ACT III

AnaelandLoys.An.Here leave me! Here I wait another. 'T wasFor no mad protestation of a loveLike this you say possesses you, I came.Loys. Love? how protest a love I dare not feel?Mad words may doubtless have escaped me: youAre here—I only feel you here!An.No more!Loys.But once again, whom could you love? I dare,Alas, say nothing of myself, who amA Knight now, for when Knighthood we embrace,Love we abjure: so, speak on safely: speak,Lest I speak, and betray my faith! And yetTo say your breathing passes through me, changesMy blood to spirit, and my spirit to you,As Heaven the sacrificer's wine to it—This is not to protest my love! You saidYou could love one ...An.One only! We are bentTo earth—who raises up my tribe, I love;The Prefect bows us—who removes him; weHave ancient rights—who gives them back to us,I love. Forbear me! Let my hand go!Loys.HimYou could love only? Where is Djabal? Stay![Aside.]Yet wherefore stay? Who does this but myself?Had I apprised her that I come to doJust this, what more could she acknowledge? No,She sees into my heart's core! What is itFeeds either cheek with red, as June some rose?Why turns she from me? Ah fool, over-fondTo dream I could call up ...... What never dreamYet feigned! 'Tis love! Oh Anael, speak to me!Djabal—An.Seek Djabal by the Prefect's chamberAt noon![She paces the room.Loys.[Aside.]And am I not the Prefect now?Is it my fate to be the only oneAble to win her love, the only oneUnable to accept her love? The pastBreaks up beneath my footing: came I hereThis morn as to a slave, to set her freeAnd take her thanks, and then spend day by dayContent beside her in the Isle? What worksThis knowledge in me now? Her eye has brokenThe faint disguise away: for Anael's sakeI left the Isle, for her espoused the causeOf the Druses, all for her I thought, till now,To live without!—As I must live! To-dayOrdains me Knight, forbids me ... never shallForbid me to profess myself, heart, arm,Thy soldier!An.Djabal you demanded, comes!Loys.[Aside.]What wouldst thou, Loys? see him? Naught besideIs wanting: I have felt his voice a spellFrom first to last. He brought me here, made knownThe Druses to me, drove me hence to seekRedress for them; and shall I meet him now,When naught is wanting but a word of his,To—what?—induce me to spurn hope, faith, pride,Honor away,—to cast my lot amongHis tribe, become a proverb in men's mouths,Breaking my high pact of companionshipWith those who graciously bestowed on meThe very opportunities I turnAgainst them! Let me not see Djabal now!An.The Prefect also comes!Loys.[Aside.]Him let me see,Not Djabal! Him, degraded at a word,To soothe me,—to attest belief in me—And after, Djabal! Yes, ere I returnTo her, the Nuncio's vow shall have destroyedThis heart's rebellion, and coerced this willForever.Anael, not before the vowsIrrevocably fix me ...Let me fly!The Prefect, or I lose myself forever![Goes.An.Yes, I am calm now; just one way remains—One, to attest my faith in him: for, see,I were quite lost else: Loys, Djabal, standOn either side—two men! I balance looksAnd words, give Djabal a man's preference,No more. In Djabal, Hakeem is absorbed!And for a love like this, the God who savesMy race, selects me for his bride? One way!—(EnterDjabal.)Dja.[To himself.]No moment is to waste then; 'tis resolved.If Khalil may be trusted to lead backMy Druses, and if Loys can be luredOut of the Isle—if I procure his silence,Or promise never to return at least,—All's over. Even now my bark awaits:I reach the next wild islet and the next,And lose myself beneath the sun forever.And now, to Anael!An.Djabal, I am thine!Dja.Mine? Djabal's?—As if Hakeem had not been?An.Not Djabal's? Say first, do you read my thought?Why need I speak, if you can read my thought?Dja.I do not, I have said a thousand times.An.(My secret's safe, I shall surprise him yet!)Djabal, I knew your secret from the first:Djabal, when first I saw you ... (by our porchYou leant, and pressed the tinkling veil away,And one fringe fell behind your neck—I see!)... I knew you were not human, for I said"This dim secluded house where the sea beatsIs heaven to me—my people's huts are hellTo them; this august form will follow me,Mix with the waves his voice will,—I have him;And they, the Prefect! Oh, my happinessRounds to the full whether I choose or no!His eyes met mine, he was about to speak,His hand grew damp—surely he meant to sayHe let me love him: in that moment's blissI shall forget my people pine for home—They pass and they repass with pallid eyes!"I vowed at once a certain vow; this vow—Not to embrace you till my tribe was saved.Embrace me!Dja.[Apart.]And she loved me! Naught remainedBut that! Nay, Anael, is the Prefect dead?An.Ah, you reproach me! True, his death crowns all,I know—or should know: and I would do much,Believe! but, death! Oh, you, who have known death,Would never doom the Prefect, were death fearfulAs we report!Death!—a fire curls within usFrom the foot's palm, and fills up to the brain,Up, out, then shatters the whole bubble-shellOf flesh, perchance!Death!—witness, I would die,Whate'er death be, would venture now to dieFor Khalil, for Maani—what for thee?Nay, but embrace me, Djabal, in assuranceMy vow will not be broken, for I mustDo something to attest my faith in you,Be worthy you!Dja.[Avoiding her.]I come for that—to saySuch an occasion is at hand: 'tis likeI leave you—that we part, my Anael,—partForever!An.We part? Just so! I have succumbed,—I am, he thinks, unworthy—and naught lessWill serve than such approval of my faith.Then, we part not! Remains there no way shortOf that? Oh, not that!Death!—yet a hurt birdDied in my hands; its eyes filmed—"Nay, it sleeps,"I said, "will wake to-morrow well:" 't was dead.Dja.I stand here and time fleets. Anael—I comeTo bid a last farewell to you: perhapsWe never meet again. But, ere the PrefectArrive ...(EnterKhalil,breathlessly.)Kha.He's here! The Prefect! Twenty guards,No more—no sign he dreams of danger. AllAwaits thee only. Ayoob, Karshook, keepTheir posts—wait but the deed's accomplishmentTo join us with thy Druses to a man.Still holds his course the Nuncio—near and nearThe fleet from Candia steering.Dja.[Aside.]All is lost!—Or won?Kha.And I have laid the sacred robe,The sword, the head-tiar, at the porch—the placeCommanded. Thou wilt hear the Prefect's trumpet.Dja.Then I keep Anael,—him then, past recall,I slay—'tis forced on me! As I beganI must conclude—so be it!Kha.For the rest,Save Loys, our foe's solitary sword,All is so safe that ... I will ne'er entreatThy post again of thee: though danger none,There must be glory only meet for theeIn slaying the Prefect!An.[Aside.]And 'tis now that DjabalWould leave me!—in the glory meet for him!Dja.As glory, I would yield the deed to youOr any Druse; what peril there may be,I keep.[Aside.]All things conspire to hound me on!Not now, my soul, draw back, at least! Not now!The course is plain, howe'er obscure all else.Once offer this tremendous sacrifice,Prevent what else will be irreparable,Secure these transcendental helps, regainThe Cedars—then let all dark clear itself!I slay him!Kha.Anael, and no part for us![ToDja.]Hast thou possessed her with ...Dja.[ToAn.]Whom speak you to?What is it you behold there? Nay, this smileTurns stranger. Shudder you? The man must die,As thousands of our race have died through him.One blow, and I discharge his weary soulFrom the flesh that pollutes it! Let him fillStraight some new expiatory form, of earthOr sea, the reptile or some aëry thing:What is there in his death?An.My brother said,Is there no part in it for us?Dja.For Khalil,—The trumpet will announce the Nuncio's entry;Here, I shall find the Prefect hasteningIn the Pavilion to receive him—hereI slay the Prefect; meanwhile Ayoob leadsThe Nuncio with his guards within: once theseSecured in the outer hall, bid Ayoob barEntry or egress till I give the signWhich waits the landing of the argosiesYou will announce to me: this double signThat justice is performed and help arrived,When Ayoob shall receive, but not before,Let him throw ope the palace doors, admitThe Druses to behold their tyrant, ereWe leave forever this detested spot.Go, Khalil, hurry all! No pause, no pause!Whirl on the dream, secure to wake anon!Kha.What sign? and who the bearer?Dja.Who shall showMy ring, admit to Ayoob. How she stands!Have I not ... I must have some task for her.Anael, not that way! 'T is the Prefect's chamber!Anael, keep you the ring—give you the sign!(It holds her safe amid the stir.) You willBe faithful?An.[Taking the ring.]I would fain be worthy. Hark![Trumpet without.Kha.He comes!Dja.And I too come.An.One word, but one!Say, shall you be exalted at the deed?Then? On the instant?Dja.I exalted? What?He, there—we, thus—our wrongs revenged, our tribeSet free? Oh, then shall I, assure yourself,Shall you, shall each of us, be in his deathExalted!Kha.He is here!Dja.Away—away![They go.(Enter thePrefectwithGuards,andLoys.)The Prefect.[ToGuards.]Back, I say, to the galley every guard!That's my sole care now; see each bench retainsIts complement of rowers; I embarkO' the instant, since this Knight will have it so.Alas me! Could you have the heart, my Loys![To aGuardwho whispers.]Oh, bring the holy Nuncio here forthwith![TheGuardsgo.Loys, a rueful sight, confess, to seeThe gray discarded Prefect leave his post,With tears i' the eye! So, you are Prefect now?You depose me—you succeed me? Ha, ha!Loys.And dare you laugh, whom laughter less becomesThan yesterday's forced meekness we beheld ...Pref.—When you so eloquently pleaded, Loys,For my dismissal from the post? Ah, meekWith cause enough, consult the Nuncio else!And wish him the like meekness: for so stanchA servant of the church can scarce have boughtHis share in the Isle, and paid for it, hard pieces!You 've my successor to condole with, Nuncio!I shall be safe by then i' the galley, Loys!Loys.You make as you would tell me you rejoiceTo leave your scene of ...Pref.Trade in the dear Druses?Blood and sweat traffic? Spare what yesterdayWe heard enough of! Drove I in the IsleA profitable game? Learn wit, my son,Which you'll need shortly! Did it never breedSuspicion in you, all was not pure profit,When I, the insatiate ... and so forth—was bentOn having a partaker in my rule?Why did I yield this Nuncio half the gain,If not that I might also shift—what on him?Half of the peril, Loys!Loys.Peril?Pref.Hark you!I'd love you if you'd let me—this for reason,You save my life at price of ... well, say riskAt least, of yours. I came a long time sinceTo the Isle; our Hospitallers bade me tameThese savage wizards, and reward myself—Loys.The Knights who so repudiate your crime?Pref. Loys, the Knights! we doubtless understoodEach other; as for trusting to rewardFrom any friend beside myself ... no, no!I clutched mine on the spot, when it was sweet,And I had taste for it. I felt these wizardsAlive—was sure they were not on me, onlyWhen I was on them: but with age comes caution:And stinging pleasures please less and sting more.Year by year, fear by fear! The girls were brighterThan ever ('faith, there's yet one Anael left,I set my heart upon—Oh, prithee, letThat brave new sword lie still!)—These joys looked brighter,But silenter the town, too, as I passed.With this alcove's delicious memoriesBegan to mingle visions of gaunt fathers,Quick-eyed sons, fugitives from the mine, the oar,Stealing to catch me. Brief, when I beganTo quake with fear—(I think I hear the ChapterSolicited to let me leave, now allWorth staying for was gained and gone!)—I say.Just when, for the remainder of my life,All methods of escape seemed lost—that thenUp should a young hot-headed Loys spring,Talk very long and loud,—in fine, compelThe Knights to break their whole arrangement, have meHome for pure shame—from this safehold of mineWhere but ten thousand Druses seek my life,To my wild place of banishment, San GinesBy Murcia, where my three fat manors lying,Purchased by gains here and the Nuncio's gold,Are all I have to guard me,—that such fortuneShould fall to me, I hardly could expect.Therefore I say, I 'd love you.Loys.Can it be?I play into your hands then? Oh no, no!The Venerable Chapter, the Great OrderSunk o' the sudden into fiends of the pit?But I will back—will yet unveil you!Pref.Me?To whom?—perhaps Sir Galeas, who in ChapterShook his white head thrice—and some dozen timesMy hand next morning shook, for value paid!To that Italian saint, Sir Cosimo?—Indignant at my wringing year by yearA thousand bezants from the coral divers,As you recounted; felt the saint aggrievedWell might he—I allowed for his half-shareMerely one hundred! To Sir ...Loys.See! you dareInculpate the whole Order; yet should I,A youth, a sole voice, have the power to changeTheir evil way, had they been firm in it?Answer me!Pref.Oh, the son of Bretagne's Duke,And that son's wealth, the father's influence, too,And the young arm, we'll even say, my Loys,—The fear of losing or diverting theseInto another channel, by gainsayingA novice too abruptly, could not influenceThe Order! You might join, for aught they cared,Their red-cross rivals of the Temple! Well,I thank you for my part, at all events.Stay here till they withdraw you! You'll inhabitMy palace—sleep, perchance, in the alcoveWhither I go to meet our holy friend.Good! and now disbelieve me if you can,—This is the first time for long years I enterThus[lifts the arras]without feeling just as if I liftedThe lid up of my tomb.Loys.They share his crime!God's punishment will overtake you yet.Pref.Thank you it does not! Pardon this last flash:I bear a sober visage presentlyWith the disinterested Nuncio here—His purchase-money safe at Murcia, too!Let me repeat—for the first time, no draughtComing as from a sepulchre salutes me.When we next meet, this folly may have passed,We'll hope. Ha, ha![Goes through the arras.Loys.Assure me but ... he's gone!He could not lie. Then what have I escaped,I, who had so nigh given up happinessForever, to be linked with him and them!Oh, opportunest of discoveries! ITheir Knight? I utterly renounce them all!Hark! What, he meets by this the Nuncio? Yes,The same hyæna groan-like laughter! Quick—To Djabal! I am one of them at last,These simple-hearted Druses—Anael's tribe!Djabal! She's mine at last. Djabal, I say![Goes.

