Select Works of the British Poets

No dart of mine hath plume to mount so far.
None but a prince may dare.

Mask. But, if thou hast no hope, thou hast no love.
Bas. I love, and yet in truth I had no hope,
But that she might at least with some good will,
Some gentle, pure regard, some secret kindness,
Within her dear remembrance give me place.
This was my all of hope, but it is flown:
For she regards me not; despises, scorns me:
Scorns, I must say it too, a noble heart,
That would have bled for her.

Mask. (discovering herself to be Victoria, by speak-
ing in her true voice.) O! no, she does not.
[Exrr hastily in confusion.
Bas. (stands for a moment riveted to the spot,
then holds up both his hands in an ecstacy.)

It is herself! it is her blessed self!
O! what a fool am I, that had no power
To follow her, and urge th' advantage on.
Begone, unmanly fears! I must be bold.

A Dance of Masks.

[EXIT after her.

Enter DUKE and GAURIECIO, unmasked.
Duke. This revelry, methinks, goes gayly on.
The hour is late, and yet your friend returns not.
Gaur. He will return ere long-nay, there he

comes.

Enter GENTLEMAN.

Duke. Does all go well? (going close up to him.)
Gent.
All as your grace could wish.
For now the poison works, and the stung soldiers
Rage o'er their cups, and, with fire-kindled eyes,
Swear vengeance on the chief who would betray

them.

That Frederick, too, the discontented man
Of whom your highness was so lately told,
Swallows the bait, and does his part most bravely.
Gauriecio counsell'd well to keep him blind,
Nor with a bribe attempt him. On my soul:
He is so fiery he had spurn'd us else,

And ruin'd all the plot.

thee.

Vict. Nay, nay, let go thy hold-I cannot hate
(Breaks from him and exit.)
Bas. (alone.) Thou canst not hate me! no, thou
canst not hate me!

For I love thee so well, so passing well,
With such o'erflowing heart, so very dearly,
That it were sinful not to pay me back
Some small, some kind return.

Enter MIRANDO, dressed like Cupid.
Mir. Bless thee, brave soldier.
Bas. What say'st thou, pretty child? what play-
ful fair

Has deck'd thee out in this fantastic guise?
Mir. It was Victoria's self; it was the princess.
Bis. Thou art her favourite, then?
Mir.
They say I am:
I think in very truth she loves me well.
And now, between ourselves, I'll tell thee, soldier,
Such merry little songs she teaches me-
Sly riddles too, and when I'm laid to rest,
Ofttimes on tip-toe near my couch she steals,

Duke. Speak softly, friend-I'll hear it all in And lifts the covering so, to look upon me.

private.

A gay and careless face we now assume.

DUKE, GAUR. and GENT. retire into the inner apartment, appearing to laugh and talk gayly to the different Masks as they pass them.

Re-enter VICTORIA, followed by BASIL.

And oftentimes I feign as though I slept;
For then her warm lips to my cheek she lays,
And pats me softly with her fair white hands;
And then I laugh, and through mine eyelids peep,
And then she tickles me, and calls me cheat;
And then we so do laugh, ha, ha, ha, ha!
Bas. What! does she even so, thou happiest child?

Vict. Forbear, my lord; these words offend mine And have those rosy cheeks been press'd so dearly?

ear.

Bas. Yet let me but this once, this once offend,
Nor thus with thy displeasure punish me;
And if my words against all prudence sin,
O! hear them, as the good of heart do list

To the wild ravings of a soul distraught.

Vict. If I indeed should listen to thy words, They must not talk of love.

Delicious urchin! I will kiss thee too.
(Takes him eagerly up in his arms, and kisses him.)
Mir. No, let me down, thy kisses are sɔ rough,

So furious rough-she doth not kiss me so.
Bas. Sweet boy, where is thy chamber? by Vic-
toria's?

Mir. Hard by her own.

Bas. Then will I come beneath thy window soon:

Bts. To be with thee, to speak, to hear thee speak, And, if I could, some pretty song I'd sing,

To claim the soft attention of thine eye,
I'd be content to talk of any thing,
If it were possible to be with thee,
And think of aught but love.

Vict. I fear, my lord, you have too much presumed
On those unguarded words, which were in truth

To lull thee to thy rest.

