The Bride of Messina (play)

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The Bride of Messina (play) Page 5

by Friedrich Schiller


  Thus to thy thought,

  My mother, I have waked the scene anew,

  And say, if aught of passion in my breast

  Profaned the solemn hour; yet then the beams

  Of mighty love-so willed my guiding star-

  First lit my soul; but how it chanced, myself

  I ask in vain.

  ISABELLA.

  I would hear all; so end

  Thy tale.

  DON CAESAR.

  What brought her to my side, or whence

  She came, I know not:-from her presence quick

  Some secret all-pervading inward charm

  Awoke; 'twas not the magic of a smile,

  Nor playful Cupid in her cheeks, nor more,

  The form of peerless grace;-'twas beauty's soul,

  The speaking virtue, modesty inborn,

  That as with magic spells, impalpable

  To sense, my being thralled. We breathed together

  The air of heaven:-enough!-no utterance asked

  Of words, our spiritual converse;-in my heart,

  Though strange, yet with familiar ties inwrought

  She seemed, and instant spake the thought-'tis she!

  Or none that lives!

  DON MANUEL (interposing with eagerness).

  That is the sacred fire

  From heaven! the spark of love-that on the soul

  Bursts like the lightning's flash, and mounts in flame,

  When kindred bosoms meet! No choice remains-

  Who shall resist? What mortal break the band

  That heaven has knit? Brother, my blissful fortune

  Was echoed in thy tale-well thou hast raised

  The veil that shadows yet my secret love.

  ISABELLA.

  Thus destiny has marked the wayward course

  Of my two sons: the mighty torrent sweeps

  Down from the precipice; with rage he wears

  His proper bed, nor heeds the channel traced

  By art and prudent care. So to the powers

  That darkly sway the fortunes of our house,

  Trembling I yield. One pledge of hope remains;

  Great as their birth-their noble souls.

  ISABELLA, DON MANUEL, DON CAESAR.

  DIEGO is seen at the door.

  ISABELLA.

  But see,

  My faithful messenger returns. Come near me,

  Honest Diego. Quick! Where is she? Tell me,

  Where is my child? There is no secret here.

  Oh, speak! No longer from my eyes conceal her;

  Come! we are ready for the height of joy.

  [She is about to lead him towards the door.

  What means this pause? Thou lingerest-thou art dumb-

  Thy looks are terror-fraught-a shudder creeps

  Through all my frame-declare thy tidings!-speak!

  Where is she? Where is Beatrice?

  [She is about to rush from the chamber.

  DON MANUEL (to himself abstractedly).

  Beatrice!

  DIEGO (holding back the PRINCESS).

  Be still!

  ISABELLA.

  Where is she? Anguish tears my breast!

  DIEGO.

  She comes not.

  I bring no daughter to thy arms.

  ISABELLA.

  Declare

  Thy message! Speak! by all the saints!

  What has befallen?

  DON MANUEL.

  Where is my sister? Tell us,

  Thou harbinger of ill!

  DIEGO.

  The maid is stolen

  By corsairs! lost! Oh! that I ne'er had seen

  This day of woe!

  DON MANUEL.

  Compose thyself, my mother!

  DON CAESAR.

  Be calm; list all this tale.

  DIEGO.

  At thy command

  I sought in haste the well-known path that leads

  To the old sanctuary:-joy winged my footsteps;

  The journey was my last!

  DON CAESAR.

  Be brief!

  DON MANUEL.

  Proceed!

  DIEGO.

  Soon as I trod the convent's court-impatient-

  I ask-"Where is thy daughter?" Terror sate

  In every eye; and straight, with horror mute,

  I heard the worst.

  [ISABELLA sinks, pale and trembling, upon a chair;

  DON MANUEL is busied about her.

  DON CAESAR.

  Say'st thou by pirates stolen?

  Who saw the band?-what tongue relates the spoil?

  DIEGO.

  Not far a Moorish galley was descried,

  At anchor in the bay--

  DON CAESAR.

  The refuge oft

  From tempests' rage; where is the bark?

  DIEGO.

  At down,

  With favoring breeze she stood to sea.

  DON CAESAR.

  But never

  One prey contents the Moor; say, have they told

  Of other spoil?

  DIEGO.

  A herd that pastured near

  Was dragged away.

  DON CAESAR.

  Yet from the convent's bound

  How tear the maid unseen?

  DIEGO.

  'Tis thought with ladders

  They scaled the wall.

