Count Alarcos; a Tragedy Part 7

Nature sanctions Love; Your charter is more liberal. Let that pa.s.s.

I am no stranger to my duty, sir, And read it thus. The blood that shares my sceptre Should be august as mine. A woman loses In love what she may gain in rank, who tops Her husband's place; though throned, I would exchange An equal glance. His name should be a spell To rally soldiers. Politic he should be; And skilled in climes and tongues; that stranger knights Should bruit on, high Castillian courtesies.

Such chief might please a state?

I:4:11 KING.

Fortunate realm!

I:4:12 SOL.

And shall I own less niceness than my realm?

No! I would have him handsome a G.o.d; Hyperion in his splendor, or the mien Of conquering Bacchus, one whose very step Should guide a limner, and whose common words Are caught by Troubadours to frame their songs!

And O, my father, what if this bright prince Should I have a heart as tender as his soul Was high and peerless? If with this same heart He loved thy daughter?

I:4:13 KING.

Close the airy page Of thy romance; such princes are not found Except in lays and legends! yet a man Who would become a throne, I found thee, girl; The princely Hungary.

I:4:14 SOL.

A more princely fate, Than an unwilling wife, he did deserve.

I:4:15 KING.

Yet wherefore didst thou pledge thy troth to him?

I:4:16 SOL.

And wherefore do I smile when I should sigh?

And wherefore do I feed when I would fast?

And wherefore do I dance when I should pray?

And wherefore do I live when I should die?

Canst answer that, good Sir? O there are women The world deem mad, or worse, whose life but seems One vile caprice, a freakish thing of whims And restless nothingness; yet if we pierce The soul, may be we'll touch some cause profound For what seems causeless. Early love despised, Or baffled, which is worse; a faith betrayed, For vanity or lucre; chill regards, Where to gain constant glances we have paid Some fearful forfeit: here are many springs, Unmarked by shallow eyes, and some, or all Of these, or none, may prompt my conduct now-- But I'll not have thy prince.

I:4:17 KING.

My, gentle child--

I:4:18 SOL.

I am not gentle. I might have been once; But gentle thoughts and I have parted long; The cause of such part.i.tion thou shouldst know If memories were just.

I:4:19 KING.

Harp not, I pray, On an old sorrow.

I:4:20 SOL.

Old! he calls it old!

The wound is green, and staunch it, or I die.

I:4:21 KING.

Have I the skill?

I:4:22 SOL.

Why! art thou not a King?

Wherein consists the magic of a crown But in the bold achievement of a deed Would scare a clown to dream?

I:4:23 KING.

I'd read thy thought.

I:4:24 SOL.

Then have it; I would marry.

I:4:25 KING.

It is well; It is my wish.

I:4:26 SOL.

And unto such a prince As I've described withal. For though a prince Of Fancy's realm alone, as thou dost deem, Yet doth he live indeed.

I:4:27 KING.

To me unknown.

I:4:28 SOL.

O! father mine, before thy reverend knees Ere this we twain have knelt.

I:4:29 KING.

Forbear, my child; Or can it be my daughter doth not know He is no longer free?

I:4:30 SOL.

The power that bound him, That bondage might dissolve? To holy church Thou hast given great alms?

I:4:31 KING.

There's more to gain thy wish, If more would gain it; but it cannot be, Even were he content.

I:4:32 SOL.

He is content.

I:4:33 KING.

Hah!

I:4:34 SOL.

For he loves me still.

I:4:35 KING.

I would do much To please thee. I'm prepared to bear the brunt Of Hungary's ire; but do not urge, Solisa, Beyond capacity of sufferance My temper's proof.

I:4:36 SOL.

Alarcos is my husband, Or shall the sceptre from our line depart.

Listen, ye saints of Spain, I'll have his hand, Or by our faith, my fated womb shall be As barren as thy love, proud King.

I:4:37 KING.

Thou'rt mad!

Thou'rt mad!

I:4:38 SOL.

Is he not mine? Thy very hand, Did it not consecrate our vows? What claim So sacred as my own?

I:4:39 KING.

He did conspire--