Count Julian Part 13

Still in its dark recess fanatic sin Abases to the ground his tangled hair, And servile scourges and reluctant groans Roll o'er the vault uninterruptedly, Till, such the natural stillness of the place The very tear upon the damps below Drops audible, and the heart's throb replies.

There is the idol maid of Christian creed, And taller images, whose history I know not, nor inquired--a scene of blood, Of resignation amid mortal pangs, And other things, exceeding all belief.

Hither the aged Opas of Seville Walked slowly, and behind him was a man Barefooted, bruised, dejected, comfortless, In sackcloth; the white ashes on his head Dropped as he smote his breast; he gathered up, Replaced them all, groaned deeply, looked to heaven, And held them, like a treasure, with clasped hands.

EGI. Oh! was Roderigo so abased?

MUZA. 'Twas he.

Now, Egilona, judge between your friends And enemies; behold what wretches brought The king, thy lord, Roderigo, to disgrace.

EGI. He merited--but not from them--from me This, and much worse: had I inflicted it, I had rejoiced--at what I ill endure.

MUZA. For thee, for thee alone, we wished him here, But other hands released him -

ABD. With what aim Will soon appear to those discerning eyes.

EGI. I pray thee, tell what pa.s.sed until that hour.

ABD. Few words, and indistinct; repentant sobs Filled the whole s.p.a.ce, the taper in his hand, Lighting two small dim lamps before the altar, He gave to Opas; at the idol's feet He laid his crown, and wiped his tears away: The crown reverts not, but the tears return.

EGI. Yes, Abdalazis! soon, abundantly.

If he had only called upon my name, Seeking my pardon ere he looked to heaven's, I could have--no! he thought not once on me!

Never shall he find peace or confidence; I will rely on fortune and on thee, Nor fear my future lot: sure, Abdalazis, A fall so great can never happen twice, Nor man again be faithless, like Roderigo.

ABD. Faithless he may be still, never so faithless.

Fainter must be the charms, remote the days, When memory and dread example die, When love and terror thrill the heart no more, And Egilona is herself forgotten.

FIFTH ACT: FOURTH SCENE.

JULIAN enters.

TAR. Turn, and behold him! who is now confounded?

Ye who awaited him, where are ye? speak.

Is some close comet blazing o'er your tents?

Muza! Abdalazis! princes, conquerors, Summon, interrogate, command, condemn.

MUZA. Justly, Don Julian--but respect for rank Allays resentment, nor interrogates Without due form--justly may we accuse This absence from our councils, from our camp: This loneliness in which we still remain Who come invited to redress your wrongs.

Where is the king?

JUL. The people must decide.

MUZA. Imperfectly, I hope, I understand Those words, unworthy of thy birth and age.

JUL. O chieftain, such have been our Gothic laws.

MUZA. Who then amid such turbulence is safe?

JUL. He who observes them: 'tis no turbulence, It violates no peace: 'tis surely worth A voice, a breath of air, thus to create By their high will the man, formed after them In their own image, vested with their power, To whom they trust their freedom and their lives.

MUZA. They trust! the people! G.o.d a.s.signs the charge: Kings open but the book of destiny And read their names, all that remains for them The mystic hand from time to time reveals.

Worst of idolaters! idolater Of that refractory and craving beast Whose den is in the city, at thy hand I claim our common enemy, the king.

JUL. Sacred from justice then! but not from malice!

TAR. Surrender him, my friend: be sure his pains Will not be softened.

JUL. 'Tis beyond my power.

TAR. To-morrow--if in any distant fort He lies to-night: send after him.

JUL. My faith Is plighted, and he lives--no prisoner.

EGI. I knew the truth.

ABD. Now, Tarik, hear and judge.

Was he not in thy camp? and in disguise?

TAR. No: I will answer thee.

MUZA. Audacious man!

Had not the Kalif Walid placed thee here, Chains and a traitor's death should be thy doom.

Speak, Abdalazis! Egilona, speak.

Were ye not present? was not I myself?

And aided not this Julian his escape?

JUL. 'Tis true.

TAR. Away then friendship; to thy fate I leave thee: thou hast rendered Muza just, Me hostile to thee. Who is safe! a man Armed with such power and with such perfidy!

JUL. Stay, Tarik! hear me; for to thee alone Would I reply.

TAR. Thou hast replied, already. [Goes.

MUZA. We, who were enemies, would not inquire Too narrowly what reasons urged thy wrath Against thy sovereign lord: beneath his flag The Christians first a.s.sailed us from these sh.o.r.es, And we seized gladly the first aid we found To quell a wealthy and a warlike king.

We never held to thee the vain pretence That 'twas thy quarrel our brave youth espoused, Thine, who hast wrought us much disgrace and woe.

From perils and from losses, here we rest And drink of the fresh fountain at our feet, Not madly following such illusive streams As overspread the dizzy wilderness, And vanish from the thirst they have seduced.

Ours was the enterprise, the land is ours: What gain we by our toils if he escape Whom we came hither solely to subdue?

JUL. Is there no gain to live in amity?

MUZA. The gain of traffickers and idle men: Courage and zeal expire upon such calms.

Further, what amity can Moors expect When you have joined your forces?

JUL. From the hour That he was vanquished I have laid aside All power, all arms.

MUZA. How can we trust thee, once Deceived, and oftener than this once despised?

Thou camest hither with no other aim Than to deprive Roderigo of his crown For thy own brow.