Mir. O no, thou must not! 'tis a frightful place;
It is the churchyard of the neighbouring dome.
The princess loves it for the lofty trees,
Whose spreading branches shade her chamber walls:
So do not I; for when 'tis dark o' nights,

Masks place MIRANDO in the middle, and range them- What friend at such a time could lead thee forth?

selves round him.

SONG.-A GLEE.

Child, with many a childish wile,

Timid look, and blushing smile,
Downy wings to steal thy way,
Gilded bow, and quiver gay,

Who in thy simple mien would trace
The tyrant of the human race?

Who is he whose flinty heart

Hath not felt the flying dart?

Who is he that from the wound
Hath not pain and pleasure found?
Who is he that hath not shed

Curse and blessings on thy head?

Ah love! our weal, our wo, our bliss, our bane, A restless life have they who wear thy chain! Ah love! our weal, our wo, our bliss, our bane, More hapless still are they who never felt thy pain! (All the Masks dance round Cupid. Then enter a band of Satyrs, who frighten away Love and his volaries; and conclude the scene, dancing in a grotesque manner.)

ACT IV.

SCENE I. THE STREET BEFORE BASIL'S LODGINGS. Enter ROSINBERG and two Officers

Ros. (speaking as he enters.) Unless we find him quickly, all is lost.

1st Off. His very guards, methinks, have left their post

To join the mutiny.

Ros. (knocking very loud.) Holla! who's there within confound this door!

It will not yield. O for a giant's strength!
Holla, holla, within! will no one hear?

Enter a Porter from the house.

Bas. What is the matter which disturbs you

thus ?

Ros. Matter that would a wiser man disturb. Treason's abroad: thy men have mutinied. Bas. It is not so; thy wits have mutinied,

And left their sober station in thy brain.

1st Off. Indeed, my lord, he speaks in sober

earnest.

Some secret enemies have been employed
To fill your troops with strange imaginations.
As though their general would, for selfish gain,
Their generous valour urge to desperate deeds.
All to a man assembled on the ramparts,
Now threaten vengeance, and refuse to march.

Bas. What! think they vilely of me? threaten too!

O! most ungenerous, most unmanly thought! Didst thou attempt (to Ros.) to reason with their folly?

Folly it is; baseness it cannot be.

Ros. Yes, truly, I did reason with a storm, And bid it cease to rage.

Their eyes look fire on him who questions them
The hollow murmurs of their mutter'd wrath
Sound dreadful through the dark extended ranks,
Like subterraneous grumblings of an earthquake.
-The vengeful hurricane

Does not with such fantastic writhings toss
The wood's green boughs, as does convulsive rage
Their forms with frantic gestures agitate.
Around the chief of hell such legions throng'd
To bring back curse and discord on creation.
Bas. Nay, they are men, although impassion'd

ones.

I'll go to them

Ros.

And we will stand by thee. My sword is thine against ten thousand strong,

Rus. (eagerly to the porter.) Is he return'd? is If it should come to this. he return'd not yet? Thy face doth tell me so.

'll search for him no more.

Bas. No, never, never! There is no mean: I with my soldiers must Or their commander or their victim prove. But are my officers all stanch and faithful? Ros. All but that devil, FrederickHe, disappointed, left his former corps,

Port. He hath been absent all the night, my lord. Where he, in truth, had been too long neglected, Ros. I know he hath.

Thinking he should all on the sudden rise,
From Basil's well-known love of valiant men ;
And now, because it still must be deferr'd,
He thinks you seek from envy to depress him,
And burns to be revenged.

Bas. Well, wellBut let us go.

-This grieves me too

3d Sol. No one, huzza! confound all treacherous I thank your zeal, I'll deal with them alone. leaders!

(The Soldiers huzza and clash their arms.) 5th Sol. Heaven dart its fiery lightning on his head!

We're men, we are not cattle to be slaughter'd!
2d Sol. They who do long to caper high in air,
Into a thousand bloody fragments blown,
May follow our brave general.

I've fought for him till my strain'd nerves have crack'd!

2d Sol. We will command ourselves: for Milan, comrades.

5th Sol. Ay, ay, for Milan, valiant hearts, huzza. (All the Soldiers cast up their caps in the air and huzza.)

2d Sol. Yes, comrades, tempting booty waits us here,

And easy service: keep good hearts, my soldiers! The general comes, good hearts! no flinching, boys!

