Chapter 13

_Enter_ Henriquez _and_ Melchior.

_Mel._ And the grave council Fell blindfold in the snare?

_Hen._ They could not fail, So well Caesario spread it--With such art He told his tale, and in such glowing colours Painted Alfonso's worth, and his son's guilt, That all cried vengeance on the prince Don Pedro, And bade Caesario mount his forfeit throne.

_Mel._ And he, no doubt, obeyed?

_Hen._ In modest guise He owned his union with the princess gave him Some rights, but vowed, so heavy seemed its weight, He feared to wear a crown, so prayed them spare him: Till won by urgent prayer at length he yielded, And kindly deigned to be a king.

_Mel._ He's here, And Bazil with him.

_Enter_ Caesario, _father_ Bazil, _and attendants._

_Caesa._ (_Entering._) Bid her rest assured, Her king is her first subject. But, good father, How bears her health, this shock? Say, looks she pale? Does she e'er name----

_Bazil._ She bade me lead thee hither, And claimed my promise not to tell thee more. I'll warn her, thou art here. [_Going._]

_Caesa._ Say too, my heart Shares every pang of her's; that crowns are worthless Bought with her tears; that could my prayers my blood, Restore Alfonso's life----

_Bazil._ Hold!--On that subject What thou wouldst tell her, will come best from thee. [_Exit._

_Caesa._ Ha!--Meant he----No! Sure had he known my secret, The monk had canted 'gainst the guilt of treason, Thundering out saint-like curses!----Vile, vile chance, Which led the princess.--Yet what fear I now? She keeps my secret: then she loves me still, And, loving, must forgive me--Hark! I hear her. Now all ye powers of bland persuasion, shed Your honey on my lips. Come to my aid, Ye soft memorials of departed pleasures, Kind words, fond looks, sweet tears, and melting kisses! Sighs of compassion, drown her anger's voice! Smooth ye her frown, smiles of delight and love! Make her but mine once more, and this day crowns me Monarch of all my soul e'er wished from fate: Yes, in my wildest dreams I asked but this, "Love and revenge! A throne and Amelrosa!"-- Retire!--I dread to meet her.

[Henriquez &c. _Exeunt_.

Amelrosa _enters, pale, and leaning on father_ Bazil.--Estella, Inis, _and ladies follow weeping._

_Amel._ 'Tis enough, Good father, and one task performed, I'll meet That hour with joy, which seems to guilt so fearful. Leave me awhile: Anon, if time allows it, We'll talk again--Farewell, my friends.

_Inis._ [_Kneeling._] Oh! princess! Oh! royal victim!

_Amel._ Nay, be calm, my Inis. Pass a few years, and all had been as now, Perhaps far worse: Receive this kiss of pardon, And give it back in heaven!----Farewell!

[_Exeunt_ Estella &c.

_Manent_ Caesario _and_ Amelrosa.

_Caesa._ How grief Has changed her! Ah! how sunk her eyes! her cheeks How pale!--She comes!--How shall I bear her anguish!

_Amel._ Not to reproach, for that you sought a life, Which you well knew I prized above my own; Not to complain, that when my heart reposed On you for all its earthly joys, you broke it, I seek you now: but with true zeal I come To warn thee, yea with tears implore thee, turn From those most dangerous paths, which now thou tread'st. Oh! wake, my husband! Close thy guilty dream; Be just, be good! be what till how I thought thee! That when we part (as ere two hours me must) We may not part forever.

_Caesa._ How to answer, Or in what words excuse--Could my best blood Wash out thy knowledge of my fault.--

_Amel._ My knowledge? And say, on earth none knew it! say thy crime To eye of man were viewless as the winds, And secret as the laws which rule the dead: Could'st hide it from thyself?--Would not he know it, Whose knowledge more than all thou ought to dread, His, who knows all things?--Oh! short-sighted mortals! Oh! vain precautions! Oh! misjudging sense! Man thinks his secret safe, for no ear heard it! Man thinks his act unknown, for no eye saw it! But there was one above both saw and heard, When neither ear could hear, nor eye could----

_Caesa._ Thou lovely moralist! Oh! take me! school me! Mould thou my heart, and make it like thine own.

