good But none of all their kin are yet return'd, “ Aur. Talk not of disappointment: be No, nor shall ever. assured Ter. Still run thy thoughts upon those Some late intelligence does Ulrick prompt hapless women To these stern orders. On our seas there Of that small hamlet, whose advent'rous sails, peasants Or soon will sail, some vessel which, right To Palestine with noble Baldwin went, gladly, And ne'er were heard of more ? He would permit to founder on the coast, Aur. They perish'd there, and of their Or miss its course. But no ; it will not dismal fate ibe : No trace remain'd-none of them all re. In spite of all his hatred, to the shore, turn'd. Through seas as dark as subterraneous Didst thou not say so?-Husbands, lovers, night, It will arrive in safety." All the dialogue is full of exquisite Aur. Thou but believest then ? touches- bold strokes of nature like Ter. As I was told. these. As, for example, what can be Ed. Thou hast the story wrong. more beautiful than these lines-yet we Four years gone by, one did return again; do not remember to have seen them But marr’d, and maim'd, and changed—a quoted ? woful man. Aur. And what though every limb were " Aur. Well, taunt me as thou wilt, hack'd and maim'd, I'll worship still And roughen'd o'er with scars ?--he did the blessed morrow, storehouse of all return. [Rising lightly from her sent. For wretched folks. They who lament toI would a pilgrimage to Iceland go, day To the Antipodes or burning zone, May then rejoice ; they who in misery To see that man who did return again, bend And her who did receive him.-Did re E'en to ibe earth, be then in honour robed. ceive him ! 0! who shall reckon what its brighten'd Oh! what a moving thought lurks here ! hours How was't? May of returning joy contain ? To-morTell it me all :-and oh! another time row ! Give me your tale ungarbled.” The blest to morrow! Cheering, kind to morrow! Ulrick, the Lord of the Isle, loves He were a heathen not to worship thee !". Aurora ; and, impatient of her inex Her soul is up, and she says to tinguishable Hope, has threatened to Terentia that night to quench the TerentiaBeacon. On being told of that threat. “Ah! be not stern. Edda will sing the the spirit of Aurora leaps up-and she song indignantly cries That makes feet beat and heads nod to its tune; " He does! Then will we have And even grave Terentia will be moved A noble fire. This night our lofty blaze To think of pleasant things." Shall through the darkness shoot full many [Edda sings. a league Its streamy rays, like to a bearded star, Preceding changeful-ay, and better times. “ Wish'd-for gales the light vane veering, It may, in very truth. O, if his bark Better dreams the dull night cheering; (For many a bark within its widen'd Lighter heart the morning greeting, reach Things of better omen meeting ; The dark seas traverse) should its light Eyes each passing stranger watching, descry Ears each feeble rumour catching, Should this be so-it may-perhaps it Say he existeth still on earthly ground, The absent will return, the long, long lost O, that it might !-- We'll have a rousing be found. blaze. Give me your hands." “ In the tower the ward-bell ringing, In the court the carols singing; Terentia, as well she might, mildly Busy hands the gay board dressing, rebukes such wild fancies--and warns Eager steps the threshold pressing, her against the aggravated sharpness Open'd arms in haste advancing, of disappointment. Joyful looks through blind tears glancing; SONG. will. The gladsome bounding of his aged hound, Aur. Lamented he shall be ; but from Say he in truth is here-our long, long lost my care is found. Dismiss d as are the dead – that is impos sible. “ Hymned thanks and bedesmen praying, T«. Nay, listen to advice so wise and With sheathed sword the urchin playing ; needful! Blazon'd hall with torches burning, It is the friend of Ermingard who says, Cheerful morn in peace returning; Let him within tiiy mind be as the dead. Converse sweet that strangely borrows Aur. My heart repels the thought : it Present bliss from former sorrows, cannot be. O who can tell each blessed sight and