The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 15

Have you no servants round the house? no listeners?

[_OSORIO steps to the door._

_Albert._ What! faithless too? false to his angel wife?

To such a wife? Well might'st thou look so wan, Ill-starr'd Maria! Wretch! my softer soul 250 Is pa.s.s'd away! and I will probe his conscience.

_Osorio (returned)._ In truth this lady loved another man, But he has perish'd.

_Albert._ What? you kill'd him? hey?

_Osorio._ I'll dash thee to the earth, if thou but think'st it, Thou slave! thou galley-slave! thou mountebank! 255 I leave thee to the hangman!

_Albert._ Fare you well!

I pity you, Osorio! even to anguish!

[_ALBERT retires off the stage._

_Osorio (recovering himself)._ 'Twas ideotcy! I'll tie myself to an aspen, And wear a Fool's Cap. Ho! [_Calling after ALBERT._

_Albert (returning)._ Be brief, what wish you?

_Osorio._ You are deep at bartering--you charge yourself 260 At a round sum. Come, come, I spake unwisely.

_Albert._ I listen to you.

_Osorio._ In a sudden tempest Did Albert perish--he, I mean, the lover-- The fellow----

_Albert._ Nay, speak out, 'twill ease your heart To call him villain! Why stand'st thou aghast? 265 Men think it natural to hate their rivals!

_Osorio (hesitating and half doubting whether he should proceed)._ Now till she knows him dead she will not wed me!

_Albert (with eager vehemence)._ Are you not wedded, then?

Merciful G.o.d!

Not wedded to Maria?

_Osorio._ Why, what ails thee?

Art mad or drunk? Why look'st thou upward so? 270 Dost pray to Lucifer, prince of the air?

_Albert._ Proceed. I shall be silent.

[_ALBERT sits, and leaning on the table hides his face._

_Osorio._ To Maria!

Politic wizard! ere you sent that message, You had conn'd your lesson, made yourself proficient In all my fortunes! Hah! you prophesied 275 A golden crop!--well, you have not mistaken-- Be faithful to me, and I'll pay thee n.o.bly.

_Albert (lifting up his head)._ Well--and this lady!

_Osorio._ If we could make her certain of his death, She needs must wed me. Ere her lover left her, 280 She tied a little portrait round his neck Entreating him to wear it.

_Albert (sighing)._ Yes! he did so!

_Osorio._ Why, no! he was afraid of accidents, Of robberies and shipwrecks, and the like.

In secrecy he gave it me to keep 285 Till his return.

_Albert._ What, he was your friend then?

_Osorio (wounded and embarra.s.sed)._ I was his friend.

[_A pause._

Now that he gave it me This lady knows not. You are a mighty wizard-- Can call this dead man up--he will not come-- 290 He is in heaven then!--there you have no influence-- Still there are tokens; and your imps may bring you Something he wore about him when he died.

And when the smoke of the incense on the altar Is pa.s.s'd, your spirits will have left this picture. 295 What say you now?

_Albert (after a long pause)._ Osorio, I will do it.

_Osorio._ Delays are dangerous. It shall be to-morrow In the early evening. Ask for the Lord Velez.

I will prepare him. Music, too, and incense, All shall be ready. Here is this same picture-- 300 And here what you will value more, a purse.

Before the dusk----

_Albert._ I will not fail to meet you.

_Osorio._ Till next we meet, farewell!

_Albert (alone, gazes pa.s.sionately at the portrait)._ And I did curse thee?

At midnight? on my knees? And I believed _Thee_ perjured, _thee_ polluted, thee a murderess? 305 O blind and credulous fool! O guilt of folly!

Should not thy inarticulate fondnesses, Thy infant loves--should not thy maiden vows, Have come upon my heart? And this sweet image Tied round my neck with many a chaste endearment 310 And thrilling hands, that made me weep and tremble.

Ah, coward dupe! to yield it to the miscreant Who spake pollutions of thee!

I am unworthy of thy love, Maria!

Of that unearthly smile upon those lips, 315 Which ever smil'd on me! Yet do not scorn me.

I lisp'd thy name ere I had learnt my mother's!

_Enter MAURICE._

_Albert._ Maurice! that picture, which I painted for thee, Of my a.s.sa.s.sination.

_Maurice._ I'll go fetch it.

_Albert._ Haste! for I yearn to tell thee what has pa.s.s'd. 320

[_MAURICE goes out._

_Albert (gazing at the portrait)._ Dear image! rescued from a traitor's keeping, I will not now prophane thee, holy image!

To a dark trick! That worst bad man shall find A picture which shall wake the h.e.l.l within him, And rouse a fiery whirlwind in his conscience! 325

END OF ACT THE SECOND.

LINENOTES: