University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

—The Exterior of the King of Sicily's Palace. A spacious terrace with steps, leading into an extensive garden.
Pages of the Princess Isabel, Sentinels, and Attendants, are discovered; as also several young Peasant Girls, with petitions in their hands, waiting the approach of the Princess.
Enter Isabel, R., followed by two Maids of Honour.
RECITATIVE.—Isabel.
AIR.

Isabel.

Heartless grandeur, how I disdain thy mockery!
Pageantry and feasts surround me, but happiness flies me.
Wretched Isabel! thy ungrateful Robert slights and resigns
thee without a sigh. Oh, that I but knew whither he has fled!

Peasant Girl.
(aside to her companions.)

We may approach
her without fear; the petitions of the wretched she has never
yet slighted. (advancing to Isabel.)
Revered Princess, assist
the unfortunate, who claim thy protection.

(the Princess graciously receives her petitions, which she commits to the care of her Maids of Honour.
Enter Alice, L. U. E., with Robert's letter.
Alice.
(aside.)

The opportunity seems favourable—why
should I hesitate? Goodness speaks in her features. (advancing, and presenting the letter.)

Revered Princess, assist the unfortunate
who claim thy protection.

Isabel.

Thou seemest a stranger?

Alice.

I am but newly come to this land; but the person—
(markedly.)
from whom I come, and who is waiting nigh, is no
stranger to your highness.

Isabel.
(opening the letter, and with sudden joy, aside.)

Ha!
may I believe the welcome tidings? Robert so near me! Fate,
thou dost relent at last! Come hither, stranger; return, and
lead hither the person who sent thee. Use thy best speed, and
I will give thee cause to rejoice.

Alice.
(aside, exultingly.)

I knew my counsel was good.

Exit, L.
Isabel.
(gazing fondly on the letter.)

Ah, Robert! thou hast
nought to fear from me.

AIR WITH CHORUS.
[Isabel]
Dear idol I adore,
Oh, haste and glad mine eyes;
The boon thou dost implore,
To grant my bosom sighs!

Peasant Girls.
Princess whom all adore,
May Joy e'er light thine eyes!
To aid all who implore,
Thy breast still sighs.

(Isabel, with marks of kindness, dismisses the petitioners, who retire R. U. E.
Enter Alice with Robert, L. U. E.
Alice.

Take heart, my lord, and cast yourself at her feet.
She has consented to hear you, which is very nearly a full pardon.

Exit Alice, L.
Robert.
(advancing to Isabel, and sinking on his knee.)

Fair Isabel, let my penitence disarm your anger! The love
that caused my guilt should plead my pardon.

Isabel.

Arise, Sir Knight.

Robert.

Do you, then, generously forgive my offence?

Isabel.

I ought to have fled your presence, or been deaf to
your words; but my heart is too weak towards all it loves.

Robert.

Words of rapture!

Isabel.

If your heart be not changed, Lord Robert, you
may, in the approaching trial of arms, prove it, and I will pray
for your victory!

Robert.

Alas, Isabel, I am robbed of hope!

Isabel.

How!

Robert.

My folly maddens me. Oppressed by Fortune's
spite, I have lost my armour and my trusty sword.

Isabel.

'Tis not yet too late; the loss shall be repaired.

Robert.

Ha!

Isabel.

Pages—haste and bring hither to this knight the
best and richest suit within the palace armoury.

Exeunt Pages, R.
Robert.

Then I may defy the worst!

Isabel.

Thou knowest, perhaps, that my father has proclaimed
my hand the prize of the tournay?

Robert.

I know it, and am blest.

Isabel.

But he did so because he deems his choice, the
Prince of Grenada, invincible.

Robert.

Invincible! He hath borne that title for the last
time.

Isabel.

He is looked for every moment, and, by my father's
command, I must in this very place receive and welcome him.
Leave it not, I beseech you, that my eyes may dwell, with
anticipating joy, upon my deliverer.

Robert kneels and kisses her hand—the Pages re-enter bearing a rich suit of polished armour.

Behold!

Robert.
(enthusiastically.)

Armed by you, victory cannot
fail to crown me.

DUET.—Isabel and Robert.
Base fears, away now depart!
This/Thine arm shall win the fight.
High beats my bounding heart,
With hope and soft delight!

Exit Isabel, followed by two of the Pages, R.—the other two remaining with the armour.
Enter, from the terrace, Bertram, with Demon-Herald.
Bertram.
(apart to the Demon-Herald.)

Astoroth hath
placed thee under my orders, and I have fully instructed thee:
Now, look thou do my bidding well, or tremble!

Demon.

Dread master, I will.

Bertram.

Under thy guise of Herald, lead him hence, and
lose his steps in the neighbouring forest.

Demon.

He shall not fail to follow me.

Robert.
(who has been gazing after Isabel.)

