Chapter 145

_The mountains by moonlight. ALHADRA alone in a Moorish dress._

_Alhadra._ Yon hanging woods, that touch'd by autumn seem As they were blossoming hues of fire and gold The flower-like woods, most lovely in decay, The many clouds, the sea, the rock, the sands. Lie in the silent moonshine: and the owl, 5 (Strange! very strange!) the screech-owl only wakes! Sole voice, sole eye of all this world of beauty! Unless, perhaps, she sing her screeching song To a herd of wolves, that skulk athirst for blood. Why such a thing am I?--Where are these men? 10 I need the sympathy of human faces, To beat away this deep contempt for all things, Which quenches my revenge. O! would to Alla, The raven, or the sea-mew, were appointed To bring me food! or rather that my soul 15 Could drink in life from the universal air! It were a lot divine in some small skiff Along some Ocean's boundless solitude, To float for ever with a careless course. And think myself the only being alive! 20

My children!--Isidore's children!--Son of Valdez, This hath new strung mine arm. Thou coward tyrant! To stupify a woman's heart with anguish Till she forgot--even that she was a mother!

[_She fixes her eye on the earth. Then drop in one after another, from different parts of the stage, a considerable number of_ Morescoes, _all in Moorish garments and Moorish armour. They form a circle at a distance round ALHADRA, and remain silent till NAOMI enters_.

_Naomi._ Woman! May Alla and the Prophet bless thee! 25 We have obeyed thy call. Where is our chief? And why didst thou enjoin these Moorish garments?

_Alhadra (raising her eyes, and looking round on the circle)._ Warriors of Mahomet! faithful in the battle! My countrymen! Come ye prepared to work An honourable deed? And would ye work it 30 In the slave's garb? Curse on those Christian robes! They are spell-blasted: and whoever wears them, His arm shrinks wither'd, his heart melts away, And his bones soften.

_Naomi._ Where is Isidore?

_Alhadra._ This night I went from forth my house, and left 35 His children all asleep: and he was living! And I return'd and found them still asleep, But he had perished----

_All Morescoes._ Perished?

_Alhadra._ He had perished! Sleep on, poor babes! not one of you doth know That he is fatherless--a desolate orphan! 40 Why should we wake them? Can an infant's arm Revenge his murder?

_One Moresco (to another)._ Did she say his murder?

_Naomi._ Murder? Not murdered?

_Alhadra._ Murdered by a Christian!

[_They all at once draw their sabres._

_Alhadra (to Naomi, who advances from the circle)._ Brother of Zagri! fling away thy sword; This is thy chieftain's! [_He steps forward to take it._ Dost thou dare receive it? 45 For I have sworn by Alla and the Prophet, No tear shall dim these eyes, this woman's heart Shall heave no groan, till I have seen that sword Wet with the life-blood of the son of Valdez! [_A pause._ Ordonio was your chieftain's murderer! 50

_Naomi._ He dies, by Alla!

_All (kneeling)._ By Alla!

_Alhadra._ This night your chieftain armed himself, And hurried from me. But I followed him At distance, till I saw him enter--there!

_Naomi._ The cavern?

_Alhadra._ Yes, the mouth of yonder cavern 55 After a while I saw the son of Valdez Rush by with flaring torch; he likewise entered. There was another and a longer pause; And once, methought I heard the clash of swords! And soon the son of Valdez re-appeared: 60 He flung his torch towards the moon in sport, And seemed as he were mirthful! I stood listening, Impatient for the footsteps of my husband!

_Naomi._ Thou called'st him?

_Alhadra._ I crept into the cavern-- 'Twas dark and very silent. What said'st thou? 65 No! no! I did not dare call, Isidore, Lest I should hear no answer! A brief while, Belike, I lost all thought and memory Of that for which I came! After that pause, O Heaven! I heard a groan, and followed it: 70 And yet another groan, which guided me Into a strange recess--and there was light, A hideous light! his torch lay on the ground; Its flame burnt dimly o'er a chasm's brink: I spake; and whilst I spake, a feeble groan 75 Came from that chasm! it was his last! his death-groan!

_Naomi._ Comfort her, Alla!

_Alhadra._ I stood in unimaginable trance And agony that cannot be remembered, Listening with horrid hope to hear a groan! 80 But I had heard his last: my husband's death-groan!

_Naomi._ Haste! let us onward.

_Alhadra._ I looked far down the pit-- My sight was bounded by a jutting fragment: And it was stained with blood. Then first I shrieked, My eye-balls burnt, my brain grew hot as fire, 85 And all the hanging drops of the wet roof Turned into blood--I saw them turn to blood! And I was leaping wildly down the chasm, When on the farther brink I saw his sword, And it said, Vengeance!--Curses on my tongue! 90 The moon hath moved in Heaven, and I am here, And he hath not had vengeance! Isidore! Spirit of Isidore! thy murderer lives! Away! away!

_All._ Away! away!

[_She rushes off, all following her._

LINENOTES:

[1-24] om. Edition 1.

[Before 25]

_The mountains by moonlight. ALHADRA alone in a Moorish dress; her eye fixed on the earth. Then drop in one after another, from different parts of the stage, a considerable number of Morescoes, all in Moorish garments. They form a circle at a distance round ALHADRA._

_A Moresco, NAOMI, advances from out the circle._

_Naomi._ Woman! may Alla, &c.

Edition 1.

Stage-direction after 24 [_She fixes . . . and remain silent till the Second in Command, NAOMI, enters, distinguished by his dress and armour, and by the silent obeisance paid to him on his entrance by the other_ Moors. Editions 2, 3, 1829.

[Before 28] _Alhadra (lifting up eyes, and looking, &c.)._ Edition 1.

[35] _Alhadra (in a deep low voice)._ Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

[54] _there_ Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

[65]

'Twas dark and very silent. [_Then wildly._

Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

[72] _light_ Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

[After 77] _All._ Haste, let us seek the murderer. Edition 1.