(Runs to the corpse, and tears off the cloth in Enter ABBESS and several NUNS from the convent, who despair.) Man. Ay, so I thought: But breathe a little here; I'll go before, (Manuel goes and knocks at the gate.) He saw it not; he came not here himself. Jane. (looking eagerly to the gate, where Manuel talks with the Porter.) Ha! see, he talks with some one earnestly. gather about her, and apply remedies. She recovers. 1st Nun. The life returns again. 2d Nun. Yes, she revives. Abb. (to Freb.) Let me entreat this noble lady's leave To lead her in. She seems in great distress. EXEUNT, supporting Jane into the convent. HEAVEN. De Mon. O that I ne'er had known the light of day! That filmy darkness on mine eyes had hung, (Pauses; then, in a calmer, sorrowful voice.) Enter MANUEL, who springs forward to his master, but is checked upon perceiving DE MONFORT draw back and look sternly at him. Man. My lord, my master! O my dearest master! (De Monfort still looks at him without speaking., Nay, do not thus regard me, good my lord! De Mon. (in a hasty, broken voice.) Art thou Man. No, sir, the Lady Jane is on her way; She is not far behind. De Mon. (tossing his arm over his head in an It must not be.-Run and prevent her coming. I am a man of holy claims bereft ; Out of the pale of social kindred cast; Tell her De Monfort far from hence is gone Ne'er to return again. Fly, tell her this; Enter JANE DE MONFORT, bursting into the chamber, and followed by FREBERG, ABBESS, and several NUNS. Jane. We must! we must! My brother, O my brother! (De Monfort turns away his head and hides his And thou too, Freberg: call it not unkind. 'De Monfort turns round and looks sorrowfully And in the rougher path of ripen'd years And terrible the storm that gathers o'er us; Which severs thee from nature, shall unloose In the terriffic face of armed law; Yea, on the scaffold, if it needs must be, I never will forsake thee. De Mon. (looking at her with admiration.) I thought to sink beneath this load of ill, I thought to sink in abject wretchedness: Jane. Yes, thou art noble still. De Mon. With thee I am; who were not so with But ah! my sister, short will be the term. Far as the spotless purity of virtue Is from the murderer's guilt, far shall we be. Jane. The God who made thee is a God of mercy; De Mon. (shaking his head.) No, no! this blood! this blood! Jane. Yes, e'en the sin of blood may be forgiven, Jane. Ay, give thy sorrow vent; here mayst When humble penitence hath once atoned. thou weep. De Mon. (in broken accents.) O! this, my sister, makes me feel again The kindness of affection. My mind has in a dreadful storm been tost; Thou art with one who never did upbraid; De Mon. Ah! sayst thou so? no, no; it should (Shrinking from her.) I am a foul and bloody murderer, De Mon. (eagerly.) What, after terms of length- Imprison'd anguish of tormented spirits, De Mon. Ha! dost thou pray for me? Heaven For such embrace unmeet: O leave me ! leave me! I fain would kneel.-Alas! I dare not do it. Disgrace and public shame abide me now; To noble worth like thine ?-I have no name- (She takes his hand, and grasping it firmly, Jane. De Monfort, hand in hand we have enjoy'd The playful term of infancy together; Jane. Not so! all by th' Almighty Father form'd, (She kneels and prays to herself; he kneels by De Mon. Hear'st thou that noise? They come to interrupt us. Jane. (moving towards a side door.) Then let us enter here. De Mon. Well, I am ready, sir. De Mon. (catching hold of her with a look of horror.) Not there-not there—the corpse (Approaching Jane, whom the Abbess is endeavouring to comfort, but to no purpose.) Jane. What, lies he there?-Unhappy Rezen-Ah! wherefore thus! most honour'd and most dear? velt? Shrink not at the accoutrements of ill, De Mon. A sudden thought has come across my Daring the thing itself. mind; How came it not before? Unhappy Rezenvelt! Sayst thou but this? (Endeavouring to look cheerful.) Wilt thou permit me with a gyved hand? (She gives her hand, which he raises to his lips.) Jane. What should I say? he was an honest This was my proudest office. man; I still have thought him such, as such lament him. [EXEUNT, De Monfort leading out Jane. (De Monfort utters a deep groan.) SCENE V.-AN APARTMENT IN THE CONVENT, OPENWhat means this heavy groan? ING INTO ANOTHER ROOM, WHOSE LOW, ARCHED DOOR IS SEEN IN THE BOTTOM OF THE STAGE. IN ONE CORNER A MONK IS SEEN KNEELING. De Mon. (Pointing to De Monfort.) Jane. Nay, say not so; he has no power t' escape: Distress hath bound him with a heavy chain; There is no need of yours. 1st Off. We must perform our office. Jane. O do not offer this indignity! 1st Off. Is it indignity in sacred law Enter another Monk, who, on perceiving him, stops till he rises from his knees, and then goes eagerly up to him. Is 1st Monk. How is the prisoner? 2d Monk. (pointing to the door.) He is within, 1st Monk. How is this, good brother? 