The Queen of the Hid Isle :: :: University of Virginia Library

The Queen of the Hid Isle

An Allegoric Poem

Douglas, Evelyn

THE QUEEN OF THE HID ISLE:

Scene II.

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Scene II.

—The Army of Amanda assembled before her Castle.
Aman.
Here, in the face of all my warriors,

Hermadon armed by Amanda for the fight against the Philistines.

I will equip thee. Page, give me the sword.
My champion, take thou back at penitent hands,
And with this falchion break their scimitars.

Herm.
I thank thee, queen, and shall not spare to smite.

Aman.
And see I set thine helmet on thy head.
Look visored thus upon their turbaned swarms!

Eulice.
Shows he not grand, shadowed with falling flakes
And vacillant feather-fronds of ostrich plume
Dyed blood-red, rioting o'er the globy gold
Like flame-tongues lambent round a molten sun?

Chaun.
By heaven, I will go with thee, though I smite

Chaunt val goeth forth likewise.

But with my lute upon their Paynim pates,
Since go I must from hence.

Herm.
Ay, come with me:
Thou art my brother. Join we common cause

All true poets forget their private feuds in presence of the Philistines, the common enemy.

Against this horde, this wild unruly folk
Of peasant slaves, that from the burning East
Threaten descent to swamp these smiling fields
Of love and beauty, and make all our world
One howling waste of hideousness—the dark
And deadly people of the Philistines.

Clar.
I will not go, for in my secret heart

Clarimonde refuseth to go.

I love this people, and I mind me still
Of my old bruises in that former fray,

His reasons.

Got in defence of thee; at thought whereof,

Woe! how my sword-arm aches under the mail!
I will be neutral. Therefore, gracious queen,
Count me excused.

Herm.
Good sir, we need you not.
Bring in Gelwedrun.
(Page leads in Gelwedrun.)
Ah, mine Erebus,

The steed of satiric wrath.

My black Abaddon, my destroying angel!
Bear me on wings of darkness to this fray.

Aman.
Farewell! go forth and conquer.

Eulice.
Fare you well,

Eulice parteth with Chauntval.

Sweet Chauntval! one more kiss. See! take this scarf,
And for a gorget wrap it round thy neck;
For though I care not greatly if thou slay
Or thou be slain, since thou art banished hence,
Yet have I loved thee for thy beauty's sake
As dear as e'er I loved a man, as deep
As I have love for anything. Farewell!

Chaun.
Farewell! Such love as ours breaks easily
Without one heartache. Yet your kiss and favour

Shall dance before my eyes amid the swords.
Farewell!

Clar.
I will go make a pilgrimage
Unto the Holy Sepulchre.

Chaun.
Oh, be off!