Enter Brother THOMAS from the chamber. How now, good brother? Thom. Retire, my friends. O many a bed of death With all its pangs and horrors I have seen, I would move hence, but I am weak and faint: (Leans on second Monk: a pause.) Enter BERNARD from the chamber. 2d Monk. (to Bern.) How is your penitent? Bern. He is with HIM who made him; HIM, who knows The soul of man: before whose awful presence (Bell tolls.) The dismal sound! Retire and pray for the blood-stain'd soul: Enter MANUEL and JEROME. Man. (pointing.) Here, my good Jerome, here's a piteous sight. Jer. A piteous sight! yet I will look upon him: I'll see his face in death. Alas, alas! I've seen him move a noble gentleman; And when with vexing passion undisturb'd, He look'd most graciously. (Lifts up in mistake the cloth from the body of Rezervelt, and starts back with horror.) Oh! this was the bloody work! Oh, oh! oh, oh! That human hands could do it! (Drops the cloth again.) Man. That is the murder'd corpse; here lies De Monfort. (Going to uncover the other body.) Jer. (turning away his head.) No, no! I cannot look upon him now. Man. Didst thou not come to see him? Bern. (To Jer.) Well dost thou show the abhorrence nature feels For deeds of blood, and I commend thee well. May heaven have mercy on him! (Bell tolls again.) For one, who, from the hand of fellow man, [EXEUNT. SCENE VI.-A HALL OR LARGE ROOM IN THE CON Hath felt such cruelty. (Uncovering the body of Rezenvelt.) VENT. THE BODIES OF DE MONFORT AND REZEN- This is the murder'd corse : VELT ARE DISCOVERED LAID OUT UPON A LOW TABLE OR PLATFORM, COVERED WITH BLACK. FREBERG, BERNARD, ABBESS, MONKS, AND NUNS ATTENDING. (Uncovering the body of De Monfort) Here lies the murderer. What think'st thou here? Abb. (to Freb.) Here must they lie, my lord, With the last dreadful conflict of despair, until we know Respecting this the order of the law. Freb. And you have wisely done, my reverend mother. (Goes to the table, and looks at the bodies, but without uncovering them.) Unhappy men! ye, both in nature rich, So fix'd in horrid strength. See those knit brows; those hollow sunken eyes; The sharpen'd nose, with nostrils all distent; That writhed mouth, where yet the teeth appear, In agony, to gnash the nether lip. Think'st thou, less painful than the murderer's knife Was such a death as this Ay, and how changed too those matted locks! Jer. Merciful heaven! his hair is grisly grown, Changed to white age, that was, but too days since, Black as the raven's plume. How may this be? Bern. Such change, from violent conflict of the mind, Will sometimes come. Jer. Alas, alas! most wretched! Whom heaven commands to love? Low are ye Thou wert too good to do a cruel deed, laid: And so it kill'd thee. Thou hast suffer'd for it. God rest thy soul! I needs must touch thy hand, And bid thee long farewell. (Laying his hand on De Monfort.) Bern. Draw back, draw back; see where the lady comes. Enter JANE DE MONFORT. (Freberg, who has been for some time retired by himself to the bottom of the stage, now steps forward to lead her in, but checks himself on seeing the fixed sorrow of her countenance, and draws back respectfully. Jane advances to the table, and looks attentively at the covered bodies. Manuel points out the body of De Monfort, and she gives a gentle inclination of the head, to signify that she understands him. She then bends tenderly over it, without speaking. Man. (to Jane, as she raises her head.) 0, madam! my good lord. Jane. Well says thy love, my good and faithful But we must mourn in silence. Man. Alas! the times that I have follow'd him! Thou hast loved him, and I'll remember thee. I will remember thee. Man. Nay, by the living God! where'er you are, (Throwing himself at her feet.) Jane. (raising him.) Well, then! be thou my servant, and my friend. Art thou, good Jerome, too, in kindness come? Man. (to Off.) Hold thy unrighteous tongue, or Nor, in the presence of this honour'd dame, 1st Off. I am an officer on duty call'd, Do as thou wilt: Jane. I thank your courtesy: