Part 13 (1/2)

Still in its dark recess fanatic sin Abases to the ground his tangled hair, And servile scourges and reluctant groans Roll o'er the vault uninterruptedly, Till, such the natural stillness of the place The very tear upon the damps below Drops audible, and the heart's throb replies.

There is the idol maid of Christian creed, And taller images, whose history I know not, nor inquired--a scene of blood, Of resignation amid mortal pangs, And other things, exceeding all belief.

Hither the aged Opas of Seville Walked slowly, and behind him was a man Barefooted, bruised, dejected, comfortless, In sackcloth; the white ashes on his head Dropped as he smote his breast; he gathered up, Replaced them all, groaned deeply, looked to heaven, And held them, like a treasure, with clasped hands.

EGI. Oh! was Roderigo so abased?

MUZA. 'Twas he.

Now, Egilona, judge between your friends And enemies; behold what wretches brought The king, thy lord, Roderigo, to disgrace.

EGI. He merited--but not from them--from me This, and much worse: had I inflicted it, I had rejoiced--at what I ill endure.

MUZA. For thee, for thee alone, we wished him here, But other hands released him -

ABD. With what aim Will soon appear to those discerning eyes.

EGI. I pray thee, tell what pa.s.sed until that hour.

ABD. Few words, and indistinct; repentant sobs Filled the whole s.p.a.ce, the taper in his hand, Lighting two small dim lamps before the altar, He gave to Opas; at the idol's feet He laid his crown, and wiped his tears away: The crown reverts not, but the tears return.

EGI. Yes, Abdalazis! soon, abundantly.

If he had only called upon my name, Seeking my pardon ere he looked to heaven's, I could have--no! he thought not once on me!

Never shall he find peace or confidence; I will rely on fortune and on thee, Nor fear my future lot: sure, Abdalazis, A fall so great can never happen twice, Nor man again be faithless, like Roderigo.

ABD. Faithless he may be still, never so faithless.

Fainter must be the charms, remote the days, When memory and dread example die, When love and terror thrill the heart no more, And Egilona is herself forgotten.

FIFTH ACT: FOURTH SCENE.

JULIAN enters.

TAR. Turn, and behold him! who is now confounded?

Ye who awaited him, where are ye? speak.

Is some close comet blazing o'er your tents?

Muza! Abdalazis! princes, conquerors, Summon, interrogate, command, condemn.

MUZA. Justly, Don Julian--but respect for rank Allays resentment, nor interrogates Without due form--justly may we accuse This absence from our councils, from our camp: This loneliness in which we still remain Who come invited to redress your wrongs.

Where is the king?

JUL. The people must decide.

MUZA. Imperfectly, I hope, I understand Those words, unworthy of thy birth and age.

JUL. O chieftain, such have been our Gothic laws.

MUZA. Who then amid such turbulence is safe?

JUL. He who observes them: 'tis no turbulence, It violates no peace: 'tis surely worth A voice, a breath of air, thus to create By their high will the man, formed after them In their own image, vested with their power, To whom they trust their freedom and their lives.

MUZA. They trust! the people! G.o.d a.s.signs the charge: Kings open but the book of destiny And read their names, all that remains for them The mystic hand from time to time reveals.