 | Orra |  |
SCENE III.
A spacious apartment, or baron's hall, with a chair of state. Hughobert, Eleanora, and Glottenbal enter near the front, speaking as they enter; and afterwards enter Vassals and Attendants, who range themselves at the bottom of the stage.Hugh.
Cease, dame! I will not hear; thou striv'st in vain
With thy weak pleadings. Orra hence must go
Within the hour, unless she will engage
Her plighted word to marry Glottenbal.
Glot.
Ay, and a mighty hardship, by the mass!
Hugh.
I've summon'd her in solemn form before me,
That these my vassals should my act approve,
Knowing my right of guardianship; and also
That her late father, in his dying moments,
Did will she should be married to my son;
Which will, she now must promise to obey,
Or take the consequence.
El.
But why so hasty?
Hugh.
Why, sayst thou? Falkenstein still in these parts
Lingers with sly intent. Even now he left me,
After an interview of small importance,
Which he and Hartman, as a blind pretence
For seeing Orra, formally requested.
I say again she must forthwith obey me,
Or take the consequence of wayward will.
El.
Nay, not for Orra do I now entreat
So much as for thyself. Bethink thee well
What honour thou shalt have, when it is known
Thy ward from thy protecting roof was sent;
Thou who shouldst be to her a friend, a father.
Hugh.
But do I send her unprotected? No!
Brave Rudigere conducts her with a band
Of trusty spearmen. In her new abode
She will be safe as here.
El.
Ha! Rudigere!
Putst thou such trust in him? Alas, my lord!
His heart is full of cunning and deceit.
Wilt thou to him the flower of all thy race
Rashly intrust? O be advised, my lord!
Hugh.
Thy ghostly father tells thee so, I doubt not.
Another priest confesses Rudigere,
And Urston likes him not. But canst thou think,
With aught but honest purpose, he would chose
From all her women the severe Cathrina,
So strictly virtuous, for her companion?
This puts all doubt to silence. Say no more,
Else I shall think thou pleadst against my son,
More with a step-dame's than a mother's feelings.
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Ay, marry does she, father! And forsooth!
Regards me as a fool. No marvel then
That Orra scorns me; being taught by her,—
How should she else?—So to consider me!
Hugh.
(to Glottenbal).
Tut! hold thy tongue.
El.
He wrongs me much, my lord.
Hugh.
No more, for here she comes.
Enter Orra, attended by Urston, Alice and Cathrina, whilst Hughobert seats himself in his chair of state, the vassals, &c. ranging themselves on each side.
Hugh.
(to Orra).
Madam and ward, placed under mine authority,
And to my charge committed by my kinsman,
Ulric of Aldenberg, thy noble father:
Having all gentle means essay'd to win thee
To the fulfilment of his dying will,
That did decree his heiress should be married
With Glottenbal my heir; I solemnly
Now call upon thee, ere that rougher means
Be used for this good end, to promise truly
Thou wilt, within a short and stated time,
Before the altar give thy plighted faith
To this my only son. I wait thine answer.
Orra of Aldenberg, wilt thou do this?
Orra.
Count of the same, my lord and guardian,
I will not.
Hugh.
Have a care, thou froward maid!
'Tis thy last opportunity: ere long
Thou shalt, within a dreary dwelling pent,
Count thy dull hours, told by the dead man's watch,
And wish thou hadst not been so proudly wilful.
Orra.
And let my dull hours by the dead man's watch
Be told; yea, make me too the dead man's mate,
My dwelling place the nailed coffin; still
I would prefer it to the living lord
Your goodness offers me.
Hugh.
Art thou bewitch'd?
Is he not young, well featured and well form'd?
And dost thou put him in thy estimation
With bones and sheeted clay?
Beyond endurance is thy stubborn spirit.
Right well thy father knew that all thy sex
Stubborn and headstrong are; therefore, in wisdom,
He vested me with power that might compel thee
To what he will'd should be.
Orra.
O not in wisdom!
Say rather in that weak, but gen'rous faith,
Which said to him, the cope of heaven would fall
And smother in its cradle his swath'd babe,
Rather than thou. his mate in arms, his kinsman,
Who by his side in many a field had fought,
Shouldst take advantage of his confidence
For sordid ends.—
My brave and noble father!
A voice comes from thy grave and cries against it,
And bids me to be bold. Thine awful form
Rises before me,—and that look of anguish
On thy dark brow!—O no! I blame thee not.
Hugh.
Thou seemst beside thyself with such wild gestures
And strangely-flashing eyes. Repress these fancies,
And to plain reason listen. Thou hast said,
For sordid ends I have advantage ta'en.
Since thy brave father's death, by war and compact,
Thou of thy lands hast lost a third; whilst I,
By happy fortune, in my heir's behalf,
Have doubled my domains to what they were
When Ulric chose him as a match for thee.
Orra.
O, and what speaketh this, but that my father
Domains regarded not; and thought a man
Such as the son should be of such a man
As thou to him appear'dst, a match more honourable
Than one of ampler state. Take thou from Glottenbal
The largely added lands of which thou boastest,
And put, in lieu thereof, into his stores
Some weight of manly sense and gen'rous worth,
And I will say thou keepst faith with thy friend:
But as it is, although a king's domains
Increas'd thy wealth, thou poorly wouldst deceive him.
