Comic Tragedies Part 6

[_Enter_ Norna.

Norna. Poor fool! thy greatest foe is here,--her thou shalt not escape.

Hugo shall be warned, and thou alone shalt fall.

[_She makes signs from the window and vanishes._

Rod. [_awakes and rises_]. Ah, what fearful dreams are mine!

Theresa--Louis--still they haunt me! Whither shall I turn? Who comes?

[_Enter_ Gaspard.] Art thou another phantom sent to torture me?

Gasp. 'Tis I, leader of the king's brave guards, sent hither to arrest thee, my lord; for thou art charged with murder.

Rod. Who dares to cast so foul a stain on Count Rodolpho's name.

Gasp. My lord, yield thyself. The king may show thee mercy yet--

Rod. I will yield, and prove my innocence, and clear mine honor to the king. Reach me my cloak yonder, and I am ready.

[Gaspard _turns to seek the cloak._ Rodolpho _leaps from the window and disappears._

Gasp. Ha! he hath escaped,--curses on my carelessness! [_Rushes to the window._] Ho, there! surround the castle, the prisoner hath fled! We'll have him yet, the blood-stained villain!

[_Exit_ Gaspard. _Shouts and clashing of swords heard._

CURTAIN.

SCENE ELEVENTH.

[Norna's _cave._ Leonore _and_ _Adrian_.]

Adrian. Dear lady, can I do nought to while away the lonely hours? Shall I go forth and bring thee flowers, or seek thy home and bear away thy bird, thy lute, or aught that may beguile thy solitude? It grieves me that I can do so little for thee.

Leonore. Nay, 'tis I should grieve that I can find no way to show my grat.i.tude to thee, my brave deliverer. But wilt thou not tell me who thou art? I would fain know to whom I owe my life and liberty.

Adrian. Nay, that I may not tell thee. I have sworn a solemn vow, and till that is fulfilled I may not cast aside this sorrowful disguise.

Meanwhile, thou mayst call me Adrian. Wilt thou pardon and trust me still?

Leonore. Canst thou doubt my faith in thee? Thou and old Norna are the only friends now left to poor Leonore. I put my whole heart's trust in thee. But if thou canst not tell me of thyself, wilt tell me why thou hast done so much for me, a friendless maiden?

Adrian. I fear it will cause thee sorrow, lady; and thou hast grief enough to bear.

Leonore. Do not fear. I would so gladly know--

Adrian. Forgive me if I make thee weep: I had a friend,--most dear to me. He loved a gentle lady, but ere he could tell her this, he died, and bid me vow to watch above her whom he loved, and guard her with my life.

I took the vow: that lady was thyself, that friend Count Louis.

Leonore. Ah, Louis! Louis! that heart thou feared to ask is buried with thee.

Adrian. Thou didst love him, lady?

Leonore. Love him? Most gladly would I lie down within my grave tonight, could I but call him back to life again.

Adrian. Grieve not; thou hast one friend who cannot change,--one who through joy and sorrow will find his truest happiness in serving thee.

Hist! I hear a step: I will see who comes.

[_Exit_ Adrian.

Leonore. Kind, watchful friend, how truly do I trust thee!

[_Re-enter_ Adrian.

Adrian. Conceal thyself, dear lady, with all speed. 'Tis Count Rodolpho.

Let me lead thee to the inner cave,--there thou wilt be safe.

[_They retire within; noise heard without. Enter_ Rodolpho.

Rod. At last I am safe. Old Norna will conceal me till I can find means to leave the land. Ha!--voices within there. Ho, there! old wizard, hither! I have need of thee!

[_Enter_ Adrian.

Adrian. What wouldst thou?

Rod. Nought. Get thee hence! I seek old Norna.

Adrian. Thou canst not see her; she is not here.

Rod. Not here? 'Tis false,--I heard a woman's voice within there. Let me pa.s.s!

Adrian. 'Tis not old Norna, and thou canst not pa.s.s.

Rod. Ah, then, who might it be, my most mysterious sir?

Adrian. The Lady Leonore.

Rod. Ha!--how came she hither? By my soul, thou liest! Stand back and let me go. She is mine!

Adrian. Thou canst only enter here above my lifeless body. Leonore is here, and I am her protector and thy deadliest foe. 'Tis for thee to yield and leave this cell.

Rod. No more of this,--thou hast escaped me once. Draw and defend thyself, if thou hast courage to meet a brave man's sword!

Adrian. But for Leonore I would not stoop so low, or stain my sword; but for her sake I'll dare all, and fight thee to the last.

[_They fight their way out. Enter_ Rodolpho.

Rod. At length fate smiles upon me. I am the victor,--and now for Leonore! All danger is forgotten in the joy of winning my revenge on this proud girl! Thou art mine at last, Leonore, and mine forever!

[_Rushes towards the inner cave. Spirit of_ Theresa _rises._] There 'tis again! I will not fly,--I do defy it! [_Attempts to pa.s.s. Spirit touches him; he drops his sword and rushes wildly away._] 'Tis vain: I cannot--dare not pa.s.s. It comes, it follows me. Whither shall I fly?

[_Exit. Enter_ Adrian _wounded._