SCENE II.--(_A chapel close near the castle. The grave of Margaret

and her child marked by a cross._) _Enter_ HILDEBRAND _leaning on the arm of_ PETER.

_Hild._ Little did I dream that it was I Would be the first to go. O, Peter, Peter, This world--ambition hath eaten up my heart, And my life with it. Better to be there Where she doth lie than to be God’s Vicar.

_Pet._ Gregory if you would only compromise, And meet the wishes of the Cardinals, And temper Henry, you might die in Rome.

_Hild._ Never, never, better end me here, Than give my life the lie. Do they their worst, What I have lived for, I will die for too. Better the Church go crumble all to ruins And Europe be a field of ravening wolves, Than compromise be purchased at such price, And sell the Church’s right to impious hounds, And make the temple of God a den of thieves. Go, Peter, go, your heart is like the rest. Go, leave me, I am but a poor old man, Weak, palsied, leaning slowly to my tomb, I need no friend, God will be merciful, Though cold and rude earth’s loves, I can but die.

_Pet._ Thou knowest, Gregory, I will never leave thee.

_Hild._ ’Twill not be long, and then they’ll have their will, O, Europe! Europe! Peter, wilt thou see That this place is kept sacred. Yon rose tree Kept watered, and yon twin-mound holy, Till thou dost die?

_Pet._ I will.

_Hild._ She was my daughter, Peter, and like her mother, And the poor babe it looked so sweet in death, Mine age went to it. O, Damiani, These women and children twine about our hearts.

_Pet._ Wilt you go within?

_Hild._ Methought I heard one hum an old-time tune.

_Pet._ Nay, Gregory, thou meanest a chant or hymn.

_Hild._ Nay, Peter, but a simple ballad tune, That I loved long ago. Know thee, Peter, All music is of God, and it be holy.

_Pet._ What be that noise? (_Rising._) Who be those coming here?

_Hild._ Peter, thou wilt keep this place?

_Pet._ Hildebrand! Hildebrand! Gregory! dost thou hear? Many cardinals and bishops come this way.

_Enter_ Cardinals, Bishops _and_ Lords.

_Card. Brunelli._ Your Holiness!

_Hild._ (_Rising suddenly and waving his hand imperiously._) Back! back! This ground be holy!

_Brunelli._ We be come, my Lord,--

_Hild._ Back! back! or fear my curse. Sully not These silent, dreamless ears with impious words Of earth’s ambitions, Church’s greed and curse. Desecrate not this peace with life’s mad riot. ’Tis dedicate to memories alone Of youth and innocence.

[_They fall back, he goes forward._

_Hild._ What be your will?

_Brunelli._ May it please your Holiness, we come from Rome.

_Hild._ I am Rome! And when these old walls crumble, Rome hath fallen, till another be built. ’Twill not be long.

_Pet._ Know lord Cardinals that the Holy Father Is indisposed. Complete your business.

_Hild._ Nay, not ill, but rather worn of life And its vexatious evils, foolish toils. Aye, lord Cardinals, weigh you my curse so heavy? That ye have came so far to crave my blessing?

_Brunelli._ We come, my Lord, to heal this cruel schism That rendeth Holy Church and maketh mock Of Peter’s chair, throughout all Christendom. Henry of Germany--

_Hild._ Silence! or I’ll forget the Church’s good, And curse her Cardinal. Name me not that monster, Save in anathema. Look on me Brunelli, And these poor hands wherein life’s blood runs cold, So that they scarce can lift in Church’s blessing; Look on my face and see Death written there, In plainest charactry. Yet know proud Cardinals, I still am Peter till my latest breath.

(_He staggers._ PETER _catches him in his arms_.)

_Pet._ Great God, he dies. Help! help! lord Cardinals, help! The greatest soul in Europe passeth now.

_Hild._ (_Staggers to his feet._) I am going Damiani, heard you sounds Of rustling pinions? Did you know a presence That darkened all the horizon with its wings? Nay, I can stand alone. Unhand me, Peter! Lord Cardinals and Prelates to your knees! Take you my blessing, ’tis my latest hour! [_All kneel._ All ye who have been true to Holy Church. Take my last blessing. All who have been false, Take ye my--Catherine! Catherine! O my God! (_Dies._)

[_Curtain._

Transcriber’s Notes

“But in my +lonlier+ moments” changed to “But in my +lonelier+ moments” on page 3.

Removed hyphen from “+To-Happy+-go-luck-to-morrow” to give “+To Happy+-go-luck-to-morrow” on page 16 to agree with earlier usage.

“but +withold+ thy pity” changed to “but +withhold+ thy pity” on page 33.

“thou +forgetest+ the tourney” changed to “thou +forgettest+ the tourney” on page 42.

“clown, +’Tis+ the mode” changed to “clown, +’tis+ the mode” on page 43.

“I tell thee I +wont+” changed to “I tell thee I +won’t+” on page 61.

“+siezes+ her wrist” changed to “+Seizes+ her wrist” on page 71.

“+Tis+ treason, damnable treason” changed to “+’Tis+ treason, damnable treason” on page 73.

“but +tis+ plain” changed to “but +’tis+ plain” on page 73.

“+Tis+ just King” changed to “+’Tis+ just King” on page 73.

“I slew thee +not,+” changed to “I slew thee +not.+” on page 76.

“Oh! +tis+ thou!” changed to “Oh! +’tis+ thou!” on page 76.

“+tis+ thou sweet Unid” changed to “+’tis+ thou sweet Unid” on page 76.

“drunken rabble ye +poluted+” changed to “drunken rabble ye +polluted+” on page 81.

“+we+ be much affrighted” changed to “+We+ be much affrighted” on page 82.

“+Tis+ true, King” changed to “+’Tis+ true, King” on page 83.

“pay his +brother’s+ spirits” changed to “pay his +brothers’+ spirits” on page 87.

“my +brother’s+ spirits call” changed to “my +brothers’+ spirits call” on page 89.

“I leave thee +fillial+ keeper” changed to “I leave thee +filial+ keeper” on page 89.

“in the outward +mein+” changed to “in the outward +mien+” on page 90.

“Gwaine’s +vengence+ waits him” changed to “Gwaine’s +vengeance+ waits him” on page 99.

“That +prophecies+ our end” changed to “That +prophesies+ our end” on page 104.

“This +week+ unseemliness” changed to “This +weak+ unseemliness” on page 116.

“Enter +Margarat+ eagerly” changed to “Enter +Margaret+ eagerly” on page 120.

“unto a +monastry+” changed to “unto a +monastery+” on page 124.

“Powers to +lose+ and bind” changed to “Powers to +loose+ and bind” on page 129.

“Of +benifice+, and giveth” changed to “Of +benefice+, and giveth” on page 129.

“ye back to your +monastry+” changed to “ye back to your +monastery+” on page 135.

“track thee to thy +monastry+” changed to “track thee to thy +monastery+” on page 136.

“dare +polute+ thy state” changed to “dare +pollute+ thy state” on page 136.

“I’ll harry those +villians+ out” changed to “I’ll harry those +villains+ out” on page 139.

“Who strikes at that +Strikes+ me” changed to “Who strikes at that +strikes+ me” on page 146.

Acute and grave accents used inconsistently, such as “this +damnéd+ court” and “this +damnèd+ business”, have not been changed.

End of Project Gutenberg's Mordred and Hildebrand, by William Wilfred Campbell