The Bride of Messina (play) Read online

Page 2


  Of seeming friendship; treachery in their breasts

  Lurks to betray, and long-dissembled hate.

  Ye are a race of other lands; your sires

  Profaned their soil; and ne'er the invader's yoke

  Was easy-never in the vassal's heart

  Languished the hope of sweet revenge;-our sway

  Not rooted in a people's love, but owns

  Allegiance from their fears; with secret joy-

  For conquest's ruthless sword, and thraldom's chains

  From age to age, they wait the atoning hour

  Of princes' downfall;-thus their bards awake

  The patriot strain, and thus from sire to son

  Rehearsed, the old traditionary tale

  Beguiles the winter's night. False is the world,

  My sons, and light are all the specious ties

  By fancy twined: friendship-deceitful name!

  Its gaudy flowers but deck our summer fortune,

  To wither at the first rude breath of autumn!

  So happy to whom heaven has given a brother;

  The friend by nature signed-the true and steadfast!

  Nature alone is honest-nature only-

  When all we trusted strews the wintry shore-

  On her eternal anchor lies at rest,

  Nor heeds the tempest's rage.

  DON MANUEL.

  My mother!

  DON CAESAR.

  Hear me

  ISABELLA (taking their hands).

  Be noble, and forget the fancied wrongs

  Of boyhood's age: more godlike is forgiveness

  Than victory, and in your father's grave

  Should sleep the ancient hate:-Oh, give your days

  Renewed henceforth to peace and holy love!

  [She recedes one or two steps, as if to give them space

  to approach each other. Both fix their eyes on the ground

  without regarding one another.

  ISABELLA (after awaiting for some time, with suppressed emotion,

  a demonstration on the part of her sons).

  I can no more; my prayers-my tears are vain:-

  'Tis well! obey the demon in your hearts!

  Fulfil your dread intent, and stain with blood

  The holy altars of your household gods;-

  These halls that gave you birth, the stage where murder

  Shall hold his festival of mutual carnage

  Beneath a mother's eye!-then, foot to foot,

  Close, like the Theban pair, with maddening gripe,

  And fold each other in a last embrace!

  Each press with vengeful thrust the dagger home,

  And "Victory!" be your shriek of death:-nor then

  Shall discord rest appeased; the very flame

  That lights your funeral pyre shall tower dissevered

  In ruddy columns to the skies, and tell

  With horrid image-"thus they lived and died!"

  [She goes away; the BROTHERS stand as before.

  Chorus (CAJETAN).

  How have her words with soft control

  Resistless calmed the tempest of my soul!

  No guilt of kindred blood be mine!

  Thus with uplifted hands I prey;

  Think, brothers, on the awful day,

  And tremble at the wrath divine!

  DON CAESAR (without taking his eyes from the ground).

  Thou art my elder-speak-without dishonor

  I yield to thee.

  DON MANUEL.

  One gracious word, an instant,

  My tongue is rival in the strife of love!

  DON CAESAR.

  I am the guiltier-weaker--

  DON MANUEL.

  Say not so!

  Who doubts thy noble heart, knows thee not well;

  The words were prouder, if thy soul were mean.

  DON CAESAR.

  It burns indignant at the thought of wrong-

  But thou-methinks-in passion's fiercest mood,

  'Twas aught but scorn that harbored in thy breast.

  DON MANUEL.

  Oh! had I known thy spirit thus to peace

  Inclined, what thousand griefs had never torn

  A mother's heart!

  DON CAESAR.

  I find thee just and true:

  Men spoke thee proud of soul.

  DON MANUEL.

  The curse of greatness!

  Ears ever open to the babbler's tale.

  DON CAESAR.

  Thou art too proud to meanness-I to falsehood!

  DON MANUEL.

  We are deceived, betrayed!

  DON CAESAR.

  The sport of frenzy!

  DON MANUEL.

  And said my mother true, false is the world?

  DON CAESAR.

  Believe her, false as air.

  DON MANUEL.

  Give me thy hand!

  DON CAESAR.

  And thine be ever next my heart!

  [They stand clasping each other's hands,

  and regard each other in silence.

  DON MANUEL.

  I gaze

  Upon thy brow, and still behold my mother

  In some dear lineament.

  DON CAESAR.

  Her image looks

  From thine, and wondrous in my bosom wakes

  Affection's springs.

  DON MANUEL.

  And is it thou?-that smile

  Benignant on thy face?-thy lips that charm

  With gracious sounds of love and dear forgiveness?

  DON CAESAR.

  Is this my brother, this the hated foe?

  His mien all gentleness and truth, his voice,

  Whose soft prevailing accents breathe of friendship!

  [After a pause.

  DON MANUEL.

