 | Don Garcia |  |
ACT THE FOURTH.
SCENE THE FIRST.
Piero, Diego.Di.
Say, what does Garcia in his thoughts revolve?
For like a man whose reason is bereft
I saw him come, and go, and come again.
Pi.
Dost thou not know that he ...
Di.
What should I know
Of him? Thou seest that from the woodland chace
Weary and breathless I return. I know
That I bring back a plenteous spoil; nought else.
But as an arrow darting silently
And swiftly by me, Garcia towards me cast
Inflamed and furious looks. Say, what new rage
Invades his heart?
Pi.
Ah! 'tis not new: for he
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Whenever he can do it. Perhaps to see thee
Of all thy regal ornaments despoil'd,
As now thou art; divested of thy sword;
And in thy aspect rather like to one
That dwells in forests than a monarch's son,
Perhaps this excited him to such a mute,
Though supercilious comment. Evermore
That which he does not, he condemns in others.
Di.
'Tis a propensity, methinks, more royal
To harass wild beasts in th'adventurous chace,
Than evermore immured 'mid ponderous volumes,
Wrapt in soft indolence, to learn to fear.
His supercilious looks excite my pity.
But whither goes he in such wond'rous haste?
Pi.
Great projects he revolves. His father now
He seeks in haste, now to his mother flies,
And thus employ'd, with zealous speed improves
The lucky interval. Diego absent,
And I excluded from these interviews;
Thou seest the opportunity for intrigue
Is too inviting to be overlook'd.
I know no further: but the guilty friendship
Of Garcia and Salviati, once
Call'd treason, now is call'd a slight imprudence:
And that so oft repeated prate with thee,
Which once was insolence, with other terms
Is designated now a youthful fire:
And that contempt for individual power
Which he professes openly, I hear
Now call'd a thoughtless eccentricity.
Just indignation every day I see
Arise in Cosmo; but the senile flame
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In short, this morning Garcia heard himself
Pronounced a traitor; and this very day
(Or ere 'tis closed) he hears himself from all
Exculpated, defended, and exalted;
And even yet, perchance, he may behold
Himself rewarded.
Di.
What indeed does that
Import to us? Shall I afflict myself
That Garcia gains once more my father's favour?
Perhaps this alone may lead him to reform?
Pi.
And am I more invidious than thyself
Of other men's advantages? But yet
Th'imposture grieves me, and e'en more than this
The fatal and inevitable ruin
Threatening our race, our father, and thyself.
Di.
My father? and myself? Say, what would Garcia?
What can he?
Pi.
He would reign: and may indeed,
If thou art silent.
Di.
Reign? ... But have I not
A sword?
Pi.
Far different arms he wields. Erewhile,
A transient wrath against himself inflamed thee;
Thou know'st not how to hate, or recollect
The injuries of others: but, if they
Cherish them in the bottom of their hearts;
If black and fervid anger rankle there,
Ready at every instant to explode ...
Di.
But th'impious contest Cosmo hath not yet
Consign'd to deep oblivion? ...
Pi.
So I deem;
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Di.
But thou,
Thou seem'st to come to me to stir up strife.
How can my brother injure me?
Pi.
Indeed,
I am the brand of discord 'twixt you both:
Do thou, abandoning thy judgment, stand
Securely in thy valour; I, like thee,
Might be secure, if I did love thee less.
Attribute it to thy propitious fate
That I discover'd his designs in time.
Now at once thy security and ours
Compel me to develope them to thee:
For, had I wish'd t'excite disturbances,
I had divulged them only to my father:
But yet I will go there, if thou refuse
To hear me.
Di.
What has happen'd then? Relate.
Pi.
The silent night with more than usual gloom
Already is advanced. Within the grot
Which terminates the hollow avenue,
Embower'd in shade of lofty cypresses,
Thither doth Salviati now repair,
By Garcia bidden, to a guilty council:
Perchance already he is hidden there,
And every moment there expects his friend.
There they've agreed upon to fix the means
Of final vengeance. I have learn'd the whole
From him who was their chosen messenger.
Prayers, menaces, and vigilant espial,
Much art and bribes, have now disclosed to me
The horrible mystery: in short ... But what
Do I behold? For once at least I see
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Yet that which I affirm to thee is little:
Do thou be irrefragably convinced
With thy own ears; and be thy eyes alone
The witnesses of my veracity.
Di.
But what a miscreant is he then! The day,
The very day on which my father pardons
His past offences, new ones he projects.—
He runs to certain ruin.
Pi.
But to it
He first goads us. Thou know'st by Salviati
Thou art not less detested than thy father.
