University of Virginia Library

SCENE VIII.

—A Room in Euphrosyne's Palace.
Eudocia and Zillah.
Zill.
I stood by her chamber door, but all was still.
The night's far spent: Since morn I have not seen her;
Is this a calm outspread before the storm?

Eud.
O God, look kindly down, for she's in trouble.
She gave strict orders that I enter not:
She spurns my presence:—breathes not where I breathe,
And bids me hence if I would save her life.
Strange inconsistency of pain or hatred!
There take thy harp, and while an hour away
With a soft air, for I shall watch to-night.

Zill.
O how fatigued I am in these sad nights!

Eud.
I'll sit myself: thy thoughts are not intense
As mine are; thou must sleep.

Zill.
Wake me if aught
Alarm thee in the night. O for the land
Where nought I fear'd,—my own wild native land!
Christians plot more than Arabs.

Enter Marsas.
Mar.
Lady, come;
Thy Montmorency calls: his messenger
Is fretting at the door.

Zill.
O, send him in,
Is it his page, good Marsas? bring him in.

[Exit Marsas.
Enter Philip and Attendants.
Phil.
I wish thee joy for France, most honour'd lady!
Let me conduct thee to thy lord in haste.

Eud.
What Lord? What mean thy words?
Where's Montmorency?

Phil.
He meets thee half way, in the Patriarch's barge.

Eud.
Wherefore, good Philip? and why not come himself?

Phil.
I see you know not.—
Baldwin and he have quarrell'd—And this hour
Comes Murtzoufle, amain, with savage host.
Who shall not fear him? Ever seen in fight,
And shunn'd—a black tower that afar doth fling
Its shadow on the battle. Multitudes,—
Men in the market-place—O multitudes!—
And he shall drive his chariot o'er their necks,
And make big heads not with their wat'ry eyes.
Baldwin hath fear'd that Montmorency means
To aid this foe,—and will not let him pass
His gates, with retinue of troops to take
Thee his proud bride. Rather than skulking come,
Hath Montmorency sent this ring, my voucher,
That he will meet thee 'neath the city walls,
Upon the north, with all his mighty friends.
He gave me words to speak into thy ear,
A thousand times repeated; and they were—
“Dishonour past the grave. O dreadful thought!
“Thy mother and Murtzoufle—and their friends
“Not few within the city:”—From this hour
They look upon thee with their evil eyes,
Scanning their victim;—thou must fix his empire.
And Baldwin shall be ousted from his seat.
O, I have stood too long! haste lady, come.

1st Attend.
Fear us not, madam—

Phil.
Peace! villain. All of you away!—the boat!—
[Exit Attendant.
Have all things ready. Fly, thou silver bird!
A thousand barges on the Golden Horn,
Burning the waters with the nuptial torches,
Fill'd with good men—the bravest beards in war,
Await thy coming. Night's foul rains have pass'd,
And lights are up in Heaven's eternal halls
To shine upon thy love.—Will she not come?

Eud.
O God!—but I'll be bold—come, thou dark Arab;
We must be soldiers.

Phil.
I was order'd too
To bring thy eunuch: is not his name Marsas?

Eud.
Why stand'st thou, Zillah?
Is he not like Antonio, our sweet poet?

Phil.
Quickly, or not at all—O not at all.

Eud.
We but retire a moment, to put up
Our little fortune—stay for us at the gate,
And speak not on thy life, for dangerous ears
Are in this palace—follow me softly, Zillah.

(Exeunt Eudocia and Zillah.
Phil.
I shall be damn'd for this—she lov'd Antonio.—
And these base lies—I that have lov'd all truth.
(Exit Philip.