Chapter 9

_Officer announces_ OPAS.

O queen, the metropolitan attends On matters of high import to the state, And wishes to confer in privacy.

[_Egilona_, _to Julian_.

_Egil._ Adieu then; and whate’er betide the country, Sustain at least the honours of our house.

[_Julian goes before Opas enters_.

_Opas_. I cannot but commend, O Egilona, Such resignation and such dignity. Indeed he is unworthy; yet a queen Rather to look for peace, and live remote From cities, and from courts, and from her lord, I hardly could expect, in one so young, So early, widely, wondrously, admired.

_Egil._ I am resolved: religious men, good Opas, In this resemble the vain libertine; They find in woman no consistency, No virtue but devotion, such as comes To infancy or age, or fear or love, Seeking a place of rest, and finding none, Until it soar to heaven.

_Opas_. A spring of mind That rises when all pressure is removed, Firmness in pious and in chaste resolves, But weakness in much fondness; these, O queen, I did expect, I own.

_Egil._ The better part Be mine; the worst hath been; and is no more.

_Opas_. But if Roderigo have at length prevailed That Egilona willingly resigns All claim to royalty, and casts away —Indifferent or estranged—the marriage bond His perjury tore asunder, still the church Hardly can sanction his new nuptial rites.

_Egil._ What art thou saying? what new nuptial rites?

_Opas_. Thou knowest not?

_Egil._ Am I a wife; a queen? Abandon it! my claim to royalty! Whose hand was on my head when I arose Queen of this land? whose benediction sealed My marriage-vow? who broke it? was it I? And wouldst thou, virtuous Opas, wouldst thou dim The glorious light of thy declining days? Wouldst thou administer the sacred vows, And sanction them, and bless them, for another, And bid her live in peace while I am living? Go then—I execrate and banish him For ever from my sight: we were not born For happiness together—none on earth Were ever so dissimilar as we. He is not worth a tear, a wish, a thought— Never was I deceived in him—I found No tenderness, no fondness, from the first: A love of power, a love of perfidy, Such is the love that is returned for mine. Ungrateful man! ’twas not the pageantry Of regal state, the clarions, nor the guard, Nor loyal valour, nor submissive beauty, Silence at my approach, awe at my voice, Happiness at my smile, that led my youth Towards Roderigo! I had lived obscure, In humbleness, in poverty, in want, Blest, O supremely blest! with him alone; And he abandons me, rejects me, scorns me, Insensible! inhuman! for another! Thou shalt repent thy wretched choice, false man! Crimes such as thine call loudly for perdition; Heaven will inflict it, and not I—but I Neither will fall alone nor live despised.

[_Sound of trumpet_.

_Opas_. Peace, Egilona, he arrives; compose Thy turbid thoughts, meet him with dignity.

_Egil._ He! in the camp of Julian! trust me, sir, He comes not hither, dares no longer use The signs of state, and flies from every foe.

[_Egilona retires some distance_.