Ah! frown not thus! I cannot see thee frown. I do repent me that I led thee here. But 'twas the favourite path of a dear friend: (Basil starts.) Bas. His favourite path-a friend-here arm in arm Bas. (looking after her for some time.) See with what graceful steps she moves along, (Clasping his hands, and raising them to his Her lovely form, in every action lovely! head.) Then there is such a one! If but the wind her ruffled garment raise, (Drooping his head, and looking distractedly Which adds new grace. I dream'd not of it. Vict. I have, my lord, been wont to think it cheerful. mishap, Or should some small Some tangled branch, her fair attire derange, The distant landscape; now methinks she walks Bas. I thought your highness meant to leave this With doubtful lingering steps-will she look spot? Vict. I do, and by this lane we'll take our way; That dear, that loving friend of whom you spoke, I could weep o'er him now, shed blood for him! (Walks up and down with a hurried step, tossing Is it indeed your brother? back? Ah no! yon thicket hides her from my sight. From the army? Yes, my lord. Mess. Bas. Ha! have they fought? and is the battle Mess. Yes, conquer'd; taken the French king prisoner, Vict. It is indeed: what thoughts disturb'd thee Who, like a noble, gallant gentleman, so? Fought to the last, nor yielded up his sword Bas. I will not tell thee; foolish thoughts they Till, being one amidst surrounding foes, were. Heaven bless your brother! Vict. Ay, heaven bless him too! I have but him; would I had two brave brothers, And thou wert one of them! Bas. I would fly from thee to earth's utmost bounds, Were I thy brother And yet methinks, I would I had a sister. His arm could do no more. Bas. What dost thou say? who is made pri- Mess. I cannot catch their sense-the battle's o'er? Mess. It is, my lord. Piscaro stayed your coming, But could no longer stay. His troops were bold, To place her near thee, Occasion press'd him, and they bravely foughtThey bravely fought, my lord! The soft companion of thy hours to prove, Bas. They bravely fought, whilst we lay lingering O! what a fated blow to strike me thus ! Bas. Would I were laid a red, disfigured corse, Amid those heaps! they fought, and we were absent! ACT V. SCENE I-A DARK NIGHT; NO MOON, BUT A FEW Bas. No sound is here: man is at rest, and I No streaming light doth from her chamber beam, (Walks about distractedly, then stops short.) And bless her still. All now is dark for me! Who sent thee here? Mess. Piscaro sent me to inform Count Basil, I will to quarters, narrow quarters go, Mess. I'll follow after him; he is distracted: Enter VICTORIA as if frightened, followed by ISABELLA. Vict. (to Isab.) Didst thou not mark him as he pass'd thee too? (Pauses for some time and looks upon the graves.) And now perhaps some dear surviving friend But I, like a vile outcast of my kind, In some lone spot must lay my unburied corse, Isab. I saw him pass, but with such hasty steps I The haunt of damned sprites. O cursed wretch! had no time. Vict. I met him with a wild disorder'd air, In furious haste; he stopp'd distractedly, And gazed upon me with a mournful look, In the fair and honour'd field shouldst thou have died, Where brave friends, proudly smiling through their tears, But pass'd away, and spoke not. Who art thou? Had pointed out the spot where Basil lay! (To the Messenger.) I fear thou art a bearer of bad tidings. (A light seen in Victoria's window.) But ha! the wonted, welcome light appears. Mess. No, rather good as I should deem it, How bright within I see her chamber wall! madam, Although unwelcome tidings to Count Basil. Our army hath a glorious battle won; Athwart it too, a darkening shadow moves, Ten thousand French are slain, their monarch cap- That drooping head? alas! is she in sorrow? tive. Alas! thou sweet enchantress of the mind, Vict. (to Mess.) Ah, there it is! he was not in Whose voice was gladness, and whose presence the fight. Run after him I pray-nay, do not so Run to his kinsman, good Count Rosinberg, And bid him follow him-I pray thee run! Art thou unhappy too? I've brought thee wo; Mess. Nay, lady, by your leave, you seem not In some dark den from human sight conceal'd, well: I will conduct you hence, and then I'll go. Vict. No, no, I'm well enough; I'm very well; Isab. I've wreck'd a brave man's honour! EXIT, leaning upon Isabella. So, that I sometimes from my haunt might steal, (Pauses, still looking at the window.) perhaps 'Tis but the mournful breeze that passes by? (Pauses again, and gazes at the window, till the SCENE II.