AnaelandLoys.

An.Here leave me! Here I wait another. 'T wasFor no mad protestation of a loveLike this you say possesses you, I came.

An.Here leave me! Here I wait another. 'T was

For no mad protestation of a love

Like this you say possesses you, I came.

Loys. Love? how protest a love I dare not feel?Mad words may doubtless have escaped me: youAre here—I only feel you here!

Loys. Love? how protest a love I dare not feel?

Mad words may doubtless have escaped me: you

Are here—I only feel you here!

An.No more!

Loys.But once again, whom could you love? I dare,Alas, say nothing of myself, who amA Knight now, for when Knighthood we embrace,Love we abjure: so, speak on safely: speak,Lest I speak, and betray my faith! And yetTo say your breathing passes through me, changesMy blood to spirit, and my spirit to you,As Heaven the sacrificer's wine to it—This is not to protest my love! You saidYou could love one ...

Loys.But once again, whom could you love? I dare,

Alas, say nothing of myself, who am

A Knight now, for when Knighthood we embrace,

Love we abjure: so, speak on safely: speak,

Lest I speak, and betray my faith! And yet

To say your breathing passes through me, changes

My blood to spirit, and my spirit to you,

As Heaven the sacrificer's wine to it—

This is not to protest my love! You said

You could love one ...

An.One only! We are bentTo earth—who raises up my tribe, I love;The Prefect bows us—who removes him; weHave ancient rights—who gives them back to us,I love. Forbear me! Let my hand go!

An.One only! We are bent

To earth—who raises up my tribe, I love;

The Prefect bows us—who removes him; we

Have ancient rights—who gives them back to us,

I love. Forbear me! Let my hand go!

Loys.HimYou could love only? Where is Djabal? Stay![Aside.]Yet wherefore stay? Who does this but myself?Had I apprised her that I come to doJust this, what more could she acknowledge? No,She sees into my heart's core! What is itFeeds either cheek with red, as June some rose?Why turns she from me? Ah fool, over-fondTo dream I could call up ...

Loys.Him

You could love only? Where is Djabal? Stay!

[Aside.]Yet wherefore stay? Who does this but myself?

Had I apprised her that I come to do

Just this, what more could she acknowledge? No,

She sees into my heart's core! What is it

Feeds either cheek with red, as June some rose?

Why turns she from me? Ah fool, over-fond

To dream I could call up ...

... What never dreamYet feigned! 'Tis love! Oh Anael, speak to me!Djabal—

... What never dream

Yet feigned! 'Tis love! Oh Anael, speak to me!

Djabal—

An.Seek Djabal by the Prefect's chamberAt noon![She paces the room.

An.Seek Djabal by the Prefect's chamber

At noon![She paces the room.

Loys.[Aside.]And am I not the Prefect now?Is it my fate to be the only oneAble to win her love, the only oneUnable to accept her love? The pastBreaks up beneath my footing: came I hereThis morn as to a slave, to set her freeAnd take her thanks, and then spend day by dayContent beside her in the Isle? What worksThis knowledge in me now? Her eye has brokenThe faint disguise away: for Anael's sakeI left the Isle, for her espoused the causeOf the Druses, all for her I thought, till now,To live without!—As I must live! To-dayOrdains me Knight, forbids me ... never shallForbid me to profess myself, heart, arm,Thy soldier!

Loys.[Aside.]And am I not the Prefect now?

Is it my fate to be the only one

Able to win her love, the only one

Unable to accept her love? The past

Breaks up beneath my footing: came I here

This morn as to a slave, to set her free

And take her thanks, and then spend day by day

Content beside her in the Isle? What works

This knowledge in me now? Her eye has broken

The faint disguise away: for Anael's sake

I left the Isle, for her espoused the cause

Of the Druses, all for her I thought, till now,

To live without!

—As I must live! To-day

Ordains me Knight, forbids me ... never shall

Forbid me to profess myself, heart, arm,

Thy soldier!

An.Djabal you demanded, comes!

Loys.[Aside.]What wouldst thou, Loys? see him? Naught besideIs wanting: I have felt his voice a spellFrom first to last. He brought me here, made knownThe Druses to me, drove me hence to seekRedress for them; and shall I meet him now,When naught is wanting but a word of his,To—what?—induce me to spurn hope, faith, pride,Honor away,—to cast my lot amongHis tribe, become a proverb in men's mouths,Breaking my high pact of companionshipWith those who graciously bestowed on meThe very opportunities I turnAgainst them! Let me not see Djabal now!

Loys.[Aside.]What wouldst thou, Loys? see him? Naught beside

Is wanting: I have felt his voice a spell

From first to last. He brought me here, made known

The Druses to me, drove me hence to seek

Redress for them; and shall I meet him now,

When naught is wanting but a word of his,

To—what?—induce me to spurn hope, faith, pride,

Honor away,—to cast my lot among

His tribe, become a proverb in men's mouths,

Breaking my high pact of companionship

With those who graciously bestowed on me

The very opportunities I turn

Against them! Let me not see Djabal now!

An.The Prefect also comes!

Loys.[Aside.]Him let me see,Not Djabal! Him, degraded at a word,To soothe me,—to attest belief in me—And after, Djabal! Yes, ere I returnTo her, the Nuncio's vow shall have destroyedThis heart's rebellion, and coerced this willForever.Anael, not before the vowsIrrevocably fix me ...Let me fly!The Prefect, or I lose myself forever![Goes.

Loys.[Aside.]Him let me see,

Not Djabal! Him, degraded at a word,

To soothe me,—to attest belief in me—

And after, Djabal! Yes, ere I return

To her, the Nuncio's vow shall have destroyed

This heart's rebellion, and coerced this will

Forever.

Anael, not before the vows

Irrevocably fix me ...

Let me fly!

The Prefect, or I lose myself forever![Goes.

An.Yes, I am calm now; just one way remains—One, to attest my faith in him: for, see,I were quite lost else: Loys, Djabal, standOn either side—two men! I balance looksAnd words, give Djabal a man's preference,No more. In Djabal, Hakeem is absorbed!And for a love like this, the God who savesMy race, selects me for his bride? One way!—

An.Yes, I am calm now; just one way remains—

One, to attest my faith in him: for, see,

I were quite lost else: Loys, Djabal, stand

On either side—two men! I balance looks

And words, give Djabal a man's preference,

No more. In Djabal, Hakeem is absorbed!

And for a love like this, the God who saves

My race, selects me for his bride? One way!—

(EnterDjabal.)

Dja.[To himself.]No moment is to waste then; 'tis resolved.If Khalil may be trusted to lead backMy Druses, and if Loys can be luredOut of the Isle—if I procure his silence,Or promise never to return at least,—All's over. Even now my bark awaits:I reach the next wild islet and the next,And lose myself beneath the sun forever.And now, to Anael!

Dja.[To himself.]No moment is to waste then; 'tis resolved.

If Khalil may be trusted to lead back

My Druses, and if Loys can be lured

Out of the Isle—if I procure his silence,

Or promise never to return at least,—

All's over. Even now my bark awaits:

I reach the next wild islet and the next,

And lose myself beneath the sun forever.

And now, to Anael!

An.Djabal, I am thine!

Dja.Mine? Djabal's?—As if Hakeem had not been?

An.Not Djabal's? Say first, do you read my thought?Why need I speak, if you can read my thought?

An.Not Djabal's? Say first, do you read my thought?

Why need I speak, if you can read my thought?

Dja.I do not, I have said a thousand times.

