Chapter 12

sanctuary._

_Enter_ Bernardo, St. Clair, _and two other monks._

[_Flourish of drums and trumpets without._

_Bern._ You hear! Soon the victorious foe will force our walls; for, can they long sustain the shock of such an host? Or if they could--for what? for whom? Are we agreed?

_St. Clair._ We are: in a just cause we would uphold our abbot's rights; but when such judges have prounounc'd her traitress, and such brave warriors will support that judgment, shall we, upon the word of one who will adduce no proof of innocence--we, the calm advocates of peace, not war--shall we devote our abbey and ourselves to ruin most inevitable?

_Bern._ No, haughty prelate! we will teach you now, that those who raised you to your splendid height, have still the power to humble and to crush you. And they who this night come to grace your installation, shall view their idol's downfall. Unbar the gates! (_the abbot appears in the aisle, unseen by the monks._) Give the prince palatine free entrance; and let the vengeance of the secret knights fall, as it ought, on those who have provoked it.

_Ab._ (_advancing hastily from the aisle._) Who's he dare utter such profane commands?

_Bern._ Bellarmin! I!--Unbar the gates!

_Ab._ Forbear! And think not, brothers, that I court this contest, or willingly involve ye in hard office. But we, who vested with bright mercy's power, can feel the bliss of sparing the unfortunate; shall we, when barbarism, mask'd by pious, plausible pretext, strikes at the growth of every liberal feeling; shall we forego our edict, or uphold it? I say, uphold it! And chiefly on one proof--Manfredi had no daughter! That charge I know to be most groundless.

_Bern._ You knew Manfredi then! (_abbot shows agitation._) He, our new oracle, proclaims he was no stranger to this murderer.

_Ab._ (_with suppressed indignation._) Murderer!

_Bern._ The worst of murderers! False to the man who raised him from low fortune--false to his patron, the brave prince Palatine!

_Ab._ To him!

_Bern._ To him! Who on his brother's, the late prince's death, anxious to see and guard that brother's child, then some leagues distant from the court, despatched Manfredi, as his trustiest friend to be the princess's escort; when, on the way, most artfully dismissing all her train, and mov'd not by the smile of infant innocence, mixing ingratitude with traitorous cruelty, this foe to virtue, but Bellarmin's friend, plung'd his fell poniard in Theresa's heart, and fled, and died the victim of despair.

_Ab._ Wert thou a winged messenger from Heaven, my father's spirit, nay, e'en fate itself! I'd tell you, vile detractor, it is false! false as _thy_ friend, the brave prince palatine! who fired by daring and ambitious views, besought Manfredi to remove the bar 'twixt him and sovereignty. Manfredi yielded to _protect_ his charge, and artfully dismissed the princess's train to bear her to a friendly foreign court; when galling, dire reverse! in a dark covert on the Danube's banks, outlaws affected what her foes desired--Theresa fell--(_speaking rapidly_)--A prey to grief and disappointed hope, Manfredi fled--Yon fell usurper gained the wish'd-for seat!

_Bern._ Usurper!

_Ab._ Fiend! coward! traitor! Who, to destroy Manfredi's evidence, sought his destruction;--who, by false statement and concurring circumstance, secur'd his triumph--who still comes forth to immolate more innocence! and Corbey's abbot is to share in the new sacrifice! No, though our order teaches resignation--yet teaching fortitude and love of virtue, my founder's spirit shall inspire my soul, and once more Charlemagne shall vanquish here!

_Bern._ Audacious, impious slanderer! Compare ennobled and established worth with such confirm'd disgrace--(_flourish of drums and trumpets, and noise of walls falling_)--They force the outworks! Instant aid their entrance! and hail the downfall of such perjured arrogance!

_St. Clair._ Come!

_Ab._ (_getting between them and the gates._) St. Clair! Bernardo! who once call'd me friend! and who, on sudden impulse, have drawn forth what I so long and anxiously kept secret, will you desert me at this awful moment? or, to the last contending for our abbey's rights, implore these warriors from the holy land, not to take arms against a sacred cause! She's wrong'd, she's innocent.

_Bern._ 'Tis false--most false!

_Enter_ Ravensburg.

_Rav._ My lord, all's lost! The savage and inveterate foe have storm'd the walls, and rush to glut their vengeance.

_Ab._ (_to Ravensburg apart._) And from your father! None--no hope?

_Rav._ None! He merely states, that dreading he might lose her, who'd supply a daughter's loss; and fearing to increase an orphan's grief, he cautiously concealed, how, one autumnal night some fourteen years ago, he saw upon the Danube's banks, an infant seemingly expiring. He snatch'd it--sav'd it! and what the mystery might solve, if now such mystery were worth solving--this scarf (_producing it_) encircled her.--(_Abbot takes the scarf with great eagerness._)--But all is past! and Agnes, dear lov'd Agnes, by the father saved, the son must instantly behold destroyed.

