Chapter 4

hermitage and a rustic tomb, with various pieces of armour scattered near it, "Victoria" is engraved on it; a river is in the background._

Orsino _stands on a rock which overhangs the river_.

_Orsi._ Yes thou art lovely World! That blue-robed sky; These giant rocks, their forms grotesque and awful Reflected on the calm stream's lucid mirror; These reverend oaks, through which (their rustling leaves Dancing and twinkling in the sunbeams) light Now gleams, now disappears, while yon fierce torrent, Tumbling from crag to crag with measured dash, Makes to the ear strange music: World, oh! World! Who sees thee such must needs confess thee fair! Who knows thee not must needs suppose thee good.

[_With a sudden burst of indignation_]

But I have tried thee, World! know all these beauties Mere shows and snares; know thee a gilded serpent, A flowery bank whose sweets smile o'er a pitfall; A splendid prison, precious tomb, fair palace, Whose golden domes allure poor wanderers in, And when they've entered, crush them! Such I know thee And, knowing, loath thy charms! Rise, rise, ye storms! Mingle ye elements! Flash lightnings, flash! Unmask this witch! blast her pernicious beauty! And show me Nature as she is, a monster! --I'll look no more! Oh! my torn heart! Victoria! My son! Oh God! My son! Lost! lost! both lost! [_Leaning against the tomb._

_Enter_ Alfonso, Inis, _and Attendants_.

_Inis._ This is the hermit's cave; and see, my liege, Orsino's self.

_Alfon._ [_Starting back._] No, no, that living spectre Is not my gallant friend. I seek in vain The full cheek's healthful glow, the eye of fire, The martial mein, proud gait, and limbs Herculean! Oh! is that deathlike form indeed Orsino?

_Orsi._ Never to see them more! never, no never! Wife, child, joy, hope, all gone!

_Alfon._ That voice! Oh! Heaven, Too well I know that voice!--How grief has changed him! I'll speak, yet dread----Retire [Inis, _&c. withdraw_.] Look up Orsino.

_Orsi._ Discovered?

[_Seizing a lance which rests against the cavern, and putting himself in a posture of defence_]

Wretch, thy life--[_Staggering back._] Strengthen me, heaven! 'Tis he? the king himself!

_Alfon._ [_Offering to take his hand._] Thy friend!

_Orsi._ [_Recovering himself, and drawing back his hand._] Friend! Friend!---- I've none!-- [_Coldly._]

_Alfon._ Orsino.

_Orsi._ Never had but one, And he--! Sir, though a king, you'd shrink to hear How that friend used me!

_Alfon._ Hear me speak, in pity!

_Orsi._ What need of words? I'm found, I'm in your power, And you may torture me e'en how you list. Where are your chains? these are the self-same arms Which bore them ten long years, nor doubt their weighing Heavy as ever! These same eyes, which bathed So oft with bitterest tears your dungeon-grate, Have streams not yet exhausted! and these lips Can still with shrieks make the Black Tower re-echo, Which heard my voice so long in frantic anguish Rave of my wife and child, and curse Alfonso! Lead on, Sir! I'm your prisoner!

_Alfon._ Not for worlds Would I but harm one hair of thine!--Nay, hear me! And learn, most wronged Orsino, thy clear innocence Is now well known to all.

_Orsi._ Ay? Nay, I care not Who thinks me innocent! I know myself so-- Was this your business, Sir? 'Tis done! Farewell.

_Alfon._ Oh! part not from me thus! I fain would say----

_Orsi._ What?

_Alfon._ I have wronged thee!----

_Orsi._ [_Sternly_] True!

_Alfon._ Deeply, most deeply! But wounding thine, hurt my own heart no less, Where none has filled thy place: 'tis thine, still thine-- And if my court----

_Orsi._ What should I there? No, no, Sir! Sorrow has crazed my wits; long cramped by fetters My arm sinks powerless; and my wasted limbs, Palsied by dungeon-damps, would bend and totter Beneath yon armour's weight, once borne so lightly! Then what should I at court? I cannot head Your troops, nor guide your councils; leave me, leave me, You cannot use me further!

_Alfon._ Oh! I must, And to a most dear service--my heart bleeds, And needs a friend! Be but that friend once more! Be to me what thou wert, (and that was all things!) Forgive my faults, forget thy injuries----

_Orsi._ [_Passionately._] Never!

_Alfon._ That to Alfonso? That to him whose friendship----

_Orsi._ Peace, peace! You felt no friendship! felt no flame, Steady and strong!--Yours was a vain light vapour, A boyish fancy, a caprice, a habit, A bond you wearied of, and gladly seized A lame pretext to break. Did not my heart From earliest youth lie naked to your eyes? Knew you not every comer, nerve, turn, twist on't? And could you still suspect----? No, no! You wished To find me false, or must have known me true.