_Amel._ Dost thou speak thus?

_Caesa._ Be that one act forgiven, And prove----

_Amel._ Oh! that were light: As yet thou'rt guilty In thought alone. My father lives!

_Caesa._ Indeed!

_Amel._ He starts!--He feigned!--Oh! for heaven's love; my husband, Trifle not now! this hour is precious, precious! My soul is winged for heaven, and stays its flight, In hopes of teaching thine the way to follow: Let not its stay be vain! let my tears win thee, And turn from vice: Repent; be wise; be warned; For 'tis no idle voice that gives the warning; I speak it from the grave!

_Caesa._ The grave!

_Amel._ What fear'st thou? Why shudder at a name?--Oh! if thou needs Wilt tremble, tremble for thyself, not me. I die to live; thy death may be for ever! Short are my pangs; thy soul's may be eternal!

_Caesa._ Die? Die!--Each word--Each look--Dreadful suspicions. But no! it cannot, shall not be!

_Amel._ It shall not? As I've a soul, in one short hour, Caesario, That soul must kneel before the throne of God.

_Caesa._ Mean'st thou----

_Amel._ E'en so; I'm poisoned!

_Caesa._ Torture! madness! Within there!

_Re-enter father_ Bazil, Estella, &c.

_Caesa._ Help! Oh! help! The princess dies! I'll speed myself.----

_Amel._ [_Detaining him._] No, no, thou must not leave me: My hour of death is near, and thou must see it--

_Caesa._ Distraction!

_Amel._ Must observe, how calm the transit, How light the pain, how free death's cup from bitter, When virtue soothes, and hope exalts the soul, I've seen a sinner die; Last night I closed Ottilia's lids, and 'twas a night of horror! Each limb, each nerve was writhed by strange convulsions, Clenched were her teeth, her eye-balls fixed and glaring; She foamed, she raved, and her last words were curses!---- But look, Caesario!--I can die, and smile!

[_Sinks into_ Estella's _arms._

_Caesa._ [_In despair._] My life!--My soul!----

_Amel._ [_In a faint voice._] But while one moment's mine, By all thy vows of love, by those I breathed, And never broke through life, never, no, never, I charge thee, I conjure thee----

[_Starting suddenly forward._]

Powers of mercy, Whence this so glorious blaze?

_Caesa._ How her eyes sparkle!

_Amel._ Look, friends! Look, look!--My mother, my dead mother! Rich in new youth, and bright in lasting beauty! She floats in air; her limbs are clothed with light! Her angel-head is wreathed with Eden's roses! Heaven's splendours rove amid her golden locks, While her blest lips and radiant eyes pour round her Airs of delight and floods of placid glory! She moves!--She smiles!--She lifts her hand!--She beckons! World, fare thee well!--Mother, lead on!--I follow! [_Exit with_ Estella, &c.

_Caesa._ [_Alone._] My brain! my brain!--Oh! I ne'er knew till now, How well I loved her!--[_Following her._]

_Enter_ Henriquez.

_Hen._ Turn, Caesario, turn! We're lost! Alfonso lives; e'en now his troops Assail our walls.

_Caesa._ Confusion! is all hell Combined----

_Enter_ Melchior.

_Mel._ Betrayed, betrayed! The gates are opened; The townsmen join our foes; I saw the king First in the fight.----

_Caesa._ The king?--My brain is burning; I'll cool it with his blood.--Forth, forth, my sword: Forth, nor be sheathed till I return thee dyed With royal gore--Away!

[_Exeunt_ Henriquez, _and_ Melchior; Caesario _is following when_ Amelrosa _shrieks from within: he stops and remains motionless._]

_Amel._ [_Within._] Oh! mercy, mercy!

_Inis._ [_Within._] She dies!

_Estel._ [_Within._] Nay, hold her! hold her down!

_Amel._ [_Within._] Oh! Oh!

[_Solemn requiem chanted within._]

Peace to the parted saint! Pure soul, farewell!

[_The scene closes._]