  Shall aught divide us?

  DON CAESAR.

  We are one forever!

  [They rush into each other's arms.

  First CHORUS (to the Second).

  Why stand we thus, and coldly gaze,

  While Nature's holy transports burn?

  No dear embrace of happier days

  The pledge-that discord never shall return!

  Brothers are they by kindred band;

  We own the ties of home and native land.

  [Both CHORUSES embrace.

  A MESSENGER enters.

  Second CHORUS to DON CAESAR (BOHEMUND).

  Rejoice, my prince, thy messenger returns

  And mark that beaming smile! the harbinger

  Of happy tidings.

  MESSENGER.

  Health to me, and health

  To this delivered state! Oh sight of bliss,

  That lights mine eyes with rapture! I behold

  Their hands in sweet accord entwined; the sons

  Of my departed lord, the princely pair

  Dissevered late by conflict's hottest rage.

  DON CAESAR.

  Yes, from the flames of hate, a new-born Phoenix,

  Our love aspires!

  MESSENGER.

  I bring another joy;

  My staff is green with flourishing shoots.

  DON CAESAR (taking him aside).

  Oh, tell me

  Thy gladsome message.

  MESSENGER.

  All is happiness

  On this auspicious day; long sought, the lost one

  Is found.

  DON CAESAR.

  Discovered! Oh, where is she? Speak!

  MESSENGER.

  Within Messina's walls she lies concealed.

  DON MANUEL (turning to the First SEMI-CHORUS).

  A ruddy glow mounts in my brother's cheek,

  And pleasure dances in his sparkling eye;

  Whate'er the spring, with sympathy of love

  My inmost heart partakes his joy.

  DON CAESAR (to the MESSENGER).

  Come, lead me;

  Farewell, Don Manuel; to meet again

  Enfolded in a mother's arms! I fly
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  To cares of utmost need.

  [He is about to depart.

  DON MANUEL.

  Make no delay;

  And happiness attend thee!

  DON CAESAR (after a pause of reflection, he returns).

  How thy looks

  Awake my soul to transport! Yes, my brother,

  We shall be friends indeed! This hour is bright

  With glad presage of ever-springing love,

  That in the enlivening beam shall flourish fair,

  Sweet recompense of wasted years!

  DON MANUEL.

  The blossom

  Betokens goodly fruit.

  DON CAESAR.

  I tear myself

  Reluctant from thy arms, but think not less

  If thus I break this festal hour-my heart

  Thrills with a holy joy.

  DON MANUEL (with manifest absence of mind).

  Obey the moment!

  Our lives belong to love.

  DON CESAR.

  What calls me hence--

  DON MANUEL.

  Enough! thou leav'st thy heart.

  DON CAESAR.

  No envious secret

  Shall part us long; soon the last darkening fold

  Shall vanish from my breast.

  [Turning to the CHORUS.

  Attend! Forever

  Stilled is our strife; he is my deadliest foe,

  Detested as the gates of hell, who dares

  To blow the fires of discord; none may hope

  To win my love, that with malicious tales

  Encroach upon a brother's ear, and point

  With busy zeal of false, officious friendship.

  The dart of some rash, angry word, escaped

  From passion's heat; it wounds not from the lips,

  But, swallowed by suspicion's greedy ear,

  Like a rank, poisonous weed, embittered creeps,

  And hangs about her with a thousand shoots,

  Perplexing nature's ties.

  [He embraces his brother again, and goes away

  accompanied by the Second CHORUS.

  Chorus (CAJETAN).

  Wondering, my prince,

  I gaze, for in thy looks some mystery

  Strange-seeming shows: scarce with abstracted mien

  And cold thou answered'st, when with earnest heart

  Thy brother poured the strain of dear affection.

  As in a dream thou stand'st, and lost in thought,

  As though-dissevered from its earthly frame-

  Thy spirit roved afar. Not thine the breast

  That deaf to nature's voice, ne'er owned the throbs

  Of kindred love:-nay more-like one entranced

  In bliss, thou look'st around, and smiles of rapture

  Play on thy cheek.

  DON MANUEL.

  How shall my lips declare

  The transports of my swelling heart? My brother

  Revels in glad surprise, and from his breast

  Instinct with strange new-felt emotions, pours

  The tide of joy; but mine-no hate came with me,

  Forgot the very spring of mutual strife!

  High o'er this earthly sphere, on rapture's wings,

  My spirit floats; and in the azure sea,

  Above-beneath-no track of envious night

  Disturbs the deep serene! I view these halls,

  And picture to my thoughts the timid joy

  Of my sweet bride, as through the palace gates,

  In pride of queenly state, I lead her home.

  She loved alone the loving one, the stranger,

  And little deems that on her beauteous brow

  Messina's prince shall 'twine the nuptial wreath.

