The Bride of Messina, and On the Use of the Chorus in Tragedy

 
   The beautiful forever hid, and shrinking
   From its own lustre: but thy spirit needs
   Repose, for aught of strange – e'en sudden joy —
   Is terror-fraught. I leave thee.
 

[Turning to the Chorus.

 
                     From this hour
   She is your mistress, and my bride; so teach her
   With honors due to entertain the pomp
   Of queenly state. I will return with speed,
   And lead her home as fits Messina's princess.
 

[He goes away.

BEATRICE and the Chorus.

Chorus (BOHEMUND)

 
      Fair maiden – hail to thee
       Thou lovely queen!
      Thine is the crown, and thine the victory!
      Of heroes to a distant age,
      The blooming mother thou shalt shine,
      Preserver of this kingly line.
 

(ROGER)

 
       And thrice I bid thee hail,
        Thou happy fair!
      Sent in auspicious hour to bless
      This favored race – the god's peculiar care.
      Here twine the immortal wreaths of fame
      And evermore, from sire to son,
      Rolls on the sceptered sway,
      To heirs of old renown, a race of deathless name!
 

(BOHEMUND)

 
      The household gods exultingly
       Thy coming wait;
      The ancient, honored sires,
       That on the portals frown sedate,
      Shall smile for thee!
      There blooming Hebe shall thy steps attend;
      And golden victory, that sits
      By Jove's eternal throne, with waving plumes
      For conquest ever spread,
      To welcome thee from heaven descend.
 

(ROGER.)

 
      Ne'er from this queenly, bright array
       The crown of beauty fades,
      Departing to the realms of day,
      Each to the next, as good and fair,
       Extends the zone of feminine grace,
        And veil of purity: —
       Oh, happy race!
        What vision glads my raptured eye!
      Equal in nature's blooming pride,
      I see the mother and the virgin bride.
 

BEATRICE (awaking from her reverie)

 
        Oh, luckless hour!
       Alas! ill-fated maid!
        Where shall I fly
        From these rude warlike men?
       Lost and betrayed!
        A shudder o'er me came,
      When of this race accursed – the brothers twain —
      Their hands embrued with kindred gore,
        I heard the dreaded name;
       Oft told, their strife and serpent hate
      With terror thrilled lay bosom's core: —
       And now – oh, hapless fate!
      I tremble, 'mid the rage of discord thrown,
      Deserted and alone!
 

[She runs into the alcove.

Chorus (BOHEMUND)

 
      Son of the immortal deities,
       And blest is he, the lord of power;
      His every joy the world can give;
      Of all that mortals prize
       He culls the flower.
 

(ROGER)

 
      For him from ocean's azure caves
      The diver bears each pearl of purest ray;
      Whate'er from nature's boundless field
      Or toil or art has won,
      Obsequious at his feet we lay;
      His choice is ever free;
      We bow to chance, and fortune's blind decree.
 

(BOHEMUND.)

 
      But this of princes' lot I deem
      The crowning treasure, joy supreme —
      Of love the triumph and the prize,
      The beauty, star of neighboring eyes!
      She blooms for him alone,
      He calls the fairest maid his own.
 

(ROGER)

 
      Armed for the deadly fray,
       The corsair bounds upon the strand,
      And drags, amid the gloom of night, away,
       The shrieking captive train,
      Of wild desires the hapless prey;
       But ne'er his lawless hands profane
      The gem – the peerless flower —
      Whose charms shall deck the Sultan's bower.
 

(BOHEMUND.)

 
      Now haste and watch, with curious eye,
       These hallowed precincts round,
      That no presumptuous foot come nigh
       The secret, solitary ground
      Guard well the maiden fair,
      Your chieftain's brightest jewel owns your care.
 

[The Chorus withdraws to the background.

[The scene changes to a chamber in the interior of the palace.

DONNA ISABELLA between DON MANUEL and DON CAESAR.