2d Monk. Yes, with heroic courage, for a while To bind a murderer? (To 2d Officer.) Come, do thy God grant his pains be short! work. Jane. Harsh are thy words, and stern thy har- Dark is thine eye; but all some pity have I do beseech thee! if thou art a man (Kneeling to him.) (De Monfort, roused at this, runs up to Jane, and raises her hastily from the ground: then stretches himself up proudly.) 1st Monk. How does the lady? 2d Monk. She sits and bears his head upon her lap, Wiping the cold drops from his ghastly face With such a look of tender wretchedness, It wrings the heart to see her. How goes the night? 1st Monk. It wears, methinks, upon the midnight hour. It is a dark and fearful night: the moon De Mon. (to Jane.) Stand thou erect in native Is wrapp'd in sable clouds; the chill blast sounds dignity; And bend to none on earth the suppliant knee, Like dismal lamentations. Ay, who knows (Holding out his hands.) Here, officers of law, bind And o'er my head a chilly coldness crept. on those shackles ; And, if they are too light, bring heavier chains. Are there not wicked fiends and damned sprites, (A long pause, whilst they put irons upon him. 1st Off. I have it, too, in charge to move you hence, (To De Monfort.) Into another chamber more secure. (Goes from the door.) I hear him struggling in the gripe of death. Enter Brother THOMAS from the chamber. How now, good brother? Thom. Retire, my friends. O many a bed of death With all its pangs and horrors I have seen, I would move hence, but I am weak and faint: (Leans on second Monk: a pause.) Enter BERNARD from the chamber. 2d Monk. (to Bern.) How is your penitent? The soul of man: before whose awful presence (Bell tolls.) Retire and pray for the blood-stain'd soul: Enter MANUEL and JEROME. Man. (pointing.) Here, my good Jerome, here's Jer. A piteous sight! yet I will look upon him: (Lifts up in mistake the cloth from the body of (Drops the cloth again.) Man. That is the murder'd corpse; here lies De Monfort. (Going to uncover the other body.) Jer. (turning away his head.) No, no! I cannot look upon him now. Man. Didst thou not come to see him? Bern. (To Jer.) Well dost thou show the ab- For deeds of blood, and I commend thee well. May heaven have mercy on him! (Bell tolls again.) For one, who, from the hand of fellow man, [EXEUNT. SCENE VI.-A HALL OR LARGE ROOM IN THE CON VENT. Hath felt such cruelty. (Uncovering the body of Rezenvelt.) THE BODIES OF DE MONFORT AND REZEN- This is the murder'd corse: VELT ARE DISCOVERED LAID OUT UPON A LOW TABLE OR PLATFORM, COVERED WITH BLACK. FREBERG, BERNARD, ABBESS, MONKS, AND NUNS ATTENDING. (Uncovering the body of De Monfort) Here lies the murderer. What think'st thou here? Abb. (to Freb.) Here must they lie, my lord, With the last dreadful conflict of despair, until we know (Goes to the table, and looks at the bodies, but Unhappy men! ye, both in nature rich, So fix'd in horrid strength. See those knit brows; those hollow sunken eyes; Think'st thou, less painful than the murderer's Was such a death as this Ay, and how changed too those matted locks! Jer. Merciful heaven! his hair is grisly grown, Alas, alas! most wretched! Whom heaven commands to love? Low are ye Thou wert too good to do a cruel deed, And so it kill'd thee. Thou hast suffer'd for it. (Laying his hand on De Monfort.) Bern. Draw back, draw back; see where the lady comes. Enter JANE DE MONFORT. (Freberg, who has been for some time retired by himself to the bottom of the stage, now steps forward to lead her in, but checks himself on seeing the fixed sorrow of her countenance, and draws back respectfully. Jane advances to the table, and looks attentively at the covered bodies. Manuel points out the bodu of De Monfort, and she gives a gentle inclination of the head, to signify that she understands him. She then bends tenderly over it, without speaking. Man. (to Jane, as she raises her head.) O, madam! my good lord. Jane. Well says thy love, my good and faithful But we must mourn in silence. Man. Alas! the times that I have follow'd him! Thou hast loved him, and I'll remember thee. Man. Nay, by the living God! where'er you are, me, (Throwing himself at her feet.) Jane. (raising him.) Well, then! be thou my servant, and my friend. Art thou, good Jerome, too, in kindness come? Man. (to Off.) Hold thy unrighteous tongue, or Nor, in the presence of this honour'd dame, 1st Off. I am an officer on duty call'd, Do as thou wilt: To one who can suspect my simple word Jane. I thank your courtesy: thanks, thanks to My reverend mother, and ye honour'd maids; Would I could serve you with a young man's And now I have a sad request to make, strength! I'd spend my life for you. Jane. And even a worship pays. Jane. Nay, Freberg, Freberg! grieve me not, He to whose ear my praise most welcome was, The voice of praise was wont to name us both; (Covers her face with her hands, and bursts into Into our hands he straight must be consign'd. Bern. He is not subject now to human laws; The prison that awaits him is the grave. Nor will these holy sisters scorn my boon: Enter SULPICIUS and ORCERES by opposite sides. Sul. So soon return'd!--I read not in thy face 1st Off. Ha! say'st thou so? there is foul play in Aught to encourage or depress my wishes. this. How is it, noble friend? |