# Dramas (Baillie)/The Bride/Act 2

ACT II.
SCENE I.—The Castle of Samarkoon. Loud shouting heard without.
Enter several Domestics in confusion.
FIRST DOMESTIC.
What can we do in our brave master's absence?
SECOND DOMESTIC.
It is our lord himself; I know the sound.
And lo! his messenger arrived with tidings.
Enter a Messenger.
MESSENGER.
Our master brings a bride, by conquest won,
To be the bliss and sunshine of his house;
A bride fair as the goddess, bright Patiné.
FIRST DOMESTIC.
SECOND DOMESTIC.
MESSENGER.
As may be fitting for a bride's reception:
There is no time for telling stories now.
Despatch, I say; do ye not hear them nearer?
They are not many furlongs from the gate.
[Exeunt in haste, different ways.
SCENE II.
The Hall or principal Room of the Castle.
Enter Samarkoon leading in a Lady covered with a veil, and followed by two Female Attendants; then a band of Musicians and a train of armed Men, with Ehleypoolie and several of his Soldiers as prisoners. A Nuptial Chaunt or Song is struck up.
SONG.
Open wide the frontal gate, The lady comes in bridal state;
Than wafted spices sweeter far,
Brighter than the morning star;
Modest as the lily wild,
Gentle as a nurse's child.
A lovelier prize, of prouder boast,
Never chieftain's threshold crost.
Like the beams of early day,
Her eyes' quick flashes brightly play;
Brightly play and gladden all
On whom their kindly glances fall.
Her lips in smiling weave a charm
To keep the peopled house from harm.
In happy moment is she come
To bless a noble chieftain's home.
Happy be her dwelling here,
Many a day and month and year!
Happy as the nested dove
In her fruitful ark of love! Happy in her tented screen!
Happy in her garden green!
Thus we welcome, one and all,
Our lady to her chieftain's hall.
SAMARKOON.
For the good service ye have done to me
Upon this day of happy fate. Ere long,
This gentle lady too, I trust, will thank you,
Albeit her present tears and alter'd state
Have made her shrink and droop in cheerless silence.
An ample recompense ye well have won,
Which shall not with a sparing hand be dealt.
Meantime, partake our cheer and revelry;
And let the wounded have attendance due;
Let sorcery and med'cine combine
To mitigate their pain. (Turning to the Prisoners.)
Nay, Ehleypoolie,
Why from beneath those low'ring brows dost thou
Cast on the ground such wan and wither'd looks?
Thy martial enterprise fell somewhat short
Of thy predictions and thy master's pleasure;
But thou and all thy band have bravely fought,
And no disgrace is coupled with your failure.
EHLEYPOOLIE.
Been at the onset torn, ev'n ambush'd foes
Had not so master'd us.
SAMARKOON.
Thou may'st secure, and fight with better luck.
EHLEYPOOLIE.
As fiends and magic give. Another time——
SAMARKOON.
We have no time to learn.
(To his followers generally.)
Go where cool sparkling cups and sav'ry viands
Will wasted strength recruit, and cheer your hearts.
Ere long I'll join you at the board, and fill
A hearty cup of health and thanks to all.
[Exeunt all but Samarkoon, the Bride, and her Female Attendants.
The prize for which this bloody fray was fought,
Wilt thou forgive a youthful lover's boldness, And the rude outrage by his love committed?
Wilt thou not speak to me?
BRIDE.
I was the destined bride of great Rasinga;
My father told me so.
SAMARKOON.
Did thine own heart, sweet maid, repeat the tale?
And did it say to thee, "The elder chieftain
Is he whom I approve; his younger rival
Unworthy of my choice?"
BRIDE.
That I have seen you both; that both have seen
My unveil'd face, alas! is my dishonour,
Albeit most innocent of such exposure.
SAMARKOON.
And thou art innocent and therefore honourable,
Though every slave and spearman of our train
Had gazed upon thy face. The morning star
Receives no taint for that a thousand eyes,
All heavenward turn'd, admire its lovely brightness.