Scarcely will Garcia have divulged to him
That thou advisedst Cosmo first to slay him,
Than he ... I tremble to express it ... Both
Are madden'd with resentment: artifice
To malice will be join'd; for stratagems
The time is opportune: ... and wilt thou be
Neglectful? Be so then; I fly to Cosmo,
Come what come may.—The method I devise
To obviate more mischief, to procure
Deliverance for us all; and thou dost spurn it.
My father then shall be resorted to:
And he, the witness of their trait'rous plot,
With me shall go to them.
Di.
Ah no! desist:
Think that a man can never be the accuser
Who holds himself not viler than the accused.
By what means would'st thou that I thwart the traitor?
Speak; I will do it.
Pi.
Thou should'st first hear all:
'Tis easy from detected stratagems
To extricate oneself: thou may'st alone,
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When thou hast once convicted him of treason,
Keep, with thy valour, Garcia at bay;
Inspire his heart with salutary fear;
And even yet to duty's path restore him.—
Ah go! already is the hour arrived:
Now hide thyself within the gloomy grot;
And there wilt thou hear unexpected things.
Di.
Thou dost compel me to it; and I yield,
Although against my will, that to this place
My father may not be enticed by thee:
He would inflict a too severe revenge.
Pi.
Ah yes! I also tremble at the thought:
Yet 'tis our duty to anticipate
The ill designs of others ... But methinks ...
I hear a noise ... it is himself ... step softly ...
'Tis Garcia.—Come, enter unseen; make haste.
SCENE THE SECOND.
Piero.Pi.
At length he's safely lodged.—I'll hide myself;
And listen to discover if I can
Whether this other doth maintain his purpose.
SCENE THE THIRD.
Garcia.Gar.
Alas! who doth impel my footsteps here? ...
Where am I? ... This is most assuredly
The cave of death. For a most noble combat,
In truth, oh Garcia, thou preparest thyself.
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Thou which wert heretofore my only boast,
Thou art no longer mine: the impious blow
I've pledged myself to strike ... and shall I strike it? ...
In every corner of this gloomy cave
I hear a sound of death: and on myself
Alone I cannot now that death inflict. ...
Oh cruel destiny! ... Night's thickest shades
Already cover all things; and 'tis come,
Nay, 'tis exceeded, the tremendous hour!—
Assuredly Piero did dispatch
The messenger of death: why should I doubt?
Did Piero e'er delay to do a thing
That might endanger others? The embassy,
Too certainly was sent! ... Unhappy friend!
Thou with security awaitest me,
In the impious cave, destined to be thy tomb ...
Thy tomb? ... Shall I destroy thee? Never, never.
Why do I grasp thee, hated sword of Cosmo?
Far from me, cursed instrument! ...
SCENE THE FOURTH.
Eleonora, Garcia.Ele.
Oh son! ...
Gar.
Mother, whence comest thou? To rescue me
From this commanded crime?
Ele.
Oh heaven! To thee
Thy cruel father sends me.
Gar.
What wills he?
Ele.
That I should come, alas! to ascertain
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To obey him. This abominable task
Belong'd to Piero; but he found him not;
Hence he chose me ... Alas! and I to him
Am instantly commanded to return.
What shall I say to him?
Gar.
That hitherto
My hands are pure: ah, that my lips were so!
But, if I promised it, I now refuse
That promise to fulfil. Go, tell him this ...
Ele.
Oh heaven! Dost thou not know, if I should dare
To repeat this to him, I should expose thee
To dreadful danger? He is blind with rage ...
Gar.
Let him be so; and let him murder me;
This I expect.
Ele.
And Julia?
Gar.
Oh that name! ...
Ele.
Take pity on her, if thou do refuse it
Both to thy wretched mother and thyself.
Gar.
Go then, and say to him, ... that I obey:
Meanwhile without delay my Julia rescue ...
Ele.
Rescue! Does Cosmo trust to simple words?
He, with his own eyes, here will see the victim.
Ah son! it tortures me to goad thee thus
To an unworthy deed; ... but yet, ... reflect ...
Gar.
Is it impossible that Julia then ...
Ele.
I dare not tell thee all; ... yet, if I'm silent ...
Gar.
Speak, mother, speak at once. Thou mak'st me tremble.
Ele.
While I confer with thee, ... Cosmo himself ...
Holds o'er the bosom of the trembling maid
An unsheathed dagger ...
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Oh atrocious sight!
Stop, father, stop thy aim; I will destroy him; ...
I return quickly; ... stop; ... thou shalt behold me
Swimming in blood ... Where is my sword, my sword? ...
