Act I
Scene—King Charles and some of his noblemen are creeping into the courtyard of the palace of Don Ruy Gomez de Silva at Saragossa. It is midnight, and the palace is dark, save for a dim light coming from a balcony window.
The King: Here will I wait till Doña Sol comes down.
Guard every entrance. And if Hernani
Attempts to fight you need not kill the man.
Brigand although he is, he shall go free,
If I can win his lady.
Don Ricardo: Shoot the hawk
If you would keep the dove. The mountaineer
Is a most desperate outlaw.
The King: Let him live.
If I were not so passionately in love
With Doña Sol I would help Hernani
To rescue her from her old guardian.
To think that Don Ruy Gomez should have kept
So beautiful a girl a prisoner,
And tried to marry her! Had Hernani
Eloped with her before I fell in love
I would have praised his courage.
[The balcony window opens, and as the noblemen retire, Doña Sol comes down.
Doña Sol: Hernani!
The King (holding her): Sweet Doña Sol.
Doña Sol: Oh, where is Hernani?
The King: I am the king, King Charles. I worship you,
And I will make you happy.
Doña Sol: Hernani!
Help! Help me, Hernani! [She tries to escape.
The King: I am your king!
I love you, Doña Sol. Come, you shall be
A duchess.
Doña Sol: No.
The King: Princess.
Doña Sol: No.
The King: Queen of Spain!
Yes; I will marry you if you will come.
Doña Sol: I cannot; I love Hernani.
The King: That brigand is not worthy of you. A throne
Is waiting. If you will not come with me,
My men must carry you away by force.
[While he is talking Hernani appears.
Hernani: King Charles, you are a coward and a cur!
Doña Sol (clasping him): Save me!
Hernani: I will, my love.
The King: Where are my men?
Hernani: In my hands. I have sixty followers
Waiting out there. And now a word with you.
Your father killed my father; you have stolen
My lands and titles from me; and I vowed
To kill you.
The King: Titles? Lands? Who are you, then?
Hernani: But meeting Doña Sol, I lost all thought
Of vengeance. Now I come to rescue her,
And find you in my path again—a wretch
Using his strength against a helpless girl.
Quick! Draw your sword, and prove you are a man!
The King: I am your king. I shall not fight with you.
Strike if you want to murder me.
Hernani: You think
I hold with the divinity of kings?
Now, will you fight?
[Striking him with the flat of his sword.
The King: I will not. Murder me,
You bandit, as you murder every man
That you desire to rob! Cross swords with you?
A common thief? No; get to your trade.
Creep round; assassinate me from behind!
[King Charles fixes his fierce, hawk-like eyes on the young brigand. Hernani recoils, lowers his sword; then, moved beyond himself by the strength of character displayed by The King, he breaks his blade on the pavement.
Hernani: Be off, then.
The King: Very well, sir. I shall set
A price upon your head, and hound you down.
Hernani: I cannot kill you now, with Doña Sol
Looking at us. But I will keep my vow
When next we meet.
The King: Never shall you obtain
Mercy, respite, or pardon at my hands.
[He departs.
Doña Sol: Now let us fly.
Hernani: No; I must go alone.
It means death! Did you see King Charles's face?
It means death. Oh, my love, my sweet, true love!
You would have shared with me the wild, rough life
I lead up in the mountains: the green couch
Beneath the trees, the water from the brook.
But now I shall be hunted down and killed.
You must not come. Good-bye.
Doña Sol: Oh, Hernani!
Will you leave me like this?
Hernani: No, I will stay!
Fold your arms closely round me, love, and rest
Your dear head on my shoulder. Let us talk
In whispers, as we used to, when I came
At night beneath your window. Do you still
Remember our first meeting?
[There is a clash of bells.
Doña Sol: Hernani,
It is the tocsin!
Hernani: No; our wedding-bells.
[Shouts are heard. Lights appear in all the windows.
The noise of the bells grows louder. A mountaineer
runs in, with his sword drawn.
The Mountaineer: The streets are filled with soldiers.
Doña Sol: Save yourself!
Here is a side gate.
The Crowd (out in the street): Bring the brigand out!
Hernani: One kiss, then, and farewell.
Doña Sol (embracing him): It is our first.
Hernani: And it may be our last. Farewell, my love!