Let me again look in thy dark soft eyes,
And read my pardon in one beamy smile.
(Attempting to draw aside her veil, while she gathers it the closer.)
BRIDE.
SAMARKOON.
[The upper fastening of the veil gives way and falls over her hand.]
An omen of good fortune to my love.
Oh! while those eyes are fixed upon the ground,
Defended from too ardent admiration,
With patience hear my suit.—Two rival chiefs
Have look'd upon thy face, and thou perforce
Must choose or one or other for thy husband.
Rasinga, in his rich and noble mansion,
Hath years already pass'd in wedded love;
And is the husband of a virtuous dame,
Whose faithful heart, in giving place to thee,
Will be asunder torn. My house is humble;
No gay and costly treasures deck its walls;
But I am young, unmarried, and my heart
Shall be thine own, whilst thou reign'st mistress here,
As shares the lion's mate his forest cave,
In proud equality. Thou smilest at this;
And it doth please thy fancy;—yea, a tear
Falls on that smiling cheek: yes, thou art mine.
BRIDE.
SAMARKOON.
And speak them yet again with that sweet voice
Which makes my heart dance in its glowing cell.
FIRST ATTENDANT (advancing to Samarkoon).
She has much need of quiet repose. I pray,
On her behalf let this be granted to her.
BRIDE (to First Attendant).
SAMARKOON.
Thy word or wish commands myself and mine.
[Exit.
FIRST ATTENDANT.
A-lack, a-lack-a-day, the woeful change!
This rude unfurnish'd tower for the fair mansion
Of great Rasinga! Evil was the hour
When those fell demons stopped us on our way.
BRIDE.
A noble wife already holds her state,
And here I shall have no divided pleasure.
FIRST ATTENDANT.
In love, in honour, or in riches share
Like portion with a youthful beauty? No!
She doth herself become the flatt'ring subject
Of her through whom the husband's favours flow;
And thereby doth increase her rival's power,
Her state and dignity.
Thou art a simple child, and hast no sense
Of happiness or honour. Woe the day
When those fell demons stopp'd our high career!
BRIDE.
Which has been shed in this untoward fray,
The day were one of joy and not of woe,
In my poor estimation.
FIRST ATTENDANT.
SECOND ATTENDANT (advancing).
Thy words are rude; my lady is offended.
FIRST ATTENDANT.
Ah! the rich treasures of Rasinga's palace!
His gaudy slaves, his splendid palanquins!
They have pass'd from us like a mummer's show,
Seen for an hour and gone.
Enter a Female Domestic.
DOMESTIC.
Is now in readiness.[Exeunt.
SCENE III.
The Court of the Castle.   Enter Two Domestics, meeting.
FIRST DOMESTIC.
As if but just begun, though Samarkoon
Reminds them anxiously, that preparation
For the defence of this neglected hold,
Is pressing matter of necessity.
SECOND DOMESTIC.
On which good viands smoke or wine cups sparkle,
For all the words of threat'ning or entreaty,
That mortal tongue can utter.
Enter a Third Domestic in great alarm.
THIRD DOMESTIC.
FIRST DOMESTIC.
THIRD DOMESTIC.
I saw their dark heads winding through the pass
Above the bushes shown; a lengthen'd line,
Two hundred strong, I guess.
FIRST DOMESTIC.
SECOND DOMESTIC.
And rouse those drunken thieves from their debauch.
THIRD DOMESTIC.
FIRST DOMESTIC.
[The larum bell is rung, and many people in confusion cross the Stage as the scene closes.]
SCENE IV.
An Open Space before the Gate of the Castle; Armed Men are discovered on the Walls.
Enter Rasinga and his Force.
RASINGA (to those on the walls).
Let him appear, and say, why, like a robber,—
A reckless, lawless traitor, he hath dared
My servants to attack, my bride to capture,
And do most foul dishonour to my state.
