Semiramis and Other Plays Part 29

Raf. And Maximilian is crowned?

Ig. Yes ... crowned.

Raf. You saw him?

Ig. In the cathedral, with the empress.

Asef. The empress?

Raf. What looks he like? This Austrian duke That with a stolen crown mocks majesty!

Ig. He looks like majesty, and yet is graced With Nature's gentlest stamp; his countenance Takes beauty from his smile; his smile, one thinks, Takes sweetness from a heart that has its own n.o.bility from heaven.

Trev. An enemy Well praised!

Asef. The empress? She bewitched you too?

(Ignacio is silent)

Come, sir! The truth of her!

Ig. The truth? Go ask The angels. They've tongues for such sweet purpose.

Trev. What!

Ignacio turned squire o' the empire?

Ig. No.

But I can read a holy woman's face, Though she by some strange counterfeit of truth Would put an empress' foot upon our necks.

Asef. What is she like?

Ig. Like nothing but herself.

She is not gentle, for gentleness is but Rude servant to that quality in her; Gracious she's not, for grace herself doth serve A poor handmaiden to her excellence; Nor beautiful, for Beauty asks her name To wear but that and know her own no more.

(In the silence that follows a rider rushes up and dismounts)

Messenger.

Where is the general, Trevino?

Trev. Here.

Mess. Juarez approaches. (Saluting)

Trev. Juarez! Call up the camp!

Light all the beacons! Juarez! Build up the fires!

Shouts. Juarez! Juarez! Hurrah! El presidente!

Trev. We'll let him know the hearts he left i' the hills Still beat with loyal blood!

Shouts. Juarez! Juarez!

(Enter Juarez. Silence)

Jua. Trevino!

Trev. Your Excellency! (They embrace) You've heard?

Jua. I know.

Now monarchy has spread her gilded sails, And from the East comes like another sun To blind our eyes with wonder of a crown While shackling us by hand and foot to earth.

But from these mountains will arise a queen, The figure grey of ancient Liberty, Mourning and wronged, but with the unpaling star Of G.o.d's own favor set upon her brow: These two shall meet--and that mock sun go down!

Trev. You still have hope when Mexico deserts us?

Jua. Dost read your country in the smile she shows Her conqueror? She has a heart beneath!

Ay, sir, did she not prove it at Puebla?

Where dead fell on the dead with gun in hand Still pointed to the French! Where, hope once lost, And the enemy pouring through the shattered gates, Our men blew up their city and themselves To keep their souls free from Napoleon!

These men have brothers left, and sons, And _they are Mexico_!

Soldiers. El presidente!

Liberty and Juarez!

A soldier. (Waving his sword) We'll be revenged, Or spill more blood than h.e.l.l can drink!

Soldiers.

Down with the empire! Death to Maximilian!

Jua. No, not revenge,--but justice. That's enough.

We've but to wait--and strike. Yon mists now spread Their fair illusion o'er the eternal mountains 'Till 't seems they are the world, and the great hills Are naught. But by to-morrow's noon-sun see Their fortunes faded as a dream of night, While the rock peak looks up as if to say From the foundation of the world I am!

So will this glamour o'er our G.o.dly cause Pa.s.s as a breath, while all the world shall read Our right and t.i.tle to unbonded life In our free bosoms founded and G.o.d-set!

A soldier.

We'll die for freedom!

Jua. Die? That's the one thing We can not do. We may lie down in graves, But from our living dust will spring new challenge To make in n.o.ble minds continual war Until our race be righted!

Trev. Many fly From our misfortunes. Amaldo and LeVal--

Jua. Call 't not misfortune that teaches us our friends.

Now are we sifted and the chaff is known!

... LeVal! ... But Diaz is true?

Trev. On yonder mountain His fires make answer for him.

Jua. (Looking into distance) Forgive me, comrade!

I know you true, and sooner will yon moon Make her last change and fall than you change once From the full circle of a complete man....

(Turns and sees Ignacio) My nephew here?

Ig. Just from the capital.