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The Rose of Arragon

A Play, In Five Acts
  
  
  

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SCENE I.
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SCENE I.

—The Ante-room to Olivia's Chamber.
Two Attendants variously occupied—a knock at the door—which one of them opens.
Enter Almagro, Anthonio, and Omer.
Alma.
You are dismiss'd till morning.—You will find
Your couches in the quarter that we spoke of.—
Withdraw; and mind, thanks but precede rewards,
Not stand for them, with us! Meantime we thank you.
Good night.—
[Attendants go out, Almagro locks the door after them.
Anthonio!
[Anthonio comes forward.
Are you a man of nerve?

Anth.
I dare aver I am.

Alma.
'Tis a great property,
Which more avails men in this world of barter
Than what they buy or sell;—you know what I mean?
The nerve that gains its point, no matter how!
You will perform the ceremony?

Anth.
Yes.

Alma.
Howe'er she may protest, gainsay, entreat,
Threaten, change colour, weep, shriek, swoon away—
It may come to that—in any case whatever,
You will not halt, but on?

Anth.
I shall go on!

Alma.
And I shall render the responses, both
For her, and for myself. Retire and wait

392

In the Oratory—That's the door to it.—
[Anthonio goes out.
Omer!

Omer.
My lord!

Alma.
'Tis likely, as I told you,
Your aid may stead me; in which case, approve
The Moor may boast in you a worthy son.
You will see her tears, as though you saw them not!
And hear her cries, as though you heard them not!
And limbs, whose tenderness dissuades enforcement,
Reply to as the vice would, say it held them!
Behind these hangings take thy station, till
My summons asks thy aid—till then keep still!

Omer.
I shall observe, my lord.

[Omer conceals himself.
Alma.
And I reward!
'Tis near the time she makes her toilet up
For the night.—Anon she'll summon her attendants,
And missing their reply, no doubt come forth.
[The clock strikes.
Hark!—Her remembrancer!—Listen!

Olivia
[within].
Therese!

Alma.
Well answer'd, silence!

Olivia.
What!—Therese!—Therese!
Christina, where are you?
[Enters, without perceiving Almagro, who retires a little.
Where are my maids?
I am left alone by them—and purposely!
I am sure of it!—Alasco does not come,
Nor message has he sent me!—Flight he talk'd of,
And still am I in Saragossa! Oh!
What mountain huge and inaccessible
Has fate heaved up between us?—Has he seen
Almagro? tax'd him with the shame he did me?
And, for his honest rashness, answer'd with
His liberty—perhaps his life? That man
Is match for all extremities!—That man,
I have heard my father say, to gain his end,
Would stop at nought—not blood!—My father, too!
'Tis past the time he used to visit me,
An hour; nor has he come—no word from him!
My motions watch'd—egress, debarr'd me, from
The quarters set apart for me!—the cause,
Reasons of state”—“the Regent's will;” but why
His will, or why those reasons, held from me—
The door! perhaps 'tis free. Lock'd on me still!
[Tries to open it.
Heaven is not lock'd!—There is my only refuge!
I'll in, nor other couch enjoy to-night
Save what my knees can make them of the ground,
Whence shall my soul look up to heaven till morning!
[Retiring, is intercepted by Almagro.
Almagro!


393

Alma.
Not so fast, Olivia—stop;
Or, if you will return into your chamber,
I'll pass along with you.

Olivia.
Hoa!—help there!

Alma.
[Grasping her wrist.]
Silence!
Shriek not!

Olivia.
My wrist is broken, sir.

Alma.
I grasp'd it,
But not with undue force.

Olivia.
Look there!—the blood
In answer to your fingers!—Fie!—a man
And use a woman so! Where are my women!—
Wherefore attend they not?—why not obey
My summons?—where are they?

Alma.
Hence, by my orders;
Far out of reach of hearing—as all others
Who might intrude upon the conference
I mean to hold with you!—You will call in vain!

