 | Fredolfo |  |
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ACT V.
SCENE I.
The interior of a Cavern in the Mountains, with an arch in the back ground, through which is seen a moonlight view of St. Gothard—Fredolfo discovered senseless in the arms of Waldo —Some Soldiers around him.Wal.
Nay, leave him in my arms—for he will feel
That they are those, which have in glorious hours
Clasp'd him in dearer duty—in the strife,
Where they have been his shield—Your hands are cold
To the fine touch remember'd feeling lends
Even to the veteran's chill and pithless grasp.
I pray you keep from him.
1st Sol.
The mountain air
Doth strongly through these cavern'd hollows sweep;
That will restore him.
2d Sol.
Ay—and mountain shouts
Shall through their echoing arches strongly peal;
They will revive him.
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If upon his ear
His daughter's distant voice should softly fall,
That would revive him.
Fred.
(Starting up at the word.)
Daughter! said he, Daughter?—
Who hath a daughter? none—for mine is lost.
And ye, who round me stand, cannot be fathers;
Your touch is bloodless, and your eyes are stone,
Or ye would rend them out, ere they were blasted
With all that I must live, and look upon.
[A long pause of agony, then solemnly addressing them.
Men, if ye are fathers,
Steal on your slumbering infant's holy sleep,
Gripe the weak throat, and hush the feeble cry,
And turn the cradle smile to death's dull gape;—
Their throes may palsy your unnatural touch,—
Their cry may deafen the cold ear it smites,—
But ye shall never hear the cry I hear!—
The cry of her, who on her father calls
To save her—not from death!
[Falls back exhausted.
Wal.
Press not around him, gentle friends, I pray.—
He scarcely lives—our wild and sudden flight,
Our stormy struggle with the troubled night
In the dark mountain-pass—
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(bursting from them)
Hence from me, all!
Betrayers, and not friends—What have ye done?
Ye've torn me from her—torn me from my daughter—
She shrieks—she calls on me—I hear her voice—
So shriek'd her mother—and I hear her still—
(To a soldier)
Come hither, thou—Why dost thou shrink from me?
I know thee well—'twas on Morgarten's rock
I stood beside thy father; with this arm
Swordless I met the blows that would have fell'd him,
My sword being broken on the Austrians' crests.
(To another)
I saved thy brother!
(To another)
From the crashing rocks
I dragg'd thy kinsman, while my strained arm
Upbore the pile he writhed beneath—I saved him—
There is not one of you that hang on me
But owes the life of father, friend, or brother—
And ye—and ye have torn me from my child!
Enter Peasants, leading Berthold forward.
Waldo
(advancing).
Who breaks on us,
Leading a stranger's rude forbidden step?
Fred.
(recognizing him, and rushing forward)
Hold! I know him!
The very air around him breathes of her!
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Speak!
Bert.
(falling on his knees)
Save her!
Fred.
(trembling)
May she yet be saved?
Bert.
She may!
(Fredolfo rushes into his arms, then recoils at his marks of assumed penitent feeling.)
Fred.
I do not like thy tears—there's art in them—
Thou wouldst with dry and burning tongue have told
Thy breathless tale, had there been faith in thee.
Bert.
(vehemently)
By every saint above—by listening heaven—
Fred.
(retreating further)
There is no truth in thee—the man that feels
[with much emphasis.
Her holy power within him scorns an oath.
Waldo.
What pledge hast thou?
Bert.
I am myself my pledge.
Through the foul hurtling of the pitiless night,
Through the dark terrors of your mountain pass,
Where life was risk'd at every step, I trod—
But trod in vain, since on a father's ear
The tidings of a daughter's safety fall
Faint as a passing breeze!
Fred.
(doubtingly)
Stand far from me!
Let me gaze on thee at a safer distance—
How fares my daughter?
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Well, if so it please
Her father she shall fare.
Fred.
There is a smile,
A fiendish herald, that foreruns thy speech!
Smile not on me, but speak!
Bert.
I will, and briefly.
Two hours are scarcely wanting to the dawn—
Within less space are many evils done.
Fred.
(in impatient agony)
Go on!
Bert.
Within those hours, whose minutes fly,
Fierce Wallenberg hath sworn his father's murderer
Must to his mercy owe his forfeit life,—
Or else that forfeit, long to justice owed,
Shall at fell price be ransom'd—need I name it?
Urilda trembling waits her father's answer.
Fred.
(after a long pause)
Lead me to death!
Waldo, &c.
(gathering round him)
Thou shalt not go—thou must not—
He doth abuse thee with a wicked tale.