sound, No; till his corse bereft of life is found; That says, he with us bides, our long, long Till this is sworn, and proved, and witlost is found.” nessd to me, . Meanwhile, the Holy Legate, on his Within my breast he shall be living still. Ter. Wilt thou get vainly watch night way to Rome, has been driven on the after night Isle, and a noble stranger in his train to To guide his bark who never will return ? solicits an interview with Aurora-as A ur. Who never will return! And the friend of Ermingard. Their meet. thinkest thou ing is such as Joanna alone could have to bear me down with such presumptuous conceived-and after a while Aurora words? says: Heaven makes me strong against thee. “ Aur. Bade thee! is he then at hand ? There is a Power above that calms the storm; Gar. Ah, would he were! Restrains the mighty; gives the dead to 'Twas in a hostile and a distant land, Jife :He did commit to me these precious to • I will in bumble faith my watch still keep; kens, Torce only shall restrain me. Desiring me to give them to Aurora, Gar. Force never shall, thou noble, And with them too, his sad and last fare. ardent spirit ! well. Aur. And he is dead ! Thy gen'rous confidence would almost tempt me Gar. Nay, wring not thus your hands : To think it will be justified. He was alive and well when he intrusted Aur. Ha! say'st thou so? A blessing me rest upon thee With what I now return. For these most cheering words! Some [Offering her a small casket. guardian power Aur. Alive and well, and sends me back Whispers within thee, No; we'll not my tokens ! despair." Gar. He sent them back to thee as Ul. rick's wife; Night descends, and the Beacon For such, forced by intelligence from blazes—and Bastiani, a friend of Ul. hence rick's, and of Aurora's too, enters, sayOf strong authority, he did believe thee: ing to the fishermenAnd in that fatal fight, which shortly follow'd, “ A boat near to the shore, He fought for death as shrewdly as for In a most perilous state, calls for assistfame. ance : Fame he indeed hath earn'd. Who is like thee, good Stephen, bold and Aur. But not the other? skilful ? Ah do not say he has ! Amongst the slain Haste to its aid if there be pity in thee, His body was not found. Or any Christian grace. I will, meanGar. As we have learnt, the Knights time, of blest St John Thy Beacon watch, and, should the lady Did from the field of dying and of wounded come, Many convey, who in their house of cha Excuse thy absence. rity Here is, indeed, a splendid, noble fire, All care and solace bad; but with the Left me in ward. It makes the darkness Dames, round, Recorded as within their walls received, To its' fierce light opposed, 'seem thick and His is not found; therefore we must ac palpable, count him And closed o'er head, like to the pitchy cope With those, who, shrouded in an unknown Of some vast cavern. fate, Enter AURORA, TERENTIA, and VIOLA. Are as the dead lamented, as the dead, Viol. A rousing light! Good Stę. For ever from our worldly care dismiss'd. phen hath full weil Obey'd your earnest bidding.–Fays and Bast. 'Tis true, fair Lady: I have witches been, ere now, Might round its blaze their midnight re- Where such a warning light, sent from velry the shore, Right fitly keep. Had saved some precious lives; which Ter. Aye; thou loy'st makes the task wilds and darkness, I now fulfil more grateful. And fire and storms, and things un- Aur. How many leagues from shore sooth and strange : may such a light This suits thee well. Methinks, in gaz- By the benighted mariner be seen? ing on it, Bast. Some six or so: he will descry Thy face a witch-like eagerness assumes. it faintly, Viol. I'll be a goblin then, and round Like a small star, or hermit's taper, it dance. peering Did not Aurora say we thus should hold From some caved rock that brows the This nightly vigil. Yea, such were her dreary waste; words. Or like the lamp of some lone lazar. Aur. They were light bubbles of some house, mantling thought, Which through the silent night the That now is flat and spiritless; and yet, traveller spies If thou art so inclined, ask not my Upon his doubtful way. leave, [As th y begin to occupy themselves Dance if thou wilt. with the fire, the sound of distant Viol. Nay, not alone, sweet sooth! voices, singing in harmony, is heard Witches themselves, some fiend-like under the stage as if asc nding the partners find. cliff. Viol. The songs of paradise, night Aur. (eagerly.) A crested figure! So ill agree with peaceful soothing Where? bliss. Ter. No blessed spirits in these evil Hymn, through the stilly darkness, Aur. Aye, 'tis Bastiani : strains of grace. 