An.(My secret's safe, I shall surprise him yet!)Djabal, I knew your secret from the first:Djabal, when first I saw you ... (by our porchYou leant, and pressed the tinkling veil away,And one fringe fell behind your neck—I see!)... I knew you were not human, for I said"This dim secluded house where the sea beatsIs heaven to me—my people's huts are hellTo them; this august form will follow me,Mix with the waves his voice will,—I have him;And they, the Prefect! Oh, my happinessRounds to the full whether I choose or no!His eyes met mine, he was about to speak,His hand grew damp—surely he meant to sayHe let me love him: in that moment's blissI shall forget my people pine for home—They pass and they repass with pallid eyes!"I vowed at once a certain vow; this vow—Not to embrace you till my tribe was saved.Embrace me!

An.(My secret's safe, I shall surprise him yet!)

Djabal, I knew your secret from the first:

Djabal, when first I saw you ... (by our porch

You leant, and pressed the tinkling veil away,

And one fringe fell behind your neck—I see!)

... I knew you were not human, for I said

"This dim secluded house where the sea beats

Is heaven to me—my people's huts are hell

To them; this august form will follow me,

Mix with the waves his voice will,—I have him;

And they, the Prefect! Oh, my happiness

Rounds to the full whether I choose or no!

His eyes met mine, he was about to speak,

His hand grew damp—surely he meant to say

He let me love him: in that moment's bliss

I shall forget my people pine for home—

They pass and they repass with pallid eyes!"

I vowed at once a certain vow; this vow—

Not to embrace you till my tribe was saved.

Embrace me!

Dja.[Apart.]And she loved me! Naught remainedBut that! Nay, Anael, is the Prefect dead?

Dja.[Apart.]And she loved me! Naught remained

But that! Nay, Anael, is the Prefect dead?

An.Ah, you reproach me! True, his death crowns all,I know—or should know: and I would do much,Believe! but, death! Oh, you, who have known death,Would never doom the Prefect, were death fearfulAs we report!Death!—a fire curls within usFrom the foot's palm, and fills up to the brain,Up, out, then shatters the whole bubble-shellOf flesh, perchance!Death!—witness, I would die,Whate'er death be, would venture now to dieFor Khalil, for Maani—what for thee?Nay, but embrace me, Djabal, in assuranceMy vow will not be broken, for I mustDo something to attest my faith in you,Be worthy you!

An.Ah, you reproach me! True, his death crowns all,

I know—or should know: and I would do much,

Believe! but, death! Oh, you, who have known death,

Would never doom the Prefect, were death fearful

As we report!

Death!—a fire curls within us

From the foot's palm, and fills up to the brain,

Up, out, then shatters the whole bubble-shell

Of flesh, perchance!

Death!—witness, I would die,

Whate'er death be, would venture now to die

For Khalil, for Maani—what for thee?

Nay, but embrace me, Djabal, in assurance

My vow will not be broken, for I must

Do something to attest my faith in you,

Be worthy you!

Dja.[Avoiding her.]I come for that—to saySuch an occasion is at hand: 'tis likeI leave you—that we part, my Anael,—partForever!

Dja.[Avoiding her.]I come for that—to say

Such an occasion is at hand: 'tis like

I leave you—that we part, my Anael,—part

Forever!

An.We part? Just so! I have succumbed,—I am, he thinks, unworthy—and naught lessWill serve than such approval of my faith.Then, we part not! Remains there no way shortOf that? Oh, not that!Death!—yet a hurt birdDied in my hands; its eyes filmed—"Nay, it sleeps,"I said, "will wake to-morrow well:" 't was dead.

An.We part? Just so! I have succumbed,—

I am, he thinks, unworthy—and naught less

Will serve than such approval of my faith.

Then, we part not! Remains there no way short

Of that? Oh, not that!

Death!—yet a hurt bird

Died in my hands; its eyes filmed—"Nay, it sleeps,"

I said, "will wake to-morrow well:" 't was dead.

Dja.I stand here and time fleets. Anael—I comeTo bid a last farewell to you: perhapsWe never meet again. But, ere the PrefectArrive ...

Dja.I stand here and time fleets. Anael—I come

To bid a last farewell to you: perhaps

We never meet again. But, ere the Prefect

Arrive ...

(EnterKhalil,breathlessly.)

Kha.He's here! The Prefect! Twenty guards,No more—no sign he dreams of danger. AllAwaits thee only. Ayoob, Karshook, keepTheir posts—wait but the deed's accomplishmentTo join us with thy Druses to a man.Still holds his course the Nuncio—near and nearThe fleet from Candia steering.

Kha.He's here! The Prefect! Twenty guards,

No more—no sign he dreams of danger. All

Awaits thee only. Ayoob, Karshook, keep

Their posts—wait but the deed's accomplishment

To join us with thy Druses to a man.

Still holds his course the Nuncio—near and near

The fleet from Candia steering.

Dja.[Aside.]All is lost!—Or won?

Dja.[Aside.]All is lost!

—Or won?

Kha.And I have laid the sacred robe,The sword, the head-tiar, at the porch—the placeCommanded. Thou wilt hear the Prefect's trumpet.

Kha.And I have laid the sacred robe,

The sword, the head-tiar, at the porch—the place

Commanded. Thou wilt hear the Prefect's trumpet.

Dja.Then I keep Anael,—him then, past recall,I slay—'tis forced on me! As I beganI must conclude—so be it!

Dja.Then I keep Anael,—him then, past recall,

I slay—'tis forced on me! As I began

I must conclude—so be it!

Kha.For the rest,Save Loys, our foe's solitary sword,All is so safe that ... I will ne'er entreatThy post again of thee: though danger none,There must be glory only meet for theeIn slaying the Prefect!

Kha.For the rest,

Save Loys, our foe's solitary sword,

All is so safe that ... I will ne'er entreat

Thy post again of thee: though danger none,

There must be glory only meet for thee

In slaying the Prefect!

An.[Aside.]And 'tis now that DjabalWould leave me!—in the glory meet for him!

An.[Aside.]And 'tis now that Djabal

Would leave me!—in the glory meet for him!

Dja.As glory, I would yield the deed to youOr any Druse; what peril there may be,I keep.[Aside.]All things conspire to hound me on!Not now, my soul, draw back, at least! Not now!The course is plain, howe'er obscure all else.Once offer this tremendous sacrifice,Prevent what else will be irreparable,Secure these transcendental helps, regainThe Cedars—then let all dark clear itself!I slay him!

Dja.As glory, I would yield the deed to you

Or any Druse; what peril there may be,

I keep.[Aside.]All things conspire to hound me on!

Not now, my soul, draw back, at least! Not now!

The course is plain, howe'er obscure all else.

Once offer this tremendous sacrifice,

Prevent what else will be irreparable,

Secure these transcendental helps, regain

The Cedars—then let all dark clear itself!

I slay him!

Kha.Anael, and no part for us![ToDja.]Hast thou possessed her with ...

Kha.Anael, and no part for us!

[ToDja.]Hast thou possessed her with ...

Dja.[ToAn.]Whom speak you to?What is it you behold there? Nay, this smileTurns stranger. Shudder you? The man must die,As thousands of our race have died through him.One blow, and I discharge his weary soulFrom the flesh that pollutes it! Let him fillStraight some new expiatory form, of earthOr sea, the reptile or some aëry thing:What is there in his death?

Dja.[ToAn.]Whom speak you to?

What is it you behold there? Nay, this smile

Turns stranger. Shudder you? The man must die,

As thousands of our race have died through him.

One blow, and I discharge his weary soul

From the flesh that pollutes it! Let him fill

Straight some new expiatory form, of earth

Or sea, the reptile or some aëry thing:

What is there in his death?

An.My brother said,Is there no part in it for us?

An.My brother said,

Is there no part in it for us?

Dja.For Khalil,—The trumpet will announce the Nuncio's entry;Here, I shall find the Prefect hasteningIn the Pavilion to receive him—hereI slay the Prefect; meanwhile Ayoob leadsThe Nuncio with his guards within: once theseSecured in the outer hall, bid Ayoob barEntry or egress till I give the signWhich waits the landing of the argosiesYou will announce to me: this double signThat justice is performed and help arrived,When Ayoob shall receive, but not before,Let him throw ope the palace doors, admitThe Druses to behold their tyrant, ereWe leave forever this detested spot.Go, Khalil, hurry all! No pause, no pause!Whirl on the dream, secure to wake anon!

Dja.For Khalil,—

The trumpet will announce the Nuncio's entry;

Here, I shall find the Prefect hastening

In the Pavilion to receive him—here

I slay the Prefect; meanwhile Ayoob leads

The Nuncio with his guards within: once these

Secured in the outer hall, bid Ayoob bar

Entry or egress till I give the sign

Which waits the landing of the argosies

You will announce to me: this double sign

That justice is performed and help arrived,

When Ayoob shall receive, but not before,

Let him throw ope the palace doors, admit

The Druses to behold their tyrant, ere

We leave forever this detested spot.

Go, Khalil, hurry all! No pause, no pause!

Whirl on the dream, secure to wake anon!

Kha.What sign? and who the bearer?

Dja.Who shall showMy ring, admit to Ayoob. How she stands!Have I not ... I must have some task for her.Anael, not that way! 'T is the Prefect's chamber!Anael, keep you the ring—give you the sign!(It holds her safe amid the stir.) You willBe faithful?

Dja.Who shall show

My ring, admit to Ayoob. How she stands!

Have I not ... I must have some task for her.

Anael, not that way! 'T is the Prefect's chamber!

Anael, keep you the ring—give you the sign!

(It holds her safe amid the stir.) You will

Be faithful?

An.[Taking the ring.]I would fain be worthy. Hark![Trumpet without.

Kha.He comes!

Dja.And I too come.

An.One word, but one!Say, shall you be exalted at the deed?Then? On the instant?

An.One word, but one!

Say, shall you be exalted at the deed?

Then? On the instant?

Dja.I exalted? What?He, there—we, thus—our wrongs revenged, our tribeSet free? Oh, then shall I, assure yourself,Shall you, shall each of us, be in his deathExalted!

Dja.I exalted? What?

He, there—we, thus—our wrongs revenged, our tribe

Set free? Oh, then shall I, assure yourself,

Shall you, shall each of us, be in his death

Exalted!

Kha.He is here!

Dja.Away—away![They go.

(Enter thePrefectwithGuards,andLoys.)

The Prefect.[ToGuards.]Back, I say, to the galley every guard!That's my sole care now; see each bench retainsIts complement of rowers; I embarkO' the instant, since this Knight will have it so.Alas me! Could you have the heart, my Loys![To aGuardwho whispers.]Oh, bring the holy Nuncio here forthwith![TheGuardsgo.Loys, a rueful sight, confess, to seeThe gray discarded Prefect leave his post,With tears i' the eye! So, you are Prefect now?You depose me—you succeed me? Ha, ha!

The Prefect.[ToGuards.]Back, I say, to the galley every guard!

