Count Alarcos; a Tragedy Part 35

I tell thee, tyrant, there's a power abroad E'en now that crashes thee. The storm that raged Blows from a mystic quarter. 'Tis the hand Of Allah guides the tempest of this night.

V:3:44 ALAR.

Thine oath, thine oath!

V:3:45 ORAN.

Accursed be the hour Thou sparedst my life!

V:3:46 ALAR.

Thine oath, I claim thine oath.

Nay, Moor, what is it? 'Tis a life, and thou Hast learnt to rate existence at its worth.

A life, a woman's life! Why, sack a town, And thousands die like her. My faithful Oran, Come let me love thee, let me find a friend When friends can prove themselves. It's not an oath Vowed in our suns.h.i.+ne ease, that shows a friend; 'Tis the tempestuous mood like this, that calls For faithful service.

V:3:47 ORAN.

Hah! the Emir's blood Cries for this judgment. It was sacred seed.

V:3:48 ALAR.

It flowed to clear thine honour. Art thou he That honour loved so dearly, that he scorned Betrayal of a foe, although that foe Had changed him to a bravo?

V:3:49 ORAN.

Let me kiss Thy garment's hem, and grovel it thy feet-- I pray, I supplicate--my lord, my lord-- Absolve me from that oath!

V:3:50 ALAR.

I had not thought To claim it twice. It seems I lacked some judgment In man, to deem that honour might be found In hired stabbers.

V:3:51 ORAN.

Hah! I vowed to thee A life for that which thou didst spare--'tis well.

The debt is paid.

[Stabs himself and falls.]

[Enter the COUNTESS from the inner Chamber.]

V:3:52 COUN.

I cannot sleep--my dreams are full of woe!

Alarcos! my Alarcos! Hah! dread sight!

Oran!

V:3:53 ORAN.

O, spare her; 'tis no sacrifice If she be spared.

V:3:54 COUN.

Wild words! Thou dost not speak.

O, speak, Alarcos! speak!

V:3:55 ORAN.

His voice is death.

V:3:56 COUN.

Ye Saints uphold me now, for I am weak And lost. What means this? Oran dying! Nay-- Alarcos! I'm a woman. Aid me, aid me.

Why's Oran thus? O, save him, my Alarcos!

Blood! And why shed? Why, let us staunch his wounds.

Why are there wounds? He will not speak. Alarcos, A word, a single word! Unhappy Moor!

Where is thy hurt?

[Kneels by ORAN.]

V:3:57 ORAN.

That hand! This is not death; 'Tis Paradise.

[Dies.]

V:3:58 ALAR.

[advancing in soliloquy]

He sets me great examples.

'Tis easier than I deemed; a single blow And his bold soul has fled. His lavish life Enlists me in quick service. Quit that dark corpse; He died as did become a perjured traitor.

V:3:59 COUN.

To whom, my lord?

V:3:60 ALAR.

To all Castille perchance.

Come hither, wife. Before the morning breaks A lengthened journey waits thee. Art prepared?

V:3:61 COUN.

[springing to ALARCOS]

I will not go. Alarcos, dear Alarcos, Thy look is terrible! What mean these words?

Why should'st thou spare me? Why should Oran die?

The veil that clouds thy mind--I'll rend it. Tell me-- Yea! I'll know all. A power supports me now-- Defies even thee.

V:3:62 ALAR.

A traitor's troubled tongue Disturbs thy mind. I tell thee, thou must leave This castle promptly.

V:3:63 COUN.

Not to Burgos--say But that. I will not go. That fatal woman-- Her shadow's on thy soul.

V:3:64 ALAR.

No, not to Burgos.

'Tis not to Burgos that thy journey tends.

The children sleep?

V:3:65 COUN.

Spite of the storm.

V:3:66 ALAR.

Go--kiss them.

Thou canst not take them with thee. To thy chamber-- Quick to thy chamber.