O Basil! Masks place MIRANDO in the middle, and range them- What friend at such a time could lead thee forth? selves round him. SONG.-A GLEE. Child, with many a childish wile, Timid look, and blushing smile, Who in thy simple mien would trace Who is he whose flinty heart Hath not felt the flying dart? Who is he that from the wound Ah love! our weal, our wo, our bliss, our bane, A restless life have they who wear thy chain! Ah love! our weal, our wo, our bliss, our bane, More hapless still are they who never felt thy pain! (All the Masks dance round Cupid. Then enter a band of Satyrs, who frighten away Love and his votaries; and conclude the scene, dancing in a grotesque manner.) Ros. (knocking very loud.) Holla! who's there within? confound this door! It will not yield. O for a giant's strength! Enter a Porter from the house. Bas. What is the matter which disturbs you thus ? Ros. Matter that would a wiser man disturb. Treason's abroad: thy men have mutinied. Bas. It is not so; thy wits have mutinied, And left their sober station in thy brain. 1st Off. Indeed, my lord, he speaks in sober earnest. Some secret enemies have been employed Bas. What! think they vilely of me? threaten too! O! most ungenerous, most unmanly thought! Didst thou attempt (to Ros.) to reason with their folly? Folly it is; baseness it cannot be. Ros. Yes, truly, I did reason with a storm, And bid it cease to rage. Their eyes look fire on him who questions them Does not with such fantastic writhings toss ones. I'll go to them Ros. And we will stand by thee. My sword is thine against ten thousand strong, Ros. (eagerly to the porter.) Is he return'd? is If it should come to this. he return'd not yet? Thy face doth tell me so. Port. Not yet, my lord. Ros. Then let him ne'er return! Tumult, disgrace, and ruin have their way! I'll search for him no more. Bas. No, never, never! There is no mean: I with my soldiers must Or their commander or their victim prove. But are my officers all stanch and faithful? Ros. All but that devil, FrederickHe, disappointed, left his former corps, Port. He hath been absent all the night, my lord. Where he, in truth, had been too long neglected, Ros. I know he hath. 3d Sol. No one, huzza! confound all treacherous I thank your zeal, I'll deal with them alone. leaders! (The Soldiers huzza and clash their arms.) 5th Sol. Heaven dart its fiery lightning on his head! We're men, we are not cattle to be slaughter'd! I've fought for him till my strain'd nerves have crack'd! 2d Sol. We will command ourselves: for Milan, comrades. 5th Sol. Ay, ay, for Milan, valiant hearts, huzza. (All the Soldiers cast up their caps in the air and huzza.) 2d Sol. Yes, comrades, tempting booty waits us here, And easy service: keep good hearts, my soldiers! The general comes, good hearts! no flinching, boys! Look bold and fiercely: we're the masters now. (They all clash their arms and put on a fierce threatening aspect to receive their general, who now enters, followed by Rosinberg and Officers. Basil walks close along the front ranks of the Soldiers, looking at them very steadfastly; then retires a few paces back, and raising his arm, speaks with a very full loud voice.) Bas. How is it, soldiers, that I see you thus, Assembled here unsummon'd by command? (A confused murmur is heard amongst the Soldiers; some of them call out) But we ourselves command: we wait no orders. (A confused noise of voices is heard, and one louder than the rest calls out) Must we be butcher'd for that we are brave? Damn hidden treachery! we defy thy orders. (Others call out) We'll march where'er we list; for Milan march. Bas. (waving his hand, and beckoning them to be silent, speaks with a very loud voice.) Yes, march where'er ye list: for Milan march. Sol. Hear him, hear him! (The murmur ceases-a short pause.) Bas. Yes, march where'er ye list; for Milan march: But as banditti, not as soldiers go; For on this spot of earth I will disband, And take from you the rank and name of soldiers. (A great clamour amongst the ranks—some call out) Ros. What, shall we calmly stand and see thee butcher'd? Bas. (very earnestly.) Put up, my friends. (Officers still persist.) What! are you rebels too? Will no one here his general's voice obey? Soldiers! we've fought together in the field, (A confused murmur-some of the Soldiers call out) March us to Milan, and we will obey thee. (Others call out) Ay, march us there, and be our leader still. He is a coward who doth threaten me: (Soldiers call out) It was thyself who sought to murder us. 1st Sol. You have unto the emperor pledged your faith, To lead us foremost in all desperate service: You have agreed to sell your soldiers' blood, Frederick will do you right Unto no easy service:-hardships, toils, 2d Sol. No, hear him not, he means to cozen you. Each, like his general, must contented be Home to return again, a poor brave soldier. (Endeavouring to stir up a noise and confusion How say ye now? I spread no tempting lureamongst them.) A better fate than this, I promise none. Soldiers. We'll follow Basil. Bas. What cursed fiend art thou, cast out from hell To spirit up rebellion? damned villain Bas. What token of obedience will ye give? (They all lay down their arms.) (Seizes upon 2d Soldier, drags him out from the Soldiers, lay down your arms! If any here are weary of the service, Stand there, damn'd meddling villain, and be silent; A free discharge, and passport to their homes; For if thou utterest but a single word, A cough or hem, to cross me in my speech, To bellow with the damn'd! (The Soldiers keep a dead silence—after a pause, Basil resumes his speech.) Listen to me, my soldiers. You say that I am to the emperor pledged To lead you foremost in all desperate service, I said, fair glory's palm ye would not yield But ye do