University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

A Vestibule of the Palace.—Darkness, dimly relieved by Moonlight in the perspective.—Gleams, as from distant fires.
Enter Leanthe.
LEANTHE.
Where do I wander?—even my women shun me,
As if they hid them from some dreadful doom
That hangs o'er all; 'tis sure distempered fancy.
A fearful trance hath suddenly enthrall'd
My o'erwrought brain! Illusions terrible
Visit my guilty soul for its offence!—
Shouts have I heard; a wild turmoil of battle;
Then women shrieked, and infants!—and anon
'Twas death-like silence, broken still with groans,—
Some distant, some so near they freeze my blood!—
And Montfort, too,—ay, he that should have stayed
To guard and pray for me—he, too, is fled!
But that each thought of him bewilders me,
It seemed I saw him rushing through the streets,
Bare-headed, and scared wretches fly before him!
(Julia Villanelli enters.)
Julia! thou comest to save me from distraction!

JULIA.
Let me embrace thee—feel thy beating heart.
Yes, yes, thou livest, and art but pale with fear.
I thought I never should escape again
The sight of death, staring and ghastly death!
Oh! let me breathe awhile, and ease my terrors.

LEANTHE.
'Tis done, then! Death and vengeance are abroad
And I have set them on!—thou comest to say so—
To tell of Loridan and Montfort. Speak!
The terror of my wild imaginings
May bid the truth defiance!

JULIA.
For thy Montfort,
None but his friends surround him, for his foes
Fly headlong at his sight. Fear not for him;
His valour shall restore him to you safe:
I heard my husband's voice, too, clamouring aloud
To have his life preserved!

LEANTHE.
His life!—from whom?

JULIA.
The citizens, the people, every man
That calls himself Sicilian! 'Tis a work
Of foul conspiracy, a bursting forth
Of deadly hate long stifled. I had joined
At the cathedral the assembled crowd,
To do the holy duties Christians use
Upon this solemn day; when, as the bell
Had ceased the sounding of the vesper hour,
A shout as of revolted demons shook
The vaulted roof! Swords waved aloft, the priests
Raised each his crucifix, and cried aloud,
Revenge! revenge! And then—oh! horrible!
Beside, around me, butcheries were done
It maddens me to think of. I distinguished,
And 'twas Heaven's mercy, but a passing moment.
Yet, ere all sense abandoned me, I saw
Montfort appear like a descended angel;
And at his name and aspect I perceived
The murderers shrink and fly! I saw no more,
Till from an icy stupor I awoke
And all was hushed. The conflict and the crowd
Had passed away; yet fearful things remained—
Dead limbs encumbered me!—I heard the gasp
Of still expiring wretches; and the beam
Of some lone taper that the wreck had spared
Shewed me their livid faces, and pale hands
Convulsive grasping the scarce paler marble!
A few affrighted women like myself
Were tottering through the aisles, like guilty spirits
Suffering their common penance; for 'twas all
Too dreadful for humanity! With one
Close link'd, to keep our mutual courage up,
I ventured forth, and here took speediest refuge,
Shuddering, and draggling through a path of blood!

LEANTHE.
Have mercy, Heaven!

Loridan enters.
LORIDAN.
Still the yell pursues me!
Inexorable father!—I have saved thee!
Thee and my honour! Say'st not so, stern heart!
Where art thou?—Laud me, for my soul is sick—
Mortally sick of its detested deed!

JULIA.
'Tis Loridan!

LEANTHE.
I dread him!

LORIDAN.
Night of horrors!
To thoughts like mine that ne'er shall usher morning,
Ne'er shall they know a dawn of human peace!
And yet—if he still live—shall I not—

JULIA.
Loridan!

LORIDAN.
What voice is that?

JULIA.
'Tis Julia Villanelli.

LORIDAN.
Ha! thou hast courage!—thou hast human pity!
Hear me! Beneath the cloister of St. Mark,
Abandoned, lies a brave and noble Frenchman,
Struck down, and yet, perhaps, not mortally.
Call my attendants,—seek him. Here we'll hide him.
Save him, and I will bless thee!

JULIA.
In the palace
All is deserted. I have strength enough
In such a cause. Come; you and I will go.

