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

 
   One anxious pang, my mistress, I concealed
   What now my lips shall tell: 'twas on the day
   When thy dead husband in the silent tomb
   Was laid; from every side the unnumbered throng
   Pressed eager to the solemn rites; thy daughter —
   For e'en amid the cloistered shade was noised
   The funeral pomp, urged me, with ceaseless prayers,
   To lead her to the festival of Death.
   In evil hour I gave consent; and, shrouded
   In sable weeds of mourning, she surveyed
   Her father's obsequies. With keen reproach
   My bosom tells (for through the veil her charms
   Resistless shone), 'twas there, perchance, the spoiler
   Lurked to betray.
 

DON MANUEL (to himself)

 
             Thrice happy words! I live!
   It was another!
 

ISABELLA (to DIEGO)

 
            Faithless! Ill betide
   Thy treacherous age!
 

DIEGO

 
              Oh, never have I strayed
   From duty's path! My mistress, in her prayers
   I heard the voice of Nature; thus from Heaven
   Ordained, – methought, the secret impulse moves
   Of kindred blood, to hallow with her tears
   A father's grave: the tender office owned
   Thy servant's care, and thus with good intent
   I wrought but ill.
 

DON MANUEL (to himself)

 
             Why stand I thus a prey
   To torturing fears! No longer will I bear
   The dread suspense – I will know all!
 

DON CAESAR (who returns)

 
                       Forgive me,
   I follow thee.
 

DON MANUEL

 
           Away! Let no man follow.
 

[Exit.

DON CAESAR (looking after him in surprise)

 
   What means my brother? Speak —
 

ISABELLA

 
                    In wonder lost
   I gaze; some mystery lurks —
 

DON CAESAR

 
                  Thou mark'st, my mother,
   My quick return; with eager zeal I flew
   At thy command, nor asked one trace to guide
   My footsteps to thy daughter. Whence was torn
   Thy treasure? Say, what cloistered solitude
   Enshrined the beauteous maid?
 

ISABELLA

 
                   'Tis consecrate
   To St. Cecilia; deep in forest shades,
   Beyond the woody ridge that slowly climbs
   Toward's Etna's towering throne, it seems a refuge
   Of parted souls!
 

DON CAESAR

 
            Have courage, trust thy sons;
   She shall be thine, though with unwearied quest
   O'er every land and sea I track her presence
   To earth's extremest bounds: one thought alone
   Disturbs, – in stranger hands my timorous bride
   Waits my return; to thy protecting arms
   I give the pledge of all my joy! She comes;
   Soon on her faithful bosom thou shalt rest
   In sweet oblivion of thy cares.
 

[Exit.

ISABELLA

 
   When will the ancient curse be stilled that weighs
   Upon our house? Some mocking demon sports
   With every new-formed hope, nor envious leaves
   One hour of joy. So near the haven smiled —
   So smooth the treacherous main – secure I deemed
   My happiness: the storm was lulled; and bright
   In evening's lustre gleamed the sunny shore!
   Then through the placid air the tempest sweeps,
   And bears me to the roaring surge again!
 

[She goes into the interior of the palace, followed by DIEGO.

The Scene changes to the Garden.

Both Choruses, afterwards BEATRICE.

The Chorus of DON MANUEL enters in solemn procession, adorned with garlands, and bearing the bridal ornaments above mentioned. The Chorus of DON CAESAR opposes their entrance.

First Chorus (CAJETAN)

 
   Begone!
 

Second Chorus (BOHEMUND)

 
       Not at thy bidding!
 

CAJETAN

 
                  Seest thou not
   Thy presence irks?
 

BOHEMUND

 
             Thou hast it, then, the longer!
 

CAJETAN

 
   My place is here! What arm repels me?
 

BOHEMUND,

 
                       Mine!
 

CAJETAN

 
   Don Manuel sent me hither.
 

BOHEMUND

 
                 I obey
   My Lord Don Caesar.
 

CAJETAN

 
              To the eldest born
   Thy master reverence owes.
 

BOHEMUND

 
                 The world belongs
   To him that wins!
 

CAJETAN

 
             Unmannered knave, give place!
 

BOHEMUND

 
   Our swords be measured first!
 

CAJETAN

 
                   I find thee ever
   A serpent in my path.
 