—A WOOD, WILD AND SAVAGE; AN ENTRY light disappears.) 'Tis gone, 'tis gone! these eyes have seen their last! The last impression of her heavenly form: Enter GEOFFRY from behind a tomb. Art thou from the grave? Geof. O my brave general! do you know me not? I am old Geoffry, the old maim'd soldier, Bas. Then go thy way, for thou art honourable: Thou hast no shame, thou need'st not seek the dark Like fall'n, fameless men. I pray thee go! Geof. Nay, speak not thus, my noble general! Ah! speak not thus! thou'rt brave, thou'rt honour'd still. Thy soldier's fame is far too surely raised Bas. Forbear, forbear! thy words but wring my soul. Geof. O pardon me! I am old maim'd Geoffry. O! do not go! I've but one hand to hold thee. (Laying hold of Basil as he attempts to go away. Basil stops, and looks around upon him with softness.) Bas. Two would not hold so well, old honour'd veteran ! What wouldst thou have me do? Geof. Return, my lord; for love of blessed heaven, Seek not such desperate ways! where would you go? Bas. Does Geoffry ask where should a soldier go To hide disgrace? there is no place but one. (Struggling to get free.) Let go thy foolish hold, and force me not To do some violence to thy hoary headWhat, wilt thou not? nay, then it must be so. (Breaks violently from him, and EXIT.) Geof. Cursed feeble hand! he's gone to seek perdition! I cannot run. Where is that stupid hind? TO A CAVE, VERY MUCH TANGLED WITH BRUSH WOOD, IS SEEN IN THE BACKGROUND. THE TIME REPRESENTS THE DAWN OF MORNING. BASIL IS DISCOVERED STANDING NEAR THE FRONT OF THE STAGE, IN A THOUGHTFUL POSTURE, WITH A COUPLE OF PISTOLS LAID BY HIM ON A PIECE OF PROJECTING ROCK; HE PAUSES FOR SOME TIME. Bas. (alone.) What shall I be some few short moments hence? Why ask I now? who from the dead will rise Or some dread thing, man's wildest range of thought I can bear scorpions' stings, tread fields of fire, Be toss'd aloft through tracks of endless void, Will the great God of mercy, mercy have (Pauses.) Will he not punish with a pitying hand Here is an entry to some darksome cave, I'll do it here. (Enters the cave and EXIT; a deep silence; then the report of a pistol is heard from the cave, and soon after, Enter Rosinberg, Valtomer, two Officers and Soldiers, almost at the same moment by different sides of the stage.) Ros. This way the sound did come. Valt. How came ye, soldiers? heard ye that report ? 1st Sol. We heard it, and it seem'd to come from hence, Which made us this way hie. Ros. A horrid fancy darts across my mind. (A groan heard from the cave.) (To Valt.) Ha! heard'st thou that? Valt. Methinks it is the groan of one in pain. (A second groan.) Ros. Ha! there again! SCENE III.-THE INSIDE OF THE CAVE. BASIL discovered lying on the ground, with his head raised a little upon a few stones and earth, the pistols lying beside him, and blood upon his breast. Enter ROSINBERG, VALTOMER, and OFFICERS. Rosinberg, upon seeing Basil, stops short with horror, and remains motionless for some time. Valt. Great God of heaven! what a sight is this! (Rosinberg runs to Basil, and stoops down. by his side.) Ros. O Basil! O my friend! what hast thou done? Bas. (covering his face with his hand.) Why art thou come? I thought to die in peace. Ros. Thou know'st me not-I am thy Rosinberg, Thy dearest, truest friend, thy loving kinsman! Thou dost not say to me, Why art thou come? Bas. Shame knows no kindred: I am fall'n, disgraced; My fame is gone, I cannot look upon thee. Ros. My Basil, noble spirit! talk not thus ! Bas. Ah Rosinberg! this is no time to boast! For that I now remember how oft-times Ros. (taking Basil's hand, and pressing it to his I knew thou wert superior to myself, And to all men beside: thou wert my pride; I paid thee deference with a willing heart. Bas. It was delusion, all delusion, Rosinberg' I feel my weakness now, I own my pride. Give me thy hand, my time is near the close: Ros. (making a sign for the Officers to retire.) 