That's my sole care now; see each bench retains

Its complement of rowers; I embark

O' the instant, since this Knight will have it so.

Alas me! Could you have the heart, my Loys!

[To aGuardwho whispers.]Oh, bring the holy Nuncio here forthwith![TheGuardsgo.

Loys, a rueful sight, confess, to see

The gray discarded Prefect leave his post,

With tears i' the eye! So, you are Prefect now?

You depose me—you succeed me? Ha, ha!

Loys.And dare you laugh, whom laughter less becomesThan yesterday's forced meekness we beheld ...

Loys.And dare you laugh, whom laughter less becomes

Than yesterday's forced meekness we beheld ...

Pref.—When you so eloquently pleaded, Loys,For my dismissal from the post? Ah, meekWith cause enough, consult the Nuncio else!And wish him the like meekness: for so stanchA servant of the church can scarce have boughtHis share in the Isle, and paid for it, hard pieces!You 've my successor to condole with, Nuncio!I shall be safe by then i' the galley, Loys!

Pref.—When you so eloquently pleaded, Loys,

For my dismissal from the post? Ah, meek

With cause enough, consult the Nuncio else!

And wish him the like meekness: for so stanch

A servant of the church can scarce have bought

His share in the Isle, and paid for it, hard pieces!

You 've my successor to condole with, Nuncio!

I shall be safe by then i' the galley, Loys!

Loys.You make as you would tell me you rejoiceTo leave your scene of ...

Loys.You make as you would tell me you rejoice

To leave your scene of ...

Pref.Trade in the dear Druses?Blood and sweat traffic? Spare what yesterdayWe heard enough of! Drove I in the IsleA profitable game? Learn wit, my son,Which you'll need shortly! Did it never breedSuspicion in you, all was not pure profit,When I, the insatiate ... and so forth—was bentOn having a partaker in my rule?Why did I yield this Nuncio half the gain,If not that I might also shift—what on him?Half of the peril, Loys!

Pref.Trade in the dear Druses?

Blood and sweat traffic? Spare what yesterday

We heard enough of! Drove I in the Isle

A profitable game? Learn wit, my son,

Which you'll need shortly! Did it never breed

Suspicion in you, all was not pure profit,

When I, the insatiate ... and so forth—was bent

On having a partaker in my rule?

Why did I yield this Nuncio half the gain,

If not that I might also shift—what on him?

Half of the peril, Loys!

Loys.Peril?

Pref.Hark you!I'd love you if you'd let me—this for reason,You save my life at price of ... well, say riskAt least, of yours. I came a long time sinceTo the Isle; our Hospitallers bade me tameThese savage wizards, and reward myself—

Pref.Hark you!

I'd love you if you'd let me—this for reason,

You save my life at price of ... well, say risk

At least, of yours. I came a long time since

To the Isle; our Hospitallers bade me tame

These savage wizards, and reward myself—

Loys.The Knights who so repudiate your crime?

Pref. Loys, the Knights! we doubtless understoodEach other; as for trusting to rewardFrom any friend beside myself ... no, no!I clutched mine on the spot, when it was sweet,And I had taste for it. I felt these wizardsAlive—was sure they were not on me, onlyWhen I was on them: but with age comes caution:And stinging pleasures please less and sting more.Year by year, fear by fear! The girls were brighterThan ever ('faith, there's yet one Anael left,I set my heart upon—Oh, prithee, letThat brave new sword lie still!)—These joys looked brighter,But silenter the town, too, as I passed.With this alcove's delicious memoriesBegan to mingle visions of gaunt fathers,Quick-eyed sons, fugitives from the mine, the oar,Stealing to catch me. Brief, when I beganTo quake with fear—(I think I hear the ChapterSolicited to let me leave, now allWorth staying for was gained and gone!)—I say.Just when, for the remainder of my life,All methods of escape seemed lost—that thenUp should a young hot-headed Loys spring,Talk very long and loud,—in fine, compelThe Knights to break their whole arrangement, have meHome for pure shame—from this safehold of mineWhere but ten thousand Druses seek my life,To my wild place of banishment, San GinesBy Murcia, where my three fat manors lying,Purchased by gains here and the Nuncio's gold,Are all I have to guard me,—that such fortuneShould fall to me, I hardly could expect.Therefore I say, I 'd love you.

Pref. Loys, the Knights! we doubtless understood

Each other; as for trusting to reward

From any friend beside myself ... no, no!

I clutched mine on the spot, when it was sweet,

And I had taste for it. I felt these wizards

Alive—was sure they were not on me, only

When I was on them: but with age comes caution:

And stinging pleasures please less and sting more.

Year by year, fear by fear! The girls were brighter

Than ever ('faith, there's yet one Anael left,

I set my heart upon—Oh, prithee, let

That brave new sword lie still!)—These joys looked brighter,

But silenter the town, too, as I passed.

With this alcove's delicious memories

Began to mingle visions of gaunt fathers,

Quick-eyed sons, fugitives from the mine, the oar,

Stealing to catch me. Brief, when I began

To quake with fear—(I think I hear the Chapter

Solicited to let me leave, now all

Worth staying for was gained and gone!)—I say.

Just when, for the remainder of my life,

All methods of escape seemed lost—that then

Up should a young hot-headed Loys spring,

Talk very long and loud,—in fine, compel

The Knights to break their whole arrangement, have me

Home for pure shame—from this safehold of mine

Where but ten thousand Druses seek my life,

To my wild place of banishment, San Gines

By Murcia, where my three fat manors lying,

Purchased by gains here and the Nuncio's gold,

Are all I have to guard me,—that such fortune

Should fall to me, I hardly could expect.

Therefore I say, I 'd love you.

Loys.Can it be?I play into your hands then? Oh no, no!The Venerable Chapter, the Great OrderSunk o' the sudden into fiends of the pit?But I will back—will yet unveil you!

Loys.Can it be?

I play into your hands then? Oh no, no!

The Venerable Chapter, the Great Order

Sunk o' the sudden into fiends of the pit?

But I will back—will yet unveil you!

Pref.Me?To whom?—perhaps Sir Galeas, who in ChapterShook his white head thrice—and some dozen timesMy hand next morning shook, for value paid!To that Italian saint, Sir Cosimo?—Indignant at my wringing year by yearA thousand bezants from the coral divers,As you recounted; felt the saint aggrievedWell might he—I allowed for his half-shareMerely one hundred! To Sir ...

Pref.Me?

To whom?—perhaps Sir Galeas, who in Chapter

Shook his white head thrice—and some dozen times

My hand next morning shook, for value paid!

To that Italian saint, Sir Cosimo?—

Indignant at my wringing year by year

A thousand bezants from the coral divers,

As you recounted; felt the saint aggrieved

Well might he—I allowed for his half-share

Merely one hundred! To Sir ...

Loys.See! you dareInculpate the whole Order; yet should I,A youth, a sole voice, have the power to changeTheir evil way, had they been firm in it?Answer me!

Loys.See! you dare

Inculpate the whole Order; yet should I,

A youth, a sole voice, have the power to change

Their evil way, had they been firm in it?

Answer me!

Pref.Oh, the son of Bretagne's Duke,And that son's wealth, the father's influence, too,And the young arm, we'll even say, my Loys,—The fear of losing or diverting theseInto another channel, by gainsayingA novice too abruptly, could not influenceThe Order! You might join, for aught they cared,Their red-cross rivals of the Temple! Well,I thank you for my part, at all events.Stay here till they withdraw you! You'll inhabitMy palace—sleep, perchance, in the alcoveWhither I go to meet our holy friend.Good! and now disbelieve me if you can,—This is the first time for long years I enterThus[lifts the arras]without feeling just as if I liftedThe lid up of my tomb.

Pref.Oh, the son of Bretagne's Duke,

And that son's wealth, the father's influence, too,

And the young arm, we'll even say, my Loys,

—The fear of losing or diverting these

Into another channel, by gainsaying

A novice too abruptly, could not influence

The Order! You might join, for aught they cared,

Their red-cross rivals of the Temple! Well,

I thank you for my part, at all events.

Stay here till they withdraw you! You'll inhabit

My palace—sleep, perchance, in the alcove

Whither I go to meet our holy friend.

Good! and now disbelieve me if you can,—

This is the first time for long years I enter

Thus[lifts the arras]without feeling just as if I lifted

The lid up of my tomb.

Loys.They share his crime!God's punishment will overtake you yet.

Loys.They share his crime!

God's punishment will overtake you yet.

Pref.Thank you it does not! Pardon this last flash:I bear a sober visage presentlyWith the disinterested Nuncio here—His purchase-money safe at Murcia, too!Let me repeat—for the first time, no draughtComing as from a sepulchre salutes me.When we next meet, this folly may have passed,We'll hope. Ha, ha![Goes through the arras.

Pref.Thank you it does not! Pardon this last flash:

I bear a sober visage presently

With the disinterested Nuncio here—

His purchase-money safe at Murcia, too!

Let me repeat—for the first time, no draught

Coming as from a sepulchre salutes me.

When we next meet, this folly may have passed,

We'll hope. Ha, ha![Goes through the arras.

Loys.Assure me but ... he's gone!He could not lie. Then what have I escaped,I, who had so nigh given up happinessForever, to be linked with him and them!Oh, opportunest of discoveries! ITheir Knight? I utterly renounce them all!Hark! What, he meets by this the Nuncio? Yes,The same hyæna groan-like laughter! Quick—To Djabal! I am one of them at last,These simple-hearted Druses—Anael's tribe!Djabal! She's mine at last. Djabal, I say![Goes.

Loys.Assure me but ... he's gone!

He could not lie. Then what have I escaped,

I, who had so nigh given up happiness

Forever, to be linked with him and them!

Oh, opportunest of discoveries! I

Their Knight? I utterly renounce them all!

Hark! What, he meets by this the Nuncio? Yes,

The same hyæna groan-like laughter! Quick—

To Djabal! I am one of them at last,

These simple-hearted Druses—Anael's tribe!

Djabal! She's mine at last. Djabal, I say![Goes.