ISABELLA

 
   The long-expected, festal day is come,
   My children's hearts are twined in one, as thus
   I fold their hands. Oh, blissful hour, when first
   A mother dares to speak in nature's voice,
   And no rude presence checks the tide of love.
   The clang of arms affrights mine ear no more;
   And as the owls, ill-omened brood of night,
   From some old, shattered homestead's ruined walls,
   Their ancient reign, fly forth a dusky swarm,
   Darkening the cheerful day; when absent long,
   The dwellers home return with joyous shouts,
   To build the pile anew; so Hate departs
   With all his grisly train; pale Envy, scowling Malice,
   And hollow-eyed Suspicion; from our gates,
   Hoarse murmuring, to the realms of night; while Peace,
   By Concord and fair Friendship led along,
   Comes smiling in his place.
 

[She pauses.

 
                  But not alone
   This day of joy to each restores a brother;
   It brings a sister! Wonderstruck you gaze!
   Yet now the truth, in silence guarded long,
   Bursts from my soul. Attend! I have a daughter!
   A sister lives, ordained by heaven to bind ye
   With ties unknown before.
 

DON CAESAR

 
                 We have a sister!
   What hast thou said, my mother? never told
   Her being till this hour!
 

DON MANUEL

 
                 In childhood's years,
   Oft of a sister we have heard, untimely
   Snatched in her cradle by remorseless death;
   So ran the tale.
 

ISABELLA

 
            She lives!
 

DON CAESAR

 
                  And thou wert silent!
 

ISABELLA

 
   Hear how the seed was sown in early time,
   That now shall ripen to a joyful harvest.
   Ye bloomed in boyhood's tender age; e'en then
   By mutual, deadly hate, the bitter spring
   Of grief to this torn, anxious heart, dissevered;
   Oh, may your strife return no more! A vision,
   Strange and mysterious, in your father's breast
   Woke dire presage: it seemed that from his couch,
   With branches intertwined, two laurels grew,
   And in the midst a lily all in flames,
   That, catching swift the boughs and knotted stems,
   Burst forth with crackling rage, and o'er the house
   Spread in one mighty sea of fire: perplexed
   By this terrific dream, my husband sought
   An Arab, skilled to read the stars, and long
   The trusted oracle, whose counsels swayed
   His inmost purpose: thus the boding sage
   Spoke Fate's decrees: if I a daughter bore,
   Destruction to his sons and all his race
   From her should spring. Soon, by heaven's will, this child
   Of dreadful omen saw the light; your sire
   Commanded instant in the waves to throw
   The new-born innocent; a mother's love
   Prevailed, and, aided by a faithful servant,
   I snatched the babe from death.
 

DON CAESAR

 
                    Blest be the hands
   The ministers of thy care! Oh, ever rich
   Of counsels was a parent's love!
 

ISABELLA

 
                    But more
   Than Nature's mighty voice, a warning dream
   Impelled to save my child: while yet unborn
   She slumbered in my womb, sleeping I saw
   An infant, fair as of celestial kind,
   That played upon the grass; soon from the wood
   A lion rushed, and from his gory jaws,
   Caressing, in the infant's lap let fall
   His prey, new-caught; then through the air down swept
   An eagle, and with fond caress alike
   Dropped from his claws a trembling kid, and both
   Cowered at the infant's feet, a gentle pair.
   A monk, the saintly guide whose counsels poured
   In every earthly need, the balm of heaven
   Upon my troubled soul, my dream resolved.
   Thus spoke the man of God: a daughter, sent
   To knit the warring spirits of my sons
   In bonds of tender love, should recompense
   A mother's pains! Deep in my heart I treasured
   His words, and, reckless of the Pagan seer,
   Preserved the blessed child, ordained of heaven
   To still your growing strife; sweet pledge of hope
   And messenger of peace!
 

DON MANUEL (embracing his brother)

 
                There needs no sister
   To join our hearts; she shall but bind them closer.
 

ISABELLA

 
   In a lone spot obscure, by stranger hands
   Nurtured, the secret flower has grown; to me
   Denied the joy to mark each infant charm
   And opening grace from that sad hour of parting;
   These arms ne'er clasped my child again! her sire,
   To jealousy's corroding fears a prey,
   And brooding dark suspicion, restless tracked
   Each day my steps.
 

DON CAESAR

 
             Yet three months flown, my father
   Sleeps in the tranquil grave; say, whence delayed
   The joyous tidings? Why so long concealed
   The maid, nor earlier taught our hearts to glow
   With brother's love?
 