_Ab._ (_after having gazed on the scarf with the greatest emotion._) Eternal Providence! Theresa! princess! Oh, great God of Nature!--(_rushing into the sanctuary._)

_Rav._ Theresa!--Mighty heaven!

[_Flourish. The gates are forced._

_Enter the_ prince Palatine, free knights, Crusaders, _and_ soldiers.

_Prin._ First seize yon renegade! (_free knights seize Ravensburg_) next force the sanctuary!--(_free knights and soldiers enter the sanctuary by force_) and then no more on others shall her fate depend. This arm----(_knights and soldiers bring Agnes from the sanctuary to the front, all the characters following_)--Now, while all thoughts are deadened in my heated brain, but those of fury and revenge--thus treason falls, and the vile traitress dies. [_Seizing Agnes, and going to stab her with his sword._

_Ab._ (_behind the crowd._) Forbear! she is your rightful princess!

_Prin._ Merciful powers! who dare e'n breathe--

_Ab._ (_rushing through the crowd, and approaching the prince._) Here, in these hallowed aisles; here, in the face of Heaven, and of man, by all your hopes of future preservation, avow your treason, and your sovereign's wrongs, detested, treacherous, murderous villain!--(_prince much agitated._) See, guilt is on him! Now, ye who had no faith (_to the monks_) and ye who trample upon sacred rights (_to the free knights_) behold how sacred justice is displayed! There's the usurper, sinking with remorse, and here Manfredi, shedding tears of joy at his regain'd, belov'd Theresa's feet! [_The_ prince _lets his sword fall, and reclines on the arm of_ Walbourg. Ravensburg _flies to_ Agnes, _and takes her from the_ free knights. Abbot _kneels on one side of_ Agnes, Ravensburg _on the other._

_Rav._ Manfredi! Sovereign!

_Ab._ He knows it--knows, on her suppos'd decease, this hand inform'd him of Manfredi's motives--and that, disgusted with a sickening world, in calm retirement, he should seek for peace. He sought it here--and in Bellarmin's name, was here most safely sheltered! When, soon, the daring calumny spread wide, of "traitor"--of "assassin"--and the sad narrative perverted, confirm'd the perjur'd statement. You'll say I should have answered this? No--aware such influence, and such arts, would, with such judges, beat down humble truth, I kept immur'd! and my reported death checking inquiry, whilst the loud world sung forth the slanderer's praise, I could look inward, and exclaim, better forever undeserved disgrace, than hear applause the heart can never sanction!

_Ag._ My lord, (_to Ravensburg_) though lost in wonder and in joy, and now most certain he proclaim'd me as Manfredi's daughter, to give a colour to each cruel charge! yet can I see a fellow creature, torn with such convulsive agony!--Go--speak--console him.

_Ab._ (_to prince._) You hear!

_Prin._ I do! and if Manfredi had, like me, beheld her angel mother's form, the strong resemblance had betray'd the secret, and mad ambition had been sooner crush'd! I sue, I supplicate for death--life, life's the dreaded punishment for guilt like mine! Come--I implore ye!

_Ab._ 'Tis gone! 'tis vanished! and I, who hated and opposed, now feel my edict surpasses even royal rights! Monarchs may spare, yet also they must punish! By my prerogative, I can but pardon--be safe within these walls, till higher power determines on your fate. (_the prince is led up the stage._) Now hope we to fulfill a far more welcome office, the union of two hearts, that beat in unison, and that, and our forth-coming installation, past--(_music without_)--Hark! they come--the warfare o'er, the sons of peace approach.

_Rav._ (_looking out._) Oh! glorious, welcome sight! and let none say the days of darkness are returned, when such desert is crown'd with such reward. My lord, they enter--they expect you.

_Ab._ Why, ay; and if my princess will partake--She will, she will--and 'tis not there that I shall seek reward--'Tis here! 'tis here. (_taking the princess's hand._)

_Music._ [_Exeunt._

SCENES THE LAST.--_The installation, &c. All the characters discovered._

CHORUS.

Hail, hour of glory! Hail, hour of glory! Long o'er our hearts may our abbot sway! Fam'd in story, Long live this hallow'd and this happy day!

_Ab._ Be ever chronicled this blest event! And now my princess shall with me unite to root out secret subterraneous justice, and fixing it in fair and open day, unmask free knights, and hail the dawn of genuine freedom, and enlightened truth.

FINALE.

Now your lofty paeans raise, To our youthful princess' praise. Ne'er may such bless'd rulers sever-- May our princess live for ever!