BOHEMUND

 
               Where'er I list
   Thus will I meet thee!
 

CAJETAN

 
               Say, why cam'st thou hither
   To spy? —
 

BOHEMUND

 
         And thou to question and command?
 

CAJETAN

 
   To parley I disdain!
 

BOHEMUND

 
              Too much I grace thee
   By words!
 

CAJETAN

 
         Thy hot, impetuous youth should bow
   To reverend age.
 

BOHEMUND

 
            Older thou art – not braver.
 

BEATRICE (rushing from her place of concealment)

 
   Alas! What mean these warlike men?
 

CAJETAN (to BOHEMUND)

 
                      I heed not
   Thy threats and lofty mien.
 

BOHEMUND

 
                  I serve a master
   Better than thine.
 

BEATRICE

 
             Alas! Should he appear!
 

CAJETAN

 
   Thou liest! Don Manuel thousandfold excels.
 

BOHEMUND

 
   In every strife the wreath of victory decks
   Don Caesar's brows!
 

BEATRICE

 
              Now he will come! Already
   The hour is past!
 

CAJETAN

 
             'Tis peace, or thou shouldst know
   My vengeance!
 

BOHEMUND

 
           Fear, not peace, thy arm refrains.
 

BEATRICE

 
   Oh! Were he thousand miles remote!
 

CAJETAN

 
                      Thy looks
   But move my scorn; the compact I obey.
 

BOHEMUND

 
   The coward's ready shield!
 

CAJETAN

 
                 Come on! I follow.
 

BOHEMUND

 
   To arms!
 

BEATRICE (in the greatest agitation)

 
        Their falchions gleam – the strife begins!
   Ye heavenly powers, his steps refrain! Some snare
   Throw round his feet, that in this hour of dread
   He come not: all ye angels, late implored
   To give him to my arms, reverse my prayers;
   Far, far from hence convey the loved one!
 

[She runs into the alcove. At the moment when the two Choruses are about to engage, DON MANUEL appears.

 

DON MANUEL, the Chorus.

DON MANUEL

 
   What do I see!
 

First Chorus to the Second (CAJETAN, BERENGAR, MANFRED)

 
           Come on! Come on!
 

Second Chorus (BOHEMUND, ROGER, HIPPOLYTE)

 
                     Down with them!
 

DON MANUEL (stepping between them with drawn sword)

 
   Hold!
 

CAJETAN

 
       'Tis the prince!
 

BOHEMUND

 
                Be still!
 

DON MANUEL

 
                     I stretch him dead
   Upon this verdant turf that with one glance
   Of scorn prolongs the strife, or threats his foe!
   Why rage ye thus? What maddening fiend impels
   To blow the flames of ancient hate anew,
   Forever reconciled? Say, who began
   The conflict? Speak —
 

First Chorus (CAJETAN, BERENGAR)

 
               My prince, we stood —
 

Second Chorus (ROGER, BOHEMUND) interrupting them

 
                           They came
 

DON MANUEL (to the First Chorus)

 
   Speak thou!
 

First Chorus (CAJETAN)

 
          With wreaths adorned, in festal train,
   We bore the bridal gifts; no thought of ill
   Disturbed our peaceful way; composed forever
   With holy pledge of love we deemed your strife,
   And trusting came; when here in rude array
   Of arms encamped they stood, and loud defied us!
 

DON MANUEL

 
   Slave! Is no refuge safe? Shall discord thus
   Profane the bower of virgin innocence,
   The home of sanctity and peace?
 

[To the Second Chorus.

 
                    Retire —
   Your warlike presence ill beseems; away!
   I would be private.
 

[They hesitate.

 
              In your master's name
   I give command; our souls are one, our lips
   Declare each other's thoughts; begone!
 

[To the First Chorus.

 
                       Remain!
   And guard the entrance.
 

BOHEMUND

 
                So! What next? Our masters
   Are reconciled; that's plain; and less he wins
   Of thanks than peril, that with busy zeal
   In princely quarrel stirs; for when of strife
   His mightiness aweary feels, of guilt
   He throws the red-dyed mantle unconcerned
   On his poor follower's luckless head, and stands
   Arrayed in virtue's robes! So let them end
   E'en as they will their brawls, I hold it best
   That we obey.
 

