The Bride of Messina, and On the Use of the Chorus in Tragedy Part 7

What means this pause? Thou lingerest--thou art dumb-- Thy looks are terror-fraught--a shudder creeps Through all my frame--declare thy tidings!--speak!

Where is she? Where is Beatrice?

[She is about to rush from the chamber.

DON MANUEL (to himself abstractedly).

Beatrice!

DIEGO (holding back the PRINCESS).

Be still!

ISABELLA.

Where is she? Anguish tears my breast!

DIEGO.

She comes not.

I bring no daughter to thy arms.

ISABELLA.

Declare Thy message! Speak! by all the saints!

What has befallen?

DON MANUEL.

Where is my sister? Tell us, Thou harbinger of ill!

DIEGO.

The maid is stolen By corsairs! lost! Oh! that I ne'er had seen This day of woe!

DON MANUEL.

Compose thyself, my mother!

DON CAESAR.

Be calm; list all this tale.

DIEGO.

At thy command I sought in haste the well-known path that leads To the old sanctuary:--joy winged my footsteps; The journey was my last!

DON CAESAR.

Be brief!

DON MANUEL.

Proceed!

DIEGO.

Soon as I trod the convent's court--impatient-- I ask--"Where is thy daughter?" Terror sate In every eye; and straight, with horror mute, I heard the worst.

[ISABELLA sinks, pale and trembling, upon a chair; DON MANUEL is busied about her.

DON CAESAR.

Say'st thou by pirates stolen?

Who saw the band?--what tongue relates the spoil?

DIEGO.

Not far a Moorish galley was descried, At anchor in the bay----

DON CAESAR.

The refuge oft From tempests' rage; where is the bark?

DIEGO.

At down, With favoring breeze she stood to sea.

DON CAESAR.

But never One prey contents the Moor; say, have they told Of other spoil?

DIEGO.

A herd that pastured near Was dragged away.

DON CAESAR.

Yet from the convent's bound How tear the maid unseen?

DIEGO.

'Tis thought with ladders They scaled the wall.

DON CAESAR.

Thou knowest what jealous care Enshrines the bride of Heaven; scarce could their steps Invade the secret cells.

DIEGO.

Bound by no vows The maiden roved at will; oft would she seek Alone the garden's shade. Alas! this day, Ne'er to return!

DON CAESAR.

Saidst thou--the prize of corsairs?

Perchance, at other bidding, she forsook The sheltering dome----

ISABELLA (rising suddenly).

'Twas force! 'twas savage spoil!

Ne'er has my child, reckless of honor's ties With vile seducer fled! My sons! Awake!

I thought to give a sister to your arms; I ask a daughter from your swords! Arise!

Avenge this wrong! To arms! Launch every s.h.i.+p!

Scour all our coasts! From sea to sea pursue them!

Oh, bring my daughter! haste!

DON CAESAR.

Farewell--I fly To vengeance!

[He goes away.

[DON MANUEL arouses himself from a state of abstraction, and turns, with an air of agitation, to DIEGO.

DON MANUEL.

Speak! within the convent's walls When first unseen----