University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

A wide arched cave, rude but grand, seen by a sombre light, a small furnace burning near the front of the stage. Enter Ethwald and Ethelbert, who pause and look round for some time without speaking.
Ethw.
Gloomy, and void, and silent!

Eth.
Hush!

Ethw.
What hearest thou?

Eth.
Their hollow sounding steps. Lo! seest thou not?
[Pointing to the further end of the stage, where, from an obscure recess, enter three Mystics robed in white, and ranged on one side of the stage, point to Ethwald: whilst from another obscure recess enter three Mystic Sisters, and ranged on the opposite side point to Ethwald: then from a mid recess enters the Arch Sister robed also in white, but more majestic than the others, and a train of Mystics and Mystic Sisters behind her. She advances half-way up the stage, then stops short, and points also to Ethwald.
(All the Mystics, &c. speaking at once.)
Who art thou?

Arch Sist.
I know thee who thou art; the hand of Mercia.
The hand that lifts itself above the head.
I know thee who thou art.

Ethw.
Then haply ye do know my errand too.

Arch Sist.
I do; but turn thee back upon thy steps,
And tempt thy fate no farther.

Ethw.
From the chaf'd shore turn back the swelling tide!
I came to know my fate, and I will know it.

1st Mystic.
Must we call up from the deep centre's womb
The spirits of the night and their dread lord?

1st Myst. S.
Must we do that which makes the entombed dead
From coffins start?

Ethw.
Raise the whole host of darkness an ye will,
But I must be obey'd.

[The Arch Sister shrieks, and, throwing her mantle over her face, turns to go away.
Ethw.
If there be power in mortal arm to hold you,
Ye stir not hence until I am obey'd.

1st Myst.
And how compellest thou?

Ethw.
With this good sword.

1st Myst.
Swords here are children's wands of no avail:
There, warrior, is thy weapon.

Ethw.
Where, Mystic? say.

1st Myst.
(pointing to the furnace).
Behold within that fire
A bar of burning iron! pluck it forth.

Ethw.
(resolutely).
I will.

[Goes to the furnace, and putting in his hand, pulls out what seems a red hot bar of iron.
Arch Sist.
(throwing off her mantle).
Thou hast subdued me; thou shalt be obey'd.

Ethw.
(casting away the bar).
Away, thou paltry terror!

Arch Sist.
(to Ethw.)
We now begin our rites: be firm, be silent.

[She stretches forth her hand with a commanding air, and the Mystics and Mystic Sisters begin their incantations at the bottom of the stage, moving round in several mazy circles one within another. Fire is at last seen flashing from the midst of the inner circle, and immediately they all begin a hollow muttering sound, which becomes louder and louder, till at length it is accompanied with dismal sounds from without, and distant music, solemn and wild.
Ethw.
(grasping Ethelbert's hand).
What dismal sounds are these?
'Tis like a wild responsive harmony,
Tun'd to the answ'ring yells of damned souls.
What follows this? Some horrid thing! Thou smilest:
Nay, press thy hand, I pray thee, on my breast;
There wilt thou find no fear,

Eth.
Hush! hear that distant noise.

Ethw.
'Tis thunder in the bowels of the earth,
Heard from afar.

[A subterraneous noise like thunder is heard at a distance, becoming louder as it approaches. Upon hearing this, the Mystics suddenly leave off their rites; the music ceases, and they, opening their circles, range themselves on either side of the stage, leaving the Arch Sister alone in the middle.
Arch Sist.
(holding up her hand).
Mystics, and Mystic Maids, and leagued bands!
The master spirit comes: prepare.

(All repeat after her).
Prepare.

1st Mystic.
Hark! through the darken'd realms below,
Through the fiery regions glow:
Through the massy mountain's core,
Through the mines of living ore;
Through the yawning caverns wide,
Through the solid and the void;
Through the dank and through the dry,
Through th' unseen of mortal eye:
Upon the earthquake's secret course, afar
I hear the sounding of thy car:
Sulphureous vapours load the rising gale;
We know thy coming; mighty master, hail!

(They all repeat.)
Mighty master, hail!

[The stage darkens by degrees, and a thick vapour begins to ascend at the bottom of the stage.
2d Mystic.
Hark, hark! what murmurs fill the dome!
Who are they who with thee come?
Those who, in their upward flight,
Rouse the tempests of the night:
Those who ride in flood and fire;
Those who rock the tumbling spire:
Those who, on the bloody plain,
Shriek with the voices of the slain:
Those who through the darkness glare,
And the sleepless murd'rer scare;
Those who take their surly rest
On the troubled dreamer's breast:
Those who make their nightly den
In the guilty haunts of men:
Through the heavy air I hear
Their hollow trooping onward bear:
The torch's shrinking flame is dim and pale:
I know thy coming; mighty master, hail!

(All repeat again).
Mighty master, hail!