[Exit Second Chorus. The first withdraws to the back of the stage; at the same moment BEATRICE rushes forward, and throws herself into DON MANUEL'S arms.

BEATRICE

 
           'Tis thou! Ah! cruel one,
   Again I see thee – clasp thee – long appalled,
   To thousand ills a prey, trembling I languish
   For thy return: no more – in thy loved arms
   I am at peace, nor think of dangers past,
   Thy breast my shield from every threatening harm.
   Quick! Let us fly! they see us not! – away!
   Nor lose the moment.
              Ha! Thy looks affright me!
   Thy sullen, cold reserve! Thou tear'st thyself
   Impatient from my circling arms, I know thee
   No more! Is this Don Manuel? My beloved?
   My husband?
 

DON MANUEL

 
          Beatrice!
 

BEATRICE

 
               No words! The moment
   Is precious! Haste.
 

DON MANUEL

 
              Yet tell me —
 

BEATRICE

 
                      Quick! Away!
   Ere those fierce men return.
 

DON MANUEL

 
                  Be calm, for naught
   Shall trouble thee of ill.
 

BEATRICE

 
                 Oh, fly! alas,
   Thou know'st them not!
 

DON MANUEL

 
               Protected by this arm
   Canst thou fear aught?
 

BEATRICE

 
               Oh, trust me; mighty men
   Are here!
 

DON MANUEL

 
         Beloved! mightier none than I!
 

BEATRICE

 
   And wouldst thou brave this warlike host alone?
 

DON MANUEL

 
   Alone! the men thou fear'st —
 

BEATRICE

 
                   Thou know'st them not,
   Nor whom they serve.
 

DON MANUEL

 
              Myself! I am their lord!
 

BEATRICE

 
   Thou art – a shudder creeps through all my frame!
 

DON MANUEL

 
   Far other than I seemed; learn at last
   To know me, Beatrice. Not the poor knight
   Am I, the stranger and unknown, that loving
   Taught thee to love; but what I am – my race —
   My power —
 

BEATRICE

 
         And art thou not Don Manuel? Speak —
   Who art thou?
 

DON MANUEL

 
           Chief of all that bear the name,
   I am Don Manuel, Prince of Messina!
 

BEATRICE

 
   Art thou Don Manuel, Don Caesar's brother?
 

DON MANUEL

 
   Don Caesar is my brother.
 

BEATRICE

 
                 Is thy brother!
 

DON MANUEL

 
   What means this terror? Know'st thou, then, Don Caesar?
   None other of my race?
 

BEATRICE

 
               Art thou Don Manuel,
   That with thy brother liv'st in bitter strife
   Of long inveterate hate?
 

DON MANUEL

 
                This very sun
   Smiled on our glad accord! Yes, we are brothers!
   Brothers in heart!
 

BEATRICE

 
             And reconciled? This day?
 

DON MANUEL

 
   What stirs this wild disorder? Hast thou known
   Aught but our name? Say, hast thou told me all?
   Is there no secret? Hast thou naught concealed?
   Nothing disguised?
 

BEATRICE

 
             Thy words are dark; explain,
   What shall I tell thee?
 

DON MANUEL

 
                Of thy mother naught
   Hast thou e'er told; who is she? If in words
   I paint her, bring her to thy sight —
 

BEATRICE

 
                       Thou know'st her!
   And thou wert silent!
 

DON MANUEL

 
               If I know thy mother,
   Horrors betide us both!
 

BEATRICE

 
                Oh, she is gracious
   As the sun's orient beam! Yes! I behold her;
   Fond memory wakes; – and from my bosom's depths
   Her godlike presence rises to my view!
   I see around her snowy neck descend
   The tresses of her raven hair, that shade
   The form of sculptured loveliness; I see
   The pale, high-thoughted brow; the darkening glance
   Of her large lustrous orbs; I hear the tones
   Of soul-fraught sweetness!
 

DON MANUEL

 
                 'Tis herself!
 

BEATRICE

 
                         This day,
   Perchance had give me to her arms, and knit
   Our souls in everlasting love; – such bliss
   I have renounced, yes! I have lost a mother
   For thee!
 

DON MANUEL

 
         Console thyself, Messina's princess
   Henceforth shall call thee daughter; to her feet
   I lead thee; come – she waits. What hast thou said?
 

