Rai. But he-but he!-Aymer de Chatillon. Urb. Ask him to tell thee Rai. He is here; -If that tale be true (he turns suddenly to his companions.) -Follow me!-give the noble dead his rites, [Exeunt omnes. SCENE II-A Hall of Oriental architecture, opening upon gardens. A fountain in the centre. AYMER DE CHATILLON-MORAIMA. Mor. (bending over a couch on which her brother is sleeping.) He sleeps so calmly now; the soft wind here Brings in such lulling sounds!-Nay, think you not His cheek's faint glow? Aym. (turning away.) It was my sword which gave Mor. My heart's first friend!-Oh! I have been too weak, I have delay'd too long!-He could not sue, He bade me urge the prayer he would not speak, Which preys upon his life! Aym. Mor. For his sake! You would go hence? Aym. Of its deep tenderness!-You know it not? Mor. (covering herself with a veil.) I can but weep! Is it even so?-this love was born for tears! Aymer! I can but weep! (going to leave him, he detains her.) Aym. Hear me, yet hear me !-I was rear'd in arms And the proud blast of trumpets, and the shouts Enough of joy! Till you-I look'd on you- Mor. (hurriedly.) Yes! then you saved me! At once, what springs of deeper happiness For us to love! Mor. Your brother and his knights. Aym. My Lord, Here! are they here? Yes, my Lord, I see I know The knights-my brother-said'st thou ? Att. And he would speak with you. Аут. (To attendant.) Leave me! I know why he is come-'tis vain, They shall not part us! (looking back on Moraima as he goes What a silent grace out.) Floats round her form!-They shall not part us! no! [Exit-Scene closes. SCENE III-A square of the city-a church in the back ground. RAIMER DE CHATILLON. Raimer (walking to and fro impatiently.) [AYMER enters. They look on each other for a moment without speaking.] Rai. (suppressing his emotion.) So brothers meet! you know Aym. Tell me not of it! It cannot be, 'tis vain. How! you have not heard? (turning from him.) He hath so shut the world out with his dreams, Aym. (hurriedly.) Yes, mine! my own-won by the right of arms! You dare not question it. Rai. A prince, they say, And his fair sister-is the maid so fair? Aym. (turning suddenly upon him.) What, you would see her! Rai. (scornfully.) I!-Oh, yes! to quell My soul's deep yearnings!-Let me look on swords. He died upon my breast. Aym. (with the deepest emotion.) Last! Dead?-yes! dead. And I was here! Dead! and upon your breast! You closed his eyes While I-he spoke of me? Rai. With such deep love! He ever loved you most!-his spirit seem'd Aym. What! he thought That I was on my way!-He look'd for me? And I Rai. You came not!-I had sent to you, And told you he was wounded. Аут. Not mortally! Yes-but not Rai. Enter'd his chamber-and he raised his head, Aym. (throwing himself upon his brother's neck.) Rai. You weep! -Tears for the garlands on a maiden's grave! Aym. Not of his wound? Rai. His wound!-it is the silent spirit's wound, We cannot reach to heal!-One burning thought Prey'd on his heart. Aym. Not-not-he had not heard Have you flung away He bless'd me, Raimer? Rai. Your birthright?-Yes! he bless'd you!-but he died And died-he died of shame! Aym. What feverish dream Rai. (vehemently.) Was it not lost, the warrior's latest field, The noble city held for Palestine Taken-the Cross laid low?-I came too late To turn the tide of that disastrous fight, But not to rescue him. We bore him thence Aym. And I was here! Rai. He cast one look back on his burning towers, Aym. (grasping his hand eagerly.) Yes! vengeance! And once before the dead, and yet once more Is dark around you, and in festive halls Keep your soul hush'd, and think of it! (A low chant of female voices, heard from behind the scenes.) Fall'n is the flower of Islam's race, Break ye the lance he bore, And loose his war-steed from its place, No more! Weep for him mother, sister, bride! (Single voice.) (Single voice.) He died! Aym. (Pointing to a palace, and eagerly speaking to his attendant, who enters.) Came it not thence ?-Rudolf, what sounds are these? Att. The Moslem Prince-your captive-he is dead, It is the mourner's wail for him. Aym. And she His sister-heard you-did they say she wept! 51* [Hurrying away. Rai. (indignantly.) All the deep-stirring tones of Honor's voice In a moment silenced! [Solemn military music. (A funeral procession, with priests, &c., crosses the back ground to enter the church.) Rai. (following AYMER and grasping his arm.) It is your father's bier! Am. returning,) He bless'd me, Raimer? You heard him bless me?-Yes! you closed his eyes, [He goes to the bier, and bends over it, covering his face. ACT II. SCENE I.-A room in the citadel. RAIMER, AYMER, Knights, assembled in Council. A Knight. What! with our weary and distracted bands Rai. (impatiently.) Rest! and that sleepless thought- To baffle siege. Let the foe gird us in We must wait aid; our soldiers must forget [press Rai. (coming forward.) If they forget it, in the combat's May their spears fail them! Knight. Yet, think thee, chief. Rai. When I forget it-how! you see not, knights! Whence we must now draw strength. Send down your thoughts Into the very depths of grief and shame, And bring back courage thence! To talk of rest! While the thought lives as fire lives!-there lies strength! Aym. (starting.) Have I not said? Battle! yes, give us battle!-room to pour The troubled spirit forth upon the winds, With the trumpet's ringing blast! Way for remorse! All the Knights. Arm! Heaven wills it so! Rai. Gather your forces to the western gate! Let none forget that day! Our field was lost, Our city's strength laid low-one mighty heart Broken! Let none forget it! [Exeunt. |