Hugh.
(rising from his chair in anger).
Now, madam, be all counsel on this matter
Between us closed. Prepare thee for thy journey.
El.
Nay, good my lord! consider.
Hugh.
(to Eleanora).
What, again!
Have I not said thou hast an alien's heart
From me and mine. Learn to respect my will:
—Be silent, as becomes a youthful dame.
Urst.
For a few days may she not still remain?
Hugh.
No, priest; not for an hour. It is my pleasure
That she for Brunier's castle do set forth
Without delay.
Orra
(with a faint starting movement).
In Brunier's castle!
Hugh.
Ay;
And doth this change the colour of thy cheek,
And give thy alter'd voice a feebler sound?
[Aside to Glottenbal.
She shrinks, now to her, boy; this is thy time.
Glot.
(to Orra).
Unless thou wilt, thou needst not go at all.
There is full many a maiden would right gladly
Accept the terms we offer, and remain. (A pause.)
Wilt thou not answer me?
Orra.
I heard thee not.—
I heard thy voice, but not thy words. What saidst thou?
Glot.
I say, there's many a maiden would right gladly
Accept the terms we offer, and remain.
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With mine inferior. We are link'd together
As 'twere by right and natural property.
And as I've said before I say again,
I love thee too: what more couldst thou desire?
Orra.
I thank thee for thy courtship, though uncouth;
For it confirms my purpose: and my strength
Grows as thou speakst, firm like the deep-bas'd rock. (To Hughobert).
Now for my journey when you will, my lord!
I'm ready.
Hugh.
Be it so! on thine own head
Rest all the blame!
[Going from her.
Perverse past all belief!
[Turning round to her sternly.
Orra of Aldenberg, wilt thou obey me?
Orra.
Count of that noble house, with all respect,
Again I say I will not.
[Exit Hughobert in anger, followed by Glottenbal, Urston, &c. Manent anly Eleanora, Cathrina, Alice, and Orra, who keeps up with stately pride till Hughobert and all attendants are gone out, and then throwing herself into the arms of Eleanora, gives vent to her feelings.
El.
Sweet Orra! be not so depress'd; thou goest
For a short term, soon to return again;
The banishment is mine, who stays behind.
But I will beg of heaven with ceaseless prayers
To have thee soon restored: and, when I dare,
Will plead with Hughobert in thy behalf;
He is not always stern.
Orra.
Thanks, gentle friend! Thy voice to me doth ring
Like the last tones of kindly nature; dearly
In my remembrance shall they rest.—What sounds,
What sights, what horrid intercourse I may,
Ere we shall meet again, be doom'd to prove,
High heaven alone doth know.—If that indeed
We e'er shall meet again!
[Falls on her neck and weeps.
El.
Nay, nay! come to my chamber. There awhile
Compose your spirits. Be not so depress'd.
[Exeunt.
[Rudigere, who has appeared, during the last part of the above scene, at the bottom of the stage, half concealed, as if upon the watch, now comes forward, speaking as he advances.
Hold firm her pride till fairly from these walls
Our journey is begun; then fortune hail!
Thy favours are secured.
[Looking off the stage.
Ho, Maurice there!
Enter Maurice.
My faithful Maurice, I would speak with thee.
I leave thee here behind me; to thy care,
My int'rests I commit; be it thy charge
To counteract thy lady's influence,
Who will entreat her lord the term to shorten
Of Orra's absence, maiming thus my plan,
Which must, belike, have time to be effected.
Be vigilant, be artful; and be sure
Thy services I amply will repay.
Maur.
Ay, thou hast said so, and I have believ'd thee.
Rud.
And dost thou doubt?
Maur.
No; yet meantime, good sooth!
If somewhat of thy bounty I might finger,
'Twere well: I like to have some actual proof.
Didst thou not promise it?
Rud.
'Tis true I did,
But other pressing calls have drain'd my means.
Maur.
And other pressing calls my ebbing faith
May also drain, and change my promis'd purpose.
Rud.
Go to! I know thou art a greedy leech,
Though ne'ertheless thou lov'st me.
[Taking a small case from his pocket, which he opens.
Seest thou here?
I have no coin; but look upon these jewels:
I took them from a knight I slew in battle.
When I am Orra's lord, thou shalt receive,
Were it ten thousand crowns, whate'er their worth
Shall by a skilful lapidary be
In honesty esteem'd.
[Gives him the jewels.
Maur.
I thank thee, but methinks their lustre's dim.
I've seen the stones before upon thy breast
In gala days, but never heard thee boast
They were of so much value.
Rud.
I was too prudent: I had lost them else.
To no one but thyself would I entrust
The secret of their value.
Enter Servant.
Serv.
Sir Rudigere, the spearmen are without,
Waiting your further orders, for the journey.
Rud.
(to servant).
I'll come to them anon.
[Exit servant.
Before I go, I'll speak to thee again.
[Exeunt severally.
| Orra | |