peace, and ease, and booty love, Safe and ignoble service-be it so- A volunteer, unheeded in the ranks, I'll rather flight, with brave men for my fellows, Than be the leader of a sordid band. And from my scanty fortune I'll make good (They all resume their arms.) Bas. (holding up his hands.) High heaven be praised! I had been grieved to part with you, my soldiers. Our gallant general! (Others call out) We'll spend our hearts' blood for thee, noble Basil! Bas. And so you thought me false? this bites to the quick! My soldiers thought me false ! (They all quit their ranks, and crowd eagerly around him. Basil, waving them off with his hands.) Away, away, you have disgusted me! (Soldiers retire to their ranks.) "Tis well--retire, and hold yourselves prepared To march upon command, nor meet again Till you are summon'd by the beat of drum. Some secret enemy has tamper'd with you, For yet I will not think that in these ranks There moves a man who wears a traitor's heart. (The Soldiers begin to march off, and music strikes up.) Bas. (holding up his hand.) Cease, cease, Which our brave fathers, men without reproach, (A great murmur rises amongst the ranks, Sol-To us no glory brings diers call out) We will not part! no, no, we will not part! (All call out together) A sacred oath. Some other chief will more indulgent prove Then silent be your march-ere that again Bas. Advance, lieutenant; wherefore shrink ye You're weary grown-I've been too hard a master-I've even seen you bear your head erect, Soldiers. Thyself, and only thee, will we obey. Bas. But if you follow me, yourselves ye pledge And front your man though arm'd with frowning death. Have you done aught the valiant should not do? Fred. Is Basil, then, so lavish of his praise It were a libel on his royal master; A foul reproach upon fair fortune cast, And surely he has been too much their debtor Bas. Is nature then so sparing of her gifts, Thou art by nature brave and so am I; With meaner men? I dare be sworn there does. Fred. What need of words? I crave of thee no favour, I have offended 'gainst arm'd law, offended, And shrink not from my doom. And cursed thine ill-timed absence.- court, Will make the blackest trait of barefaced treason, Bas. Nay, 'tis a weakness in thee, Rosinberg, Bas. I know thee well, I know thou fear'st not Why should the Duke be false? death; On scaffold or in field with dauntless breast Ros. Because he is a double, crafty prince- Nay, hear me to the end. Fred. It must not be. I've been thine enemy- Noble Albini, with most friendly art, I've been unjust to thee Bas. I know thou hast; But thou art brave, and I forgive thee all. From the gay clamorous throng my steps beguiled, Fred. My lord! my general! O I cannot To tell him hidden danger waits him here, speak! I cannot live and be the wretch I am. Bas. But thou canst live and be an honest man From error turn'd,-canst live and be my friend. (Raising Fred. from the ground.) Forbear, forbear! see where our friends advance : They must not think thee suing for a pardon; That would disgrace us both. Yet, ere they come, Tell me, if that thou mayst with honour tell, What did seduce thee from thy loyal faith? Fred. No cunning traitor did my faith attempt, For then I had withstood him but of late, I know not how-a bad and restless spirit And warn him earnestly this court to leave. Bas. (interrupting him.) By heaven and earth Her interest claims, Victoria's guardian friendAnd she would have me hence-it must be so. Has work'd within my breast, and made me O! would it were! how saidst thou, gentle Rosin Bas. I will not tell thee what I think. Ros. But I can guess it well, and it deceives thee. Leave this detested place, this fatal court, Where dark deceitful cunning plots thy ruin. A soldier's duty calls thee loudly hence. The time is critical. How wilt thou feel When they shall tell these tidings in thine ear, That brave Piscaro, and his royal troops, Our valiant fellows, have the enemy fought, Whilst we, so near at hand, lay loitering here? Bas. Thou dost disturb thy brain with fancied fears. Our fortunes rest not on a point so nice, That one short day should be of all this moment; And I might yet from some high towering cliff Some little spot that might her dwelling be; Ros. But with such hope, my friend, how stand thy fears? Are they so well refined? how wilt thou bear And hast a pleasure in the pain thou givest! Ros. No, not malignity, but kindness, Basil, Ros. God knows my heart! I would not give That fain would save thee from the yawning gulf, thee pain; But it disturbs me, Basil, vexes me If she is fair, others are fair as she. Bas. What, is it possible thou hast beheld, Ros. So thinks each lover of the maid he loves, Thy words become disgusting to me, Rosinberg. Ros. Then, 'faith! 'tis fitting thou shouldst leave Full dearly dost thou prize them, leave this place, it now; Ay, on the instant. Is't not desperation To stay, and hazard ruin on thy fame, That I should count and bargain with my heart, As little souls their base-bred fancies feed? I held some portion of her dear regard, And give thy soldiers orders for the march. Bas. Nay, since thou must assume it o'er me thus, Be general, and command my soldiers too. Ros. What, hath this passion in so short a space, O! curses on it! so far changed thee, Basil, That thou dost take with such ungentle warmth, The kindly freedom of thine ancient friend? Methinks the beauty of a thousand maids Would not have moved me thus to treat my friend, My best, mine earliest friend! Bas. Say kinsman rather; chance has link'd us SO: Where through my grate I yet might sometimes see Our blood is near, our hearts are sever'd far; E'en but her shadow sporting in the sun; Some deep impassable between us roll'd, No act of choice did e'er unite our souls. mine. |