  DON CAESAR.

  Thou knowest what jealous care

  Enshrines the bride of Heaven; scarce could their steps

  Invade the secret cells.

  DIEGO.

  Bound by no vows

  The maiden roved at will; oft would she seek

  Alone the garden's shade. Alas! this day,

  Ne'er to return!

  DON CAESAR.

  Saidst thou-the prize of corsairs?

  Perchance, at other bidding, she forsook

  The sheltering dome--

  ISABELLA (rising suddenly).

  'Twas force! 'twas savage spoil!

  Ne'er has my child, reckless of honor's ties

  With vile seducer fled! My sons! Awake!

  I thought to give a sister to your arms;

  I ask a daughter from your swords! Arise!

  Avenge this wrong! To arms! Launch every ship!

  Scour all our coasts! From sea to sea pursue them!

  Oh, bring my daughter! haste!

  DON CAESAR.

  Farewell-I fly

  To vengeance!

  [He goes away.

  [DON MANUEL arouses himself from a state of abstraction,

  and turns, with an air of agitation, to DIEGO.

  DON MANUEL.

  Speak! within the convent's walls

  When first unseen--

  DIEGO.

  This day at dawn.

  DON MANUEL (to ISABELLA).

  Her name

  Thou say'st is Beatrice?

  ISABELLA.

  No question! Fly!

  DON MANUEL.

  Yet tell me--

  ISABELLA.

  Haste! Begone! Why this delay?

  Follow thy brother.

  DON MANUEL.

  I conjure thee-speak--

  ISABELLA (dragging him away).

  Behold my tears!

  DON MANUEL.

  Where was she hid? What region

  Concealed my sister?

  ISABELLA.

  Scarce from curious eyes

  In the deep bosom of the earth more safe

  My child had been!

  DIEGO.

  Oh! now a sudden horror

  Starts in my breast.

  DON MANUEL.

  What gives thee fear?

  DIEGO.

  'Twas I

  That guiltless caused this woe!

  ISABELLA.

  Unhappy man!

  What hast thou done?

  DIEGO.

  To spare thy mother's heart

  One anxious pang, my mistress, I concealed

  What now
my lips shall tell: 'twas on the day

  When thy dead husband in the silent tomb

  Was laid; from every side the unnumbered throng

  Pressed eager to the solemn rites; thy daughter-

  For e'en amid the cloistered shade was noised

  The funeral pomp, urged me, with ceaseless prayers,

  To lead her to the festival of Death.

  In evil hour I gave consent; and, shrouded

  In sable weeds of mourning, she surveyed

  Her father's obsequies. With keen reproach

  My bosom tells (for through the veil her charms

  Resistless shone), 'twas there, perchance, the spoiler

  Lurked to betray.

  DON MANUEL (to himself).

  Thrice happy words! I live!

  It was another!

  ISABELLA (to DIEGO).

  Faithless! Ill betide

  Thy treacherous age!

  DIEGO.

  Oh, never have I strayed

  From duty's path! My mistress, in her prayers

  I heard the voice of Nature; thus from Heaven

  Ordained,-methought, the secret impulse moves

  Of kindred blood, to hallow with her tears

  A father's grave: the tender office owned

  Thy servant's care, and thus with good intent

  I wrought but ill.

  DON MANUEL (to himself).

  Why stand I thus a prey

  To torturing fears! No longer will I bear

  The dread suspense--I will know all!

  DON CAESAR (who returns).

  Forgive me,

  I follow thee.

  DON MANUEL.

  Away! Let no man follow.

  [Exit.

  DON CAESAR (looking after him in surprise).

  What means my brother? Speak--

  ISABELLA.

  In wonder lost

  I gaze; some mystery lurks--

  DON CAESAR.

  Thou mark'st, my mother,

  My quick return; with eager zeal I flew

  At thy command, nor asked one trace to guide

  My footsteps to thy daughter. Whence was torn

  Thy treasure? Say, what cloistered solitude

  Enshrined the beauteous maid?

  ISABELLA.

  'Tis consecrate

  To St. Cecilia; deep in forest shades,

  Beyond the woody ridge that slowly climbs

  Toward's Etna's towering throne, it seems a refuge

  Of parted souls!

  DON CAESAR.

  Have courage, trust thy sons;

  She shall be thine, though with unwearied quest

  O'er every land and sea I track her presence

  To earth's extremest bounds: one thought alone

  Disturbs,-in stranger hands my timorous bride

  Waits my return; to thy protecting arms

  I give the pledge of all my joy! She comes;

  Soon on her faithful bosom thou shalt rest

  In sweet oblivion of thy cares.