Olivia.
Confer with thee!—here?—at this time o' night,
Alone?—a man?—and one I shudder at
In company, and in the open day?
Confer!—Begone, sir!—If respect, on thy part,
Does not instruct thee to recross my threshold,
Let loathing upon mine! Think what I am, sir,
And if thou hast forgot thou art a man,
Let that remind thee on't, and make thee blush,
And drive thee from my presence!

Alma.
What art thou?

Olivia.
What am I, sir?—a wife!—I am a wife!—
A name that's haply borne by one that's weak,
But gives a power to her, to cope with which,
He that would mock her must make up his mind
To abide the wrath of the stern sanctities
Which, in the names of father, brother, husband,
Protect the wearer's honour!

Alma.
With your leave,
At least a word or two before we part.

Olivia.
No! not a syllable!

Alma.
Without your leave, then!

Olivia.
Dare you compel me?

Alma.
If you force me!—Girl,
You are in my power!

Olivia.
Heavens! and for this same man
My brother would have laid his life down! [To herself.]
Where

Is my brother?—At the thought of strait to him,
Danger or worse, how, all at once, my heart
Casts off the shackles of congealing fear,
And feels at large, with all its faculties!
[Resolutely approaches Almagro, without looking at him, through abhorrence.
Almagro, where is my brother?


394

Almagro.
[Confounded momentarily.]
Where!

Olivia.
Take time;
The answer's not at hand—not to be found
Except by dint of searching for't—take time!
Yet why delay at all?—Truth has no answer
Save one—if that won't serve, there's falsehood with
A thousand!—Take the first of them—from first
To last, they are all the same!—Is he alive?

Alma.
He is!

Olivia.
Where is he?

Alma.
Gone to his command,
As I suppose.

Olivia.
As you suppose! You met
Before he went?

Alma.
I think we did.

Olivia.
You think!
You had no words?

Alma.
Words!

Olivia.
Words! You did not quarrel?

Alma.
Quarrel!

Olivia.
No mortal strife fell out between you?
No swords were drawn, nor daggers, yet, pluck'd forth,
Were there?

Alma.
My hand fall from my side, if sword
Or dagger quitted sheath of mine to-day!

Olivia.
[Aside.]
No thunder yet, and thunder-clouds all round!
Out of such pitch and wrack a bolt must come!—
My father! how is it with him? Almagro,
How fares it with my father? where is he?
Or access, hither, is prevented him,
Or, hence, he bears my brother company,
Or something or another has befallen him.
Why don't you speak, Almagro? [Looking at him.]
Gracious powers!

Your face, which scarce till now I lifted eye to,
Is not the same! but changed, and horribly.
How you remind me of a wretch I saw
Taken in the act of murder once! He had pass'd me
An hour before, a hale young man. The change
An hour had made in him! He had aged a life
In that brief hour—and so have you since last
I look'd upon you, near as brief a lapse!
Almagro, where is my father? Tell me, man!
What takes away your breath, or strikes you dumb?—
I am not your accusing spirit—I am only
My father's child! Are you his murderer?—
He is murder'd!

Alma.
[by an effort recovering himself].
Well may wonder gasp to meet,
From lips so loved, question of act so hateful!
Listen and interrupt me not.—Thy vows

395

Thy father-King has all absolved thee from;
Thou art free to wed again, and wed to me
This very hour shall see thee!

Olivia.
Wed to thee!

Alma.
You heard me, did you not?

Olivia.
Hast thou encounter'd
The horror of the wolf-pack, as, at night,
The howl at distance on the mountain road
Admonish'd thee, when hunger was abroad
Roaming ravine and steep, cut off from food,
As the earth lay entomb'd in frozen snow?
I have, until my blood almost congeal'd,
My joints began to lose their faculty,
And, but for help, I must have dropp'd and lain,
Incapable of motion as a stone!
'Twas nothing to the thought of wedding thee!—
Though that I know a thing impossible!—
Not with the wolf-pack so! knew I the track
The famish'd monsters would be sure to come;
Sooner would I lie in it, bound hand and foot,
Than risk the chance would make me bride to thee!
Thy hand, presenting me the bridal ring,
I would recoil from as it brought to me
My brother's corse! Yea, as 'twere reeking with
My father's blood!—Preserve me, Heaven! he looks
Again the very heart and soul of murder!

