustace!

EUSTACE.
Look, Sir, 'tis colour'd with the Gascon grape,
Red as a ruby—o'er the brim it bubbles— (he drinks.)

How! it o'erflows again: full as at first—
I left no drop: but as I drain'd the bowl
I saw these eyes reflected in its hollow
Beam in bright gold— (to Oberon)
—low at thy feet I kneel,
God of the golden bowl.

OBERON.
Huon, receive it.
The gold by fairy graver quaintly chas'd,
Makes not its value: nor the wine that pour'd
Thro' aged veins the jocund blood of youth:
But its instinctive quality that proves
The nature of the heart—if pure the lip
That tastes the bowl, the liquor self-supply'd,
Streams without fail: if base, th'indignant bubbles
Sink self-absorb'd, and the void goblet turn'd
To fiery metal, brands the man of guilt.
Take it—and now farewell! to Bagdad haste—
There at the nuptial feast claim thou the bride.
Till then, in fearless trust repose on me.
Behold thy path—

HUON.
Oh how shall Huon mark
His boundless gratitude?

OBERON.
By faith, by virtue—
Be but the current of thy future life
Pure as its source, my favour is repay'd
A thousand fold—remember, man is frail,
Nor spurn the counsel of thy fairy friend—
Oh think there are in nature secret tyes
By man unseen, that in the chain of being
Ascending and descending, link by link,
Join creatures seeming opposite; farewell—
Huon, perhaps the bliss of Oberon
Depends on thee—be virtuous and succeed—

(Oberon ascends his Car, and departs—the enchanted Castle vanishes.
(A loud roar, and shriek are heard.)
EUSTACE.
Hark—'tis the lion's roar—

HUON.
I hear a shriek
Of thrilling agony—some hapless wanderer
Seiz'd by the prowling beasts that haunt these woods
Claims our assistance—follow me—

EUSTACE.
Lead on.

Exeunt.
HORASBEC
—(behind the scenes.)
Help, or I'm dead—

EUSTACE
—(behind the scenes.)
Strike him once more, my lord.
Back—or the beast will crush you in his fall.

(They enter supporting Horasbec.)
HUON
—(to Horasbec.)
Lean on us, Sir,—nay quicken not your pace.
The lion is no more.

EUSTACE.
Here, gently seat him
On this soft mound of moss—nay, fear not, Sir,
Your steed half-eaten welters in his blood:
He will not race again; but you breathe well:
And, but in apprehension, free from wound—
(To Huon)
—When the fierce lion darting on your blade,
Yawn'd o'er you with his wide sepulchral jaws,
I little thought that my old cedar bough,
Tho' well I knew its worth, had at one swing,
Crack'd his rock scull—

HUON.
Behold, the mantling colour
Relumes his cheek—

EUSTACE.
Let us complete the cure—
Give him the bowl—there's virtue in each drop— (To Horasbec.)

Sir, were you crookt, on crutches, sip this juice,
You'd fling your props away, and bound in air,
As when your mistress beckon'd to the ball
In life's brisk dancing prime.

HORASBEC
—(throwing the bowl away.)
Thou fiend of hell!
It burns like glowing metal—curses on it—

EUSTACE.
Guilt, by this light—

HORASBEC
—(aside)
How can I scape these sorcerers?

HUON
—(advancing solemnly towards him)
Pagan! behold this sword I lift to heaven—
'Twas not my arm: no, 'twas the Christian God
That sav'd thy life—touch this— (his sword)
—and hail his name.

HORASBEC
—(suddenly springing up, and running away.)
Curse on thy faith and thee, thou Christian dog!

HUON.
Blasphemer! fly my vengeance—

EUSTACE.
Heed him not.
Most nimbly, ostrich like, he sweeps the plain—
'Tis vain to follow him—look, in his flight
The wretch has dropp'd his turban, starr'd with gems.
A man of note indeed, but base of heart—
I will not touch them—

HUON.
Eustace, let us forth—
That prospect fires my soul—along yon champaign
That like a sea of verdure spreads before us,
Swift Tygris, and Euphrates mix their streams—
And thickly girt with tow'r and battlement,
Tall palaces, and swelling cupolas,
Minarets and mosques, that catch the sun's low beams,
Imperial Bagdad beckons me—come forth—
Success or death there ends my bold emprize.

(Exeunt.
SCENE changes to Oberon's Haunt in the enchanted Forest.
Ariel and Fairies enter.
ARIEL.
Haste, Spirits! haste! o'er yonder snow-wreath'd cliff,
Lo! Hesper clearly shines. Yet ah! the moon
Once the bright regent of our revelries,
Veils her fair orb, as if the pensive planet
Were darken'd by our grief. 'Tis now the time—
Mark'd you the warning meteor? Fays! they come—
Bow down—ere yon wing'd cars, that waft our lords,
(Oberon, Titania, from opposite quarters, meet in their aerial cars.)
Borne on the viewless winds, from climes oppos'd,
Meet in mid air, low breathe in plaintive tune
Soft sounds, if plaintive tune may sooth their woe.