EnterDjabal.Dja.Let me but slay the Prefect. The end now!To-morrow will be time enough to pryInto the means I took: suffice, they served,Ignoble as they were, to hurl revengeTrue to its object.[Seeing the robe, etc. disposed.Mine should never soHave hurried to accomplishment! Thee, Djabal,Far other mood befitted! Calm the RobeShould clothe this doom's awarder![Taking the robe.]Shall I dareAssume my nation's Robe? I am at leastA Druse again, chill Europe's policyDrops from me: I dare take the Robe. Why notThe Tiar? I rule the Druses, and what moreBetokens it than rule?—yet—yet—[Lays down the tiar.[Footsteps in the alcove.]He comes![Taking the sword.If the Sword serve, let the Tiar lie! So, feetClogged with the blood of twenty years can fallThus lightly! Round me, all ye ghosts! He'll lift ...Which arm to push the arras wide?—or both?Stab from the neck down to the heart—there stay!Near he comes—nearer—the next footstep! Now![As he dashes aside the arras,Anaelis discovered.Ha! Anael! Nay, my Anael, can it be?Heard you the trumpet? I must slay him here,And here you ruin all. Why speak you not?Anael, the Prefect comes![Anaelscreams.]So slow to feel'T is not a sight for you to look upon?A moment's work—but such work! Till you go,I must be idle—idle, I risk all![Pointing to her hair.Those locks are well, and you are beauteous thus,But with the dagger 't is, I have to do!An.With mine!Dja.Blood—Anael?An.Djabal, 't is thy deed!It must be! I had hoped to claim it mine—Be worthy thee—but I must needs confess'T was not I, but thyself ... not I have ... Djabal!Speak to me!Dja.Oh my punishment!An.Speak to meWhile I can speak! touch me, despite the blood!When the command passed from thy soul to mine,I went, fire leading me, muttering of thee,And the approaching exaltation,—"makeOne sacrifice!" I said,—and he sat there,Bade me approach; and, as I did approach,Thy fire with music burst into my brain.'T was but a moment's work, thou saidst—perchanceIt may have been so! Well, it is thy deed!Dja.It is my deed!An.His blood all this!—this! and ...And more! Sustain me, Djabal! Wait not—nowLet flash thy glory! Change thyself and me!It must be! Ere the Druses flock to us!At least confirm me! Djabal, blood gushed forth—He was our tyrant—but I looked he'd fallProne as asleep—why else is death called sleep?Sleep? He bent o'er his breast! 'T is sin, I know,—Punish me, Djabal, but wilt thou let him?Be it thou that punishest, not he—who creepsOn his red breast—is here! 'T is the small groanOf a child—no worse! Bestow the new life, then!Too swift it cannot be, too strange, surpassing![Following him up as he retreats.Now! Change us both! Change me and change thou!Dja.[Sinks on his knees.]Thus!Behold my change! You have done nobly. I!—An.Can Hakeem kneel?Dja.No Hakeem, and scarce Djabal!I have dealt falsely, and this woe is come.No—hear me ere scorn blast me! Once and ever,The deed is mine! Oh think upon the past!An.[To herself.]Did I strike once, or twice, or many times?Dja.I came to lead my tribe where, bathed in glooms,Doth Bahumid the Renovator sleep:Anael, I saw my tribe: I said, "WithoutA miracle this cannot be"—I said"Be there a miracle!"—for I saw you!An.His head lies south the portal!Dja.—Weighed with thisThe general good, how could I choose my own?What matter was my purity of soul?Little by little I engaged myself—Heaven would accept me for its instrument,I hoped: I said Heaven had accepted me!An.Is it this blood breeds dreams in me?—Who saidYou were not Hakeem? And your miracles—The fire that plays innocuous round your form?[Again changing her whole manner.Ah, thou wouldst try me—thou art Hakeem still!Dja.Woe—woe! As if the Druses of the Mount(Scarce Arabs, even there, but here, in the Isle,Beneath their former selves) should comprehendThe subtle lore of Europe! A few secretsThat would not easily affect the meanestOf the crowd there, could wholly subjugateThe best of our poor tribe. Again that eye?An.[After a pause springs to his neck.]Djabal,in this there can be no deceit!Why, Djabal, were you human only,—think,Maani is but human, Khalil human,Loys is human even—did their wordsHaunt me, their looks pursue me? Shame on youSo to have tried me! Rather, shame on meSo to need trying! Could I, with the PrefectAnd the blood, there—could I see only you?—Hang by your neck over this gulf of blood?Speak, I am saved! Speak, Djabal! Am I saved?[AsDjabalslowly unclasps her arms, and puts her silently from him.Hakeem would save me! Thou art Djabal! Crouch!Bow to the dust, thou basest of our kind!The pile of thee, I reared up to the cloud—Full, midway, of our fathers' trophied tombs,Based on the living rock, devoured not byThe unstable desert's jaws of sand,—falls prone!Fire, music, quenched: and now thou liest thereA ruin, obscene creatures will moan through!—Let us come, Djabal!Dja.Whither come?An.At once—Lest so it grow intolerable. Come!Will I not share it with thee? Best at once!So, feel less pain! Let them deride,—thy tribeNow trusting in thee,—Loys shall deride!Come to them, hand in hand, with me!Dja.Where come?An.Where?—to the Druses thou hast wronged! Confess,Now that the end is gained—(I love thee now—)That thou hast so deceived them—(perchance love theeBetter than ever!) Come, receive their doomOf infamy! Oh, best of all I love thee!Shame with the man, no triumph with the God,Be mine! Come!Dja.Never! More shame yet? and why?Why? You have called this deed mine—it is mine!And with it I accept its circumstance.How can I longer strive with fate? The pastIs past: my false life shall henceforth show true.Hear me! The argosies touch land by this;They bear us to fresh scenes and happier skies:What if we reign together?—if we keepOur secret for the Druses' good?—by meansOf even their superstition, plant in themNew life? I learn from Europe: all who seekMan's good must awe man, by such means as these.We two will be divine to them—we are!All great works in this world spring from the ruinsOf greater projects—ever, on our earth,Babels men block out, Babylons they build.I wrest the weapon from your hand! I claimThe deed! Retire! You have my ring—you barAll access to the Nuncio till the forcesFrom Venice land!An.Thou wilt feign Hakeem then?Dja.[Putting the Tiara of Hakeem, on his head.]And from this moment that I dare ope wideEyes that till now refused to see, beginsMy true dominion: for I know myself,And what am I to personate. No word?[Anaelgoes.'T is come on me at last! His blood on her—What memories will follow that! Her eye,Her fierce distorted lip and ploughed black brow!Ah, fool! Has Europe then so poorly tamedThe Syrian blood from out thee? Thou, presumeTo work in this foul earth by means not foul?Scheme, as for heaven,—but, on the earth, be gladIf a least ray like heaven's be left thee!ThusI shall be calm—in readiness—no waySurprised.[A noise without.This should be Khalil and my Druses.Venice is come then! Thus I grasp thee, sword!Druses, 't is Hakeem saves you! In! BeholdYour Prefect!(EnterLoys.Djabalhides the khandjar in his robe.)Loys.Oh, well found, Djabal!—but no time for words.You know who waits there?[Pointing to the alcove.Well!—and that 't is thereHe meets the Nuncio? Well? Now, a surprise—He there—Dja.I know—Loys.—is now no mortal's lord,Is absolutely powerless—call him, dead—He is no longer Prefect—you are Prefect!Oh, shrink not! I do nothing in the dark,Nothing unworthy Breton blood, believe!I understood at once your urgencyThat I should leave this isle for Rhodes; I feltWhat you were loath to speak—your need of help.I have fulfilled the task, that earnestnessImposed on me: have, face to face, confrontedThe Prefect in full Chapter, charged on himThe enormities of his long rule; he stoodMute, offered no defence, no crime denied.On which, I spoke of you, and of your tribe,Your faith so like our own, and all you urgedOf old to me—I spoke, too, of your goodness,Your patience—brief, I hold henceforth the IsleIn charge, am nominally lord,—but you,You are associated in my rule—Are the true Prefect! Ay, such faith had theyIn my assurance of your loyalty(For who insults an imbecile old man?)That we assume the Prefecture this hour!You gaze at me? Hear greater wonders yet—I cast down all the fabric I have built!These Knights, I was prepared to worship ... butOf that another time; what's now to say,Is—I shall never be a Knight! Oh, Djabal,Here first I throw all prejudice aside,And call you brother! I am Druse like you:My wealth, my friends, my power, are wholly yours,Your people's, which is now my people: forThere is a maiden of your tribe, I love—She loves me—Khalil's sister—Dja.Anael?Loys.Start you?Seems what I say, unknightly? Thus it chanced:When first I came, a novice, to the isle ...(Enter one of theNuncio'sGuardsfrom the alcove.)Guard.Oh horrible! Sir Loys! Here is Loys!And here—[Others enter from the alcove.[Pointing toDjabal.] Secure him, bind him—this is he![They surroundDjabal.Loys.Madmen—what is 't you do? Stand from my friend,And tell me!Guard.Thou canst have no part in this—Surely no part! But slay him not! The NuncioCommanded, slay him not!Loys.Speak, or ...Guard.The PrefectLies murdered there by him thou dost embrace.Loys.By Djabal? Miserable fools! How Djabal?[AGuardliftsDjabal'srobe;Djabalflings down the khandjar.Loys.[After a pause.]Thou hast received some insult worse than all,Some outrage not to be endured—[To theGuards.]Stand back!He is my friend—more than my friend! Thou hastSlain him upon that provocation!Guard.No!No provocation! 'T is a long devisedConspiracy: the whole tribe is involved.He is their Khalif—'t is on that pretence—Their mighty Khalif who died long ago,And now comes back to life and light again!All is just now revealed, I know not how,By one of his confederates—who, struckWith horror at this murder, first apprisedThe Nuncio. As 't was said, we find this DjabalHere where we take him.Dja.[Aside.]Who broke faith with me?Loys.[ToDjabal.]Hear'st thou? Speak! Till thou speak I keep off these,Or die with thee. Deny this story! ThouA Khalif, an impostor? Thou, my friend,Whose tale was of an inoffensive tribe,With ... but thou know'st—on that tale's truth I pledgedMy faith before the Chapter: what art thou?Dja.Loys, I am as thou hast heard. All 's true!No more concealment! As these tell thee, allWas long since planned. Our Druses are enoughTo crush this handful: the Venetians landEven now in our behalf. Loys, we part!Thou, serving much, wouldst fain have served me more;It might not be. I thank thee. As thou hearest,We are a separated tribe: farewell!Loys.Oh, where will truth be found now? Canst thou soBelie the Druses? Do they share thy crime?Those thou professest of our Breton stock,Are partners with thee? Why, I saw but nowKhalil, my friend—he spoke with me—no wordOf this! and Anael—whom I love, and whoLoves me—she spoke no word of this!Dja.Poor boy!Anael, who loves thee? Khalil, fast thy friend?We, offsets from a wandering Count of Dreux?No: older than the oldest, princelierThan Europe's princeliest race, our tribe: enoughFor thine, that on our simple faith we foundA monarchy to shame your monarchiesAt their own trick and secret of success.The child of this our tribe shall laugh uponThe palace-step of him whose life ere nightIs forfeit, as that child shall know, and yetShall laugh there! What, we Druses wait forsoothThe kind interposition of a boy—Can only save ourselves if thou concede?—Khalil admire thee? He is my right hand,My delegate!—Anael accept thy love?She is my bride!Loys.Thy bride? She one of them?Dja.My bride!Loys.And she retains her glorious eyes!She, with those eyes, has shared this miscreant's guilt!Ah—who but she directed me to findDjabal within the Prefect's chamber? KhalilBade me seek Djabal there, too! All is truth!What spoke the Prefect worse of them than this?Did the Church ill to institute long sincePerpetual warfare with such serpentry?And I—have I desired to shift my part,Evade my share in her design? 'T is well!Dja.Loys, I wronged thee—but unwittingly:I never thought there was in thee a virtueThat could attach itself to what thou deemestA race below thine own. I wronged thee, Loys,But that is over: all is over now,Save the protection I ensure againstMy people's anger. By their Khalif's side,Thou art secure and may'st depart: so, come!Loys.Thy side? I take protection at thy hand?(Enter otherGuards.)Guards.Fly with him! Fly, Sir Loys! 'T is too true!And only by his side thou may'st escape!The whole tribe is in full revolt: they flockAbout the palace—will be here—on thee—And there are twenty of us, we the GuardsO' the Nuncio, to withstand them! Even weHad stayed to meet our death in ignorance,But that one Druse, a single faithful Druse,Made known the horror to the Nuncio. Fly!The Nuncio stands aghast. At least let usEscape thy wrath, O Hakeem! We are naughtIn thy tribe's persecution![ToLoys.]Keep by him!They hail him Hakeem, their dead Prince returned:He is their God, they shout, and at his beckAre life and death![Loys,springing at the khandjarDjabalhad thrown down, seizes him by the throat.Thus by his side am I!Thus I resume my knighthood and its warfare,Thus end thee, miscreant, in thy pride of place!Thus art thou caught. Without, thy dupes may cluster.Friends aid thee, foes avoid thee,—thou art Hakeem,How say they?—God art thou! but also hereIs the least, youngest, meanest the Church callsHer servant, and his single arm availsTo aid her as she lists. I rise, and thouArt crushed! Hordes of thy Druses flock without:Here thou hast me, who represent the Cross,Honor and Faith, 'gainst Hell, Mahound and thee.Die![Djabalremains calm.]Implore my mercy, Hakeem, that my scornMay help me! Nay, I cannot ply thy trade;I am no Druse, no stabber: and thine eye,Thy form, are too much as they were—my friendHad such! Speak! Beg for mercy at my foot![Djabalstill silent.Heaven could not ask so much of me—not, sure,So much! I cannot kill him so![After a pause.] Thou artStrong in thy cause, then—dost outbrave us, then.Heardst thou that one of thine accomplices,Thy very people, has accused thee? MeetHis charge! Thou hast not even slain the PrefectAs thy own vile creed warrants. Meet that Druse!Come with me and disprove him—be thou triedBy him, nor seek appeal! Promise me this,Or I will do God's office! What, shalt thouBoast of assassins at thy beck, yet truthWant even an executioner? Consent,Or I will strike—look in my face—I will!Dja.Give me again my khandjar, if thou darest![Loysgives it.Let but one Druse accuse me, and I plungeThis home. A Druse betray me? Let us go![Aside.]Who has betrayed me?[Shouts without.Hearest thou? I hearNo plainer than long years ago I heardThat shout—but in no dream now! They return!Wilt thou be leader with me, Loys? Well!