Fred.
(turning on them, calmly)
Know I not Wallenberg? Lead me to death!
Bert.
Thou hear'st their cry—but canst not hear thy daughter's—
Still soothing to the patriot's ear the voice
That tells of glories gone, but, oh! how thrilling
The voice that tells of honour ne'er redeem'd.
Fred.
(breaking from them, and following Berthold)
Lead on! I'll smite to earth the arm that stays me!
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Adel.
Hold!—hold!
Waldo and Peasants
(with a shout.)
'Tis Adelmar!—
Adel.
'Tis Adelmar!
Where bends your frantic speed?
Fred.
(struggling past him)
To save Urilda!
Adel.
(with a shout, which is echoed by them all)
She's saved! she's saved!
Fredolfo hangs on him, as he leans panting and exhausted on his sword; the rest form a group; while Berthold retreats, with a scowl of malignant disappointment.)
Bert.
Curses! oh, curses on his arm of strength!
Curses! oh, curses on his voice of joy!
Adel.
(to Fredolfo)
Hang not thus helpless on me—blood, not tears,— (to the rest)
Toss not your brands in mad and reckless triumph—
A moment saved—another lost may lose her!
I left her in the arms of Wallenberg!
Fred.
(recoiling)
Left her!
Adel.
Not long I left her—this sole arm,
This spent and bleeding strength, what could it do?
I left her to return—
Fred.
(shuddering)
Return too late!
Adel.
A few—a rallied, desperate, glorious few—
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I tore her from their grasp—but, oh! too faint
And few the blows of my worn followers fell!
A shrine was near,—with these exhausted arms
I placed her by the altar of her God,
Twined her pale fingers round the pillar'd cross,
And press'd my lip to the cold hand I held;
While with bow'd knee and reeking brand I pray'd—
Bert.
(rushing forward)
The prayer no saint will hear—thou frantic boy!
Ay, gripe my throat! ay, rend me as ye will—
I know the truth—may 't burst the ears it thrills!
I knew her arms were round the altar flung!
I knew that nought from that strong clasp could rend her
But yon hoar head beneath her mercy bow'd!
[Pointing to Fredolfo.
I braved the storm—I braved the mountain wild—
I would have ruin'd—I can yet enjoy
The ruin your own hands prepare for you!
On, to the shrine! Around its rocking walls
The force of Wallenberg already thunders!
There, 'mid the heapy piles of mangled slain,
My smile in death shall mock you as in life!
Waldo and Peasants.
Rend him in fragments!
Fred.
(solemnly interposing)
Oh! no blood be shed!
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This may move Heaven for mercy on my child!
Adel.
Seize him with bloodless hands—but well secure him!
Bert.
(struggling as they bind him)
The strong church-gates are barr'd, but a strong arm
May burst those bars!
Adel.
Villain! be dumb for ever!
Bert.
(pursuing his triumph)
The shrine is high, the altar holy—ay—
But there are hands that from the trembling cross
Have rent the victim by her locks of gold!
Adel.
Curse, wretch! but speak not thus!
Bert.
(bursting from them, and kneeling)
Then, hear me pray—
Hear Berthold pray, who never pray'd before!
(Fredolfo rushes forward, while the rest drag Berthold from his knees.)
Fred.
Take the blasphemer hence!
(He kneels solemnly—a pause of agony—he rises.)
I cannot pray!—But he will hear the voice
That cannot speak! (in tears.)
Adel.
(with emotion)
I pray not—for my choaked voice would fail!
My last, wrought strength be spent upon this cry—
Draw every brand—flash them in Heaven's bright eye,
And drawn, may they know no other name to whet them
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Nor, brandish'd, may they know another sheath
But Wallenberg's foul heart!
(Loud shouts from the peasants who follow— Adelmar turns tenderly to Fredolfo, and takes his hand.)
Come on, my father!
Fred.
(starting from stupefaction)
Am I a father?
(Recovering himself, and snatching a sword from one of the peasants, and brandishing it wildly.)
I'm a warrior yet!
[Exeunt.
SCENE II.
The Shrine, splendidly adorned and illuminated. Urilda alone, seated at the foot of the altar, which is raised, and clinging to it.Uril.
I am in safety here!
The lover may neglect the maid he woo'd,
The father may desert the child he loved,
But Heaven will not renounce the thing it form'd—
The worm that twines in humble agony
Around its altar's pale!
Enter Prior, magnificently habited, with Monks.
Prior.
What art thou, woman,
Who hast with wild and desperate grasp laid hold
On our high sanctuary?—
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Of crime untold, unknown? (a pause.)