'Tis he, or any one ; 'tis ever thus; Aur. Nay, list; it comes again. So is my fancy mock d. [Voices heard nearer. Bast. If I offend you, madam, 'tis Ter. The mingled sound comes nearunwillingly. er, and betrays Stephen has for a while gone to the Voices of mortal men. beach Viol. In such sweet harmony ! To help some fishermen, who, as I I never heard the like. guess, Aur. They must be good and holy Against the tide would force their boat who can utter to land. Such heavenly sounds. He'll soon return; meantime, I did en. Bast. I've surely heard before treat him This solemn chorus chanted by the To let me watch his Beacon. Pardon me; knights, I had not else intruded; though full oft The holy brothers of Jerusalem. I've clamber'd o'er these cliffs, even at It is a carol sung by them full oft, this hour, When saved from peril dire of flood or To see the ocean from its sabled breast field. The flickering gleam of these bright Aur. The Knights of blest St John fames return. from Palestine! Aur. Make no excuse, I pray thee. I Alas! why feel I thus ? knowing too am told . well By good Terentia thou dost wish me They cannot bring the tidings I would . well, hear, Though Ulrick long has been thy friend. [Chorus rises again very near. I know Viol. List, list! they've gaind the A wanderer on the seas in early youth summit of the cliff: Thou wast, and still canst feel for all They are at hand; their voices are disstorm-toss'd tinct; On that rude element. . Yea, even the words they sing. [A solemn Song or Hymn, sung in For in that battle he right nobly foughts harmony, heard without. And may, belike, wot of the friend you Men preserved from storm and tide mention'd. And fire and battle raging wide; Aur. (going up eagerly to the young What shall subdue our steady faith, Knight.) Did'st thou there fight! Or of our heads a hair shall skathe? then surely thou didst know Men preserved, in gladness weeping, The noble Ermingard, who from this Praise him, who hath alway our souls in isle With valiant Conrad went:holy keeping What fate had he upon that dismal day? And whereso'er, in earth or sea, Young Kt. Whate er his fate in that Our spot of rest at last shall be; fell fight might be, Our swords, in many a glorious field, He now is as the dead. Surviving heroes still shall wield, Aur. Is as the dead! ha! then he is While we our faithful toils are reaping not dead: With him, who hath alway our souls in He's living still. O tell me—tell me this! holy keeping. Say he is still alive; and though he breathe [Enter six Knights of St John of Je. In the In the foul pest-house; though a wretchrusalem in procession, with th ir fola ed wand rer, lowers behind them, who don't ad Wounded and maim'd; yea, though his vance upon the stage, but remain noble form partly concealed behind the rocks. With chains and stripes and slav'ry be Aur. Speak to them, Bastiani; thou'rt disgraced, a soldier; Say he is living still, and I will bless thee. Thy mind is more composed.-I pray thee Thou know'st-full well thou know'st, do. but wilt not speak. [Motioning Bast. to accost them. What means that heavy groan ? For love Bast. This Lady, noble warriors, greets of God, speak to me! you all, [Tears the mantle from his face, with And offers you such hospitality which he had concealed it. Thy very living self restored again! Er. Ah! call st thou this restored? lost, my found ! so to me? I'm lost: ing to the cross on his mantle.) love: Our bliss is wreck'd for ever. If this be so, you can, perhaps, inform A ur. No; thou art still alive, and that me is bliss, Of one who in the battle fought, whose Few moments since, what would I not fate is still unknown. have sacrificed, 1st Knight. None of us all, fair Dame, To know that, in the lapse of many so honour'd were years, As in that field to be, save this young I should again behold thee ?