Chapter 3

[_Shouts heard without._]

_Enter_ Caesario [_a general's staff in his hand_] _followed by_ Henriquez, _citizens and soldiers_.

_Caesa._ Thanks, worthy friends! No further!--Pleased I hear These shouts, which thank me for Alfonso's safety! But though _my_ arms have quelled the Moors, your love Alone can shield him from a foe more dangerous, From his proud rebel son!--Farewell, assured I live but for your use!

_First Citi._ Long live Caesario!

_Sec. Citi._ Long live the conqueror of the Moors!

_All._ Huzza! [_Exeunt._

_Manent_ Caesario _and_ Henriquez.

_Caesa._ Kind friends, farewell!--Ay, shout, ye brawlers, shout! Pour out unmeaning praise till the skies ring! 'Twill school your deep-toned throats to roar tomorrow, --"Long live Caesario! Sovereign of Castile!"-- Mark you, Henriquez, how the royal dotard Hung on my neck, termed me his kingdom's angel, His friend, his saviour, his----Oh! my tongue burned To thunder in his startled ear----"The man Who raised this war, and fired your son's ambition, Your daughter's husband, and your mortal foe, That man am I!"----

_Hen._ Then absence has not cooled, It seems, your hatred----

_Caesa._ Could'st thou think it? thou, Who know'st a secret to all else unknown! Know'st me no stranger-youth, no chance-adventurer, Whose sword's his fortune, as Castile believes me; But one of mightiest views and proudest hopes, Galled by injustice, panting for revenge, Son of a hero! wronged Orsino's son!

_Hen._ Yet might your wealth and power--yon general's staff-- Alfonso's countless favours----

_Caesa._ Favours? Insults! Curses when proffered by a hand I hate! Bright seems ambition to my eye, and sure To reign is glorious; yet such fixed aversion I bear this man, and such my thirst for vengeance, I would not sell his head, once in my power, Though the price tendered were the crown that decks it! Yet that, too, shortly shall be mine!--Say, Marquis, How speeds our plot?

_Hen._ 'Tis ripe: beneath his chambers The vaults are ours, the sleeping fires disposed; The mine waits but your word.

_Caesa._ Tonight it springs then, And hurls my foe in burning clouds to heaven-- O! rapturous sight!

_Hen._ And can that sight give rapture Which wrings with anguish Amelrosa's bosom? She loves her father----

_Caesa._ Loves she not her husband?

_Hen._ She'll hate him, when she knows----

_Caesa._ She ne'er shall know it! All shall be held her rebel brother's deed; And while contending passions shake the rabble, (Grief for the sire, resentment 'gainst the son; And pity for the princess) forth I'll step, Avow our marriage, claim the crown her right, And, when she mounts the throne, ascend it with her.

_Hen._ Oh! she will drown that bloody throne with tears! And should she learn who bade them flow----

_Caesa._ Say on----

_Hen._ She'll loath you!

_Caesa._ [_With a scornful smile_] She'll forgive me.

_Hen._ Never, never! I know the princess; know a daughter's love, A daughter's grief----

_Caesa._ And are not daughters women? By nature tender, trustful, kind, and fickle, Prone to forgive, and practised in forgetting? Let the fair things but rave their hour at ease, And weep their fill, and wring their pretty hands, Faint between whiles, and swear by every saint They'll never, never, never see you more! Then when the larum's hushed, profess repentance, Say a few kind false words, drop a few tears, Force a fond kiss or two, and all's forgiven. Away! I know her sex!

_Hen._ But know not her! Her heart will bleed; and can you wound that heart, Yet swear you love her?

_Caesa._ Dearly, fiercely love her; But not so fiercely as I loath this king!-- Hatred of him, cherished from youth, is now My second nature! 'tis the air I breathe, The stream which fills my veins, my life's chief source, My food, my drink, my sleep, warmth, health and vigour, Mixed with my blood, and twisted round my heart-strings! To cease to hate him, I must cease to breathe!-- Never to know one hour's repose or pleasure While loathed Alfonso lived,--such was my oath, Breathed on my broken-hearted mother's lips. She heard! her eyes flashed with new fire; she kissed me, Murmured Orsino's name, blessed it and died!-- That oath I'll keep!

