ACT IV.
SCENE I. Amelrosa's chamber.
Amelrosa in white robes, crowned with flowers, Estella, with a letter.
Amelrosa. 'Tis strange! At this late hour! In armour say'st thou?
Estel. In sable armour; round his neck was slung
A bugle horn. In courteous guise he prayed me
Give you this note unseen.
Amel. Unseen! How is this? [Reading]
"One, not unknown, requests an immediate
audience on matters most important. Princess,
delay not as you value your father's life."
Not signed! My father's life! Estella say,
Did he not tell his name?
Estel. He said this jewel
Would speak whence came his letter.
Amel. Ha! The ring
I gave Orsino! Quickly seek yon stranger,
And charge him meet me at St. Juan's chapel;
For there to pass the night in grateful prayer,
E'en now I go——Friend speed thee.
Amel. [Alone] Doubt and terror——
My father's life?—And yet, for such a father
What need I fear? Heaven will defend its own,
And wings of seraphs shield that king from harm,
Whose proudest title is—"his people's father,"
Whose dearest treasure is his people's love! [Exit.
SCENE II. St. Juan's cloisters by moon-light.—On one side a gothic chapel.
Orsi. [Alone in black armour.] Yes, this must be the place—
Estella named,
St. Juan's shrine, and sure 'tis for the princess
Yon altar flames—Oh! hallowed vaults, how often
Ye ring with prayers, which granted would destroy
The fools who form them! Virgins there request
Their charms may fire the heart of some gay rake,
Who proves a wedded curse—There wives ask children,
And, when they have them, find their vices such
They mourn their birth—The spendthrift begs some kinsman
May die, and vows that heaven shall share the spoil—
While the young soldier prays his sword ere long
May blush with blood, (and with whose blood he cares not,)
Swearing, if so his arm may purchase glory,
He'll pay its price, a thousand human hearts.
And all these mad, these impious vows are ushered
With chant of cloistered maids, and swell of organs—
As could our earthly songs charm Him, who hears
Seraphs and cherubs wake their harps divine,
While the blest planets, hymning in their orbits,
Pour fourth such tones as reached their mortal ears,
Man would go mad for very extasy.
Well, well! Such forms are good to force example
On purblind eyes: but prayer from earth abstracted,
Breathed in no ear but Heaven's; when lips are silent,
But the heart speaks full loudly; thanks the music,
Man's soul the censer, and pure thoughts the incense
Kindling with grace celestial: that's the worship
Which suits Him best who, past all prayer and praise,
Esteems one grateful tear, one heart-drawn blessing,
Which, thanking God, declares that man is happy.
—Ha! Gleams of torches gild yon distant aisle!
Enter Father Bazil.
Bazil. Stranger, What dost thou here, where now to offer
Gifts at yon shrine, for wondrous favour shown her,
The princess hastens? See, she comes: retire?
Orsi. Your pardon, reverend father, I obey.
[Exit Orsino.
A procession enters of nuns and friars with lighted tapers, then follow Amelrosa, Estella, Inis, and ladies, carrying offerings.