BEATRICE

 
   Thy mother and Don Caesar's? Never! never!
 

DON MANUEL

 
   Thou shudderest! Whence this horror? Hast thou known
   My mother? Speak —
 

BEATRICE

 
              O grief! O dire misfortune!
   Alas! that e'er I live to see this day!
 

DON MANUEL

 
   What troubles thee? Thou know'st me, thou hast found,
   In the poor stranger knight, Messina's prince!
 

BEATRICE

 
   Give me the dear unknown again! With him
   On earth's remotest wilds I could be blest!
 

DON CAESAR (behind the scene)

 
   Away! What rabble throng is here?
 

BEATRICE

 
                     That voice!
   Oh heavens! Where shall I fly!
 

DON MANUEL

 
                    Know'st thou that voice?
   No! thou hast never heard it; to thine ear
   'Tis strange —
 

BEATRICE

 
           Oh, come – delay not —
 

DON MANUEL

 
                       Wherefore I fly?
   It is my brother's voice! He seeks me – how
   He tracked my steps —
 

BEATRICE

 
               By all the holy saints!
   Brave not his wrath! oh quit this place – avoid him —
   Meet not thy brother here!
 

DON MANUEL

 
                 My soul! thy fears
   Confound; thou hear'st me not; our strife is o'er.
   Yes! we are reconciled.
 

BEATRICE

 
                Protect me, heaven,
   In this dread hour!
 

DON MANUEL

 
              A sudden dire presage
   Starts in my breast – I shudder at the thought:
   If it be true! Oh, horror! Could she know
   That voice! Wert thou – my tongue denies to utter
   The words of fearful import – Beatrice!
   Say, wert thou present at the funeral rites
   Of my dead sire?
 

BEATRICE

 
            Alas!
 

DON MANUEL

 
                Thou wert!
 

BEATRICE

 
                      Forgive me!
 

DON MANUEL

 
   Unhappy woman!
 

BEATRICE

 
           I was present!
 

DON MANUEL

 
                   Horror!
 

BEATRICE

 
   Some mighty impulse urged me to the scene —
   Oh, be not angry – to thyself I owned
   The ardent fond desire; with darkening brow
   Thou listened'st to my prayer, and I was silent,
   But what misguiding inauspicious star
   Allured, I know not; from my inmost soul
   The wish, the dear emotion spoke; and vain
   Aught else: – Diego gave consent – oh, pardon me!
   I disobeyed thee.
 

[She advances towards him imploringly; at the same moment

 

DON CAESAR enters, accompanied by the whole Chorus.

BOTH BROTHERS, BOTH CHORUSES, BEATRICE.

Second Chorus (BOHEMUND) to DON CAESAR

 
             Thou heliev'st us not —
   Believe thine eyes!
 

DON CAESAR (rushes forward furiously, and at the sight of his brother starts back with horror)

 
              Some hell-born magic cheats
   My senses; in her arms! Envenomed snake!
   Is this thy love? For this thy treacherous heart
   Could lure with guise of friendship! Oh, from heaven
   Breathed my immortal hate! Down, down to hell,
   Thou soul of falsehood!
 

[He stabs him, DON MANUEL falls.

DON MANUEL

 
                Beatrice! – my brother!
   I die!
 

[Dies. BEATRICE sinks lifeless at his side.

First Chorus (CAJETAN)

 
   Help! Help! To arms! Avenge with blood
   The bloody deed!
 

Second Chorus (BOHEMUND)

 
            The fortune of the day
   Is ours! The strife forever stilled: – Messina
   Obeys one lord.
 

First Chorus (CAJETAN, BERENGAR, MANFRED)

 
            Revenge! The murderer
   Shall die! Quick, offer to your master's shade
   Appeasing sacrifice!
 

Second Chorus (BOHEMUND, ROGER, HIPPOLYTE)

 
              My prince! fear nothing,
   Thy friends are true.
 

DON CAESAR (steps between them, looking around)

 
               Be still! The foe is slain
   That practised on my trusting, honest heart
   With snares of brother's love. Oh, direful shows
   The deed of death! But righteous heaven hath judged.
 