Look bold and fiercely: we're the masters now. (They all clash their arms and put on a fierce threatening aspect to receive their general, who now enters, followed by Rosinberg and Officers. Basil walks close along the front ranks of the Soldiers, looking at them very steadfastly; then retires a few paces back, and raising his arm, speaks with a very full loud voice.)

Bas. How is it, soldiers, that I see you thus, Assembled here unsummon'd by command? (A confused murmur is heard amongst the Soldiers; some of them call out)

But we ourselves command: we wait no orders. (A confused noise of voices is heard, and one louder than the rest calls out)

Must we be butcher'd for that we are brave?
(A loud clamour and clashing of arms, then
several voices call out)

Damn hidden treachery! we defy thy orders.
Frederick shall lead us now-

(Others call out) We'll march where'er we list; for Milan march. Bas. (waving his hand, and beckoning them to be silent, speaks with a very loud voice.) Yes, march where'er ye list: for Milan march. Sol. Hear him, hear him!

(The murmur ceases-a short pause.) Bas. Yes, march where'er ye list; for Milan

march:

But as banditti, not as soldiers go;

For on this spot of earth I will disband, And take from you the rank and name of soldiers. (A great clamour amongst the ranks-some call out)

Ros. What, shall we calmly stand and see thee

butcher'd?

Bas. (very earnestly.) Put up, my friends. (Officers still persist.) What! are you rebels too?

Will no one here his general's voice obey?
I do command you to put up your swords.
Retire, and at a distance wait th' event.
Obey, or henceforth be no friends of mine.
Officers retire very unwillingly. Basil waves
them off with his hand till they are all gone,
then walks up to the front of his Soldiers,
who still hold themselves in a threatening
posture.)

Soldiers! we've fought together in the field,
And bravely fought: i' the face of horrid death,
At honour's call, I've led you dauntless on;
Nor do I know the man of all your bands,
That ever poorly from the trial shrunk,
Or yielded to the foe contended space.
Am I the meanest then of all my troops,
That thus ye think, with base unmanly threats,
To move me now? Put up those paltry weapons;
They edgeless are to him who fears them not;
Rocks have been shaken from the solid base;
But what shall move a firm and dauntless mind?
Put up your swords, or dare the threaten'd deed—
Obey, or murder me.-

(A confused murmur-some of the Soldiers call out)

March us to Milan, and we will obey thee.

(Others call out)

Ay, march us there, and be our leader still.
Bas. Nay, if I am your leader, I'll command ye;
And where I do command, there shall you go,
But not to Milan. No, nor shall you deviate
E'en half a furlong from your destined way,
To seize the golden booty of the east.
Think not to gain, or temporize with me;
For should I this day's mutiny survive,
Much as I've loved you, soldiers, ye shall find me
Still more relentless in pursuit of vengeance;
Tremendous, cruel, military vengeance.
There is no mean-a desperate game ye play;
Therefore, I say, obey, or murder me.
Do as ye will, but do it manfully.

He is a coward who doth threaten me :
The man who slays me, but an angry soldier;
Acting in passion, like the frantic son,
Who struck his sire and wept.

(Soldiers call out) It was thyself who sought to murder us.

1st Sol. You have unto the emperor pledged your faith,

To lead us foremost in all desperate service ·

You have agreed to sell your soldiers' blood, And we have shed our dearest blood for you. Bas. Hear me, my soldiers

Frederick will do you right

Unto no easy service:-hardships, toils, The hottest dangers of most dreadful fight Will be your portion; and when all is o'er,

2d Sol. No, hear him not, he means to cozen you. Each, like his general, must contented be Home to return again, a poor brave soldier. (Endeavouring to stir up a noise and confusion How say ye now? I spread no tempting lureamongst them.) A better fate than this, I promise none. Soldiers. We'll follow Basil.

Bas. What cursed fiend art thou, cast out from

hell

To spirit up rebellion? damned villain

Bas. What token of obedience will ye give? (A deep pause.)

(They all lay down their arms.)

(Seizes upon 2d Soldier, drags him out from the Soldiers, lay down your arms!
ranks, and wrests his arms from him; then
takes a pistol from his side, and holds it to his
head.)

If any here are weary of the service,
Now let them quit the ranks, and they shall have

Stand there, damn'd meddling villain, and be silent; A free discharge, and passport to their homes;

For if thou utterest but a single word,

A cough or hem, to cross me in my speech,
I'll send thy cursed spirit from the earth,

To bellow with the damn'd!