EnterDjabal.

Dja.Let me but slay the Prefect. The end now!To-morrow will be time enough to pryInto the means I took: suffice, they served,Ignoble as they were, to hurl revengeTrue to its object.[Seeing the robe, etc. disposed.Mine should never soHave hurried to accomplishment! Thee, Djabal,Far other mood befitted! Calm the RobeShould clothe this doom's awarder![Taking the robe.]Shall I dareAssume my nation's Robe? I am at leastA Druse again, chill Europe's policyDrops from me: I dare take the Robe. Why notThe Tiar? I rule the Druses, and what moreBetokens it than rule?—yet—yet—[Lays down the tiar.[Footsteps in the alcove.]He comes![Taking the sword.If the Sword serve, let the Tiar lie! So, feetClogged with the blood of twenty years can fallThus lightly! Round me, all ye ghosts! He'll lift ...Which arm to push the arras wide?—or both?Stab from the neck down to the heart—there stay!Near he comes—nearer—the next footstep! Now![As he dashes aside the arras,Anaelis discovered.Ha! Anael! Nay, my Anael, can it be?Heard you the trumpet? I must slay him here,And here you ruin all. Why speak you not?Anael, the Prefect comes![Anaelscreams.]So slow to feel'T is not a sight for you to look upon?A moment's work—but such work! Till you go,I must be idle—idle, I risk all![Pointing to her hair.Those locks are well, and you are beauteous thus,But with the dagger 't is, I have to do!

Dja.Let me but slay the Prefect. The end now!

To-morrow will be time enough to pry

Into the means I took: suffice, they served,

Ignoble as they were, to hurl revenge

True to its object.[Seeing the robe, etc. disposed.

Mine should never so

Have hurried to accomplishment! Thee, Djabal,

Far other mood befitted! Calm the Robe

Should clothe this doom's awarder![Taking the robe.]

Shall I dare

Assume my nation's Robe? I am at least

A Druse again, chill Europe's policy

Drops from me: I dare take the Robe. Why not

The Tiar? I rule the Druses, and what more

Betokens it than rule?—yet—yet—[Lays down the tiar.

[Footsteps in the alcove.]He comes![Taking the sword.

If the Sword serve, let the Tiar lie! So, feet

Clogged with the blood of twenty years can fall

Thus lightly! Round me, all ye ghosts! He'll lift ...

Which arm to push the arras wide?—or both?

Stab from the neck down to the heart—there stay!

Near he comes—nearer—the next footstep! Now!

[As he dashes aside the arras,Anaelis discovered.

Ha! Anael! Nay, my Anael, can it be?

Heard you the trumpet? I must slay him here,

And here you ruin all. Why speak you not?

Anael, the Prefect comes![Anaelscreams.]

So slow to feel

'T is not a sight for you to look upon?

A moment's work—but such work! Till you go,

I must be idle—idle, I risk all![Pointing to her hair.

Those locks are well, and you are beauteous thus,

But with the dagger 't is, I have to do!

An.With mine!

Dja.Blood—Anael?

An.Djabal, 't is thy deed!It must be! I had hoped to claim it mine—Be worthy thee—but I must needs confess'T was not I, but thyself ... not I have ... Djabal!Speak to me!

An.Djabal, 't is thy deed!

It must be! I had hoped to claim it mine—

Be worthy thee—but I must needs confess

'T was not I, but thyself ... not I have ... Djabal!

Speak to me!

Dja.Oh my punishment!

An.Speak to meWhile I can speak! touch me, despite the blood!When the command passed from thy soul to mine,I went, fire leading me, muttering of thee,And the approaching exaltation,—"makeOne sacrifice!" I said,—and he sat there,Bade me approach; and, as I did approach,Thy fire with music burst into my brain.'T was but a moment's work, thou saidst—perchanceIt may have been so! Well, it is thy deed!

An.Speak to me

While I can speak! touch me, despite the blood!

When the command passed from thy soul to mine,

I went, fire leading me, muttering of thee,

And the approaching exaltation,—"make

One sacrifice!" I said,—and he sat there,

Bade me approach; and, as I did approach,

Thy fire with music burst into my brain.

'T was but a moment's work, thou saidst—perchance

It may have been so! Well, it is thy deed!

Dja.It is my deed!

An.His blood all this!—this! and ...And more! Sustain me, Djabal! Wait not—nowLet flash thy glory! Change thyself and me!It must be! Ere the Druses flock to us!At least confirm me! Djabal, blood gushed forth—He was our tyrant—but I looked he'd fallProne as asleep—why else is death called sleep?Sleep? He bent o'er his breast! 'T is sin, I know,—Punish me, Djabal, but wilt thou let him?Be it thou that punishest, not he—who creepsOn his red breast—is here! 'T is the small groanOf a child—no worse! Bestow the new life, then!Too swift it cannot be, too strange, surpassing![Following him up as he retreats.Now! Change us both! Change me and change thou!

An.His blood all this!—this! and ...

And more! Sustain me, Djabal! Wait not—now

Let flash thy glory! Change thyself and me!

It must be! Ere the Druses flock to us!

At least confirm me! Djabal, blood gushed forth—

He was our tyrant—but I looked he'd fall

Prone as asleep—why else is death called sleep?

Sleep? He bent o'er his breast! 'T is sin, I know,—

Punish me, Djabal, but wilt thou let him?

Be it thou that punishest, not he—who creeps

On his red breast—is here! 'T is the small groan

Of a child—no worse! Bestow the new life, then!

Too swift it cannot be, too strange, surpassing!

[Following him up as he retreats.

Now! Change us both! Change me and change thou!

Dja.[Sinks on his knees.]Thus!Behold my change! You have done nobly. I!—

Dja.[Sinks on his knees.]Thus!

Behold my change! You have done nobly. I!—

An.Can Hakeem kneel?

Dja.No Hakeem, and scarce Djabal!I have dealt falsely, and this woe is come.No—hear me ere scorn blast me! Once and ever,The deed is mine! Oh think upon the past!

Dja.No Hakeem, and scarce Djabal!

I have dealt falsely, and this woe is come.

No—hear me ere scorn blast me! Once and ever,

The deed is mine! Oh think upon the past!

An.[To herself.]Did I strike once, or twice, or many times?

Dja.I came to lead my tribe where, bathed in glooms,Doth Bahumid the Renovator sleep:Anael, I saw my tribe: I said, "WithoutA miracle this cannot be"—I said"Be there a miracle!"—for I saw you!

Dja.I came to lead my tribe where, bathed in glooms,

Doth Bahumid the Renovator sleep:

Anael, I saw my tribe: I said, "Without

A miracle this cannot be"—I said

"Be there a miracle!"—for I saw you!

An.His head lies south the portal!

Dja.—Weighed with thisThe general good, how could I choose my own?What matter was my purity of soul?Little by little I engaged myself—Heaven would accept me for its instrument,I hoped: I said Heaven had accepted me!

Dja.—Weighed with this

The general good, how could I choose my own?

What matter was my purity of soul?

Little by little I engaged myself—

Heaven would accept me for its instrument,

I hoped: I said Heaven had accepted me!

An.Is it this blood breeds dreams in me?—Who saidYou were not Hakeem? And your miracles—The fire that plays innocuous round your form?[Again changing her whole manner.Ah, thou wouldst try me—thou art Hakeem still!

An.Is it this blood breeds dreams in me?—Who said

You were not Hakeem? And your miracles—

The fire that plays innocuous round your form?

[Again changing her whole manner.

Ah, thou wouldst try me—thou art Hakeem still!

Dja.Woe—woe! As if the Druses of the Mount(Scarce Arabs, even there, but here, in the Isle,Beneath their former selves) should comprehendThe subtle lore of Europe! A few secretsThat would not easily affect the meanestOf the crowd there, could wholly subjugateThe best of our poor tribe. Again that eye?