Alma.
[Recovering himself.]
I'll speak to thee once more and then I'll act.
Observe! Within this quarter, where thou bidest,
There breathe not any can be hindrance to me!
The forms and agents, that make man and wife
Are ready!—Sure as in that chamber lies
Thy couch, and his, thou call'dst aforetime lord—
That couch receives another lord to-night!
Consent!

Olivia.
I think—and madden while I think!
O husband, where art thou!—Alasco!—Father!
A wife! a child!—a sister!—and no help!

Alma.
Consent!—provoke not force!

Olivia.
I dare you, wretch!
Ay, woman as I am—weak and alone—
I execrate, abhor you, and defy you!

Alma.
What, hoa!—within there!

[Omer and Anthonio advance.
Olivia.
[Draws a dagger.]
Is it so? behold, then!
This talisman will I defeat thee with,
Summoning him, with whom, to side with me,
I am more than match for all who come against me!
Witness, e'en you, [to Omer and Anthonio]
the act that wrecks my life,

To save my honour, is not mine, but his
Who on this dread extremity impels me!—

396

Mine honour!—precious for itself, past life,
But doubly precious for my dear lord's sake;
In faith to whom my heart pours out the blood,
No drop of which was e'er rebellious to him.

[Omer arrests her arm as she is going to stab herself; she struggles desperately with him—and, at last, falls fainting into his arms.
Alma.
Prevent her—Oh, well done!—What, is she dead?

[Trumpet at a great distance.
Omer.
She has fainted.

Alma.
Hark!—what hear you!

Omer.
I mistake,
Or 'tis a trumpet.

Alma.
From without the walls?

Omer.
I thought so.

Alma.
There it is again!—It speaks—

Omer.
Like a friend.

Alma.
I hope so.

Cortez
[without].
Where is the Regent?

Alma.
[Unlocking the door.]
Here!

Enter Cortez.
Cortez.
Alasco and the King, their powers combined,
Approach the gates—A herald in their names
Demands admittance, which the crowd, not only,
But e'en the soldiery, to yield incline.
Ruphino's death is bruited far and wide,
And discontent thereon is open-mouth'd.
Still of your special friends the most stand true,
The which to keep behoves you show yourself.

Alma.
I come to them!—Away!—I follow you.
[Cortez goes out.
Observe my signet—should I send it to you,
[To Omer, aside.
The purpose now you balk'd yourself effect.
'Tis but her own intent that you fulfil;
So may the act light on your conscience sit.
That done, you know where lie my coffers—Take
The key and help yourself!—Attend me, father!

[Goes out with Anthonio. Alarum and tumult, without.
Re-enter the Priest.
Priest.
This signet from the Regent.

Omer.
What has happen'd?

Priest.
Almagro, striving to retain the city,
Was by his own abettors overborne.
The gates have welcomed in their former master,
With whom Alasco enters now; which issue
As soon as he foresaw, Almagro gave
This signet to me with injunction strict
To place it in thy hand. I pray thee, Moor,
What means it?


397

Omer.
What concerns not thee to know!

Priest.
Why whither wouldst thou take her? That way lies
Her chamber.

Omer.
Pay no heed to what I do!—
Nor follow me!—The task I've ta'en in hand
Abides not lookers on! Stay where thou art!
[Shows the dagger.]
Look to thyself! Dismiss all heed of me.

[Bears Olivia off.
Priest.
I little dream'd of this! That weapon, now,
So bright, how will it show anon? I thank
The Moor, for wishing me away! Too much
My share, already, in the deed of blood,
He goes to do! Might I not stop it? No!
He knows my business here!—I am compromised!
Say that I brought him to the scaffold, thither
He would not pass alone! Clean hands behoves
The man who dares to prate of filthy ones!

[Goes out.