Am I a driv'ling fool,—a nerveless stripling,—
A widow'd ranny, propping infants' rights,
That thus he reckons with impunity
To pour on me such outrage?
Enter Samarkoon above, and stands on the wall over the Gate.
SAMARKOON.
And hast good cause to utter stormy words.
RASINGA.
With stormy blows, which soon shall force that gate,
Make desp'rate entrance through the rifted walls,
And leave within your paltry tower, of all
Who dare oppose my arms, no living thing,
Unless thou do restore the mountain beauty,
And all the spoil thou hast so basely won.
SAMARKOON.
I've done it in the heat and agony
Of passions that, within a generous breast,
Are irresistible, and, be assured,
With no weak calculations of impunity.
The living treasure I have robbed thee of
I will defend to the extremity
Of desp'rate effort, ev'n in this poor hold,
Mann'd as it is.—I well might speak to thee
Of equal claims to that fair beauty's favour;
Of secret love; of strong fraternal sympathy
With her whose honour'd name I will not utter;
But that were vain.
RASINGA.
To check the wind-scourged ocean's rising billows:
So far thou speakest wisely.—Stern defiance
I cast to thee; receive it as thou may'st,
Audacious traitor!
SAMARKOON.
With words and heart as dauntless as thine own.
RASINGA (to his followers).
On, pioneers, and let your pond'rous mallets
Break down the gate. To it, my valiant bowmen!
Discharge a shower of arrows on that wall,
And clear it of yon load of miscreant life.
[Rasinga's followers raise a shout, which is answered by one equally loud from the adverse party, and the attack commences. After great efforts of attack and defence, the gate is at last forced, and Rasinga, with his force, enters the castle. The Scene then closes.]
SCENE V.
A wild Mountain Pass, with a bridge swung from one high perpendicular rock to another. The course of a small stream, with its herby margin, seen beneath. Martial music is heard , and a military procession seen at some distance, winding among the rocks, and at length crossing the bridge. Then come the followers of Rasinga in triumph, leading Samarkoon in chains, followed by men bearing a palanquin, and in the rear Rasinga himself with his principal officers. As he is on the middle of the bridge Juan de Creda enters below, and calls to him with a loud voice.
JUAN.
RASINGA (above).
JUAN.
RASINGA.
Why do I find thee here?
JUAN.
Hath laid its high commission on my soul
Here to arrest thee on thy fatal way.
RASINGA.
JUAN.
[Rasinga crosses the bridge and re-appears below.]
RASINGA.
To this fair land again.—But thou shrink'st back,
Casting on me looks of upbraiding sorrow:
With thee I may not lordly rights assert;
What is thy pleasure?
JUAN.
Loaded with chains, like a vile criminal,
Is he the noble Samarkoon, thy brother?
RASINGA.
He, who once wore them with fair specious seeming,
Is now extinct to honour, base and treacherous.
The vilest carcase, trampled under foot
Of pond'rous elephant, for lawless deeds,
Was ne'er inhabited by soul more worthless.
JUAN.
A ten-fold turpitude. Suspect thy judgment.
Unwary youth by potent passions urged,
Thou wilt not pass on him so harsh a censure.
RASINGA.
And wear a human semblance two days hence,
In the fell serpent's folds, the tiger's paws,
Or earthquake's pitchy crevice, with like speed,
Be my abhorred end!
JUAN.
The God, in whose high keeping is the fate
Of every mortal man, or prince or slave,
Hath this behest declared,—that sinful man
Should pardon grant to a repentant brother;
Yea, more than this,—to his repentant enemies,
So God commands; and wilt thou prove rebellious?
RASINGA.
To bring from hence this precious message? Truly
Thou speak'st as if thou hadst.
JUAN.
Within the pages of a sacred book
Which I and my compatriots do believe
Contains the high revealed will of God.
RASINGA.