[The stage becomes still darker, and a thicker vapour ascends.
3d Mystic.
Lo! the mystic volumes rise!
Wherein are lapt from mortal eyes
Horrid deeds as yet unthought,
Bloody battles yet unfought:
The sudden fall and deadly wound
Of the tyrant yet uncrown'd;
And his line of many dyes
Who yet within the cradle lies.
Moving forms, whose stilly bed
Long hath been among the dead;
Moving forms, whose living morn
Breaks with the nations yet unborn,
In mystic vision walk the horrid pale:
We own thy presence; mighty master, hail!

(All).
Mighty master, hail!

Enter from the farther end of the stage crowds of terrible spectres, dimly seen through the vapour, which now spreads itself over the whole stage. All the Mystics and Mystic Sisters bow themselves very low, and the Arch Sister, standing alone in the middle, bows to all the different sides of the cave.
Ethw.
(to 1st Mystic).
To every side the mystic
mistress bows,
What meaneth this? mine eye no form perceives:
Where is your mighty chief?

1st Mystic.
Above, around you, and beneath.

Ethw.
Has he no form to vision sensible?

1st Mystic.
In the night's noon, in the winter's
noon, in the lustre's noon:
Of times twice ten within the century's round
Is he before our leagued bands confess'd
In dread appearance:
But in what form or in what circumstance
May not be told; he dies who utters it.

[Ethw. shrinks at this, and seems somewhat appalled. The Arch Sister, after tossing about her arms, and writhing her body in a violent agitation, fixes her eyes, like one waked from a dream, steadfastly upon Ethw.; then going suddenly up to him, grasps him by the hand with energy.
Arch Sist.
Thou who wouldst pierce the deep and awful shade
Of dark futurity, to know the state
Of after greatness waiting on thy will,
For in thy power acceptance or rejection
Is freely put, lift up thine eyes and say,
What seest thou yonder?

[Pointing to a dark arched opening in the roof of the cave, where an illuminated crown and sceptre appear.
Ethw.
(starting).
Ha! e'en the inward vision of my soul
In actual form pourtray'd!
[His eyes brightening wonderfully.
Sayst thou it shall be mine?

Arch Sist.
As thou shalt choose.

Ethw.
I ask of thee no more.
[Stands gazing upon the appearance till it fades away.
So soon extinguish'd? Hath this too a meaning?
It says, perhaps, my greatness shall be short.

Arch Sist.
I speak to thee no further than I may,
Therefore be satisfied.

Ethw.
And I am satisfied. Dread mystic maid,
Receive my thanks.

Arch Sist.
Nay, Ethwald, our commission ends not here,
Stay and behold what follows.

[The stage becomes suddenly dark, and most terrible shrieks, and groans, and dismal lamentations, are heard from the farther end of the cave.
Ethw.
What horrid sounds are these?

Arch Sist.
The varied voice of woe, of Mercia's woe:
Of those who shall, beneath thine iron hand,
The cup of mis'ry drink. There, dost thou hear
The dungeon'd captives' sighs, the shrilly shrieks
Of childless mothers and distracted maids,
Mix'd with the heavy groans of dying men!
The widow's wailings, too, and infant's cries—
[Ethw. stops his ears in horror.
Ay, stop thine ears; it is a horrid sound.

Ethw.
Forefend that e'er again I hear the like!
What didst thou say? O, thou didst foully say!
Do I not know my nature? heav'n and earth
As soon shall change—

(A voice above.)
Swear not!

(A voice beneath.)
Swear not!

(A voice on the same level, but distant.)
Swear not!

Arch Sist.
Now, once again, and our commission ends.
Look yonder, and behold that shadowy form.
[Pointing to an arched recess, across which bursts a strong light, and discovers a crowned phantom, covered with wounds, and representing by its gestures one in agony. Ethw. looks and shrinks back.
What dost thou see?

Ethw.
A miserable man: his breast is pierced
With many wounds, and yet his gestures seem
The agony of a distracted mind,
More than of pain.

Arch. Sist.
But wears he not a crown?

Ethw.
Why does it look so fix'dly on me thus?
What are its woes to me?

Arch Sist.
They are thy own.
Knowst thou no traces of that alter'd form,
Nor seest that crowned phantom is thyself?

Ethw.
(shudders, then after a pause).
I may be doom'd to meet a tyrant's end,
But not to be a tyrant.
Did all the powers of hell attest the doom,
I would belie it. Know I not my nature?
By every dreaded power and hallow'd thing—

(Voice over the stage.)
Swear not!

(Voice under the stage.)
Swear not!

(Distant voice off the stage.)
Swear not!

[Thundering noise is heard under ground. The stage becomes instantly quite dark, and Mystics and Spirits, &c. disappear, Ethw. and Eth. remaining alone.
Eth.
(after a pause).
How art thou?

Ethw.
Is it thy voice? O, let me feel thy grasp!
Mine ears ring strangely, and my head doth feel
As though I were bereaved of my wits.
Are they all gone? Where is thy hand, I pray?
We've had a fearful bout!

Eth.
Thy touch is cold as death: let us ascend
And breathe the upper air.

[Exeunt.