First Chorus (CAJETAN)

 
   Alas to thee, Messina! Woe forever!
   Sad city! From thy blood-stained walls this deed
   Of nameless horror taints the skies; ill fare
   Thy mothers and thy children, youth and age,
   And offspring yet, unborn!
 

DON CAESAR

 
                 Too late your grief —
   Here give your help.
 

[Pointing to BEATRICE.

 
              Call her to life, and quick
   Depart this scene of terror and of death.
   I must away and seek my sister: – Hence!
   Conduct her to my mother —
   And tell her that her son, Don Caesar, sends her!
 

[Exit.

[The senseless BEATRICE is placed on a litter and carried away by the Second Chorus. The First Chorus remains with the body, round which the boys who bear the bridal presents range themselves in a semicircle.

Chorus (CAJETAN)

 
      List, how with dreaded mystery
       Was signed to my prophetic soul,
      Of kindred blood the dire decree: —
      Hither with noiseless, giant stride
      I saw the hideous fiend of terror glide!
       'Tis past! I strive not to control
      My shuddering awe – so swift of ill
      The Fates the warning sign fulfil.
      Lo! to my sense dismayed,
       Sudden the deed of death has shown
      Whate'er my boding fears portrayed.
      The visioned thought was pain;
      The present horror curdles every vein
 

One of the Chorus (MANFRED)

 
       Sound, sound the plaint of woe!
        Beautiful youth!
       Outstretched and pale he lies,
      Untimely cropped in early bloom;
       The heavy night of death has sealed his eyes; —
       In this glad hour of nuptial joy,
      Snatched by relentless doom,
      He sleeps – while echoing to the sky,
      Of sorrow bursts the loud, despairing cry!
 

A second (CAJETAN)

 
      We come, we come, in festal pride,
      To greet the beauteous bride;
        Behold! the nuptial gifts, the rich attire
       The banquet waits, the guests are there;
      They bid thee to the solemn rite
       Of hymen quick repair.
        Thou hear'st them not – the sportive lyre,
      The frolic dance, shall ne'er invite;
      Nor wake thee from thy lowly bed,
      For deep the slumber of the dead!
 

The whole Chorus

 
      No more the echoing horn shall cheer
      Nor bride with tones of sweetness charm his ear.
      On the cold earth he lies,
      In death's eternal slumber closed his eyes.
 

A third (CAJETAN)

 
      What are the hopes, and fond desires
       Of mortals' transitory race?
        This day, with harmony of voice and soul,
      Ye woke the long-extinguished fires
      Of brothers' love – yon flaming orb
       Lit with his earliest beams your dear embrace
       At eve, upon the gory sand
      Thou liest – a reeking corpse!
       Stretched by a brother's murderous hand.
        Vain projects, treacherous hopes,
      Child of the fleeting hour are thine;
      Fond man! thou rear'st on dust each bold design,
 

Chorus (BERENGAR)

 
       To thy mother I will bear
      The burden of unutterable woe!
       Quick shall yon cypress, blooming fair,
      Bend to the axe's murderous blow
       Then twine the mournful bier!
      For ne'er with verdant life the tree shall smile
      That grew on death's devoted soil;
      Ne'er in the breeze the branches play,
      Nor shade the wanderer in the noontide ray;
      'Twas marked to bear the fruits of doom,
      Cursed to the service of the tomb.
 

First (CAJETAN)

 
       Woe to the murderer! Woe
      That sped exulting in his pride,
      Behold! the parched earth drinks the crimson tide.
      Down, down it flows, unceasingly,
       To the dim caverned halls below,
      Where throned in kindred gloom the sister train,
       Of Themis progeny severe,
      Brood in their songless, silent reign!
       Stern minister of wrath's decree,
      They catch in swarthy cups thy streaming gore,
      And pledge with horrid rites for vengeance evermore.
 

Second (BERENGAR)

 
      Though swift of deed the traces fade
       From earth, before the enlivening ray;
      As o'er the brow the transient shade
       Of thought, the hues of fancy flit away: —
      Yet in the mystic womb unseen,
       Of the dark ruling hours that sway
      Our mortal lot, whate'er has been,
       With new creative germ defies decay.
      The blooming field is time
      For nature's ever-teeming shoot,
      And all is seed, and all is fruit.
 

[The Chorus goes away, bearing the corpse of DON MANUEL on a bier.