University of Virginia Library

SCENE V.

—Below the Walls of Constantinople.
Enter Montferrat with his sword drawn.
Montf.
Holla! De Choisy! the north—the north!

De Ch.
(Without.)
—Holla, holla,—here are the city gates.

Montf.
Keep to the northward, and aloof from the wall;
Stand! who goes there!

Enter De Choisy.
De Ch.
Did'nt you call me now?

Montf.
Have you not seen him?

De Ch.
By yon star, 'tis madness:
I think it be the pole—I told thee so.
O many a brave head have I turned up here,
And trod among their mutterings—till my limbs
Have lost economy. Where are the troops?
For I must rest an hour. Perchance to-night—

Montf.
'Tis no perchance, for by what star you will;
By the wind-managed crescent of yon moon,
That with sharp sickle reaps the clouds of heaven,
Our battle must be reap'd again this night.
God help the harvest; we move in an hour:
You'll find our troops a little to the westward:
See that the rams are ready; for this night
Their burly heads must butt against these walls.
The ladders are prepar'd: we'll climb to-night—
Ambition—you know, ambition.—Go, speak bravely,
And show high spirit in presence of the troops.
Noise it abroad—the standard of Saint Mark,
O'ershadowing, wav'd upon these battlements,
Unrais'd by mortal hand,—That we of France,
This night have ta'en the Holy Virgin's image,
Which Grecian Emp'rors were often wont
To van their battles with, in hopes of victory:
Adding, that she, to whom great Constantine
The Imperial City gave, hath given it up;
And with her banner and her image come
To guide our entrance:—This is more than wine
To soldiers' hearts. I'll be with you anon.
Holla!

[Exit De Choisy.
Without.
Holla!

Montf.
Hither, thou weary footstep.
Enter a Soldier.
Art thou last?

Sol.
Some stragglers yet are out; but search is vain.—
Two soldiers who were resting in the camp,
Not knowing at first our search, but, having heard,
Came straightway to inform us of his capture.
I heard them swear just now, they saw him lost
Beneath the gate, what time the salliers fled,
And our pursuit was hot. They saw him first
Close on the enemy's heels: the rush came on,
When he was fighting 'neath the gateway arch,
And sway'd him in.—The dreadful leaves were shut,
And he was seen no more.—I heard them swear it.

Montf.
Enough, good soldier—go and take some rest.—
[Exit Soldier.
I lost him in a moment, when he rush'd,
A bloody wedge, making a way for death
Towards these cowardly gates. He's captive now,
And all his love blown out. Were it myself,
'Twere but a soldier's fate.

Alberti passes.
Montf.
(Coming forward.)
You are of Venice?

Alb.
So please my Lord; Alberti.

Montf.
Who has not heard of thee, brave gentleman?
What think you of Murtzoufle now; shall his power last?
They say he is strangely cruel—have you not heard?

Alb.
Forgive me, God of battles—thou hast saved me,—
That I have not yet knelt, O for brave friends
Captive this night, and in that monster's power!
O help them well on narrow rueful bank,
'Twixt a late safety and a near destruction.
Sir, I do think, without the glimpsing arm
Of a Great Power quick between heaven and the earth
To save them, they must die.

Montf.
Is't so indeed?
But do you mean—think he dares slay his captives?
(Kneels.)
Then must I kneel too.—Our brave friends indeed!
(Rising.)
Now are our souls decisive. And time calls—
Hot work to-night,—what gain'd with you?

Alb.
A little.
But let me tell mine errand—I am sent
By our prince Dandolo, to learn the issue
In this your quarter.

Montf.
Montmorency's ta'en,
Which more than balances a thousand fights
Of our success. But let me ask of you,—
My forward eye was often drawn aside,
As starting from behind the angl'd wall
Toward the north, the fire-ships shot upon you
With sudden blaze. How did you 'scape destruction?

Alb.
The walls were crowded with a thousand faces;
And young and old were there to see us burnt.
Seventeen great chelandies before the gale,
That stiffen'd from the West, came blazing on,
Wrapt in their windy flames, upon our middle,
Where we to the leeward lay: But we were quick:—
Our skiffs and long-boats in a moment fill'd
With our brave fellows; spite of all their darts,
We push'd them on each other: then, with hooks
And mighty grapplers, from their place we drew them
Into the channel; there the winds and current
Claim'd them: the waves reveng'd the mockery
Of all their fires; snouted them on and on:
And the wind did its part on their bare sterns,
And drove their wispy flames, that hung before,
Far to the eastward into the Propontis,
Where they soon bubbl'd into nothing.—Then
The clapping and the shouting had an end.

Montf.
There has not been a braver deed than this
Since ship first touched the sea. Brave sailors, you.
Commend me to the Doge;—tell him, to-night
We mount the walls, or die.—Move you to-night?

Alb.
Thanks to that question, I had else forgotten.
The great ships with the drawbridge-ladders first,
The galleys next, shall on: and all are ready:
The Paradise and Pilgrim in the van,
Together bound, shall make to the strongest tower,
Upon the wall. Each tower shall have a pair
Of twin assailants.

Montf.
Blow your trumpets loudly
At the first onset; ours shall answer you.
'Twill animate our fighters.

Alb.
Let me pause—
There's nothing more. Heaven strike with you, brave sir.

[Exit Alberti.
Montf.
O God, Sir—think too of our Montmorency,
So tell the Doge—commend me thus and prosper.
[Exit Montferrat.