ISABELLA

 
              The cause, your frenzied hate,
   That raging unconfined, e'en on the tomb
   Of your scarce buried father, lit the flames
   Of mortal strife. What! could I throw my daughter
   Betwixt your gleaming blades? Or 'mid the storm
   Of passion would ye list a woman's counsels?
   Could she, sweet pledge of peace, of all our hopes
   The last and holy anchor, 'mid the rage
   Of discord find a home? Ye stand as brothers,
   So will I give a sister to your arms!
   The reconciling angel comes; each hour
   I wait my messenger's return; he leads her
   From her sequestered cell, to glad once more
   A mother's eyes.
 

DON MANUEL

 
            Nor her alone this day
   Thy arms shall fold; joy pours through all our gates;
   Soon shall the desolate halls be full, the seat
   Of every blooming grace. Now hear my secret:
   A sister thou hast given; to thee I bring
   A daughter; bless thy son! My heart has found
   Its lasting shrine: ere this day's sun has set
   Don Manuel to thy feet shall lead his bride,
   The partner of his days.
 

ISABELLA

 
                And to my breast
   With transport will I clasp the chosen maid
   That makes my first-born happy. Joy shall spring
   Where'er she treads, and every flower that blooms
   Around the path of life smile in her presence!
   May bliss reward the son, that for my brows
   Has twined the choicest wreath a mother wears.
 

DON CAESAR

 
   Yet give not all the fulness of thy blessing
   To him, thy eldest born. If love be blest,
   I, too, can give thee joy. I bring a daughter,
   Another flower for thy most treasured garland!
   The maid that in this ice-cold bosom first
   Awoke the rapturous flame! Ere yonder sun
   Declines, Don Caesar's bride shall call thee mother.
 

DON MANUEL

 
   Almighty Love! thou godlike power – for well
   We call thee sovereign of the breast! Thy sway
   Controls each warring element, and tunes
   To soft accord; naught lives but owns thy greatness.
   Lo! the rude soul that long defied thee melts
   At thy command!
 

[He embraces DON CAESAR.

 

 
            Now I can trust thy heart,
   And joyful strain thee to a brother's arms!
   I doubt thy faith no more, for thou canst love!
 

ISABELLA

 
   Thrice blest the day, when every gloomy care
   From my o'erlabored breast has flown. I see
   On steadfast columns reared our kingly race,
   And with contented spirit track the stream
   Of measureless time. In these deserted halls,
   Sad in my widow's veil, but yesterday
   Childless I roamed; and soon, in youthful charms
   Arrayed, three blooming daughters at my side
   Shall stand! Oh, happiest mother! Chief of women,
   In bliss supreme; can aught of earthly joy
   O'erbalance thine?
             But say, of royal stem,
   What maidens grace our isle? For ne'er my sons
   Would stoop to meaner brides.
 

DON MANUEL

 
                   Seek not to raise
   The veil that hides my bliss; another day
   Shall tell thee all. Enough – Don Manuel's bride
   Is worthy of thy son and thee.
 

ISABELLA

 
                   Thy sire
   Speaks in thy words; thus to himself retired
   Forever would he brood o'er counsels dark,
   And cloak his secret purpose; – your delay
   Be short, my son.
 

[Turning to DON CAESAR.

 
             But thou – some royal maid,
   Daughter of kings, hath stirred thy soul to love;
   So speak – her name —
 

DON CAESAR

 
              I have no art to veil
   My thoughts with mystery's garb – my spirit free
   And open as my brows; which thou wouldst know
   Concerned me never. What illumes above
   Heaven's flaming orb? Himself! On all the world
   He shines, and with his beaming glory tells
   From light he sprung: – in her pure eyes I gazed,
   I looked into her heart of hearts: – the brightness
   Revealed the pearl. Her race – her name – my mother,
   Ask not of me!
 

ISABELLA

 
           My son, explain thy words,
   For, like some voice divine, the sudden charm
   Has thralled thy soul: to deeds of rash emprise
   Thy nature prompted, not to fantasies
   Of boyish love: – tell me, what swayed thy choice?
 