_Alfon._ You wrong me, on my life! So fine, so skilful The snare was spread----I knew not----

_Orsi._ Knew not? Knew not? Thou knew'st I was Orsino! Knowing that, Thou should'st have known, I never could be guilty.

_Alfon._ Proofs seemed so strong----

_Orsi._ And had I none to prove My innocence? these deep-hewn scars received While fighting in your cause, were these no proofs? Your life twice saved by me! your very breath My gift! your crown oft rescued by my valour! Were these no proofs! My every word, thought, action, My spotless life, my rank, my pride, my honour, And, more than all, the love I ever bore thee, Were these no proofs?--Oh! they had been conviction In a friend's eyes, though they were none in thine!

_Alfon._ Your pride? 'twas that undid me! your reserve, Your silence----

_Orsi._ What! Should I have stooped to chase Your brawling lawyers through their flaws and quibbles? To bear the sneers of saucy questioners-- Their jests, their lies--and, when they termed me villain, Calmly to cry--"Good Sirs, I'm none!"--No, no: I heard myself called traitor--saw you calmly Hear me so called, nor strike the speaker dead! Then why defend myself? What hope was left me? Truth lost its value, since you thought me false! Speech had been vain, since your heart spoke not for me.

_Alfon._ And it _did_ speak----Spite of the law's decision, My love preserved your life----

_Orsi._ Oh! bounteous favour! Oh! vast munificence! which, giving life, Robbed me of every gem which made life precious! Where is my wife? Distracted at my loss, Sunk to her cold grave with a broken heart? Where is my son? Or dead through want, or wandering A friendless outcast! Where that health, that vigour, Those iron nerves, once mine?--King, ask your dungeons!

_Alfon._ Oh! spare me!

_Orsi._ Give me these again, wife, son, Health, strength, and ten most precious years of manhood, And I'll perhaps forgive thee: till then, never!

_Alfon._ What could I do? thy son had been to me Dear as my own, had not Victoria's pride, Scorning all aid----

_Orsi._ 'Twas right!

_Alfon._ She fled, concealed Herself and child----had it on me depended---- I cannot speak----My heart----Oh! yet have mercy, Think I had other duties than a friend's---- Alas! I was a king!

_Orsi._ And are one still---- Have still your wealth, and pomp, and pride, and power, And herd of cringing courtiers--still have children---- I had but one, and him I lost through thee. I, I have nothing! Yon rude cave my palace, These rocks my court, the wolf my fit companion-- Lost all life's blessings, wife, son, health! Oh! nothing Is left me, save the right to hate that man Who made me what I am!--And would'st thou rob me E'en of this last poor pleasure? Go Sir! go, Regain your court; resume your pomp and splendour! Drink deep of luxury's cup! be gay, be flattered, Pampered and proud, and, if thou canst, be happy. I'll to my cave, and curse thee!

_Alfon._ Stay, Orsino! If ever friendship warmed, or pity melted Thy heart, I charge thee----

_Orsi._ Pity? In thy dungeons, Sir, I forgot the meaning of that word. For ten long years no gentle accents soothed me, No tears with mine were mixed--no bosom sighed That anguish tortured mine! King, king, thou know'st not, How solitude makes the soul stern and savage!

_Alfon._ Yet were thy soul than adamantine rocks More hard, these deep-drawn sighs----

_Orsi._ My wife's last groan Rings in my ear, and drowns them.

_Alfon._ And these tears Might touch thy heart----

_Orsi._ My heart is dead, King! dead! 'Tis yonder buried in Victoria's Grave!

_Alfon._ Could prayers, unfeigned remorse, ceaseless affection, And influence as my own unbounded----

_Orsi._ Hold! I'll try thee, and make two demands! But first, Swear by all hopes of happiness hereafter, And Heaven's best gift on earth, thine angel-daughter, Whate'er I ask shall be fulfilled.

_Alfon._ I swear! And Heaven so treat my prayers, as I shall thine.

_Orsi._ 'Tis well: now mark, and keep thine oath. My first Request is--Leave me instantly! my second, Ne'er let me see thee more.--Thou hast heard, begone! [_Exit into the cave._

_Alfon._ 'Tis well, proud man,--Alas! my heart's too humbled To chide e'en him who spurns it.

_Inis._ Nay my liege, Despair not----Sure the princess.

_Alfon._ Right, I'll seek her; To her he owes his freedom, and her prayers Shall win me back this dear obdurate heart Oh! did he know how sweet 'tis to forgive, And raise the wounded soul, which, crushed and humbled Sinks in the dust, and owns that it has erred: To quench all wrath, and cancel all offences, Sure he would need no motive but self love.

[_Exeunt._