(The Soldiers keep a dead silence-after a pause, Basil resumes his speech.)

Listen to me, my soldiers.

You say that I am to the emperor pledged
To lead you foremost in all desperate service,
For now you call it not the path of glory;
And if in this I have offended you,
I do indeed repent me of the crime.
But new from battles, where my native troops
So bravely fought, I felt me proud at heart,
And boasted of you, boasted foolishly.

I said, fair glory's palm ye would not yield
To e'er the bravest legion train'd to arms.
I swore the meanest man of all my troops
Would never shrink before an armed host,
If honour bade him stand. My royal master
Smiled at the ardour of my heedless words,
And promised, when occasion claim'd our arms,
To put them to the proof.

But ye do peace, and ease, and booty love,
Safe and ignoble service-be it so-
Forgive me that I did mistake you thus,
But do not earn with savage mutiny,
Your own destruction. We'll for Pavia march,
To join the royal army near its walls;
And there with blushing forehead will I plead,
That ye are men with warlike service worn,
Requiring ease and rest. Some other chief,
Whose cold blood boils not at the trumpet's sound,
Will in your rearward station head you then,
And so, my friends, we'll part. As for myself,

A volunteer, unheeded in the ranks,

I'll rather flight, with brave men for my fellows,

Than be the leader of a sordid band.

And from my scanty fortune I'll make good
The well-earn'd pay their royal master owes them.
Let those who follow me their arms resume.

(They all resume their arms.) Bas. (holding up his hands.) High heaven be praised!

I had been grieved to part with you, my soldiers. Here is a letter from my gracious master, With offers of preferment in the north, Most high preferment, which I did refuse, For that I would not leave my gallant troops. (Takes out a letter, and throws it amongst them.) (A great commotion amongst the Soldiers; many of them quit their ranks, and crowd about him, calling out)

Our gallant general!

(Others call out) We'll spend our hearts' blood for thee, noble Basil!

Bas. And so you thought me false? this bites to the quick!

My soldiers thought me false !

(They all quit their ranks, and crowd eagerly around him. Basil, waving them off with his hands.)

Away, away, you have disgusted me!

(Soldiers retire to their ranks.) "Tis well--retire, and hold yourselves prepared To march upon command, nor meet again Till you are summon'd by the beat of drum. Some secret enemy has tamper'd with you, For yet I will not think that in these ranks There moves a man who wears a traitor's heart. (The Soldiers begin to march off, and music strikes up.)

Bas. (holding up his hand.) Cease, cease,

triumphant sounds,

Which our brave fathers, men without reproach, Raised in the hour of triumph! but this hour

(A great murmur rises amongst the ranks, Sol-To us no glory brings

diers call out)

We will not part! no, no, we will not part!

(All call out together) We will not part! be thou our general still. Bas How can I be your general? ye obey As caprice moves you; I must be obey'd As honest men against themselves perform a sacred oath.

Some other chief will more indulgent proveYou're weary grown-I've been too hard a masterSoldiers. Thyself, and only thee, will we obey. Bas. But if you follow me, yourselves ye pledge

Then silent be your march-ere that again
Our steps to glorious strains like these shall move,
A day of battle o'er our heads mist pass,
And blood be shed to wash out this day's stain.
[EXEUNT Soldiers, silent and dejected.
Enter FREDERICK, who starts back on seeing BASIL
alone.

Bas. Advance, lieutenant; wherefore shrink ye
back?

I've even seen you bear your head erect, And front your man though arm'd with frowning | death.

Have you done aught the valiant should not do?
I fear you have.
(Fred. looks confused.)
With secret art, and false insinuation,
The simple untaught soldiers to seduce
From their sworn duty, might become the base,
Become the coward well; but O! what villain
Had the dark power to engage thy valiant worth
In such a work as this!

Fred. Is Basil, then, so lavish of his praise
On a neglected pitiful subaltern?

It were a libel on his royal master;

A foul reproach upon fair fortune cast,
To call me valiant:

And surely he has been too much their debtor
To mean them this rebuke.

Bas. Is nature then so sparing of her gifts,
That it is wonderful when they are found
Where fortune smiles not?