Hath cast like fiends upon our eastern shores,
To wrong and spoil and steep the soil with blood,
Are not compatriots of thy book-taught land.
What! dost thou cast thine eyes upon the ground?
The stain of rushing blood is on thy cheek.
If they be so, methinks they have obey'd
That heavenly message sparingly.—Go to!
Tell me no more of this fantastic virtue,—
This mercy and forgiveness. Ev'n a woman,
A child, a simpleton would laugh to scorn
Such strange unnatural duty.
JUAN.
(Taking his hand.)
RASINGA.
My life from fatal sickness rescued,—dearly,
Full dearly should'st thou pay for such presumption.
Let go thy hold.
JUAN.
Before thy vengeful purpose is effected,
To see me once again.
RASINGA.
For benefits are traced in my remembrance
With lines as ineffaceable as wrongs. [Exeunt.
SCENE VI.
The House of Montebesa; who enters, meeting a Servant from the opposite side.
MONTEBESA.
Is full of mingled meaning, grief and gladness.
SERVANT.
Return'd victorious; and the fair young bride
Again is rescued by his matchless valour.
MONTEBESA.
SERVANT.
Loaded with chains, most rueful to behold,
Comes Samarkoon. For now it doth appear,
That he, enleagued with robbers, was the spoiler,
Who beat the gallant train of Ehleypoolie,
And bore away their prize.
MONTEBESA.
Are weaving o'er our house an evil woof,—
A fearful canopy. It was to us
That ominous sign was sent, but few days past,
When Boodhoo's rays, beneath the noon's blue dome
With shiv'ring motion gleam'd in streaky brightness,
Surpassing mid-day splendour. Woe is me!
I saw it not unmoved; but little thought,
Ah! little thought of misery like this.
Enter Juan de Creda.
Art ever wise and helpful. Dost thou know
Of this most strange event? Of Samarkoon
As lawless spoiler by Rasinga conquer'd,
And led——
JUAN.
That thou with thy enchafed and vengeful son
May'st use a mother's influence to save him.
MONTEBESA.
For herein I am zealous as thyself.
JUAN.
MONTEBESA.
JUAN.
Ere he can reach the shelter of his chamber,
Where men are wont to cherish moody wrath;
And we will so beset him with our prayers,
That we shall move his soul, if it be possible.
The fair Artina too must come with us
To beg her brother's life.
MONTEBESA.
And do it warily, lest sudden grief
O'erwhelm her totally.
JUAN.
And, lady, let us find her instantly;
We have no time to spare.[Exeunt.
SCENE VII.
A Gallery or Passage leading to Rasinga's Chamber.
Enter Rasinga, speaking to an Officer who follows him.
RASINGA.
With bolt and bars; and set a double guard
To watch the entry. Make it sure, I say:
For if thy prisoner escape, thy life
Shall pay the forfeit. This thou knowest well,
Therefore be vigilant.[Exit Officer.
The very blood is boiling in my veins,
Whilst the audacious braver of my rights,
My arms, my honour, ev'n within a dungeon
And manacled with iron, breathes vital air.
Enter Montebesa by the farther end of the Gallery, followed by Artina and Juan de Creda, who remain without advancing further, whilst she approaches her Son with an air of dignity.
MONTEBESA.
In every victory thy arms achieve,
Be it o'er foreign, yea, or kindred foe,
Greet thee right heartily.
RASINGA.
MONTEBESA.
With any sense of aught to taint thy glory,
Grant me a boon that will enhance thy triumph,
And make me say, with full, elated heart,
Rasinga is my son.
RASINGA.
MONTEBESA.
RASINGA.
The foul disgrace and ruin of thy son.
MONTEBESA.
I do adjure thee to be merciful.
RASINGA.
An unrevenged, despised, derided man?
And have I got from thee and my brave sire
This manly stature and these hands of strength
To play an idiot's or a woman's part?
If such indeed be Montebesa's wish,
Poor slight-boned, puny, shambling drivellers,
Or sickly maidens, should have been the offspring
Produced by her to mock a noble house.