Dja.Woe—woe! As if the Druses of the Mount

(Scarce Arabs, even there, but here, in the Isle,

Beneath their former selves) should comprehend

The subtle lore of Europe! A few secrets

That would not easily affect the meanest

Of the crowd there, could wholly subjugate

The best of our poor tribe. Again that eye?

An.[After a pause springs to his neck.]Djabal,in this there can be no deceit!Why, Djabal, were you human only,—think,Maani is but human, Khalil human,Loys is human even—did their wordsHaunt me, their looks pursue me? Shame on youSo to have tried me! Rather, shame on meSo to need trying! Could I, with the PrefectAnd the blood, there—could I see only you?—Hang by your neck over this gulf of blood?Speak, I am saved! Speak, Djabal! Am I saved?[AsDjabalslowly unclasps her arms, and puts her silently from him.Hakeem would save me! Thou art Djabal! Crouch!Bow to the dust, thou basest of our kind!The pile of thee, I reared up to the cloud—Full, midway, of our fathers' trophied tombs,Based on the living rock, devoured not byThe unstable desert's jaws of sand,—falls prone!Fire, music, quenched: and now thou liest thereA ruin, obscene creatures will moan through!—Let us come, Djabal!

An.[After a pause springs to his neck.]Djabal,

in this there can be no deceit!

Why, Djabal, were you human only,—think,

Maani is but human, Khalil human,

Loys is human even—did their words

Haunt me, their looks pursue me? Shame on you

So to have tried me! Rather, shame on me

So to need trying! Could I, with the Prefect

And the blood, there—could I see only you?

—Hang by your neck over this gulf of blood?

Speak, I am saved! Speak, Djabal! Am I saved?

[AsDjabalslowly unclasps her arms, and puts her silently from him.

Hakeem would save me! Thou art Djabal! Crouch!

Bow to the dust, thou basest of our kind!

The pile of thee, I reared up to the cloud—

Full, midway, of our fathers' trophied tombs,

Based on the living rock, devoured not by

The unstable desert's jaws of sand,—falls prone!

Fire, music, quenched: and now thou liest there

A ruin, obscene creatures will moan through!

—Let us come, Djabal!

Dja.Whither come?

An.At once—Lest so it grow intolerable. Come!Will I not share it with thee? Best at once!So, feel less pain! Let them deride,—thy tribeNow trusting in thee,—Loys shall deride!Come to them, hand in hand, with me!

An.At once—

Lest so it grow intolerable. Come!

Will I not share it with thee? Best at once!

So, feel less pain! Let them deride,—thy tribe

Now trusting in thee,—Loys shall deride!

Come to them, hand in hand, with me!

Dja.Where come?

An.Where?—to the Druses thou hast wronged! Confess,Now that the end is gained—(I love thee now—)That thou hast so deceived them—(perchance love theeBetter than ever!) Come, receive their doomOf infamy! Oh, best of all I love thee!Shame with the man, no triumph with the God,Be mine! Come!

An.Where?—to the Druses thou hast wronged! Confess,

Now that the end is gained—(I love thee now—)

That thou hast so deceived them—(perchance love thee

Better than ever!) Come, receive their doom

Of infamy! Oh, best of all I love thee!

Shame with the man, no triumph with the God,

Be mine! Come!

Dja.Never! More shame yet? and why?Why? You have called this deed mine—it is mine!And with it I accept its circumstance.How can I longer strive with fate? The pastIs past: my false life shall henceforth show true.Hear me! The argosies touch land by this;They bear us to fresh scenes and happier skies:What if we reign together?—if we keepOur secret for the Druses' good?—by meansOf even their superstition, plant in themNew life? I learn from Europe: all who seekMan's good must awe man, by such means as these.We two will be divine to them—we are!All great works in this world spring from the ruinsOf greater projects—ever, on our earth,Babels men block out, Babylons they build.I wrest the weapon from your hand! I claimThe deed! Retire! You have my ring—you barAll access to the Nuncio till the forcesFrom Venice land!

Dja.Never! More shame yet? and why?

Why? You have called this deed mine—it is mine!

And with it I accept its circumstance.

How can I longer strive with fate? The past

Is past: my false life shall henceforth show true.

Hear me! The argosies touch land by this;

They bear us to fresh scenes and happier skies:

What if we reign together?—if we keep

Our secret for the Druses' good?—by means

Of even their superstition, plant in them

New life? I learn from Europe: all who seek

Man's good must awe man, by such means as these.

We two will be divine to them—we are!

All great works in this world spring from the ruins

Of greater projects—ever, on our earth,

Babels men block out, Babylons they build.

I wrest the weapon from your hand! I claim

The deed! Retire! You have my ring—you bar

All access to the Nuncio till the forces

From Venice land!

An.Thou wilt feign Hakeem then?

Dja.[Putting the Tiara of Hakeem, on his head.]And from this moment that I dare ope wideEyes that till now refused to see, beginsMy true dominion: for I know myself,And what am I to personate. No word?[Anaelgoes.'T is come on me at last! His blood on her—What memories will follow that! Her eye,Her fierce distorted lip and ploughed black brow!Ah, fool! Has Europe then so poorly tamedThe Syrian blood from out thee? Thou, presumeTo work in this foul earth by means not foul?Scheme, as for heaven,—but, on the earth, be gladIf a least ray like heaven's be left thee!ThusI shall be calm—in readiness—no waySurprised.[A noise without.This should be Khalil and my Druses.Venice is come then! Thus I grasp thee, sword!Druses, 't is Hakeem saves you! In! BeholdYour Prefect!

Dja.[Putting the Tiara of Hakeem, on his head.]And from this moment that I dare ope wide

Eyes that till now refused to see, begins

My true dominion: for I know myself,

And what am I to personate. No word?

[Anaelgoes.

'T is come on me at last! His blood on her—

What memories will follow that! Her eye,

Her fierce distorted lip and ploughed black brow!

Ah, fool! Has Europe then so poorly tamed

The Syrian blood from out thee? Thou, presume

To work in this foul earth by means not foul?

Scheme, as for heaven,—but, on the earth, be glad

If a least ray like heaven's be left thee!

Thus

I shall be calm—in readiness—no way

Surprised.[A noise without.

This should be Khalil and my Druses.

Venice is come then! Thus I grasp thee, sword!

Druses, 't is Hakeem saves you! In! Behold

Your Prefect!

(EnterLoys.Djabalhides the khandjar in his robe.)

Loys.Oh, well found, Djabal!—but no time for words.You know who waits there?[Pointing to the alcove.Well!—and that 't is thereHe meets the Nuncio? Well? Now, a surprise—He there—

Loys.Oh, well found, Djabal!—but no time for words.

You know who waits there?[Pointing to the alcove.

Well!—and that 't is there

He meets the Nuncio? Well? Now, a surprise—

He there—

Dja.I know—

Loys.—is now no mortal's lord,Is absolutely powerless—call him, dead—He is no longer Prefect—you are Prefect!Oh, shrink not! I do nothing in the dark,Nothing unworthy Breton blood, believe!I understood at once your urgencyThat I should leave this isle for Rhodes; I feltWhat you were loath to speak—your need of help.I have fulfilled the task, that earnestnessImposed on me: have, face to face, confrontedThe Prefect in full Chapter, charged on himThe enormities of his long rule; he stoodMute, offered no defence, no crime denied.On which, I spoke of you, and of your tribe,Your faith so like our own, and all you urgedOf old to me—I spoke, too, of your goodness,Your patience—brief, I hold henceforth the IsleIn charge, am nominally lord,—but you,You are associated in my rule—Are the true Prefect! Ay, such faith had theyIn my assurance of your loyalty(For who insults an imbecile old man?)That we assume the Prefecture this hour!You gaze at me? Hear greater wonders yet—I cast down all the fabric I have built!These Knights, I was prepared to worship ... butOf that another time; what's now to say,Is—I shall never be a Knight! Oh, Djabal,Here first I throw all prejudice aside,And call you brother! I am Druse like you:My wealth, my friends, my power, are wholly yours,Your people's, which is now my people: forThere is a maiden of your tribe, I love—She loves me—Khalil's sister—

Loys.—is now no mortal's lord,

Is absolutely powerless—call him, dead—

He is no longer Prefect—you are Prefect!

Oh, shrink not! I do nothing in the dark,

Nothing unworthy Breton blood, believe!

I understood at once your urgency

That I should leave this isle for Rhodes; I felt

What you were loath to speak—your need of help.

I have fulfilled the task, that earnestness

Imposed on me: have, face to face, confronted

The Prefect in full Chapter, charged on him

The enormities of his long rule; he stood

Mute, offered no defence, no crime denied.

On which, I spoke of you, and of your tribe,

Your faith so like our own, and all you urged

Of old to me—I spoke, too, of your goodness,

Your patience—brief, I hold henceforth the Isle

In charge, am nominally lord,—but you,

You are associated in my rule—

Are the true Prefect! Ay, such faith had they

In my assurance of your loyalty

(For who insults an imbecile old man?)

That we assume the Prefecture this hour!

You gaze at me? Hear greater wonders yet—

I cast down all the fabric I have built!

These Knights, I was prepared to worship ... but

Of that another time; what's now to say,

Is—I shall never be a Knight! Oh, Djabal,

Here first I throw all prejudice aside,

And call you brother! I am Druse like you:

My wealth, my friends, my power, are wholly yours,

Your people's, which is now my people: for

There is a maiden of your tribe, I love—

She loves me—Khalil's sister—

Dja.Anael?

Loys.Start you?Seems what I say, unknightly? Thus it chanced:When first I came, a novice, to the isle ...

Loys.Start you?

Seems what I say, unknightly? Thus it chanced:

When first I came, a novice, to the isle ...

(Enter one of theNuncio'sGuardsfrom the alcove.)

Guard.Oh horrible! Sir Loys! Here is Loys!And here—[Others enter from the alcove.[Pointing toDjabal.] Secure him, bind him—this is he![They surroundDjabal.

Guard.Oh horrible! Sir Loys! Here is Loys!

And here—[Others enter from the alcove.

[Pointing toDjabal.] Secure him, bind him—this is he!

[They surroundDjabal.

Loys.Madmen—what is 't you do? Stand from my friend,And tell me!

Loys.Madmen—what is 't you do? Stand from my friend,

And tell me!

Guard.Thou canst have no part in this—Surely no part! But slay him not! The NuncioCommanded, slay him not!

Guard.Thou canst have no part in this—

Surely no part! But slay him not! The Nuncio

Commanded, slay him not!

Loys.Speak, or ...

Guard.The PrefectLies murdered there by him thou dost embrace.

Guard.The Prefect

Lies murdered there by him thou dost embrace.

Loys.By Djabal? Miserable fools! How Djabal?

[AGuardliftsDjabal'srobe;Djabalflings down the khandjar.

