Enter GASTON. Gast. My noble lord, 't were pity your sweet In this fair lady's chamber should be broken- Phil. Ha! a capitulation of this sort? Gast. Your noble prisoner offers his fair daughter, Phil. I swore that he should offer me his daughter! Besides, this man is craftier than you are- Phil. Promise the citizens whate'er they ask. Gast. Ay, ay, I'll promise them! I'faith, you know Performance is a very different matter! Phil. We shall not be so over-nice 'bout that! Gast. Poison or steel will make us sure of him! One atom of the power you have achieved, And steer you through the storm-but hear me on! In the great square, with such sad pomp of woe Of vengeance upon you, save you will promise Phil. What are you mumbling o'er? Let us away, I'll clasp my bride before the set of day! [They go out together. SCENE IV. Apartment in the tower— Ida and Bertha. Berth. Oh do not yield unto this bloody man— To meet the man who was so dear to me! Enter PHILIP, magnificently apparelled. Phil. Now do we meet without reproach or fear In this long document. [aside.] But I'll not show 't: Not as we parted, my own gentle Ida! Here they require "that felon-traitor, Gaston, To be brought to condign punishment for 's sins!" Ida. No, no, we do not meet as last we parted: Thou art not such as when we parted last That I must still oppose my father's will! Though thou wert poor, clothed but in humble weeds; I would have ta'en thee, spite the world's reproach. For how hast thou fulfilled this glorious vision — How been protector of the ignorant people? Hast thou not shed their blood? Outraged their That shall be tyrant o'er us! What's this Philip homes And led them up, like hungry, ravening wolves, To prey upon each other? Philip, Philip, Thou hast forgot thy holy enterprise To feed thine own revenge! Phil. Lest thou too tempt me to it! Ida. Name not revenge, Heaven be our shield- But I have done with tears; they moved not heaven, Thy tender mercies, like kind angels' wings, Thou shalt pour in sweet balm! 1st Man. "T was from a mangled corpse I took But where is Gaston? he, the ready tool that kerchief! Mother S. My son! my son! But back, tears, to Ha! here he comes! your source I will shed blood, not tears! Roland. Gast. Those ancient friends of his ? 2d Man. The general feeling Is clean against him now. They swear he gave Hans. And that he did! We're sure enough of Of one foe ere another takes the field! that! Phil. Thou hast access unto the tower. Go thou, 2d Man. Gaston, they say 's the very fiend himself— Poison or steel, use thou the surer means! All saw his horrid doings yesternight — O' troth, there is some riddle 'bout that man! Hans. And let whoever sins, 't is we are blamed for 't. Roland. Speak now of the condition of the city. 2d Man. There is no house that is not filled with mourning The richest citizens were killed i' th' tumult- And friends, and wives and husbands seek their dead, Mother S. All have their oaths of blood against that man! Man. The soldiers too are discontent, -'tis said A horrid massacre i' th' dead o' th' night Has cut off every prisoner. There is hope! Roland. 4th Man. I know it well; yet 't will be dangerous, More inaccessible from tumbled crags And fallen masonry than heretofore. Mother S. Our wrongs can force through rocks of adamant. Roland. "Twill suit our purpose; now let all disperse, And when eve comes we will again asemble. [They disperse severally. Gast. Nay, 't will be tenfold vengeance from thy hand. Phil. [feeling at his dagger.] "T is sharp and true, but do thou mix a cup Of subtle poison. I would liéfer that— My son! my son! hast thou decreed his death? Lord of M. Nay, do not tell me so. It is thou That counsellest my son to these bad deeds! And, but for her, thy father had been dead! Hence! hence! thou dost not know, for urgently Lord of M. While you stand dallying thus. Away, old man! [They go out together. After a short time re-enter PHILIP. I did not quail, nor did my heart upbraid me, But hark! What sounds are these-quick, coming Here, here, we miserably shall die by fire! Phil. Hence; draw the soldiers out, And man the walls. Strike every villain down That sets his foot within the castle gate. Gast. They fight with us for every inch of ground; They are within the walls- the place is fired; Accursed knaves, born for the gibbet-tree! Phil. [drawing his sword.] I'll teach them what cry of vengeance meaneth! the [He rushes out- Gaston follows him. A confused noise, and yelling cries are heard approaching, and a rabble force their way in, with