DON CAESAR

 
   My choice? my mother! Is it choice when man
   Obeys the might of destiny, that brings
   The awful hour? I sought no beauteous bride,
   No fond delusion stirred my tranquil breast,
   Still as the house of death; for there, unsought,
   I found the treasure of my soul. Thou know'st
   That, heedless ever of the giddy race,
   I looked on beauty's charms with cold disdain,
   Nor deemed of womankind there lived another
   Like thee – whom my idolatrous fancy decked
   With heavenly graces: —
                'Twas the solemn rite
   Of my dead father's obsequies; we stood
   Amid the countless throng, with strange attire
   Hid from each other's glance; for thus ordained
   Thy thoughtful care lest with outbursting rage,
   E' en by the holy place unawed, our strife
   Should mar the funeral pomp.
                  With sable gauze
   The nave was all o'erhung; the altar round
   Stood twenty giant saints, uplifting each
   A torch; and in the midst reposed on high
   The coffin, with o'erspreading pall, that showed,
   In white, redemption's sign; – thereon were laid
   The staff of sovereignty, the princely crown,
   The golden spurs of knighthood, and the sword,
   With diamond-studded belt: —
                  And all was hushed
   In silent prayer, when from the lofty choir,
   Unseen, the pealing organ spoke, and loud
   From hundred voices burst the choral strain!
   Then, 'mid the tide of song, the coffin sank
   With the descending floor beneath, forever
   Down to the world below: – but, wide outspread
   Above the yawning grave, the pall upheld
   The gauds of earthly state, nor with the corpse
   To darkness fell; yet on the seraph wings
   Of harmony, the enfranchised spirit soared
   To heaven and mercy's throne:
                   Thus to thy thought,
   My mother, I have waked the scene anew,
   And say, if aught of passion in my breast
   Profaned the solemn hour; yet then the beams
   Of mighty love – so willed my guiding star —
   First lit my soul; but how it chanced, myself
   I ask in vain.
 

ISABELLA

 
           I would hear all; so end
   Thy tale.
 

DON CAESAR

 
         What brought her to my side, or whence
   She came, I know not: – from her presence quick
   Some secret all-pervading inward charm
   Awoke; 'twas not the magic of a smile,
   Nor playful Cupid in her cheeks, nor more,
   The form of peerless grace; – 'twas beauty's soul,
   The speaking virtue, modesty inborn,
   That as with magic spells, impalpable
   To sense, my being thralled. We breathed together
   The air of heaven: – enough! – no utterance asked
   Of words, our spiritual converse; – in my heart,
   Though strange, yet with familiar ties inwrought
   She seemed, and instant spake the thought – 'tis she!
   Or none that lives!
 

DON MANUEL (interposing with eagerness)

 
              That is the sacred fire
   From heaven! the spark of love – that on the soul
   Bursts like the lightning's flash, and mounts in flame,
   When kindred bosoms meet! No choice remains —
   Who shall resist? What mortal break the band
   That heaven has knit? Brother, my blissful fortune
   Was echoed in thy tale – well thou hast raised
   The veil that shadows yet my secret love.
 

ISABELLA

 
   Thus destiny has marked the wayward course
   Of my two sons: the mighty torrent sweeps
   Down from the precipice; with rage he wears
   His proper bed, nor heeds the channel traced
   By art and prudent care. So to the powers
   That darkly sway the fortunes of our house,
   Trembling I yield. One pledge of hope remains;
   Great as their birth – their noble souls.
 

ISABELLA, DON MANUEL, DON CAESAR.

DIEGO is seen at the door.

ISABELLA

 
                        But see,
   My faithful messenger returns. Come near me,
   Honest Diego. Quick! Where is she? Tell me,
   Where is my child? There is no secret here.
   Oh, speak! No longer from my eyes conceal her;
   Come! we are ready for the height of joy.
 

[She is about to lead him towards the door.

 
   What means this pause? Thou lingerest – thou art dumb —
   Thy looks are terror-fraught – a shudder creeps
   Through all my frame – declare thy tidings! – speak!
   Where is she? Where is Beatrice?
 

[She is about to rush from the chamber.

DON MANUEL (to himself abstractedly)

 
                     Beatrice!
 