_Enter_ Melchior.

_Caesa._ Melchior! why thus alarmed?

_Mel._ I've cause too good! our lives hang by a thread! Guzman is dying.

_Caesa._ and _Hen._ How?

_Mel._ Remorse already Hath wrung one secret from him; and I fear, The next fit brings our plot.

_Caesa._ Speed, speed, Henriquez! Place spies around his gate! guard every avenue! Mark every face that comes or goes--Away!

[_Exit_ Henriquez.

_Caesa._ I'll watch the king myself!

_Mel._ As yet he's safe. Soon as he parted from the troops, Alfonso, By Inis guided, tow'rds the forest sped, To seek and sooth his late-found friend Orsino.

_Caesa._ [_Starting_] Whom, whom? Orsino? what Orsino? speak.

_Mel._ The count San Lucar, long thought dead, but saved. It seems, by Amelrosa's care--Time presses---- I must away: farewell.

_Caesa._ At one, remember-- Beneath the royal tower----

_Mel._ Fear not my failing.

_Caesa._ [_Alone_] He lives! My father lives! Oh, let but vengeance Fire him to spurn Alfonso and his friendship. His martial fame the memory of his virtues, His talents, rank, and sufferings undeserved---- Oh! what a noble column to support My new-raised power! [_Going._]

_Enter_ Ottilia. [_Veiled._]

_Otti._ Caesario, stay!

_Caesa._ Forgive me, Fair lady, if my speech appears ungentle; Such business calls----

_Otti._ [_Unveiling_] Than mine there's none more urgent.

_Caesa._ Ottilia!

_Otti._ Need I say what brings me hither?

_Caesa._ Those angry eyes too plainly speak, that still Estella.

_Otti._ She? Dissembler! fiend?--Peace, peace; I come not here to rave, but to command. You love the Princess, are beloved again---- Speak not! She saw this scarf; her tears, her anguish Betrayed her secret. Yes, you love the Princess! But, while I breathe, if e'er her hand is yours, Strike me dead, lightnings!

_Caesa._ Hear me!

_Otti._ Look on this [_showing a paper_.]

_Caesa._ 'Tis Guzman's hand.

_Otti._ He bade me to the king Bear it with other papers; but my prudence, For mine own purposes, kept back the scroll. Lo! here a full confession of your plots-- The mine described--the vault--the hour--the signal-- What troops are gained--the list of sworn confederates-- And foremost in the list here stands Caesario!

_Caesa._ Confusion!

_Otti._ Nay, 'tis so! Now mark me, youth! Either mine hand at midnight as my husband's Clasps thine, or gives this paper to Alfonso! Prepare a friar--at Juan's chapel meet me At midnight, or the king----

_Caesa._ You rave, Ottilia! While Guzman lives.

_Otti._ Young man, his hours are counted: Three scarce are his--Last night I drugged the bowl In which he drank a farewell to the world. Ay, ay, 'tis true! thou'rt mine! With blood I've bought thee! Nothing now parts us but the grave,--and there, E'en there I'll claim thee!--If tonight thou com'st not--

_Caesa._ I will, by heaven!

_Otti._ Nay, fail at your own peril---- Your life is in my power! my breath can blast you! Choose, then, Caesario, 'twixt thy bane and bliss-- Love or a grave! a kingdom or a scaffold! My arms or death's--By yonder sun I swear, Ere morning dawns, thou shalt be mine or nothing! [_Exit._

_Caesa._ Is't so?--Thy blood then on thy head--This paper-- ----This female fiend--the scarf too!--I must straight Appease the princess--some well-varnished tale ----Some glib excuse--Oh! hateful task! Oh, Truth! How my soul longs once more to join thy train, Tear off the mask, and show me as I am! The wretch for life immur'd; the Christian slave Of Pagan lords; or he whose bloody sweat Speeds the fleet galley o'er the sparkling waves, Bears easy toil, light chains, and pleasant bondage, Weighed with thy service, Falsehood! Still to smile On those we loath; to teach the lips a lesson Smooth, sweet, and false; to watch the tell-tale eye, Fashion each feature, sift each honest word That swells upon the tongue, and fear to find A traitor in one's self--By heaven, I know No toil, no curse, no slavery, like dissembling!

[_Exit._