-I had knight. beenSir Bertram, wherefore in thy mantle How strongly art thou moved !- Thou lapt, beed'st me not. Stand'st thou so far behind! Speak to Ter. (to AUR.) Were it not better he him, Lady: should leave this spot ? Let me conduct him to my quiet bower. Aur. Nay, say not so: thou still art Rest and retirement may compose his mine. Short while mind. I would have given my whole of life besides Aur. Aye, thou art right, Terentia. To've seen but once again thy passing · Ermingard alive--Aurora is happy form Thy face-thine eyes turn’d on me for a as an angel in heaven ; but Ermin moment ; gard is distracted—and a little page Or only to have heard through the still air who had overheard him-asks Gar. Thy voice distinctly call me, or the sound cia Of thy known steps upon my lonely floor : " Do folks groan heaviest when they are And shall I then, holding thy living hand alone ?" In love and honour, bay, thou art not mine? Ermingard and Aurora meet again Erm. (shaking his head) This statein the apartment of Terentia; and this sacred badge! only a woman — and that woman Aur. O no! that holy cross upon thy Joanna Baillie-or might we say breast Caroline Bowles Southey-could have Throws such a charm of valorous sanctity imagined in its perfect purity such a O'er thy loved form : my thoughts do forscene as this ward glance “ Erm. O cease! Thy words, thy voice, To deeds of such high fame by thee thy hand on mine, achieved, That touch so dearly felt, do but enhance That even methinks the bliss of wedded love An agony too great. Untoward fate! Less dear, less noble is than such strong Thus to have lost thee ! bonds Aur. Say not, thou hast As may, without reproach, unite us still. lost me. Erm. O creature of a gen'rous conHeaven will subdue our minds, and we stancy! shall still, Thou but the more distractest me!- Fool, With what is spared us from our wreck of fool! bliss, (Starting from his seat, and pacing Be happy. to and fro distractedly.) Erm. Most unblest, untoward fate! Mean, misbelieving fool!-I thought her After that hapless battle, where in vain false, I courted death, I kept my name conceal'd. Cred’lous alone of evil:- I have lost, Even brave De Villeneuve, master of our And have deserved to lose her. Order, Aur. Oh ! be not thus! Have I no When he received my vows, did pledge his power to sooth thee? faith See, good Terentia weeps, and fain would Not to declare it. Thus I kept myself From all communication with these shores, To speak thee comfort. Perversely forwarding my rival's will. Ter. (coming forward.) Aye ; bethink O blind and credulous fool! thee well, Aur. Nay, do not thus upbraid thyself: Most noble Ermingard, heaven grants thee Heaven will'd it. still Be not so keenly moved: there still is left All that is truly precious of her love, What to the soul is dear. We'll still be Her true and dear regard. happy. Erm. Then heaven forgive my black Erm. The chasten'd pilgrim o'er his ingratitude, lady's grave For I am most unthankful. Sweet tears may shed, and may without Ter. Nay, consider, reproach Her heart is thine: you are in mind united, Thoughts of his past love blend with Erm. United ! In the farthest nook o' thoughts of heaven. th' earth He whom the treach'ry of some faithless I may in lovely solitude reflect, maid That in some spot-some happier land she Hath robb'd of bliss, may, in the sturdy lives And thinks of me. Is this to be united ? Of a wrong'd man, the galling ill endure; Aur. I cannot, in a page's surtout clad, But sever'd thus from thee, so true, 80 Thy steps attend, as other maids have done noble, To other knights. By vows that all the soul's devotion claim, Erm. No, by the holy rood! It makes me feel-may God forgive the Thou can'st not, and thou should'st not. crime! Rather would I, A very batred of all saintly things. Dear as thou art, weep o'er thee in thy Fool-rash and credulous fool! to lose grave thee thus! Than sce thee so degraded. try pride |