'Tis here; I fly ... Oh father ... stop ... I fly.
SCENE THE FIFTH.
Piero.Pi.
Oh thou disciple of romantic virtue,
Dost thou too tread expediency's broad path?
It were indeed a miracle, hadst thou
Belied the character of all our race!—
Now go, and plunge thou in a guiltless breast
Thy reeking dagger.—What will thence ensue?
I do not know; but be it what it may,
The inextricable knot, which chance and art
Have emulously twined, the sword alone
Can disentangle.—Let us hear ... But what?
Do I hear Garcia return already?
He returns quickly. Should he have repented?
It is not, is not so; for I behold him
Come like a man whom conscious guilt pursues.
SCENE THE SIXTH.
Garcia, Piero.Gar.
Who art thou? ... Who ... presents himself to me ...
Upon the thresholds of mortality?
Pi.
Thy brother, Piero ...
Gar.
The son of Cosmo?
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And thou, art thou not so?
Gar.
I am so, ... yes ...
Now that I am a traitor.
Pi.
Hast thou slain him?
Gar.
Dost thou not see it, by my steps, ... my gestures, ...
My faultering voice, ... the unaccustomed fear ...
Which smites my heart?
Pi.
I pitied thee before,
And now much more.—But thou hast saved thy Julia.
Gar.
Oh heaven! who knows if yet my father ...
Pi.
Hence
I fly to him. Soon as I bring to him
Proof that by thy hand Salviati fell,
Julia will be in safety.
Gar.
Proof? Behold
My sword; it trickles yet with smoking blood.
Go, take it to him ... but if it should meet
His daughter's eyes, ... oh heaven! ...
Pi.
But art thou sure
Thou tookest aim effectively? Fell he
At the first blow? And spake he not?
Gar.
Fear'st thou
That yet he is alive? Or doth it please thee
To hear from me the atrocious narrative,
To fill thy bosom with malignant joy?
Thou shalt be satisfied: and tell it thou
To my unnatural father.—
Soon as I enter'd in the cave I heard,
And seem'd to see, my victim groping there,
Who had preceded me: I quickly raised
My arm to smite him; but my arm dropped down ...
Already I retreated; when, methought,
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I heard, and spite of me it drew me back.
Hearing a foot-fall, Salviati rush'd
Meanwhile towards the entrance, and approach'd me.
At once I planted, even to the hilt,
The execrable dagger in his heart ...
One sigh alone, one bursting sigh of death,
Falling, he breathed ... Oh horrible to tell! ...
I felt myself aspersed with spouting blood:
A death-like chillness crept through all my veins; ...
And scarcely I restrain'd myself from falling
Upon the bleeding corse ... Wretch that I am! ...
Groping with trembling hands, I scarcely gain'd
The mouth of that abominable tomb ...
Hast heard enough?—Dost thou exult in hearing?
Pi.
Why should'st thou wrong me thus?—Fortune at least,
In one respect, has been to thee propitious,
That I alone beheld thee quit this cave.—
My father will hereafter well know how
To give what colour serves his purpose best
To this calamity. Time cancels all things;
Even affliction yields at length to time.
If thus my father will'd, the guilt is his:
Thanks, not dishonour, thou should'st reap from it.
Besides, that he especially will wish
For ever to conceal it.—Calm thyself:
Light is a crime that ne'er will be divulged.
Gar.
Rewards to me!—death now is my desert.
Where shall I hide myself? This guiltless blood,
With which I am polluted and besmear'd,
What could e'er cleanse it? Not my useless tears,
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Go thou to Cosmo; yield him back his sword;
Do thou receive his recompenses. Thou
The cruel messenger of death didst send:
Thou didst exult, perfidious brother! thou,
That I became, as thou thyself art, base
And infamous.—Thou art the real son
Of Cosmo.—Go; this instant leave me.—Where,
Where can I ever from myself escape? ...
Where shall I hide myself? ... Ah! how shall I
Sustain the glances of Diego now,
Now that he's justified in calling me
A traitor?—of Diego, who, though dear
To you, had never been himself a traitor? ...
Oh rage! ... Oh irrecoverable shame! ...
Pi.
Thou canst not instantaneously resume
Collected thoughts ... Appease thy just regrets:
Meanwhile I will precede thee to thy father.
I hope thy crime will always be unknown
Both to Diego and to all mankind.
Gar.
All men shall know it: such a punishment
I have already to myself prescribed,
That false suspicion may not fall on others.
Obtain alone that I, on my arrival,
Find that unhappy Julia restored
To liberty ... It afterwards depends
On me to inflict just vengeance on my crime.
| Don Garcia | |