  [Exit.

  ISABELLA.

  When will the ancient curse be stilled that weighs

  Upon our house? Some mocking demon sports

  With every new-formed hope, nor envious leaves

  One hour of joy. So near the haven smiled-

  So smooth the treacherous main-secure I deemed

  My happiness: the storm was lulled; and bright

  In evening's lustre gleamed the sunny shore!

  Then through the placid air the tempest sweeps,

  And bears me to the roaring surge again!

  [She goes into the interior of the palace,

  followed by DIEGO.

  The Scene changes to the Garden.

  Both Choruses, afterwards BEATRICE.

  The Chorus of DON MANUEL enters in solemn procession,

  adorned with garlands, and bearing the bridal ornaments

  above mentioned. The Chorus of DON CAESAR opposes their

  entrance.

  First Chorus (CAJETAN).

  Begone!

  Second Chorus (BOHEMUND).

  Not at thy bidding!

  CAJETAN.

  Seest thou not

  Thy presence irks?

  BOHEMUND.

  Thou hast it, then, the longer!

  CAJETAN.

  My place is here! What arm repels me?

  BOHEMUND,

  Mine!

  CAJETAN.

  Don Manuel sent me hither.

  BOHEMUND.

  I obey

  My Lord Don Caesar.

  CAJETAN.

  To the eldest born

  Thy master reverence owes.

  BOHEMUND.

  The world belongs

  To him that wins!

  CAJETAN.

  Unmannered knave, give place!

  BOHEMUND.

  Our swords be measured first!

  CAJETAN.

  I find thee ever

  A serpent in my path.

  BOHEMUND.

  Where'er I list

  Thus will I meet thee!

  CAJETAN.

  Say, why cam'st thou hither

  To spy?--

  BOHEMUND.

  And thou to question and command?

  CAJETAN.

  To parley I disdain!

  BOHEMUND.

  Too much I grace thee

  By words!

  CAJETAN.

  Thy hot, impetuous youth should bow

  To reverend age.

  BOHEMUND.

  Older thou art-not braver.

  BEATRICE (rushing from her place of concealment).

  Alas! What mean these warlike men?

  CAJETAN (to BOHEMUND).

  I heed not

  Thy threats and lofty mien.

  BOHEMUND.

  I serve a master

  Better than thine.

  BEATRICE.

  Alas! Should he appear!

  CAJETAN.

  Thou liest! Don Manuel thousandfold excels.

  BOHEMUND.

  In every strife the wreath of victory decks

  Don Caesar's brows!

  BEATRICE.

  Now he will come! Already

  The hour is past!

  CAJETAN.

  'Tis peace, or thou shouldst know

  My vengeance!

  BOHEMUND.

  Fear, not peace, thy arm refrains.

  BEATRICE.

  Oh! Were he thousand miles remote!

  CAJETAN.

  Thy looks

  But move my scorn; the compact I obey.

  BOHEMUND.

  The coward's ready shield!

  CAJETAN.

  Come on! I follow.

  BOHEMUND.

  To arms!

  BEATRICE (in the greatest agitation).

  Their falchions gleam-the strife begins!

  Ye heavenly powers, his steps refrain! Some snare

  Throw round his feet, that in this hour of dread

  He come not: all ye angels, late implored

  To give him to my arms, reverse my prayers;

  Far, far from hence convey the loved one!

  [She runs into the alcove. At the moment when the two

  Choruses are about to engage, DON MANUEL appears.

  DON MANUEL, the Chorus.

  DON MANUEL.

  What do I see!

  First Chorus to the Second (CAJETAN, BERENGAR, MANFRED).

  Come on! Come on!

  Second Chorus (BOHEMUND, ROGER, HIPPOLYTE).

  Down with them!

  DON MANUEL (stepping between them with drawn sword).

  Hold!

  CAJETAN.

  'Tis the prince!

  BOHEMUND.

  Be still!

  DON MANUEL.

  I stretch him dead

  Upon this verdant turf that with one glance

  Of scorn prolongs the strife, or threats his foe!

  Why rage ye thus? What maddening fiend impels />
  To blow the flames of ancient hate anew,

  Forever reconciled? Say, who began

  The conflict? Speak--

  First Chorus (CAJETAN, BERENGAR).

  My prince, we stood--

 

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