Oh! would
that instead of meeting my rival in harmless tilting, I had him
before me in single and deadly fight! (turning and seeing the false Herald.)

What wouldst thou?

Demon.

To thee, Robert of Normandy, the Prince of
Greneda, my master, sends formal challenge; and by my voice
defies thee, not to a pageant tournay, but to deadly combat.

Robert.
(with joy.)

Ha! my dearest wish is granted!
Where is he? Guide me to him.

Demon.

Follow me; he waits thee in the neighbouring
forest.

Robert.

One of us shall never quit it more.

Exit Robert, following the Demon Herald, and attended by the Two Pages, bearing his armour.
Bertram.
(advancing.)

Ha, ha, ha!—go, and seek an empty
shadow. Thou can'st not escape me, Robert; thou must be
mine alone. The King of Sicily and his daughter approach,
and the Knights are preparing for the tournament. Haste
thee, Astoroth, the hour is come.

A confused crowd of Dancers, Singers, and Inhabitants of the city hasten down the terrace steps, and group themselves in various parties.

CHORUS AND DANCE.
Whilst around music is sounding,
In the dance, joyously bounding,
Come and join this festive day!
Isabel, may fortune bless thee;
Fondly may its smiles caress thee,
And keep grief from thee ever away!

During the above, enter, down the terrace steps, numerous Guards, Pages and Squires, carrying the arms and distinguishing pennons of the different Knights from all nations. They precede the King and Isabel, who are closely followed by the Nobles and Ladies of the court, Alice and Arnaud, Robert's Followers, Town-People, Populace, &c. The King and his Daughter ascend a raised throne, R. U. E.
King.

Warriors, and honoured signiors, ye are welcome to
our court. The appointed hour is nigh that will secure to the
chosen of victory the sweetest prize that valour ever yet conquered
or received; and we now but wait the appearance of
one justly dear to us, and by renown known to ye all, even the
Prince of Grenada, ere we bid the trumpet call ye to the lists.

Bertram.
(aside.)

Haste thee, sluggish Astoroth!

Enter a Royal Herald-at-Arms.
Herald.

Sire, the Prince of Grenada has entered the palace,
and claims the honour of being armed for the combat by the
hands of the Princess Isabel.

Bertram.
(aside.)

I triumph! The phantom duke is come,
while Robert wanders in the mazes of the wood.

King.

How now, daughter, hast thou no reply? Go, herald,
tell the prince his boon is granted, and our daughter awaits his
coming.

(Isabel mutely inclines her head to the Herald, who departs.
Alice.
(aside.)

Alas! where is Duke Robert? Honour calls
him, yet he appears not.

The trumpets sound, and the Banner, two Pages, and two Squires of the pretended Prince of Grenada precede Astoroth as he enters bareheaded in the armour of the Prince. He advances to the King and Isabel, and receives from the latter, (who has taken them from his Pages,) his casque and sword, while eight of his Attendant Knights sing the following chorus.
CHORUS.
Sound, trumpets, sound! your martial accents blending,
His praise proclaim whose banner we serve.
Sound, trumpets, sound! upon his shield descending,
Cupid and Mars his arm will nerve.

(the Pages of the various Knights present them their arms at the same time.)
Bertram.
(approaching Astoroth, aside.)

Remember,
Astoroth, to claim the princess for thy bride.

Ast.

I will not fail.

King.
(descending from the throne with Isabel.)

Prince, and
valourous knights, to horse! The tournament ended, I claim
ye for my guests at the royal banquet.

Isabel.
(aside.)

Alas, in vain I strain my eyes; I behold
him not. Doth he mock my love? Cruel thought! My hand
is the prize, and Robert's banner is absent!

King.

Isabel, let thy voice proclaim the lists are open, and
make the true hearts of chivalry beat high at thy accents.

FINALE TO ACT I.
(a loud call of trumpets is heard without.)
Chorus of Knights.
The signal we hear and obey!
Its sound calls aloud—“Haste away.”

Chorus of People.
Away!

Isabel.
Its voice calls aloud—“Haste away.”

AIR.—Isabel.
Hark! the trumpet afar
Rings its piercing call!
In the gay mimic war
Fly to conquer or fall.

Alberti & Knights.
Hark! hark, loud sounding,
The trumpets call!
Our hearts, high bounding,
In the gay mimic war
Fly to conquer or fall.

Isabel.
Where fame invites, the warrior flies
With swelling heart his might to prove;
He bravely fights, and nobly dies
For glory and his lady-love!

Full Chorus.
Hark! The trumpet afar
Rings its piercing call.
In the gay mimic war
Fly to conquer or fall.

(at the conclusion of Isabel's strain, the King leads her away, ascending the stairs, followed by Astoroth and Bertram; the Knights and Guards fall into order, and march singing the concluding bars of the chorus; while the rest, crowding after them, close the Procession as the curtain descends.