 | The Sicilian Vespers |  |
SCENE.—A Hall of Audience.
Leanthe enters.
LEANTHE.
He follows me. Where shall I hide me from him!
Loridan enters.
LORIDAN.
Is it from me you fly?
LEANTHE.
Avoid me—leave me!
Reproach me not to torture and distract me.
LORIDAN.
Dare I reproach you?—Dare I call Leanthe
Ungrateful, perjured, vilest of dissemblers,
Making of all things sacred but the fence
Of vile imposture. Speak! nor let me longer
Stand doubtful of the ruin tottering o'er me;
But loose and let it fall.
LEANTHE.
What wouldst thou ask?
LORIDAN.
What! Thou art mine!—mine to adore thy truth,
Or follow with a husband's wrath thy falsehood!
Thou hast betrayed me, given me o'er to shame,
To triumph in my fall and wed my rival.
That paper which I sent thee to relieve
Thy fears, amid the shock of dreadful things,
Thou gavest to Montfort!—
LEANTHE.
No; I gave it not.
LORIDAN.
Not gave it?
LEANTHE.
Nor could I believe it thine.
LORIDAN.
You stir the mortal weight upon my heart.
If I have erred, 'twas in by boundless passion.
All stings and taunts high natures turn against
His anger tried me with. I feared to lose thee:
Say still thou art mine. Oh! yet in mercy leave me
A ray of hope, and patiently I'll bear—
Nay, bless my penance.
LEANTHE.
Thou hast nought to fear;
Montfort will do thee justice. But of me,
Think never, never more!
LORIDAN.
You trifle still!
Pronounce my doom.
LEANTHE.
I dare not.
LORIDAN.
Then you have.
Come, out with all,—fear not a sentenced culprit.
Your pity mastered you, and you confessed—
LEANTHE.
I know not what. If that relentless heart
Know nought but vengeance, desperately I meet it.
He was too noble to have been thy victim:
I saved him!—ask not how! Pour thy hot wrath—
I am dishonoured for thy plighted bride—
And let it fall. Spare not! Call down the thunder!
Rail till you shake my brain and all's forgotten.
LORIDAN.
And thinkest thou thus to move me? Witness, Heaven;
There's not a saint thy piety invokes
Has been the martyr to his faith that I am:
But not to suffer with a saintly patience.
Hear me! Nay, start not. Live till life be loathsome!
Thy country's malediction follow thee!
And may the man who made thee what thou art,
Like thee be fickle, and like thee be perjured,
Till thy heart writhe with every jealous pang
That now wrings mine!—then mock each fond caress
With icy scorn, and smile upon thy madness!
Such be thy wedded joys!
LEANTHE.
I'll wed with no man.
LORIDAN.
Thou shalt not! So 'twere best. That guilt I'll save thee.
Pray for thy Montfort.
LEANTHE.
Darest thou threaten still!
His truth defies thee, as his mercy shields thee.
Repent thee! Live, and let me die in peace.
[Exit.
LORIDAN.
I know thee now—and thou hast proved the woman!
He who hath so far won thee may possess thee.
Possess thee! No; my sword is left me still,
And now let justice guide it.
Procida enters.
PROCIDA.
Now, my son, speak uncontroll'd.
LORIDAN.
Where's Gaston?
PROCIDA.
Where he'll trouble us no more.
I bad thee hope. My heart was resolute.
With specious preface of a vast disclosure,
I led him where the western colonnade
In solitude o'erlooks the sea. Just then
A boat sailed full before us, and conveyed
Deserters from our band. Behold! he cried,
The traitors will escape us! 'Twas the moment!
I stopped his clamours with a lion's gripe,
And plunged my dagger in his heart. The cowards
Beheld me as I hurl'd him down the steep;
And making signs of renovated hope
Put back to join us. I expect'em. Rouse thee!
LORIDAN.
Ay! for a deed like thine. E'en such a tale
I would have heard;—it fills my soul with envy.
Now shalt thou find me worthy of my father;
Stern, savage, pitiless, as thou wouldst have me;
Ripe for a scene of giant desolation.
Enter Salviati.
SALVIATI.
Amazed and breathless have I hastened hither!
What sight have I beheld? Are ye then free!
PROCIDA.
Our sentinel hath toppled from his post;
And we are free, if we dare use our freedom.
Few moments now remain for qualms and tremors.
List to me, both; for both are yet to learn
Repentance and retreat are barred against us.
The watchword has gone forth in every street,
Where my arrest will ne'er be known or heeded.
'Tis fixed the vesper bell commands the onset:
And sound it will though we be deaf to it.
The fateful hour advances. Through the city
Ten thousand listeners eagerly await
The signal that unsheaths ten thousand swords,
Gives breath to sixteen years of groaning wrong
In shouts of vengeance; and each languid arm,
With sloth and want half withered, and decayed
Beneath the spell of ruthless tyranny,
Nerves to the work of bloody retribution!
Our stauncher friends, who scorned in panic haste,
Like you, to fly, my trusty follower,
By secret entrance, known to me alone,
Have now assembled in the western hall.
Where are your run-aways?
SALVIATI.
With wonder seized
At such a deed as thine, when all seem'd lost,
They wait without; though still some craven spirits
Would sue for Montfort's mercy.
PROCIDA.
Haste and meet them!
Say, I would have a word with them ere yet
They stain their names for ever. Lead them freely
On to the western hall. None there will heed us.