Loys.[After a pause.]Thou hast received some insult worse than all,Some outrage not to be endured—[To theGuards.]Stand back!He is my friend—more than my friend! Thou hastSlain him upon that provocation!

Loys.[After a pause.]Thou hast received some insult worse than all,

Some outrage not to be endured—

[To theGuards.]Stand back!

He is my friend—more than my friend! Thou hast

Slain him upon that provocation!

Guard.No!No provocation! 'T is a long devisedConspiracy: the whole tribe is involved.He is their Khalif—'t is on that pretence—Their mighty Khalif who died long ago,And now comes back to life and light again!All is just now revealed, I know not how,By one of his confederates—who, struckWith horror at this murder, first apprisedThe Nuncio. As 't was said, we find this DjabalHere where we take him.

Guard.No!

No provocation! 'T is a long devised

Conspiracy: the whole tribe is involved.

He is their Khalif—'t is on that pretence—

Their mighty Khalif who died long ago,

And now comes back to life and light again!

All is just now revealed, I know not how,

By one of his confederates—who, struck

With horror at this murder, first apprised

The Nuncio. As 't was said, we find this Djabal

Here where we take him.

Dja.[Aside.]Who broke faith with me?

Loys.[ToDjabal.]Hear'st thou? Speak! Till thou speak I keep off these,Or die with thee. Deny this story! ThouA Khalif, an impostor? Thou, my friend,Whose tale was of an inoffensive tribe,With ... but thou know'st—on that tale's truth I pledgedMy faith before the Chapter: what art thou?

Loys.[ToDjabal.]Hear'st thou? Speak! Till thou speak I keep off these,

Or die with thee. Deny this story! Thou

A Khalif, an impostor? Thou, my friend,

Whose tale was of an inoffensive tribe,

With ... but thou know'st—on that tale's truth I pledged

My faith before the Chapter: what art thou?

Dja.Loys, I am as thou hast heard. All 's true!No more concealment! As these tell thee, allWas long since planned. Our Druses are enoughTo crush this handful: the Venetians landEven now in our behalf. Loys, we part!Thou, serving much, wouldst fain have served me more;It might not be. I thank thee. As thou hearest,We are a separated tribe: farewell!

Dja.Loys, I am as thou hast heard. All 's true!

No more concealment! As these tell thee, all

Was long since planned. Our Druses are enough

To crush this handful: the Venetians land

Even now in our behalf. Loys, we part!

Thou, serving much, wouldst fain have served me more;

It might not be. I thank thee. As thou hearest,

We are a separated tribe: farewell!

Loys.Oh, where will truth be found now? Canst thou soBelie the Druses? Do they share thy crime?Those thou professest of our Breton stock,Are partners with thee? Why, I saw but nowKhalil, my friend—he spoke with me—no wordOf this! and Anael—whom I love, and whoLoves me—she spoke no word of this!

Loys.Oh, where will truth be found now? Canst thou so

Belie the Druses? Do they share thy crime?

Those thou professest of our Breton stock,

Are partners with thee? Why, I saw but now

Khalil, my friend—he spoke with me—no word

Of this! and Anael—whom I love, and who

Loves me—she spoke no word of this!

Dja.Poor boy!Anael, who loves thee? Khalil, fast thy friend?We, offsets from a wandering Count of Dreux?No: older than the oldest, princelierThan Europe's princeliest race, our tribe: enoughFor thine, that on our simple faith we foundA monarchy to shame your monarchiesAt their own trick and secret of success.The child of this our tribe shall laugh uponThe palace-step of him whose life ere nightIs forfeit, as that child shall know, and yetShall laugh there! What, we Druses wait forsoothThe kind interposition of a boy—Can only save ourselves if thou concede?—Khalil admire thee? He is my right hand,My delegate!—Anael accept thy love?She is my bride!

Dja.Poor boy!

Anael, who loves thee? Khalil, fast thy friend?

We, offsets from a wandering Count of Dreux?

No: older than the oldest, princelier

Than Europe's princeliest race, our tribe: enough

For thine, that on our simple faith we found

A monarchy to shame your monarchies

At their own trick and secret of success.

The child of this our tribe shall laugh upon

The palace-step of him whose life ere night

Is forfeit, as that child shall know, and yet

Shall laugh there! What, we Druses wait forsooth

The kind interposition of a boy

—Can only save ourselves if thou concede?

—Khalil admire thee? He is my right hand,

My delegate!—Anael accept thy love?

She is my bride!

Loys.Thy bride? She one of them?

Dja.My bride!

Loys.And she retains her glorious eyes!She, with those eyes, has shared this miscreant's guilt!Ah—who but she directed me to findDjabal within the Prefect's chamber? KhalilBade me seek Djabal there, too! All is truth!What spoke the Prefect worse of them than this?Did the Church ill to institute long sincePerpetual warfare with such serpentry?And I—have I desired to shift my part,Evade my share in her design? 'T is well!

Loys.And she retains her glorious eyes!

She, with those eyes, has shared this miscreant's guilt!

Ah—who but she directed me to find

Djabal within the Prefect's chamber? Khalil

Bade me seek Djabal there, too! All is truth!

What spoke the Prefect worse of them than this?

Did the Church ill to institute long since

Perpetual warfare with such serpentry?

And I—have I desired to shift my part,

Evade my share in her design? 'T is well!

Dja.Loys, I wronged thee—but unwittingly:I never thought there was in thee a virtueThat could attach itself to what thou deemestA race below thine own. I wronged thee, Loys,But that is over: all is over now,Save the protection I ensure againstMy people's anger. By their Khalif's side,Thou art secure and may'st depart: so, come!

Dja.Loys, I wronged thee—but unwittingly:

I never thought there was in thee a virtue

That could attach itself to what thou deemest

A race below thine own. I wronged thee, Loys,

But that is over: all is over now,

Save the protection I ensure against

My people's anger. By their Khalif's side,

Thou art secure and may'st depart: so, come!

Loys.Thy side? I take protection at thy hand?

(Enter otherGuards.)

Guards.Fly with him! Fly, Sir Loys! 'T is too true!And only by his side thou may'st escape!The whole tribe is in full revolt: they flockAbout the palace—will be here—on thee—And there are twenty of us, we the GuardsO' the Nuncio, to withstand them! Even weHad stayed to meet our death in ignorance,But that one Druse, a single faithful Druse,Made known the horror to the Nuncio. Fly!The Nuncio stands aghast. At least let usEscape thy wrath, O Hakeem! We are naughtIn thy tribe's persecution![ToLoys.]Keep by him!They hail him Hakeem, their dead Prince returned:He is their God, they shout, and at his beckAre life and death!

Guards.Fly with him! Fly, Sir Loys! 'T is too true!

And only by his side thou may'st escape!

The whole tribe is in full revolt: they flock

About the palace—will be here—on thee—

And there are twenty of us, we the Guards

O' the Nuncio, to withstand them! Even we

Had stayed to meet our death in ignorance,

But that one Druse, a single faithful Druse,

Made known the horror to the Nuncio. Fly!

The Nuncio stands aghast. At least let us

Escape thy wrath, O Hakeem! We are naught

In thy tribe's persecution![ToLoys.]Keep by him!

They hail him Hakeem, their dead Prince returned:

He is their God, they shout, and at his beck

Are life and death!

[Loys,springing at the khandjarDjabalhad thrown down, seizes him by the throat.Thus by his side am I!Thus I resume my knighthood and its warfare,Thus end thee, miscreant, in thy pride of place!Thus art thou caught. Without, thy dupes may cluster.Friends aid thee, foes avoid thee,—thou art Hakeem,How say they?—God art thou! but also hereIs the least, youngest, meanest the Church callsHer servant, and his single arm availsTo aid her as she lists. I rise, and thouArt crushed! Hordes of thy Druses flock without:Here thou hast me, who represent the Cross,Honor and Faith, 'gainst Hell, Mahound and thee.Die![Djabalremains calm.]Implore my mercy, Hakeem, that my scornMay help me! Nay, I cannot ply thy trade;I am no Druse, no stabber: and thine eye,Thy form, are too much as they were—my friendHad such! Speak! Beg for mercy at my foot![Djabalstill silent.Heaven could not ask so much of me—not, sure,So much! I cannot kill him so![After a pause.] Thou artStrong in thy cause, then—dost outbrave us, then.Heardst thou that one of thine accomplices,Thy very people, has accused thee? MeetHis charge! Thou hast not even slain the PrefectAs thy own vile creed warrants. Meet that Druse!Come with me and disprove him—be thou triedBy him, nor seek appeal! Promise me this,Or I will do God's office! What, shalt thouBoast of assassins at thy beck, yet truthWant even an executioner? Consent,Or I will strike—look in my face—I will!

[Loys,springing at the khandjarDjabalhad thrown down, seizes him by the throat.

Thus by his side am I!

Thus I resume my knighthood and its warfare,

Thus end thee, miscreant, in thy pride of place!

Thus art thou caught. Without, thy dupes may cluster.

Friends aid thee, foes avoid thee,—thou art Hakeem,

How say they?—God art thou! but also here

Is the least, youngest, meanest the Church calls

Her servant, and his single arm avails

To aid her as she lists. I rise, and thou

Art crushed! Hordes of thy Druses flock without:

Here thou hast me, who represent the Cross,

Honor and Faith, 'gainst Hell, Mahound and thee.

Die![Djabalremains calm.]Implore my mercy, Hakeem, that my scorn

May help me! Nay, I cannot ply thy trade;

I am no Druse, no stabber: and thine eye,

Thy form, are too much as they were—my friend

Had such! Speak! Beg for mercy at my foot!

[Djabalstill silent.

Heaven could not ask so much of me—not, sure,

So much! I cannot kill him so!

[After a pause.] Thou art

Strong in thy cause, then—dost outbrave us, then.

Heardst thou that one of thine accomplices,

Thy very people, has accused thee? Meet

His charge! Thou hast not even slain the Prefect

As thy own vile creed warrants. Meet that Druse!

Come with me and disprove him—be thou tried

By him, nor seek appeal! Promise me this,

Or I will do God's office! What, shalt thou

Boast of assassins at thy beck, yet truth

Want even an executioner? Consent,

Or I will strike—look in my face—I will!

Dja.Give me again my khandjar, if thou darest![Loysgives it.Let but one Druse accuse me, and I plungeThis home. A Druse betray me? Let us go![Aside.]Who has betrayed me?[Shouts without.Hearest thou? I hearNo plainer than long years ago I heardThat shout—but in no dream now! They return!Wilt thou be leader with me, Loys? Well!

Dja.Give me again my khandjar, if thou darest![Loysgives it.

Let but one Druse accuse me, and I plunge

This home. A Druse betray me? Let us go!

[Aside.]Who has betrayed me?[Shouts without.

Hearest thou? I hear

No plainer than long years ago I heard

That shout—but in no dream now! They return!

Wilt thou be leader with me, Loys? Well!

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