thanks, thanks to My reverend mother, and ye honour'd maids; Would I could serve you with a young man's And now I have a sad request to make, strength! I'd spend my life for you. Jane. And even a worship pays. Jane. Nay, Freberg, Freberg! grieve me not, He to whose ear my praise most welcome was, The voice of praise was wont to name us both; (Covers her face with her hands, and bursts into 1st Off. Enter two OFFICERS of law. Where is the prisoner? Into our hands he straight must be consign'd. Bern. He is not subject now to human laws; The prison that awaits him is the grave. Nor will these holy sisters scorn my boon: Enter SULPICIUS and ORCERES by opposite sides. Sul. So soon return'd!--I read not in thy face 1st Off. Ha! say'st thou so? there is foul play in Aught to encourage or depress my wishes. this. How is it, noble friend? Orc. E'en as it was e'er I received my mission. Cordenius Maro is on public duty; I have not seen him.-When he knows your offer Shape their first circles in the sunny air. Orc. Methinks I see him now! A face with blushes mantling to the brow, Sul. His face, indeed, as I have heard thee say, Orc. And then his towering form, and vaulting step, As tenderness gives way to exultation! Sul. Art thou so well convinced He loves my little damsel? she is fair, To all my wealth, had I suspected sooner, Orc. Thou scarcely know'st! Say certainly thou dost not. He is, to honest right, as simply true Sul. But is the public duty very urgent, Orc. The punishment of those poor Nazarenes, Sul. A stubborn contumacy unaccountable ! But be it what it may, or good or ill, Sul. Cease; here comes Portia, with a careless face: She knows not yet the happiness that waits her. I knew not you were here; but yet I guess Orc. How can it fail, fair Portia, so commended? Por. That tune, my father, Which you so oft have tried to recollect; SONG. The storm is gathering far and wide, And so, indeed, thou takest thy stand, Orc. The picture of some very noble hero Sul. So it should seem; one of the days of old. Por. And why of olden days? There liveth now The very man-a man-I mean to say, There may be found amongst our Roman youth, One, who in form and feelings may compare With him whose lofty virtues these few lines So well describe. Orc. Thou mean'st the lofty Gorbus. Por. Out on the noisy braggart! Arms without He bath, indeed, well burnish'd and well plumed, But the poor soul, within, is pluck'd and bare, Like any homely thing. Orc. Sertorius Galba then? For if he hath no lack of courage, certes, Orc. Perhaps thou mean'st Cordenius Maro, lady. Sul. Cease, sweet Portia ; Orc. Simplicity seen through a harmless wile, Sul. Let it no more be sung within my walls: without. They are this instant leading past your door [EXEUNT hastily Sulpicius, Orceres. Por. (Stopping her ears.) I cannot look on them, nor hear the sound. I'll to my chamber. Page. May not I, I pray, Por. Page. Nay, be it c'er so piteous or so horrid, Officers and Soldiers still remaining; the Officers on the front, and Cordenius apart from them in a thoughtful posture.) First Offi. Brave Varus marches boldly at the head Of that deluded band. Second Offi. Are these the men, who hateful In dens and deserts, courting, with enchantments, Third Offi. Ay, with rites Third Offi. I can believe all this or any thing First Offi. What demonry, thinkest thou, pos- Second Offi. That is well urged. (To the other.) Alas, that I should see so brave a soldier First Offi. Viewing his keen, enliven'd coun He is a man, who makes a show of valour Ne'er fronted foe, or closed in bloody strife. (Turning away angrily to the back ground.) First Offi. Our chief, methinks, is in a fretfui mood, Which is not usual with him. Second Offi. He did not seem to listen to our But see he gives the signal to proceed; Por. Go, then; there is in this no affectation: There's all the harden'd cruelty of man Lodged in that tiny form, child as thou art. [EXEUNT, severally. SCENE II.