FAIRIES.
If ever sooth'd by melody,
Attemper'd to the touch of fairy lute,
The voice of woe was mute,
Sweet Echo! join our minstrelsy!
And ere the dying cadence close,
Oh charm the troubled spirit to repose!

OBERON.
Titania! once again, in these sad haunts,
On this ill-omend day—

TITANIA.
Oh pardon me!
That thus I interrupt thee—do not breathe
Words of harsh import—as I floated by,
Each magic note of elfine melody
Once heard delightful, seem'd alas! to pour
Reproaches on me.

ARIEL.
Say not so, sweet mistress!

TITANIA.
Oh Oberon! if penitence can move;
If to have liv'd in exile, far from thee,
In climes, where each dull season wears alike
The winter's hue; if still, where e'er I pin'd
In restless solitude, around me hovered
The spirit of departed joy—if these
Can move thee; while I bathe thy feet in tears,
Thou wilt not turn relentless.

OBERON.
Rise, Titania!
Thou hast not wept unpity'd—ah! might tears
Streaming in sympathy with thine, efface
Oaths register'd in heav'n, thou ne'er hadst sought
Forgiveness at my feet, nor I had mourn'd
My ineffectual pow'r. Yet rise, despair not—
If faith a dwelling hold in youthful hearts,
Untainted with the commerce of the world,
Once more we may be blest—

TITANIA.
What hope? say—

OBERON.
Ariel.
Hold up that magic mirror—lo! that form—
'Tis Rezia, Bagdad's heiress—look again—
'Tis Huon, Duke of Guyenne—a peerless pair.
These, by my potent art, in dreams of bliss
Each to the other bound, alone can loose
The oath I rashly swore.

TITANIA.
A ray of hope
Darts thro' my grief—give me the maid in charge.
With every hair that waves on Huon's head,
The God of Love shall link a golden chain
That fetters heart to heart.

OBERON.
Vain here thy pow'r.
Oh leave her to the fascinating dream.
Nature, more strong than magic, fans the flame,
When love first wakes to bliss a virgin heart.
Huon is virtuous—but I fear—

TITANIA.
Oh speak!
Why that portentous silence?

OBERON.
Man is frail:
These are of earth. Our pow'rs are limited:
We cannot change the heart; there man alone
Is in himself supreme. At will we lavish
Crowns, riches, charms that turn grey beards to dotage:
But the fixt bent and nature of the heart
Rendering each gift a blessing or a curse
Are not at our disposal. If these fail,
Truth never more shall fix her seal on brow
Of mortal mold. Be but their faith unchang'd,
When next we meet we reign in fairy land.
Farewell! tho' on a vision of a dream
Hope fondly rest, (to the attendant Fairies)
—Ye! hail her golden beam.

(Oberon and Titania ascend, and are borne away in their aerial cars.
Chorus of FAIRIES.
Hail golden Hope—we heard the King,
And shall again on boundless wing,
At will our revelry renew,
And pledg'd in acorn bowls, sip heav'n's ambrosial dew.

1st. FAIRY
—Solo.
On earth when Eve's pale twilight gleams,
I, on the gossamer with viewless pace,
The moon will challenge to the race:
And laugh to see her swiftest beams
Silvering the web that dances in the wind,
Glide, as I reach the goal, a fairy's length behind.

2nd. FAIRY
—Solo.
I, o'er the sea my course will take,
And catch with unwet feet the lessning sail
That vanishes before the gale—
And sliding in its level wake,
Number the sparkles of the foamy tide,
That, glittering o'er the prow, stream radiance far and wide.

3rd FAIRY
—Solo.
I, thro' the path of air will soar,
And when the summer meteor flames afar,
Swifter than glance of shooting star,
Will flash its transient course before:
While scatter'd from my wings in dew-drops bright
The rain-bow's lunar arch o'er-canopy's my flight.

4th FAIRY
—Solo.
I, on the sun's slope beam will ride,
And as it sinks th'atlantic wave beneath,
From clouds of roseate lustre wreathe
My robes of light, by fancy dy'd:
Fringe with etherial braid my new-fledg'd wing,
Then spread its feathery pomp, and fan the fairy king.

CHORUS.
Hail golden hope! we heard the king,
And shall again on boundless wing,
At will our revelry renew,
And pledg'd in acorn bowls, sip heav'n's ambrosial dew.