University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

—A Room in the Citadel.
Enter Carlos and Andreas.
And.
The Prince not yet set out!

Car.
Not yet. He cleaves
To home with doting on his peasant wife.
His journey towards the frontier, thrice, has he,
From day to day, deferr'd, already; but
The King, impatient of his weak delay,
Brooks it no longer. He departs at noon.

And.
Guess you, my lord, the motive of the King
In banishing, as 'twere, at such a time,
The Prince from Saragossa? Hard exchange,
The bridal chamber for the warrior's tent!
The murmurs and the dalliance of love,
For the trump's braying and the clang of steel!
Methinks, the nuptials, he so interrupts,
Can scarce be to his mind!

Car.
'Tis certain, sir,
They are not, and no wonder. The fair Prince
Had bent full low, to choose, for mate, a bride
Of pure Hidalgo blood; how then, the child
Of a peasant—grant her pattern of her sex,
And never match'd throughout the lengthy line
Of Eve's angelic daughters?

And.
Such she is!
A noteless maid, that from all note, howe'er
Surpassing, so diverts observance, that
Her perfect beauty and consorting form
Bewilder rivalry itself, and turn
The infidel into a worshipper!

Car.
Certain she has no peer; yet, not a match
For the King's son. So thinks the King; and, hence,
The Prince hath honourable banishment.
The army needs no prince, the soldier who
Commands it, prince of leaders!—Do you think
The King stops here? Will he remain content
With banishment of the enamour'd Prince?
Will that remove the cause of banishment?
The knot the Prince has tied, will that undo it?
'Tis but the opening of a drama, sir,
Of which the master-action is to come!

And.
I trust the King, if more he meditates,
Will act advisedly—Our peasant princess,
Amongst her class, ranks highest; royal pastures,
For their extent and stock, her father hath,—
Is more beloved than envied; hath a son
Of parts that look with scorn upon his station,
And fiery soul, more prompt to move than rest!
The peasantry speak things that mock content—
Complain of wasting levies, grievous imposts—
And with their thoughts our citizens chime in.
The Cortez have been calmer too.—Behoves
The King be wary how he acts!—A straw
Has struck the sceptre from as firm a grasp,
And may do so with his.—The King is here,
And, lo, the peasant princess, following,
But borne along, with senses wholly lapsed.
The parting must be o'er; the Prince, set out.

The King enters.
King.
[Speaking to persons without.]
Convey her to her chamber!—Tend to her!
Advise us, soon as to herself she comes.
[Sees Andreas.
Andreas return'd! Despatch, indeed, my lord!
How go the levies on?

And.
But tardily,
I grieve to say; your people lack the heart
To tender duty quickly.

King.
Needs the spur!
We know to use it! Carlos, take in charge
The task, whereof we lately gave you hint,
Soon as her lapséd senses are restored.
Stay!—Andreas.

And.
My liege?

King.
To invest our will
With greater weight, share you the charge with Carlos,
To rid my palace of its forcéd guest.
The countenance I lent this loathéd marriage,
Won from my weakness by my wilful son,
I now retract—irrevocably annul.
The contract which, at first, we set our seal to,
Enforced from us, is render'd valid by
No after grace. Consent, enforced, is none!
Soon as her senses from their lapse spring up,
Declare to her, our mandate, she depart
From Saragossa; nor return to it,
On penalty of death! Apparel, gems,
All gifts of lavish, ill-adviséd love
Are hers to keep; nor let her lack for gold.
Meanwhile, my council summon. Kings must give
Their actions other sanction than their own!
A peasant share the throne of Arragon?
Far better Arragon without a throne!

[They go out severally.