-AN OPEN SQUARE WITH BUILDINGS. Enter CORDENIUS MARO, at the head of his SOLDIERS, who draw up on either side: then enters along procession of public Functionaries, &c. conducting MARTYRS to the place of execution, who, as they pass on, sing together in unison: one more noble than the others, SCENE III.-AN APARTMENT IN A PRIVATE HOUSE. walking first. SONG. A long farewell to sin and sorrow, To beam of day and evening shade! While mortal flesh in flame is bleeding, We leave the hated and the hating. The great, the good, the brave are waiting Earth's fated sounds our ears forsaking, [EXEUNT Martyrs, &c. &c. Cordenius with his [EXEUNT in order, whilst a chorus of Martyrs is heard at a distance.) Enter two CHRISTIAN WOMEN, by opposite sides. First Wom. Hast thou heard any thing? Second Wom. Naught, save the murmur of the multitude, Sinking at times to deep and awful silence, The town appearing uninhabited. But wherefore art thou here? Thou should'st have stay'd With the unhappy mother of poor Cælus. First Wom. She sent me hither in her agony Of fear and fearful hope. Second Wom. Ha! does she hope deliverance from death? First Wom. O no! thou wrong'st her, friend; it is not that: Deliverance is her fear, and death her hope. Or earn'd or lost. May heaven forefend the last! Enter a CHRISTIAN FATHER. What tidings dost thou bring? are they in bliss? Fath. Apostatized! No; stripling as he is, For his soft downy cheek and slender form Made them conceive they might subdue his firm ness, Therefore he was reserved till noble Varus Then did they court and tempt him with fair promise Of all that earthly pleasure or ambition But he, who seem'd before so meek and timid, disperse and leave him alone. He walks a few paces slowly, then stops and continues for a short time in a thoughtful posture. Cor. There is some power in this, or good or ill, List to sweet sounds that are not; even the reason Syl. (advancing to him.) No, believe it not. I have seen thy face before; but where ?-who art thou? Syl. E'en that centurion of the seventh legion Who, with Cordenius Maro, at the siege Of Fort Volundum, mounted first the breach; And kept the clustering enemy in check, Till our encouraged Romans follow'd us. Cor. My old companion then, the valiant Sylvius. Thou'st done hard service since I saw thee last: Glow'd with new life; and from his fervid tongue Thy countenance is mark'd with graver lines Words of most firm, indignant constancy Than in those greener days: I knew thee not. Where goest thou now? I'll bear thee company. Syl. I thank thee: yet thou may'st not go with me. The way that I am wending suits not thee, Though suiting well the noble and the brave. First Wom. High heaven be praised for this! It were not well, in fiery times like these, Thine eyes beheld it? Fath. I saw it not: the friend who witness'd it, Left him yet living midst devouring flame; To tempt thy generous mind. Cor. What dost thou mean? Syl. (after looking cautiously round to see that nobody is near.) Did I not hear thee commune with thyself (They cover their faces, and remain silent.) Of that most blessed martyr gone to rest, Enter a CHRIStian Brother. Broth. Lift up your heads, my sisters! let your voices In grateful thanks be raised! Those ye lament, Varus Dobella ? Cor. How blessed? My unsettled thoughts were With things mysterious; with those magic powers Syl. Not so, not so! The wisest prince on earth, First Wom. And praised be God, who makes the Ne'er earn'd withal such lofty exaltation weakest strong! I'll to his mother with the blessed tidings. [EXIT. Fath. Let us retire and pray. How soon our lives May have like ending, God alone doth know! [EXEUNT. SCENE IV. AN OPEN SPACE IN FRONT OF A TEMPLE. Enter CORDENIUS, as returning from the execution with his SOLDIERS, who, upon a signal from him, As Varus now enjoys. Cor. Thy words amaze me, friend; what is their meaning? Syl. They cannot be explain'd with hasty speech In such a place. If thou would'st really know— And may such light Cor. Why dost thou check thy words, And look so much disturb'd, like one in doubt? Syl. What am I doing! Zeal, perhaps, betrays me. |