MONTEBESA.
RASINGA.
And pointing fingers of the meanest peasant,
Who would his whetted blade sheath in the heart
Of his own mother's son for half the wrong,—
Ay, half the wrong which that audacious traitor
Has done to me!—Cease, lady; say no more:
I cannot henceforth live in ignominy;
Therefore, good sooth! I cannot grant your boon.
ARTINA (rushing forward and catching hold of his hand and his garments).
One load of wretchedness? Thou 'st cast me off,—
I who so loved thee and love thee still,—
Thou 'st cast me off, and I will meekly bear it.
Then, wilt thou not make some amends to me,
In a saved brother's life, for all the tears,
The bitter tears and anguish this has caused me?
RASINGA (shaking her off).
Thy tears and anguish had been better comforted,
Had he a more successful spoiler proved.
[Turning fiercely on Juan de Creda, who now advances.]
And colleagues are of those who read good lore,
And speak like holy saints, and act like fiends.
By my brave father's soul, where'er it be,
Thou art a seemly suitor for such favour!
[Bursts away from them and exit.]
ARTINA.
Wilt thou not follow him?
JUAN.
While wreck of unroof'd cots and forest boughs,
And sand and rooted herbage whirl aloft,
Dark'ning the sky, bid the outrageous hurricane
Spare a rock-cresting palm.—But yet despair not;
I'll find a season. Let me lead thee hence.
MONTEBESA.
Will never yield until it be too late;
And then he will, in brooding, vain repentance,
The more relentless be to future criminals;
As though the death of one he should have spared
Made it injustice e'er to spare another.
I know his dangerous nature all too well.
[Exeunt.
SCENE VIII.
A Prison.
Samarkoon is discovered in chains; a lamp burning on the ground near him, and a pitcher of water by it.
SAMARKOON.
With all its hopes, its happiness, and pain,
Is near at hand,—a violent bloody close,
Perhaps with added torture and disgrace.
Oh, Kattragam, terrific deity!
Thy stern decrees have compass'd all this misery.
Short, turbulent, and changeful and disastrous,
Hath been this stage of my existence. What,
When this is past, abides me in my progress
To the still blessing of unvision'd rest,
Who may imagine or conjecture?—Blessing!
Alas! it is a dull unjoyous blessing
To lose, with consciousness of pain, all consciousness:
The pleasure of sweet sounds and beauteous sights.
Bride, sister, friends,—all vanish'd and extinct,
That stilly, endless rest may be unbroken.
Oh, oh! he is a miserable man,
Who covets such a blessing!—Hush, bad thoughts!
Rebellious, faithless thoughts! My misery
Is deep enough to make ev'n this a blessing.
Enter Artina.
It cannot be! is it some fantasy?
Who and what art thou?
ARTINA (approaching him softly).
SAMARKOON.
Running such fearful risk to comfort me.
ARTINA.
I come to set thee free.
SAMARKOON.
ARTINA.
Have pass'd the guards, and may a short while hence
By the same means return,—return in safety.
Meantime let me undo those galling fetters;
I've brought fit tools, and thou shalt teach me how.
SAMARKOON.
Ev'n with thy signet, leading a companion?
It cannot be; thou dost deceive thyself;
Thy mis'ry and affection make thee foolish.
ARTINA.
That stone (pointing to it) like many others in the wall,
A man's full strength will move it, and despair
Will make thee strong.
SAMARKOON.
The means for such deliverance; if, indeed,
Thou hast not been deceived by some false tale.
ARTINA.
With limbs yet seemingly enthrall'd, until
The wary guard hath come to ascertain
Thy presence here; and then, when he retires,——
Thou know'st the rest.—Haste, let me loose thy shackles.
Is this the way ?
(Kneeling down and using her implements for breaking the chains, which she draws from the folds of her robe.)
SAMARKOON.
Affection seems to teach thee craftsman's skill.