Be prompt, and Sicily may yet be free.
[Exeunt severally.
Leanthe enters.
LEANTHE.
He follows me. Where shall I hide me from him!
Loridan enters.
LORIDAN.
Is it from me you fly?
LEANTHE.
Avoid me—leave me!
Reproach me not to torture and distract me.
LORIDAN.
Dare I reproach you?—Dare I call Leanthe
Ungrateful, perjured, vilest of dissemblers,
44
Of vile imposture. Speak! nor let me longer
Stand doubtful of the ruin tottering o'er me;
But loose and let it fall.
LEANTHE.
What wouldst thou ask?
LORIDAN.
What! Thou art mine!—mine to adore thy truth,
Or follow with a husband's wrath thy falsehood!
Thou hast betrayed me, given me o'er to shame,
To triumph in my fall and wed my rival.
That paper which I sent thee to relieve
Thy fears, amid the shock of dreadful things,
Thou gavest to Montfort!—
LEANTHE.
No; I gave it not.
LORIDAN.
Not gave it?
LEANTHE.
Nor could I believe it thine.
LORIDAN.
You stir the mortal weight upon my heart.
If I have erred, 'twas in by boundless passion.
All stings and taunts high natures turn against
His anger tried me with. I feared to lose thee:
Say still thou art mine. Oh! yet in mercy leave me
A ray of hope, and patiently I'll bear—
Nay, bless my penance.
LEANTHE.
Thou hast nought to fear;
Montfort will do thee justice. But of me,
Think never, never more!
LORIDAN.
You trifle still!
Pronounce my doom.
45
I dare not.
LORIDAN.
Then you have.
Come, out with all,—fear not a sentenced culprit.
Your pity mastered you, and you confessed—
LEANTHE.
I know not what. If that relentless heart
Know nought but vengeance, desperately I meet it.
He was too noble to have been thy victim:
I saved him!—ask not how! Pour thy hot wrath—
I am dishonoured for thy plighted bride—
And let it fall. Spare not! Call down the thunder!
Rail till you shake my brain and all's forgotten.
LORIDAN.
And thinkest thou thus to move me? Witness, Heaven;
There's not a saint thy piety invokes
Has been the martyr to his faith that I am:
But not to suffer with a saintly patience.
Hear me! Nay, start not. Live till life be loathsome!
Thy country's malediction follow thee!
And may the man who made thee what thou art,
Like thee be fickle, and like thee be perjured,
Till thy heart writhe with every jealous pang
That now wrings mine!—then mock each fond caress
With icy scorn, and smile upon thy madness!
Such be thy wedded joys!
LEANTHE.
I'll wed with no man.
LORIDAN.
Thou shalt not! So 'twere best. That guilt I'll save thee.
Pray for thy Montfort.
LEANTHE.
Darest thou threaten still!
His truth defies thee, as his mercy shields thee.
Repent thee! Live, and let me die in peace.
[Exit.
46
I know thee now—and thou hast proved the woman!
He who hath so far won thee may possess thee.
Possess thee! No; my sword is left me still,
And now let justice guide it.
Procida enters.
PROCIDA.
Now, my son, speak uncontroll'd.
LORIDAN.
Where's Gaston?
PROCIDA.
Where he'll trouble us no more.
I bad thee hope. My heart was resolute.
With specious preface of a vast disclosure,
I led him where the western colonnade
In solitude o'erlooks the sea. Just then
A boat sailed full before us, and conveyed
Deserters from our band. Behold! he cried,
The traitors will escape us! 'Twas the moment!
I stopped his clamours with a lion's gripe,
And plunged my dagger in his heart. The cowards
Beheld me as I hurl'd him down the steep;
And making signs of renovated hope
Put back to join us. I expect'em. Rouse thee!
LORIDAN.
Ay! for a deed like thine. E'en such a tale
I would have heard;—it fills my soul with envy.
Now shalt thou find me worthy of my father;
Stern, savage, pitiless, as thou wouldst have me;
Ripe for a scene of giant desolation.
Enter Salviati.
SALVIATI.
Amazed and breathless have I hastened hither!
What sight have I beheld? Are ye then free!
47
Our sentinel hath toppled from his post;
And we are free, if we dare use our freedom.
Few moments now remain for qualms and tremors.
List to me, both; for both are yet to learn
Repentance and retreat are barred against us.
The watchword has gone forth in every street,
Where my arrest will ne'er be known or heeded.
'Tis fixed the vesper bell commands the onset:
And sound it will though we be deaf to it.
The fateful hour advances. Through the city
Ten thousand listeners eagerly await
The signal that unsheaths ten thousand swords,
Gives breath to sixteen years of groaning wrong
In shouts of vengeance; and each languid arm,
With sloth and want half withered, and decayed
Beneath the spell of ruthless tyranny,
Nerves to the work of bloody retribution!
Our stauncher friends, who scorned in panic haste,
Like you, to fly, my trusty follower,
By secret entrance, known to me alone,
Have now assembled in the western hall.
Where are your run-aways?
SALVIATI.
With wonder seized
At such a deed as thine, when all seem'd lost,
They wait without; though still some craven spirits
Would sue for Montfort's mercy.
PROCIDA.
Haste and meet them!
Say, I would have a word with them ere yet
They stain their names for ever. Lead them freely
On to the western hall. None there will heed us.
Be prompt, and Sicily may yet be free.
[Exeunt severally.
| The Sicilian Vespers | |