Or, art thou conscious of some desperate deed,
Which, done by other, must by thee be told?
(A pause.)
Why cling'st thou trembling to the altar's rail,
Unanswering and speechless?
Uril.
I am innocent!
Mercy, O, holy father, for a wretch,
Who, by each holy thing around her, claims it!
By saint and shrine I plead,
Shelter from wild and horrid violence;
Let my life-blood bedew the altar-stone,
But tear not from its sacred hold my hands!
Monk.
She is Fredolfo's daughter. Round our walls
Thunder the forces of fierce Wallenberg,
And wilt thou risk our holy sanctuary
To shield a fugitive wanderer?
Uril.
(quitting the shrine and falling at the prior's feet, whose robe she holds)
Father, save me!
Monk.
If thou hast value for these holy things,
Yield thee, and part in peace!
Uril.
(in despair, and retreating to the shrine)
If I must yield,
It is to heaven I yield, and not to man!
For heaven will not forsake me!
Prior
(with dignity).
Nor its minister!
Behold, beneath this taper'd cross I place thee—
Let him whose brand of more than mortal might
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Lift his unhallow'd arm, and drop it powerless!
(Noise without increasing.)
Monk.
Hark! hush thy wild boasting!—Stern, mail'd men
Are trooping round our walls—fell Wallenberg— (Noise increases.)
“They come! they come!
“Prior
(boldly).
And let them come!
“Uril.
(clinging to him)
My father!
“I tremble!
“Prior.
Tremble not.
“Uril.
(wildly)
“The roof swims round!—
(During this the noise increases every moment, and Monks crowd in terror to the sanctuary.)
“The doors are yielding!
(Noise increases with great violence.)
“(Trembling with apprehension)
“Wilt thou abandon me?
“Prior.
Abandon thee!
“If thou, indeed, in purity of soul,
“Cling'st to the shrine, where the soul's purity
“Alone hath claim, cling boldly, and be safe!”
The doors give way, and Wallenberg and his band rush in. They recoil at the entrance, till he urges them on.
“Uril.
(screaming with horror, and clinging to the Prior)
Oh! hold me! hold me! Heaven forsakes me now!”
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(turning to them with much dignity)
What are ye, that with desperate step dare tread
Upon this hallow'd pavement—that dare lift
Your armed hands, where hands are raised in prayer?
Wall.
And what art thou, thou bold and impious priest,
That dar'st degrade thy temple's sanctity,
And spread the fold of thy polluted vestment
Around the head of a doomed murderer's child?
Prior
(menacing).
Advance another step—
Wall.
Advance, and seize her!
Uril.
(shrieking)
Save me! oh, save me, father!
Prior
(trembling).
Fear them not!
Wall.
(raging, as his band recoil)
Dastards and dotards, must I bid ye twice?
Uril.
(struggling)
Oh, holy father! to thy robe I cling—
To thy high altar—clasp me—closer clasp me!
Wall.
(seizing her, while she still keeps a feeble hold of the Prior)
She's mine! she's mine!
Uril.
(half torn from the Prior)
Oh! hold me!—hold me yet!
Fred.
(Without.)
Where is my daughter?
Uril.
(Struggling convulsively.)
My father near!—O, for a moment yet!
[Wallenberg tears Urilda from the Prior, takes her up the steps to the altar, and
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Prior.
(To Wallenberg menacing.)
Hark! he comes!
The avenger comes! and terrible his march!
[As Fredolfo and his band enter, the Prior and Monks rush out.
Fred.
(Wildly.)
Where is my child? I see her not!
[Discovering her held by the arm of Wallenberg, he retreats in horror.
I see her!
Wall.
(In triumph.)
She's here! she's here!
Behold thy child!—Ay, bend and supplicate—
Bow thy hoar head in agony to earth,—
Crouch like a slave beneath the galling lash,
Writhe like a worm, that I may trample on thee,
As I do thus!
[Stamping.
Uril.
My father!—O, my father!
Heed not his horrid words—there is a death
That all can die—the death of broken hearts—
Bow not thine honour'd head to earth for me!
Fred.
Wallenberg—foe—man whom I loathe and fear—
To earth I bend my trembling head before thee!
[Kneels.
Wall.
Cast down thy weapon!
Fred.
(Throwing it from him.)
At thy feet I cast it!
Wall.
Dismiss thy traitor band!
Fred.
(To his band.)
Away! and leave me!
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(Struggling vainly while this is done.)
Father! O, father! mercy for thy child!
