The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 8

_Albert (aside)._ She deems me dead, and yet no mourning garment!

Why should my brother's wife wear mourning garments?

G.o.d of all mercy, make me, make me quiet! [_To MARIA._ Your pardon, gentle maid! that I disturb'd you.

I had just started from a frightful dream. 285

_Alhadra._ These renegado Moors--how soon they learn The crimes and follies of their Christian tyrants!

_Albert._ I dreamt I had a friend, on whom I lean'd With blindest trust, and a betrothed maid Whom I was wont to call not mine, but me, 290 For mine own self seem'd nothing, lacking her!

This maid so idoliz'd, that trusted friend, Polluted in my absence soul and body!

And she with him and he with her conspired To have me murder'd in a wood of the mountains: 295 But by my looks and most impa.s.sion'd words I roused the virtues, that are dead in no man, Even in the a.s.sa.s.sins' hearts. They made their terms, And thank'd me for redeeming them from murder.

_Alhadra (to Maria)._ You are lost in thought. Hear him no more, sweet lady! 300

_Maria._ From morn to night I am myself a dreamer, And slight things bring on me the idle mood.

Well, sir, what happen'd then?

_Albert._ On a rude rock, A rock, methought, fast by a grove of firs Whose threaddy leaves to the low breathing gale 305 Made a soft sound most like the distant ocean, I stay'd as tho' the hour of death were past, And I were sitting in the world of spirits, For all things seem'd unreal! There I sate.

The dews fell clammy, and the night descended, 310 Black, sultry, close! and ere the midnight hour A storm came on, mingling all sounds of fear That woods and sky and mountains seem'd one havock!

The second flash of lightning show'd a tree Hard by me, newly-scathed. I rose tumultuous: 315 My soul work'd high: I bared my head to the storm, And with loud voice and clamorous agony Kneeling I pray'd to the great Spirit that made me, Pray'd that Remorse might fasten on their hearts, And cling, with poisonous tooth, inextricable 320 As the gored lion's bite!

_Maria._ A fearful curse!

_Alhadra._ But dreamt you not that you return'd and kill'd him?

Dreamt you of no revenge?

_Albert (his voice trembling, and in tones of deep distress)._ She would have died, Died in her sins--perchance, by her own hands!

And bending o'er her self-inflicted wounds 325 I might have met the evil glance of frenzy And leapt myself into an unblest grave!

I pray'd for the punishment that cleanses hearts, For still I loved her!

_Alhadra._ And you dreamt all this?

_Maria._ My soul is full of visions, all is wild! 330

_Alhadra._ There is no room in this heart for puling love-tales.

Lady! your servants there seem seeking us.

_Maria (lifts up her veil and advances to Albert)._ Stranger, farewell! I guess not who you are, Nor why you so address'd your tale to me.

Your mien is n.o.ble, and, I own, perplex'd me 335 With obscure memory of something past, Which still escap'd my efforts, or presented Tricks of a fancy pamper'd with long-wis.h.i.+ng.

If (as it sometimes happens) our rude startling, While your full heart was shaping out its dream, 340 Drove you to this, your not ungentle wildness, You have my sympathy, and so farewell!

But if some undiscover'd wrongs oppress you, And you need strength to drag them into light, The generous Velez, and my Lord Osorio 345 Have arm and will to aid a n.o.ble sufferer, Nor shall you want my favourable pleading.

[_Exeunt MARIA and ALHADRA._

_Albert (alone)._ 'Tis strange! it cannot be! my Lord Osorio!

Her Lord Osorio! Nay, I will not do it.

I curs'd him once, and one curse is enough. 350 How sad she look'd and pale! but not like guilt, And her calm tones--sweet as a song of mercy!

If the bad spirit retain'd his angel's voice, h.e.l.l scarce were h.e.l.l. And why not innocent?

Who meant to murder me might well cheat her. 355 But ere she married him, he had stain'd her honour.

Ah! there I am hamper'd. What if this were a lie Fram'd by the a.s.sa.s.sin? who should tell it him If it were truth? Osorio would not tell him.

Yet why one lie? All else, I know, was truth. 360 No start! no jealousy of stirring conscience!

And she referr'd to me--fondly, methought!

Could she walk here, if that she were a traitress?

Here where we play'd together in our childhood?

Here where we plighted vows? Where her cold cheek 365 Received my last kiss, when with suppress'd feelings She had fainted in my arms? It cannot be!

'Tis not in nature! I will die, believing That I shall meet her where no evil is, No treachery, no cup dash'd from the lips! 370 I'll haunt this scene no more--live she in peace!

Her husband--ay, her husband! May this Angel New-mould his canker'd heart! a.s.sist me, Heaven!

That I may pray for my poor guilty brother!

END OF ACT THE FIRST.

FOOTNOTES:

[519:1] For Act I, Scene 1 (ll. 1-118) of _Remorse_, vide _post_, pp.

820-3.

[528:1] With lines 219-21 compare _Fragments from a Notebook_, No. 17, p. 990.

LINENOTES:

[Before 1] ACT THE FIRST (The Portrait and the Picture). Corr. in MS.

III.

Scene--_The sea sh.o.r.e, &c._] Scene--The Sea sh.o.r.e on the coast of Granada, in the Seigniory of the Marquis Valdez. _Valdez_ _Teresa_ corr.

in MS. III. [For _Velez_, _Maria_, _Osorio_, _Albert_, _Francesco_, read _Valdez_, _Teresa_, _Ordonio_, _Alvar_, _Isidore_ throughout, Remorse.

[Before 1] SCENE II. _Enter_ Teresa _and_ Valdez. Remorse. Osorio]

Ordono] corr. in MS. II.

[2] Albert's] Garcia's corr. in MS. III.

[12] mine] my Remorse, 1813.

[29] _him_] him Remorse.

[40] Or hover round, as he at midnight oft Remorse.

[50] _my_] my Remorse. Stage-direction om. Remorse.

[51-2] _Erased MS. III._

[52-3]

_Valdez._ A thought? even so! mere thought! an empty thought.

The very week he promised his return--

Remorse.