The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 35

The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 35

_Albert._ Maria! _my_ Maria!

_Maria._ Do not mock me.

This is my face--and thou--ha! who art thou?

Nay, I will call thee Albert!

[_She falls upon his neck. OSORIO leaps out from the nook with frantic wildness, and rushes towards ALBERT with his sword. MARIA gapes at him, as one helpless with terror, then leaves ALBERT, and flings herself upon OSORIO, arresting his arm._

_Maria._ Madman, stop!

_Albert (with majesty and tenderness)._ Does then this thin disguise impenetrably 235 Hide Albert from thee? Toil and painful wounds, And long imprisonment in unwholesome dungeons, Have marr'd perhaps all trace and lineament Of what I was! But chiefly, chiefly, brother!

My anguish for thy guilt. Spotless Maria, 240 I thought thee guilty too! Osorio, brother!

Nay, nay, thou _shalt_ embrace me!

_Osorio (drawing back and gazing at Albert with a countenance expressive at once of awe and terror)._ Touch me not!

Touch not pollution, Albert!--I will die!

[_He attempts to fall on his sword. ALBERT and MARIA struggle with him._

_Albert._ We will invent some tale to save your honour.

Live, live, Osorio!

_Maria._ You may yet be happy. 245

_Osorio (looking at Maria)._ O horror! Not a thousand years in heaven Could recompose this miserable heart, Or make it capable of one brief joy.

Live! live!--why yes! 'Twere well to live with you-- For is it fit a villain should be proud? 250 My brother! I will kneel to you, my brother!

[_Throws himself at ALBERT'S feet._

Forgive me, Albert!--_Curse_ me with forgiveness!

_Albert._ Call back thy soul, my brother! and look round thee.

Now is the time for greatness. Think that Heaven----

_Maria._ O mark his eye! he hears not what you say. 255

_Osorio (pointing at vacancy)._ Yes, mark his eye! there's fascination in it.

Thou said'st thou didst not know him. That is he!

He comes upon me!

_Albert (lifting his eye to heaven)._ Heal, O heal him, Heaven!

_Osorio._ Nearer and nearer! And I cannot stir!

Will no one hear these stifled groans, and wake me? 260 He would have died to save me, and I kill'd him-- A husband and a father!

_Maria._ Some secret poison Drinks up his spirit!

_Osorio (fiercely recollecting himself)._ Let the eternal Justice Prepare my punishment in the obscure world.

I will not bear to live--to live! O agony! 265 And be myself alone, my own sore torment!

[_The doors of the dungeon are burst open with a crash.

ALHADRA, MAURICE, and the band of_ Morescoes _enter._

_Alhadra (pointing at Osorio)._ Seize first that man!

[_The_ Moors _press round._

_Albert (rushing in among them)._ Draw thy sword, Maurice, and defend my brother.

[_A scuffle, during which they disarm MAURICE._

_Osorio._ Off, ruffians! I have flung away my sword.

Woman, my life is thine! to thee I give it. 270 Off! he that touches me with his hand of flesh, I'll rend his limbs asunder! I have strength With this bare arm to scatter you like ashes!

_Alhadra._ My husband----

_Osorio._ Yes! I murder'd him most foully.

_Albert (throws himself on the earth)._ O horrible!

_Alhadra._ Why didst thou leave his children? 275 Demon! thou shouldst have sent thy dogs of h.e.l.l To lap _their_ blood. Then, then, I might have harden'd My soul in misery, and have had comfort.

I would have stood far off, quiet tho' dark, And bade the race of men raise up a mourning 280 For the deep horror of a desolation Too great to be one soul's particular lot!

Brother of Zagri! let me lean upon thee.

[_Struggling to suppress her anguish._

The time is not yet come for woman's anguish-- I have not seen his blood. Within an hour 285 Those little ones will crowd around and ask me, Where is our father? [_Looks at OSORIO._ I shall curse thee then!

Wert thou in heaven, my curse would pluck thee thence!

_Maria._ See--see! he doth repent. I kneel to thee.

Be merciful!

[_MARIA kneels to her. ALHADRA regards her face wistfully._

_Alhadra._ Thou art young and innocent; 290 'Twere merciful to kill thee! Yet I will not.

And for thy sake none of this house shall perish, Save only he.

_Maria._ That aged man, his father!

_Alhadra (sternly)._ Why had he such a son?

[_The_ Moors _press on._

_Maria (still kneeling, and wild with affright)._ Yet spare his life!

They must not murder him!

_Alhadra._ And is it then 295 An enviable lot to waste away With inward wounds, and like the spirit of chaos To wander on disquietly thro' the earth, Cursing all lovely things? to let him live-- It were a deep revenge!

_All the band cry out_--No mercy! no mercy! 300