The Bride of Messina, and On the Use of the Chorus in Tragedy Part 12

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 h.e.l.l-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 h.e.l.l, 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 b.l.o.o.d.y 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, s.n.a.t.c.hed by relentless doom, He sleeps--while echoing to the sky, Of sorrow bursts the loud, despairing cry!