LORIDAN.
I dare not look upon him!

VILLANELLI
(without.)
Julia!

JULIA.
Ha! my husband!
With him I'll thither instantly.

[Exit.
LORIDAN
(glancing at Leanthe.)
Ha! who art thou?

LEANTHE.
A wretch whom Heaven had bless'd
Had she been first the victim of your vengeance.
Oh, Loridan! have mercy! Rest thou here—
Play not the dark assassin!

LORIDAN
(wildly.)
Get thee hence!

LEANTHE.
Oh, pity and forgive me! Friend and brother,
Still art thou safe, and in an hour like this,
May I not ask of thee the fate of Montfort?

LORIDAN.
No; there are murderers here—I am a murderer!
The murderers and the murder'd fill the land—
These hands are clamm'd with blood!

LEANTHE.
Oh, spare me!—spare me!

LORIDAN.
Away!—thy Montfort needs thee. Thou hast power,
Perhaps, to save him.

LEANTHE.
Save him!—what base heart,
What impious arm has dared to—

LORIDAN.
Curse me not!
His hand was raised against my father's life.
(Here Montfort appears, tottering and exhausted, assisted by Julia and Villanelli.)
Horrible vision!

LEANTHE.
Montfort!—pale and bleeding!
Yet not to die! Despair not! Live—yet live!—
We'll heal thy wounds.

MONTFORT.
Leanthe!—heavenly kind!
Thus to behold and hear thee brings indeed
Unlook'd for comfort to my toiling spirit.
All else is hopeless!

LEANTHE.
Say not so!—Recline thee.

MONTFORT.
Not for my life, but for my peace above
Put up thy prayers. Oh, wherefore should I live
To mourn my miserable countrymen,
And gaze upon the scene that shall await
To-morrow's dawn. No; in the common doom
Heaven's mercy joins me. O'er my fading sight
The clouds of death are gathering. Read there still,
Ere all be dark, my gratitude to thee.
Hold dear my memory, as thou dost thy Conradin's,
And keep thy vow to Loridan.

LEANTHE.
Thy murderer!

MONTFORT.
No; 'twas he arm'd me for a soldier's death,
And such a death he dealt me. Comes he not?

JULIA.
He is before you.

LORIDAN
(rushing forward towards him.)
Montfort, can you bear
To look upon a wretch who would redeem
Thy life with years of anguish. Take once more
My sword. Revenge thee, and forgive me.

MONTFORT.
Who dies but to forgive! Too many errors
Will stand, I fear, in judgment on my memory.
The ruler of a discontented land
Hath not a charge of pastime. I have held it,
Alas, too lightly! Learn, ye conquerors!
Frail are your conquests, perilous your sway,
Unfounded in the hearts of those ye conquer.
Draw near me both. Let the King know me loyal,
Nor e'er retaliate, for my country's honour,
The rage of these Sicilians. Better far
To fall as we fall than like them to conquer.

(Dies.)
LEANTHE.
Ha! speak again—yet speak! No sound—no breath!
Stand off!—I will not rave! Insatiate Death
(stupor)
Here too hath laid his icy hand. 'Tis welcome!
To Montfort and to Loridan, farewell—
Farewell for ever!

[Exit, led by Lady Julia.
LORIDAN.
Why, so, 'tis past! Let heaven and nature mourn,
Black storm and whirlwind howl—that marble smile
Should mock their wailings. I have wept my last!

VILLANELLI.
These words become ye, Sir. This is no hour
For sorrow's orgies, nor a night for slumber.
Though here the foe is crushed, a band well arm'd,
And strong in numbers—so the rumour runs—
Approach the city—summoned, as we deem,
By Gaston, from Messina.

LORIDAN.
Stirring news!
Well arm'd, too! They are foes a soldier seeks.
I have a father, Sir; let him not blush for me.
Follow me close—a brave man be my witness
I'm a Sicilian, and have slain my share.
Here's massacre shall weigh against their thousands.
I swore an oath to kill him—am I perjured?
And now for havoc! Bring your ruffian hosts—
Ye whose accursed deeds his life hath paid,
And heaps on heaps, in reeking hecatombs,
Revenge his shade.

[Exeunt.
(Shouts.)