Count Julian Part 11

FOURTH ACT.--THIRD SCENE.

EGILONA enters: HERNANDO goes.

EGI. Oh, fly me not because I am unhappy, Because I am deserted fly me not.

It was not so before, it cannot be Ever from Julian.

JUL. What would Egilona That Julian's power with her new lords can do?

Surely her own must there preponderate.

EGI. I hold no suit to them--restore, restore Roderigo.

JUL. He no longer is my prisoner.

EGI. Escapes he then?

JUL. Escapes he--dost thou say?

O Egilona! what unworthy pa.s.sion -

EGI. Unworthy, when I loved him, was my pa.s.sion; The pa.s.sion that now swells my heart is just.

JUL. What fresh reproaches hath he merited?

EGI. Deeprooted hatred shelters no reproach.

But whither is he gone?

JUL. Far from the walls.

EGI. And I knew nothing!

JUL. His offence was known To thee at least.

EGI. Will it be expiated?

JUL. I trust it will.

EGI. This withering calm consumes me.

He marries then Covilla! 'twas for this His people were excited to rebel, His sceptre was thrown by, his vows were scorned, And I--and I -

JUL. Cease, Egilona!

EGI. Cease?

Sooner shalt thou to live, than I to reign.

FIFTH ACT: FIRST SCENE.

Tent of MUZA.

MUZA. TARIK. ABDALAZIS.

MUZA. To have first landed on these sh.o.r.es appears Transcendent glory to the applauded Tarik.

TARIK. Glory, but not transcendent, it appears, What might in any other.

MUZA. Of thyself All this vain boast?

TARIK. Not of myself--'twas Julian.

Against his shield the refluent surges rolled, While the sea-breezes threw the arrows wide, And fainter cheers urged the reluctant steeds.

MUZA. That Julian, of whose treason I have proofs, That Julian, who rejected my commands Twice, when our mortal foe besieged the camp, And forced my princely presence to his tent.

TARIK. Say rather, who without one exhortation, One precious drop from true believer's vein, Marched, and discomfited our enemies.

I found in him no treachery. Hernando, Who, little versed in moody wiles, is gone To lead him hither, was by him a.s.signed My guide, and twice in doubtful fight his arm Protected me: once on the heights of Calpe, Once on the plain, when courtly jealousies Tore from the bravest and the best his due, And gave the dotard and the coward command: Then came Roderigo forth--the front of war Grew darker--him, equal in chivalry, Julian alone could with success oppose.

ABD. I doubt their worth who praise their enemies.

TAR. And theirs doubt I who persecute their friends.

MUZA. Thou art in league with him.

TAR. Thou wert, by oaths, I am without them; for his heart is brave.

MUZA. Am I to bear all this?

TAR. All this, and more: Soon wilt thou see the man whom thou hast wronged, And the keen hatred in thy breast concealed Find its right way, and sting thee to the core.

MUZA. Hath he not foiled us in the field; not held Our wisdom to reproach?

TAR. Shall we abandon All he hath left us in the eyes of men?

Shall we again make him our adversary Whom we have proved so, long and fatally?

If he subdue for us our enemies, Shall we raise others, or, for want of them, Convert him into one against his will?

FIFTH ACT: SECOND SCENE.

HERNANDO enters. TARIK continues.

Here comes Hernando from that prince himself -

MUZA. Who scorns himself to come.

HER. The queen detains him.