ARTINA.
SAMARKOON.
If I am fated yet to live on earth,
A prosp'rous man, I'll have thy figure graven,
As now thou art, with implements in hand,
And make of it a tutelary idol.
ARTINA (still working at the chains).
Is a good omen. Dost thou not remember
How once in play I bound thy stripling limbs
With braided reeds, as a mock criminal?
We little thought——Another link is conquer'd;
And one alone remains. (Tries to unloose it.)
But it is stubborn.
Oh, if that I should now lack needed strength!
Vile, hateful link, give way!
Enter Rasinga, and she starts up, letting fall her tools on the ground.
RASINGA.
A faithful spy had given me notice of it,
And yet, methought, it was impossible
Thou could'st be so rebellious, so bereft
Of female honour, matronly allegiance.
ARTINA.
Implored you to relent and spare his life,
The last shoot of my father's honour'd house.
But thou, with unrelenting tyranny,
Hast chid me from thee.—Matronly allegiance,
Ev'n in a favour'd and beloved wife,
O'errules not every duty; and to her, Who is despised, abandon'd, and disgraced,
Can it be more imperious? No, Rasinga;
I were unmeet to wear a woman's form,
If, with the means to save my brother's life,
Not implicating thine, I had, from fear
Of thy displeasure, grievous as it is,
Forborne to use them.
RASINGA.
Making rebellion virtue! Such audacity
Calls for the punishment which law provides
For faithless and for disobedient wives.
SAMARKOON.
Thou art the fellest, fiercest, meanest tyrant,
That e'er joined human form to demon's spirit.
RASINGA.
Of loud injurious clamour?—Ho, without!
(Calling aloud.)
I came not here to hold a wordy war
With criminals and women.—Ho! I say.
Enter Guards.
Secure the prisoner, and fasten tightly
His unlock'd chains.—And, lady, come thou instantly,
To such enthralment as becomes thy crime.
[Exeunt Rasinga and Artina, who is led off by Guards, while motioning her last farewell to Samarkoon. The scene closes.
SCENE IX.
An Apartment in the House of Montebesa.
Samar is discovered playing on the floor with toys, and Sabawatté sitting by him.
SAMAR (holding up a toy).
I will not use it till my mother come,
That she may see it fresh and beautiful.
SABAWATTÉ.
SAMAR.
And she has been so kind to me of late.
SABAWATTÉ.
SAMAR.
Has thought of that new bride—I hate that bride—
And spoken to me seldom and with looks
Not like his wonted looks, she has been kinder;
Has kiss'd me oftener, and has held me closer
To her soft bosom. O she loves me dearly!
And dearly I love her!—Where is she now,
That thou should'st say, "I would that she were here!"
SABAWATTÉ.
SAMAR.
Then she is in some sad and hateful place,
And I will go to her.
SABAWATTÉ.
SAMAR.
SABAWATTÉ.
SAMAR.
SABAWATTÉ.
SAMAR.
SABAWATTÉ.
SAMAR.
Most cruel and most wicked.
I'll stay no longer here; I'll go to her;
And if through bolts and bars I may not pass,
I at her door will live, as my poor dog
Close by my threshold lies and pines and moans,
When he's shut out from me.—I needs must go;
Rooms are too good for me when she's in prison.
Come, lead me to the place; I charge thee, do;
I'll stay no longer here.
Enter Montebesa, and he runs to her, clasping her knees, and bursting into tears.
MONTEBESA.
(To Sabawatté.) Does he know aught?
SABAWATTÉ.
SAMAR.
O take me to her! take me to her prison.
I'll be with her; I'll be and bide with her;
No other place shall hold me.
MONTEBESA.
And I myself will take thee to thy mother:
The guards will not refuse to let me pass.
Weep not so bitterly, my own dear Samar!
Fy! wipe away those tears and come with me.
SABAWATTÉ.
It had been cruelty to keep him here.
[Exeunt.