O, let some arrow's wing, or javelin's flight,
Be strongly aim'd to quiver in my heart!
Adelmar rushes in with a reinforcement.
Adel.
What! stand ye here to parley, coward talkers,
While in that ruffian's grasp Urilda writhes?
Who bears a brand, and boasts man's arm to wield it,
Follow and save her!
Fred.
Hold! or she is lost!
[Fredolfo, in agony for his daughter's safety, holds back Adelmar, who is now horror-struck by her danger. Wallenberg addressing Adelmar, as he gazes with malignant delight at her lover and her father, neither of whom dare to advance.
Wall.
(To Adelmar.)
Her father bow'd to earth beneath my feet,
And thou, her lover—for her trembling life
What wouldst thou give?
Adel.
(Kneeling in agony.)
My life! my soul! my all!
Wall.
(Deriding him.)
Romantic prodigal—I ask thy sword!
Uril.
(Wildly.)
Yield it not—yield it not—Adelmar—my love—
Yield not our only hope—thy faithful sword!
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(Supplicating Wallenberg.)
Take, take my worthless life—be mine the ransom!
(To Urilda.)
Have mercy on thy father!—let him die!
Adel.
Spare reverend honour'd age,—spare helpless beauty!
Do on these youthful limbs your butcher-work—
Their strength will long defy the torture's toil!
Uril.
(In distraction and struggling.)
Kneel not to him for mercy—he hath none.
(Suddenly changing.)
I will beneath thy feet fling my crush'd heart—
[Dreading the danger of Fredolfo and Adelmar.
I will be thine, I'll love thee—worship thee!
Adel.
(Starting up.)
His! his! that word hath wither'd up my heart!
[Kneeling, and offering his sword.
Here! take my sword!
Wall.
(Stabbing him with it as he kneels.)
I do—and—thus I use it!
[Adelmar falls; Wallenberg releases Urilda, pointing with a dreadful smile to his prostrate body. Fredolfo, overcome with horror, shrinks back, and hides his head in his mantle for a few moments. Urilda falls beside Adelmar, then turns to Wallenberg.
Uril.
Devil! O, devil! not one stab for me—
I do not pray—I ask no mercy now!
[Adelmar, half raising himself, fixes his eyes on her.
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[Turning distractedly to Wallenberg.
Mercy—dear Wallenberg—kind Wallenberg!
[Adelmar expires.
(Starting up.)
Life is no more—nor is there mercy now.
I kneel no more—I curse thee to thy face!
[Dashing herself deliriously beside the body of Adelmar. Fredolfo recovering himself, and rushing on Wallenberg, who stands in malignant stupefaction at the spectacle of Urilda's despair.
Fred.
Villain! let Vengeance pay her triple debt!
This for the sire—the mother—and the child!
[After a short conflict, he thrice wounds Wallenberg, who falls against the altar, pointing to Urilda. Fredolfo views him as he falls with a look of dreadful triumph.
Wall.
(Struggling to raise himself.)
Thine eyes look curses at me, though thou speak'st not—
Those curses are my parting soul's rich benison—
'Tis all I ask!
[Recovering some strength, rising, and grasping the arm of Urilda, whom he flings towards her father, a paralyzed and frozen object.
Ha! this is better still!
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[He flings her into the arms of her father, falls, and expires with a laugh.
Fred.
My child! my child! is it my child I clasp?
What ghastly thing art thou, with lightless eye,
That starest on me in stone! if thou hast life,
I do adjure thee, speak!—Save me from madness!
Urilda! daughter! speak!
Uril.
(Slowly recovering.)
What voice is that?
I deem'd that it was past—but still I'm here—
Chain'd down in torture—struggling with a fiend!—
[Pushing away her father.
Avaunt! thy touch is fire—my veins are scorched!
I blaze!—I blaze!—stand off!—pour rivers o'er me!
[Shrieking.
Ah! with hot gore ye drench me—I'm o'erwhelm'd!
A sea of blood!—down, down, amid the billows!
Down, down for ever!—rest is at the bottom!
[Fredolfo sinks into the arms of Waldo, Urilda staggers feebly towards the body of Adelmar, and sinks down beside it.
Father! you knew him—would you know him now?
[Staggers to her father.
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A burning cord!—Can you unloose it, father?
It bursts, it bursts!—'tis a sweet agony!
They thought to part us—this hath baffled them!
Mine, mine—for ever mine!—See how I smile!
[Falls on the body of Adelmar, and expires slowly, forcing a smile as she sees her father's agony.
THE END.
| Fredolfo | |