torches in their hands. Man. Down with the billets! Here! here! Fire these hangings! [They hurl furniture into the middle of the gallery, tear down pictures and hangings, which they pile together and set fire to. Enter MOTHER SCHWARTZ, with other women, covered with dust and blood. Mother S. Spare not for fire! Now for a funeral pile, To celebrate, my son, thy memory! They shall say, this was for the woman's son! Out with ye, are ye plundering? Give me blood! He whom I seek is hence! Come, come with me! [She snatches up a firebrand and rushes out of the gallery; the women follow her, bearing off booty. The gallery is filled with smoke and flames. SCENE III. The small chamber in the tower- Ida and Bertha. Berth. Some new event is happening. May 't please heaven For our deliverance ! Ida. Those are the people's voices; The yelling cries of the triumphant rabble. And, mercy! those quick lights that through the darkness Shoot up to heaven are flames. The place is burning! Berth. [trying to force the door.] "Tis barred! 'tis doubly barred! There is no issue! Oh, Ida, vain thy prayer!- they have no mercy I do believe some power will save us yet! On earth there is no goodness! Some one comes! Of peril and alarm! Will you confide Ida. I know you, and will trust in you! Oh guide us Unto Lord Kronberg's cell! Where lies my father? [They wrap themselves in their cloaks and SCENE IV. -- Another part of the castle — citizens stand with Lord Kronberg's body on a bier. 1st Citizen. Name not his faults. I knew him when a boy; I was his favourite playmate; in those years 4th Citizen. Fair as an angel, full of truth and kindness— 5th Citizen. Haste, haste! the way is clear! The contest thickens About the northern tower. O woful night- [They proceed. Enter the LORD OF MAINE conducting IDA and BERTHA. Lord of M. [hastily retreating.] Ah, not this way! No, no! a moment's pause. [Aside.] Yon is a sight that must not meet their eyes! Citizens re-enter with the body. 1st Citizen. It shall not be exposed unto dishonour! Seek out a guard, and stand around the bier! [Soldiers rush in] Ho! soldiers, will ye not defend the dead? Soldier. We fight for Philip of Maine, not for the dead! Ida. The dead, said ye? Is good Lord Kronberg dead? Speak to me, some kind soul, for I 'm his daughter! 1st Soldier. [aside.] She doth unman me! 2d Soldier. [aside.] "Tis a noble lady! [Ida perceives the bier, and walks slowly towards it. Lies the dead here? Soldiers and citizens, Alas! 't is even so! 1st Citizen. Ida. "T was a sad voice that told me he was free; The freedom of the grave ah, woful freedom! [She slowly uncovers the face of the dead, gazes upon it, and becomes deadly pale. Citizen. Dear, innocent soul! Soldier. Ida. I never looked upon the dead till now- He met his mortal foe, but in the cell Of the deep dungeon: a fierce, cruel foe! bier? Ida. Would he had known your loyalty and goodness! To the Cathedral- 't is a holy place; [The bier is borne forward; and Ida, SCENE V. Past midnight-outside the castle wall- the castle is burning-the roof has fallen in, and immense volumes of flame, wrapped round the towers, pierce through the blackness of the ascending smoke like fiery Alps -hundreds of people are seen rushing to and fro; some driven back by soldiers, others carrying off booty-wild shouts and yells of triumph are heard amid the roar of the flames and the crashing fall of huge piles of buildings. Enter PHILIP and GASTON. Gast. 'Tis vain to struggle more! Fire is the victor. Phil. Now, draw the soldiers back, and leave the pile To those accursed plunderers. Ere the morn,. Gast. As thou wilt "T is a retrieveless game. Thy sun has setThe star of thy ascendancy has fallen! Phil. Hast not intelligible words!-Speak plain! Gast. I'll speak it plain enough!—Lord Kronberg heads The burghers even now! Phil. Peace, liar! he is dead! Gast. But being dead, is honoured more than living His daughter hath made speeches o'er the body; Gast. An old man has betrayed thee; even thy father Better by far he had died upon the gibbet! Phil. Thou cockatrice-thou stabber of the wounded! Gast. Ha ha! you have some pretty names by heart! [aside.] I knew that this would gall him! Phil. Unkind friend I trusted unto thee my soul's best secrets; I did believe thee not the worldly spirit That stabs the bleeding heart-then jeering asks How is it with you now?"-The cruellest blow Of my most cruel fortune has been this! Gast. Nay, take 't not so to heart! I would but urge thee はい To try thy fortune against mighty odds, And conquer fate! |