University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

—A Chamber in the Castle. At the back, R., facing the audience, an alcove surrounded with curtains, and a bed on which Lara is lying. To the left is a window. Between the window and the door a large portrait of the old Count of Lara. To the right a small door, covered by tapestry. At the rising of the curtain Kaled enters by raising the tapestry, and approaches the alcove with a lamp.
CONCERTED PIECE.
Kal.

(Spoken)
Ah! what means that look of wild triumph? I see
the past is not forgotten. This dream recalls the perils and
pleasures of the corsair's life.

[Lets fall the tapestry, then takes the lamp, looks once more towards Lara, and exit. Clouds cover the same.
THE DREAM.
[When the clouds are withdrawn, they discover a wild grotto on the sea-coast, lighted by the sun. Lara (as Conrad) reclines on silken cushions, while Almees and female captives dance to the guzla, played by Kaled (as Guinare). Corsairs grouped about the stage.
Cho.
Though clouds are black above us,
Though the winds fiercely blow,
There's nought to fear can move us,
Bravely we onwards go.
Joys, wealth, heaped without measure—
Corsairs ever are we;
No law hinders our pleasure;
Freedom dwells on the sea.

Gul.
Cease from fretting, cease regretting,
You are ours, maidens dear;
Bounding lightly, looking sprightly,
Cast aside every fear;
With your dances, with your glances,
Strive your master's heart to cheer.

Cho.
Though clouds, &c.
Now we drink, now we fight,
Merry rogues, men of might,
Taking life as we may,
We get through night and day.

Con.
(rising)
Be merry, friends, it is your right,
For to-day we repose, to-morrow we fight.
AIR.
To the bluest edge of ocean,
Far as where the billows roll,
Murmuring through their constant motion,
As scorning the wind's control.
So far our domains extend, boys,
So far is our good ship known;
While the laws the land defend, boys,
The ocean is ours alone.

All.
The ocean is ours alone.

Con.
But see that tiny speck; what is it yonder beaming?
Too slowly following night, perhaps it is a star,
Perhaps it is some bird, that wings its way afar.
Ah, no, a sail is gleaming.
'Tis an argosie
Kindly Fortune sends us;
Dear to her are we,
Often she befriends us.
Up against the sky
Now our flag display,
O'er the sea we fly
To dart on our prey.
The fight is fought, the prize is caught,
Their coffers of gold reward well the bold.

All.
Their coffers of gold reward well the bold.

Lara.
Yes, my brave friends, the world like monarchs we sway!
All must fear us, all revere us,
And all must pay.

All.
Great is the pirate, all own his sway,
All must fear him, all revere him,
And all must pay.

Lara.
Now boldly we attack
Some village in the night;
The houses freely sack,
The natives put to flight;
Our pleasure is our duty;
Where'er are wealth and beauty,
We claim them as our own—
The world is ours alone.
Yes, my brave friends, &c.

Gul.
Hist, hear that sound, the air is with its echo shaking,
The cannon threatning thee, now its loud voice is waking.

All.
We'll follow thee once more to battle, Conrad, yet
Before the fight begins, your former oath repeat.

Con.
If that oath I forget,
At once all trample me beneath your feet;
Still against all the world, war relentless declaring—
Ay, that world which like you I have quitted with scorn,—
I'll cease to recollect the name which I have borne,
For country, race and kin, no longer caring,
I swear, while I have breath,
Every lot with you sharing;
My name Conrad shall be, I'm Conrad till my death.

All.
'Tis well, our Conrad then we will obey till death.

Gul.
See a strange ship approaches, soon our island 'twill reach;

Con.
Then on, my gallant hearts, all hasten to the beach!

All.
Great is the corsair, &c.

[Conrad goes off at the head of his band. Gulnare left alone. The report of a cannon is heard, and she runs towards Conrad, who returns wounded, then sinks upon a rock, while Gulnare throws herself at his feet.
[The scene of the Chamber is restored. Lara, with a wild shriek, rises in his bed and tears aside the curtain. Kaled re-appears, R.
Lara.

Kaled, friends, help!

Kal.

Here, here I am, dear master.

Lara.

Where am I? Whose voice is that?

Kal.

Do you not know Kaled?

Lara.

Oh, yes, of course. It was a dream, a terrible dream
the same that pursues me always. Oh, that fatal past! Nothing
can erase it from my memory.

Kal.

Not even the prayers of those that love you?

Lara.

Our rocks, my daring crew; my ship, the coffers over-flowing
with gold and jewels. I have seen them all again; but
in the midst of dance and revelry the cannon thunders, the sword
flashes, the blood flows, and I sink dying into the arms of a young
girl, a mere child. It was yourself. (Holds out his hand, which Kaled raises to his lips.)

“Master,” you said to me, “if fortune
deserts your arms, you have still a country left. Come, Conrad,
come. I alone possess your secret, and it shall be faithfully
kept.”

Kal.
(aside, weeping)

Base, base.

Lar.

Ah, my secret is known to one more (approaches portrait)

and perhaps, father, before an hour has elapsed, he will have
branded your name with infamy.

Kal.

His father! Have not my ears deceived me? (Seizes his hand).

Conrad, your answer. That pictured old man, to whom
you bowed your head—was he indeed your father?

Lara.

Yes, Kaled, yes; that was the father whose love for me
was at last worn out by a long course of misconduct. That was
the father who, carried away by the blind passions of youth, I
offended beyond the hope of pardon. The father whose curse I
drew upon my head. This was his castle, the home which I
quitted years ago, swearing that I would return to it no more.

Kal.
(aside)

Oh, misery!

Lara.

Why did I break my oath? Why did I return now?
Because there is an avenging heaven which has willed to
chasten me.

Kal.

No, master, not you! me, me.

Lara.

You, Kaled!

Kal.

Call me not so; call me Gulnare, and accompany the
name with a curse.

Lara.

Why child, why?

Kal.

Because it is I who betrayed Conrad—who revealed all to
Ezzelin.

Lara.

You, you? viper in my bosom.

[Raises dagger.
Kal.
(kneels)

Yes, you were betrayed by me, by the child you
made your companion, your friend. When, to follow you, I
changed the attire of my sex, I thought I could as easily change
my heart. I was a child then, and did not think that the child
would become a woman. Ah, when I entreated you to let me
depart, you ought to have understood me and feared me. You
should have seen that a fire had taken possession of my soul. I
betrayed you, Conrad, because I saw your love for another, and the
sight was more than I could bear. I betrayed you, because I was
mad, because I loved you and was jealous.

Lara.
(aside)

Ah, it is I who have been the most ungrateful—
that I should never have discovered the meaning of that smile.

Kal.

Master, avenge yourself, kill me.

Lara.
(after a pause, raises her)

No; rise, Gulnare, I pardon you.

Kal.

My Conrad, my love!

[Rushes unto him, the sound of a distant trumpet is heard.
Lam.
(behind scenes).

Let the banner of the Laras float from
the summit of the donjon, let my lord's horse be got ready.

Lara.

At least I shall fight.

[At these words enter Lambro with a sword and a casket.
Lam.

Ay, my noble lord, the good times have come again.

Kal.

Perhaps that man, that Ezzelin, may reveal the fatal truth
to all.

Lara.

Be not alarmed, this good sword will not give him time.

Lam.

Ah! that was the sword wielded by your father, Count
Manuel de Lara. I have seen it flash in twenty battles, and
always on the side of truth and honour.

Lara.

Of truth and honour, on that side only.

[Lays sword on table, and reflects.
Kal.
(aside)

What is he doing?

Lam.

Now, Juan de Lara, in the presence of yonder portrait,
which fixes its eyes upon us both, receive this treasure confided to
my charge. (Presents casket.)
Take this casket; it contains the
titles and the signet of the Laras. I swore to place it in your
hands, if Heaven granted your return. Here is the key.

Lara.

Good, good, leave me, both. (Kaled approaches him.)

Both. (Exeunt Lambro and Kaled slowly.)
How my hand
trembles; do I fear to open the casket? perhaps it contains my
father's pardon; nay, he drove me from his doors with curses.
(Trumpets.)
Ah, again signal! No matter for me; this little box
contains a life. (Opens it, and draws out a parchment.)
“Juan,
my son, if Heaven brings you back a penitent to the home of your
fathers, recollect that on our escutcheon there never was blot or
blemish. I bequeath you my name, but bear it not if you have
done aught to disgrace it. I bequeath you my sword, but rather
break it than use it in an unjust cause, or to maintain a lie.
This is the price of my forgiveness.”

[Trumpets heard without at that signal.
RECITATIVE AND BALLAD—Lara.