DIEGO (holding back the PRINCESS)

 
                          Be still!
 

ISABELLA

 
   Where is she? Anguish tears my breast!
 

DIEGO

 
                        She comes not.
   I bring no daughter to thy arms.
 

ISABELLA

 
                    Declare
   Thy message! Speak! by all the saints!
   What has befallen?
 

DON MANUEL

 
             Where is my sister? Tell us,
   Thou harbinger of ill!
 

DIEGO

 
               The maid is stolen
   By corsairs! lost! Oh! that I ne'er had seen
   This day of woe!
 

DON MANUEL

 
            Compose thyself, my mother!
 

DON CAESAR

 
   Be calm; list all this tale.
 

DIEGO

 
                  At thy command
   I sought in haste the well-known path that leads
   To the old sanctuary: – joy winged my footsteps;
   The journey was my last!
 

DON CAESAR

 
                Be brief!
 

DON MANUEL

 
                      Proceed!
 

DIEGO

 
   Soon as I trod the convent's court – impatient —
   I ask – "Where is thy daughter?" Terror sate
   In every eye; and straight, with horror mute,
   I heard the worst.
 

[ISABELLA sinks, pale and trembling, upon a chair;

 

DON MANUEL is busied about her.

DON CAESAR

 
             Say'st thou by pirates stolen?
   Who saw the band? – what tongue relates the spoil?
 

DIEGO

 
   Not far a Moorish galley was descried,
   At anchor in the bay —
 

DON CAESAR

 
                The refuge oft
   From tempests' rage; where is the bark?
 

DIEGO

 
                        At down,
   With favoring breeze she stood to sea.
 

DON CAESAR

 
                       But never
   One prey contents the Moor; say, have they told
   Of other spoil?
 

DIEGO

 
            A herd that pastured near
   Was dragged away.
 

DON CAESAR

 
             Yet from the convent's bound
   How tear the maid unseen?
 

DIEGO

 
                 'Tis thought with ladders
   They scaled the wall.
 

DON CAESAR

 
               Thou knowest what jealous care
   Enshrines the bride of Heaven; scarce could their steps
   Invade the secret cells.
 

DIEGO

 
                Bound by no vows
   The maiden roved at will; oft would she seek
   Alone the garden's shade. Alas! this day,
   Ne'er to return!
 

DON CAESAR

 
            Saidst thou – the prize of corsairs?
   Perchance, at other bidding, she forsook
   The sheltering dome —
 

ISABELLA (rising suddenly)

 
               'Twas force! 'twas savage spoil!
   Ne'er has my child, reckless of honor's ties
   With vile seducer fled! My sons! Awake!
   I thought to give a sister to your arms;
   I ask a daughter from your swords! Arise!
   Avenge this wrong! To arms! Launch every ship!
   Scour all our coasts! From sea to sea pursue them!
   Oh, bring my daughter! haste!
 

DON CAESAR

 
                   Farewell – I fly
   To vengeance!
 

[He goes away.

[DON MANUEL arouses himself from a state of abstraction, and turns, with an air of agitation, to DIEGO.

DON MANUEL

 
           Speak! within the convent's walls
   When first unseen —
 

DIEGO

 
              This day at dawn.
 

DON MANUEL (to ISABELLA)

 
                       Her name
   Thou say'st is Beatrice?
 

ISABELLA

 
                No question! Fly!
 

DON MANUEL

 
   Yet tell me —
 

ISABELLA

 
           Haste! Begone! Why this delay?
   Follow thy brother.
 

DON MANUEL

 
              I conjure thee – speak —
 

ISABELLA (dragging him away)

 
   Behold my tears!
 

DON MANUEL

 
            Where was she hid? What region
   Concealed my sister?
 

ISABELLA

 
              Scarce from curious eyes
   In the deep bosom of the earth more safe
   My child had been!
 

DIEGO

 
             Oh! now a sudden horror
   Starts in my breast.
 

DON MANUEL

 
              What gives thee fear?
 

DIEGO

 
                          'Twas I
   That guiltless caused this woe!
 

ISABELLA

 
                    Unhappy man!
   What hast thou done?
 

DIEGO

 
              To spare thy mother's heart