The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 128

_Ordonio._ This was too melancholy, Father.

_Valdez._ Nay, My Alvar lov'd sad music from a child.

Once he was lost; and after weary search We found him in an open place in the wood.

To which spot he had followed a blind boy, 5 Who breath'd into a pipe of sycamore Some strangely moving notes: and these, he said, Were taught him in a dream. Him we first saw Stretch'd on the broad top of a sunny heath-bank: And lower down poor Alvar, fast asleep, 10 His head upon the blind boy's dog. It pleas'd me To mark how he had fasten'd round the pipe A silver toy his grandam had late given him.

Methinks I see him now as he then look'd-- Even so!--He had outgrown his infant dress, 15 Yet still he wore it.

_Alvar (aside)._ My tears must not flow!

I must not clasp his knees, and cry, My father!

_Enter TERESA and_ Attendants.

_Teresa._ Lord Valdez, you have asked my presence here, And I submit; but (Heaven bear witness for me) My heart approves it not! 'tis mockery. 20

_Ordonio._ Believe you then no preternatural influence: Believe you not that spirits throng around us?

_Teresa._ Say rather that I have imagined it A possible thing: and it has sooth'd my soul As other fancies have; but ne'er seduced me 25 To traffic with the black and frenzied hope That the dead hear the voice of witch or wizard. [_To ALVAR._ Stranger, I mourn and blush to see you here, On such employment! With far other thoughts I left you. 30

_Ordonio (aside)._ Ha! he has been tampering with her?

_Alvar._ O high-soul'd Maiden! and more dear to me Than suits the stranger's name!-- I swear to thee I will uncover all concealed guilt.

Doubt, but decide not! Stand ye from the altar. 35

[_Here a strain of music is heard from behind the scene._

_Alvar._ With no irreverent voice or uncouth charm I call up the departed!

Soul of Alvar!

Hear our soft suit, and heed my milder spell: So may the gates of Paradise, unbarr'd, Cease thy swift toils! Since haply thou art one 40 Of that innumerable company Who in broad circle, lovelier than the rainbow, Girdle this round earth in a dizzy motion, With noise too vast and constant to be heard: Fitliest unheard! For oh, ye numberless, 45 And rapid travellers! what ear unstunn'd, What sense unmadden'd, might bear up against The rushing of your congregated wings? [_Music._ Even now your living wheel turns o'er my head!

Ye, as ye pa.s.s, toss high the desart sands, 50 That roar and whiten, like a burst of waters, A sweet appearance, but a dread illusion To the parch'd caravan that roams by night!

And ye upbuild on the becalmed waves That whirling pillar, which from earth to heaven 55 Stands vast, and moves in blackness! Ye too split The ice mount! and with fragments many and huge Tempest the new-thaw'd sea, whose sudden gulfs Suck in, perchance, some Lapland wizard's skiff!

Then round and round the whirlpool's marge ye dance, 60 Till from the blue swoln corse the soul toils out, And joins your mighty army.

[_Here behind the scenes a voice sings the three words, 'Hear, Sweet Spirit.'_

Soul of Alvar!

Hear the mild spell, and tempt no blacker charm!

By sighs unquiet, and the sickly pang Of a half-dead, yet still undying hope, 65 Pa.s.s visible before our mortal sense!

So shall the Church's cleansing rites be thine, Her knells and ma.s.ses that redeem the dead!

SONG

_Behind the Scenes, accompanied by the same Instrument as before._

Hear, sweet spirit, hear the spell, Lest a blacker charm compel! 70 So shall the midnight breezes swell With thy deep long-lingering knell.

And at evening evermore, In a chapel on the sh.o.r.e, Shall the chaunter, sad and saintly, 75 Yellow tapers burning faintly, Doleful ma.s.ses chaunt for thee, Miserere Domine!

Hark! the cadence dies away On the quiet moonlight sea: 80 The boatmen rest their oars and say, Miserere Domine! [_A long pause._

_Ordonio._ The innocent obey nor charm nor spell!

My brother is in heaven. Thou sainted spirit, Burst on our sight, a pa.s.sing visitant! 85 Once more to hear thy voice, once more to see thee, O 'twere a joy to me!

_Alvar._ A joy to thee!

What if thou heard'st him now? What if his spirit Re-enter'd its cold corse, and came upon thee With many a stab from many a murderer's poniard? 90 What if (his stedfast eye still beaming pity And brother's love) he turn'd his head aside, Lest he should look at thee, and with one look Hurl thee beyond all power of penitence?

_Valdez._ These are unholy fancies!

_Ordonio._ Yes, my father, 95 He is in Heaven!

_Alvar (still to Ordonio)._ But what if he had a brother, Who had lived even so, that at his dying hour, The name of Heaven would have convulsed his face, More than the death-pang?

_Valdez._ Idly prating man!

Thou hast guess'd ill: Don Alvar's only brother 100 Stands here before thee--a father's blessing on him!

He is most virtuous.

_Alvar (still to Ordonio)._ What, if his very virtues Had pampered his swoln heart and made him proud?

And what if pride had duped him into guilt?

Yet still he stalked a self-created G.o.d, 105 Not very bold, but exquisitely cunning; And one that at his mother's looking-gla.s.s Would force his features to a frowning sternness?

Young Lord! I tell thee, that there are such beings-- Yea, and it gives fierce merriment to the d.a.m.n'd, 110 To see these most proud men, that loath mankind, At every stir and buzz of coward conscience, Trick, cant, and lie, most whining hypocrites!

Away, away! Now let me hear more music. [_Music again._

_Teresa._ 'Tis strange, I tremble at my own conjectures! 115 But whatsoe'er it mean, I dare no longer Be present at these lawless mysteries, This dark provoking of the hidden Powers!

Already I affront--if not high Heaven-- Yet Alvar's memory!--Hark! I make appeal 120 Against the unholy rite, and hasten hence To bend before a lawful shrine, and seek That voice which whispers, when the still heart listens, Comfort and faithful hope! Let us retire.

_Alvar (to Teresa)._ O full of faith and guileless love, thy Spirit 125 Still prompts thee wisely. Let the pangs of guilt Surprise the guilty: thou art innocent!

[_Exeunt TERESA and_ Attendant. _Music as before._

The spell is mutter'd--Come, thou wandering shape, Who own'st no master in a human eye, Whate'er be this man's doom, fair be it, or foul, 130 If he be dead, O come! and bring with thee That which he grasp'd in death! But if he live, Some token of his obscure perilous life.

[_The whole Music dashes into a Chorus._

CHORUS

Wandering demons, hear the spell!

Lest a blacker charm compel-- 135

[_The incense on the altar takes fire suddenly, and an illuminated picture of ALVAR'S a.s.sa.s.sination is discovered, and having remained a few seconds is then hidden by ascending flames._

_Ordonio (starting)._ Duped! duped! duped!--the traitor Isidore!

[_At this instant the doors are forced open, MONVIEDRO and the_ Familiars of the Inquisition, Servants, _&c., enter and fill the stage._

_Monviedro._ First seize the sorcerer! suffer him not to speak!

The holy judges of the Inquisition Shall hear his first words.--Look you pale, Lord Valdez?

Plain evidence have we here of most foul sorcery. 140 There is a dungeon underneath this castle, And as you hope for mild interpretation, Surrender instantly the keys and charge of it.

_Ordonio (recovering himself as from stupor, to Servants)._ Why haste you not? Off with him to the dungeon!