  How sweet, with unexpected pomp of greatness,

  To glad the darling of my soul! too long

  I brook this dull delay of crowning bliss!

  Her beauty's self, that asks no borrowed charm,

  Shall shine refulgent, like the diamond's blaze

  That wins new lustre from the circling gold!

  Chorus (CAJETAN).

  Long have I marked thee, prince, with curious eye,

  Foreboding of some mystery deep enshrined

  Within thy laboring breast. This day, impatient,

  Thy lips have burst the seal; and unconstrained

  Confess a lover's joy;-the gladdening chase,

  The Olympian coursers, and the falcon's flight

  Can charm no more:-soon as the sun declines

  Beneath the ruddy west, thou hiest thee quick

  To some sequestered path, of mortal eye

  Unseen-not one of all our faithful train

  Companion of thy solitary way.

  Say, why so long concealed the blissful flame?

  Stranger to fear-ill-brooked thy princely heart

  One thought unuttered.

  DON MANUEL.

  Ever on the wing

  Is mortal joy;-with silence best we guard

  The fickle good;-but now, so near the goal

  Of all my cherished hopes, I dare to speak.

  To-morrow's sun shall see her mine! no power

  Of hell can make us twain! With timid stealth

  No longer will I creep at dusky eve,

  To taste the golden fruits of Cupid's tree,

  And snatch a fearful, fleeting bliss: to-day

  With bright to-morrow shall be one! So smooth

  As runs the limpid brook, or silvery sand

  That marks the flight of time, our lives shall flow

  In continuity of joy!

  Chorus (CAJETAN).

  Already

  Our hearts, my prince, with silent vows have blessed

  Thy happy love; and now from every tongue,

  For her-the royal, beauteous bride-should sound

  The glad acclaim; so tell what nook unseen,

  What deep umbrageous solitude, enshrines

  The charmer of thy heart? With magic spells

  Almost I deem she mocks our gaze, for oft

  In eager chase we scour each rustic path

  And forest dell; yet not a trace betrayed

  The lover's haunts, ne'er were the footsteps marked

  Of this mysterious fair.

  DON MANUEL.

  The spell is broke!

  And all shall be revealed: now list my tale:-

  'Tis five months flown,-my father yet controlled

  The land, and bowed our necks with iron sway;

  Little I knew but the wild joys of arms,

  And mimic warfare of the chase;-

  One day,-

  Long had we tracked the boar with zealous toil

  On yonder woody ridge:-it chanced, pursuing

  A snow-white hind, far from your train I roved

  Amid the forest maze;-the timid beast,

  Along the windings of the narrow vale,

  Through rocky cleft and thick-entangled brake,

  Flew onward, scarce a moment lost, nor distant

  Beyond a javelin's throw; nearer I came not,

  Nor took an aim; when through a garden's gate,

  Sudden she vanished:-from my horse quick springing,

  I followed:-lo! the poor scared creature lay

  Stretched at the feet of a young, beauteous nun,

  That strove with fond caress of her fair hands

  To still its throbbing heart: wondering, I gazed;

  And motionless-my spear, in act to strike,

  High poised-while she, with her large piteous eyes

  For mercy sued-and thus we stood in silence

  Regarding one another.

  How long the pause

  I know not-time itself forgot;-it seemed

  Eternity of bliss: her glance of sweetness

  Flew to my soul; and quick the subtle flame

  Pervaded all my heart:-

  But what I spoke,

  And how this blessed creature answered, none

  May ask; it floats upon
my thought, a dream

  Of childhood's happy dawn! Soon as my sense

  Returned, I felt her bosom throb responsive

  To mine,-then fell melodious on my ear

  The sound, as of a convent bell, that called

  To vesper song; and, like some shadowy vision

  That melts in air, she flitted from my sight,

  And was beheld no more.

  Chorus (CAJETAN).

  Thy story thrills

  My breast with pious awe! Prince, thou hast robbed

  The sanctuary, and for the bride of heaven

  Burned with unholy passion! Oh, remember

  The cloister's sacred vows!

  DON MANUEL.

  Thenceforth one path

  My footsteps wooed; the fickle train was still

  Of young desires-new felt my being's aim,

  My soul revealed! and as the pilgrim turns

  His wistful gaze, where, from the orient sky,

  With gracious lustre beams Redemption's star;-

  So to that brightest point of heaven, her presence,

  My hopes and longings centred all. No sun

  Sank in the western waves, but smiled farewell

  To two united lovers:-thus in stillness

  Our hearts were twined,-the all-seeing air above us

  Alone the faithful witness of our joys!

  Oh, golden hours! Oh, happy days! nor Heaven