'Tis but a sentry, to prevent intrusion. Bas. Thou know'st this desperate deed from Hath shut me out: I am unbless'd of men, Ros. Thou wilt find mercy-my beloved Basil- Enter VALTOMER. Valt. (to Ros.) My lord, the soldiers all insist to enter. What shall I do? they will not be denied: Enter SOLDIERS, who gather round BASIL, and look Bas. My generous soldiers, this is kindly meant. I'm low in the dust; God bless you all, brave hearts! 1st Sol. And God bless you, my noble, noble general! We'll never follow such a leader more. 2d Sol. Ah! had you stayed with us, my noble general, We would have died for you. (3d Soldier endeavours next to speak, but cannot ; Bas. (in a very faint broken voice.) Where art Do this for me: thou know'st my love, Victoria-I love to feel thy grasp-my heart beats strangely Ros. O curse that woman! she it is alone She has undone us all! Bas. It doubles unto me the stroke of death Thou wilt not then my dying wish fulfil ? Ros. I will! I will! what wouldst thou have me Bas. See her when I am gone; be gentle with her; Ros. I'll do what thou desirest. Bas. I thank thee, Rosinberg; my time draws near. It beats as though its breathings would be few- Ros. Is there aught thou wouldst desire? 1st Sol. That motion was his last. 1st Sol. Alas! no trumpet e'er shall rouse him (Raising his head a little, and perceiving Of Until the dreadful blast that wakes the dead. ficers.) Is there not some one here? are we alone? 2d Sol. And when that sounds it will not wake a braver. 3d Sol. How pleasantly he shared our hardest toil! Our coarsest food the daintiest fare he made. 4th Sol. Ay, many a time, i' the cold damp plain has he With cheerful countenance cried, "Good rest, my Then wrapp'd him in his cloak, and laid him down Vict. (recovering.) Unloose thy hold, and let me O! horrid, horrid sight! my ruin'd Basil! (Kneels down by the body and bends over it.) These wasted streams of life! this bloody wound! (Laying her hand upon his heart.) Is there no breathing here? all still! all cold. Ros. There, seest thou how he lies? so fix'd, so | And dost not hear my call. pale? Ah! what an end is this! thus lost! thus fall'n! Ros. He was the younger brother of my soul. Ros. He was-O! he was like no other man! Ros. Valt. Shall we not remove him hence? Ros. He has forbid it, and has charged me well To leave his grave unknown; for that the church All sacred rites to the self-slain denies. He would not give offence. 1st Sol. What shall our general, like a very Be laid unhonour'd in the common ground? No warlike honours paid? it shall not be. 2d Sol. Laid thus? no, by the blessed light of heaven! In the most holy spot in Mantua's walls Ros. No, madam; now your pity comes too late. Ros. No, madam, no, I will not now upbraid: Vict. No, never, never! thus it shall not be. I'm fretted, gall'd, all things are hateful to me. (Victoria goes to throw herself upon the body but Vict. O force me not away! by his cold corse, He shall be laid: in face of day be laid; teeth, We will fire o'er him whilst our hands have power Tear me not hence. Several Soldiers. Let those who dare forbid it! For see a mournful visiter appears, Enter VICTORIA and ISABELLA, Vict. I thought to find him here, where has he fled? (Rosinberg points to the body without speaking. Victoria shrieks out and falls into the arms of Isabella.) (to Isab. and Valt.) For he loved me in thoughtless folly lost, It doth subdue the sternness of my grief Isab. Alas! my gentle mistress, this will kill Whose crooked policy has wrought this wreck! thee. Isab. If he has done it, you are well revenged, |