Thou art by nature brave and so am I ;
But in those distant ranks moves there not one
(pointing off the stage.)
Of high ennobled soul, by nature form'd
A hero and commander, who will yet
In his untrophied grave forgotten lie

With meaner men? I dare be sworn there does.
Fred. What need of words? I crave of thee no
favour,

I have offended 'gainst arm'd law, offended,

And shrink not from my doom.

And cursed thine ill-timed absence.-
There's treason in this most deceitful court,
Against thee plotting, and this morning's tumult,
Hath been its damn'd effect.
Bas.

Nay, nay, my friend!
The nature of man's mind too well thou knowest,
To judge as vulgar hoodwink'd statesmen do;
Who, ever with their own poor wiles misled,
Believe each popular tumult or commotion
Must be the work of deep-laid policy.
Poor, mean, mechanic souls, who little know
A few short words of energetic force,
Some powerful passion on the sudden roused,
The animating sight of something noble,
Some fond trait of the memory finely waked,
A sound, a simple song without design,
In revolutions, tumults, wars, rebellions,
All grand events, have oft effected more
Than deepest cunning of their paltry art.
Some drunken soldier, eloquent with wine,
Who loves not fighting, hath harangued his mates,
For they in truth some hardships have endured:
Wherefore in this should we suspect the court?

Ros. Ah! there is something, friend, in Mantua's

court,

Will make the blackest trait of barefaced treason,
Seem fair and guiltless to thy partial eye.

Bas. Nay, 'tis a weakness in thee, Rosinberg,
Which makes thy mind so jealous and distrustful.

Bas. I know thee well, I know thou fear'st not Why should the Duke be false ?

death;

On scaffold or in field with dauntless breast
Thou wilt engage him: and if thy proud soul,
In sullen obstinacy, scorns all grace,
E'en be it so. But if with manly gratitude
Thou truly canst receive a brave man's pardon,
Thou hast it freely.

Fred. It must not be. I've been thine enemy-
I've been unjust to thee-

Bas.

I know thou hast;

But thou art brave, and I forgive thee all.

Ros. Because he is a double, crafty prince-
Because I've heard it rumour'd secretly,
That he in some dark treaty is engaged,
E'en with our master's enemy, the Frank.
Bas. And so thou thinkest-
Ros.
Nay, hear me to the end.
Last night that good and honourable dame,
Noble Albini, with most friendly art,
From the gay clamorous throng my steps beguiled,
Unmask'd before me, and with earnest grace
Entreated me, if I were Basil's friend,

Fred. My lord! my general! 0 I cannot To tell him hidden danger waits him here,
speak!

I cannot live and be the wretch I am.

Bas. But thou canst live and be an honest man
From error turn'd,-canst live and be my friend.
(Raising Fred. from the ground.)
Forbear, forbear! see where our friends advance :
They must not think thee suing for a pardon;
That would disgrace us both. Yet, ere they come,
Tell me, if that thou mayst with honour tell,
What did seduce thee from thy loyal faith?

Fred. No cunning traitor did my faith attempt,
For then I had withstood him but of late,
I know not how-a bad and restless spirit
Has work'd within my breast, and made me
wretched.

I've lent mine ear to foolish idle tales,
Of very zealous, though but recent friends.

Bas. Softly, our friends approach-of this again.
[EXEUNT.

SCENE III-AN APARTMENT IN BASIL'S LODGINGS.
Enter BASIL and ROSINBERG.

Ros. Thank heaven I am now alone with thee.
ast night I sought thee with an anxious mind,

And warn him earnestly this court to leave.
She said she loved thee much; and hadst thou seen
How anxiously she urged-

Bas. (interrupting him.) By heaven and earth
There is a ray of light breaks through thy tale,
And I could leap like madmen in their freaks,
So blessed is the gleam! Ah! no, no, no!
It cannot be ! alas, it cannot be !
Yet didst thou say, she urged it earnestly?
She is a woman, who avoids all share
In secret politics; one only charge
Her interest claims, Victoria's guardian friend-
And she would have me hence-it must be so.
O! would it were! how saidst thou, gentle Rosin
berg?

She urged it earnestly-how did she urge it?
Nay, prithee do not stare upon me thus,
But tell me all her words! What said she?

Ros. O Basil! I could laugh to see thy folly,
But that thy weakness doth provoke me so.
Most admirable, brave, determined man!
So well, so lately tried, what art thou now?
A vain deceitful thought transports thee thus.
Thinkst thou-

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Select Works of the British Poets: In a Chronological Series from ..., Band 1