 | Gemma of The Isles |  |
Scene V.
—At the entrance of a suite of splendid apartments in the Palace. Gemma, a Lady of the Bedchamber, and Attendants.Lady.
Madam, indeed the hours are wearing on
More near to dawn than midnight.
Gem.
Oh, not yet!
I cannot sleep yet. Bid my maidens go,
I shall not need them.
[Exeunt Attendants.
What a magic night!
In the still shine and shadow of the moon,
Those frescoes stood along the walls like ghosts,
Till your lamps broke the spell.
Lady.
Shall I unfasten
At least these jewels?
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No, let me still wear
The dress I have been so happy in to-night!
[She passes into the balcony.
Oh, how can any one sleep through such nights,
When all the world is glory! But who else
Has days like mine to look to? For whom else
Does morning bring Lorenzo? Wondrous lot!
But one Lorenzo, and Lorenzo mine!
[Shrieks and confusion in the gardens below.
Lady.
Ah, madam, what is that?
Gem.
Oh! can it be......
Has any evil happened to Lorenzo?
Enter hastily Zilia and Ladies.
Zil.
Where are you, Gemma, Gemma?—Ah! what's that?
Quer.
(from the gallery)
The Duchess! Save the Duchess! Close those doors!
The Danes are on us!
Zil.
Close them! close them! Haste!
We shall be murdered! Where then are the guards?
Gem.
Oh, where's Lorenzo?
[Armed men are heard rushing into the gallery. The doors are burst open.
Enter Harold alone.
Har.
Gemma!......Is it so, then?
Hast thou forgotten me!
Gem.
Oh, Harold!
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Gemma!
Art thou afraid of me?
Gem.
Oh, thou art cruel
To terrify me so!
Har.
To terrify thee?
Once thou wouldst fly to me, when I came back
From shorter absence, and embrace me, Gemma!
Gem.
Oh, Harold! Harold! Why dost thou come thus
So strangely, when I thought thee far away,
To startle me half-mad?
Har.
And didst thou think
Never to see me more? Didst thou think that?
Oh, when I thought thee dead, almost my heart
Broke for thee, Gemma! If I lived or felt
I know not, all that miserable time!
But now come home once more! for I have sailed
So far to seek thee! What, and did I grasp
This tender hand too tightly?
Gem.
Let me go!
Oh, Harold, let me go!
Har.
Why! foolish child?
Come, it is time.
Gem.
I cannot go with thee!
In mercy let me go!
Har.
What has bewitched thee?
Hast thou, from these few hours spent in the grave,
Risen up with but the ghost of thy past heart?
Come, come away, my Gemma! Come, my bride!
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Thy bride—thy bride! Why dost thou call me bride?
What dost thou want with me? Oh, let me go—
I am no bride for thee!
Har.
Thou art no bride
For any other man!
Gem.
Lorenzo! save me!
Har.
Oh, thou art mine, mine only! Never more
Shall mortal rob me of my treasure! Come!
[He snatches Gemma up; she shrieks and faints; Harold carries her off.
Zil.
Good heavens! a thunder-stroke! What's left to do?
Where is my son? Has he been murdered, then?
A Lady.
Querini! Oh, he's slain!
Quer.
(from without)
No, no! but wounded!
Zil.
(rushing to the door)
Oh, where in heaven's name is my son, Querini?
Quer.
Methought I saw him from a distance, rush
In frenzy through the garden—he had heard
The alarm too late—he must have reached the shore.
Oh, Gemma, Gemma! I would have died for thee!
[Swoons.
A Lady.
Help, ladies, here! let us bind up his wounds.
Zil.
I dare not stir a step to learn our fate......
Another Lady.
Oh, madam, madam! to this window! Come!
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Rowed by a crew of giants, and behind them
A swarm of shoreboats scattered in pursuit!
Zil.
Thank heaven! Still, where's my son?
Lady.
I see—I see him!
He that's bare-headed in the foremost boat—
I think—I am sure 't is he!
Zil.
I think so too.
Ay, there he hastes to throw away his life!
And yet I fear not—he will be too late—
What chance have your slight Naxiotes in the race?
With every furious oar-stroke how the Danes
Widen the hopeless distance—and look there!
Their ship lies waiting in that stream of moonlight!
Oh, luckless Gemma, there's no hope for her!
Was ever such disaster known on earth?
'Twill drive Lorenzo mad!—Come, ladies, come—
The palace is all stirring—all alert,
Now 'tis too late! What shouting and confusion!
[Exeunt Zilia and Ladies.
| Gemma of The Isles | |