# Miscellaneous Plays/Rayner Act 4

ACT IV.
The inside of the Prison: Rayner and Elizabeth are discovered sitting sorrowfully by one another in earnest discourse.
RAYNER.
In this I have against thy love offended.
But in the brightness of fair days, in all
The careless gaiety of unruffled youth, Smiling like others of thy sex, I loved thee;
Nor knew that thou wert also form'd to strive
With the braced firmness of unyielding virtue
In the dark storms of life—alike to flourish
In sunshine or in shade.—Alas! alas!
It was the thoughts of seeing thee—but cease!
The die is cast; I'll speak of it no more:
The gleam which shews to me thy wond'rous excellence
Glares also on the dark and lowering path
That must our way divide.
ELIZABETH.
And cannot be divided. Strong affection
Contends with all things, and o'ercometh all things,
I will unto thee cling with strength so terrible, That human hands the hold will ne'er unlock.
RAYNER.
And have no meaning but to speak thy woe:
Dark fate hangs o'er us, and we needs must part.
The strong affection that o'ercometh all things,
Shall fight for us indeed, and shall o'ercome:
But in a better world the vantage lies
Which it shall gain for us; here, from this earth
We must take different roads and climb to it, As in some pitiless storm two 'nighted travellers
Lose on a wild'ring heath their 'tangled way,
And meet again,
ELIZABETH.
It is a terrible one.
Oh flesh and blood shrinks from the horrid pass!
Death comes to thee, not as he visiteth
The sick man's bed, pillow'd with weeping friends:
O no! nor yet as on the battle's field
He meets the blood-warm'd soldier in his mail, Greeting him proudly.—Thou must bend thy neck,
This neck round which mine arms now circled close
Do feel the loving warmth of youthful life:
Thou must beneath the stroke.—O horrid! horrid!
RAYNER (supporting her from sinking to the ground).
Thou art affrighted with a horrid picture
By thine own fancy trac'd; look not upon it:
All is not dreadful in the actual proof
Which on th' approach frowns darkly. Rouse thy spirit;
And be not unto me at this dark push
My heaviest let; thou who should'st be my stay.
(She groans heavily.)
What means that heavy groan? I'll speak its meaning
And say, that thou to nature's weakness hast
The tribute paid, and now wilt rouse thyself
To meet with noble firmness what perforce
Must be; and to a lorn and luckless man, Who holds in this wide world but thou alone, Prove a firm, gen'rous, and heart-buoyant mate,
In the dark hour. Do I not speak it rightly?
ELIZABETH.
Would yield to the heart's will.
(Falling on his neck in a burst of sorrow.)
Enter Father Mardonio.
MARDONIO.
Too long: chide not my zeal that hither brings me
To break upon it. On you both be shed
Heav'n's pitying mercy!
RAYNER.
With a most piteous and kindly voice:
Here is a daughter who in this bad world
Will yet remain to want a father's care;
Thus let me form a tie which shall be sacred;
(Putting Elizabeth's hand into Mardonio's.)
She has no parent.
Enter Keeper of the Prison.
KEEPER (to Rayner).
Who says he has in many a rough compaign
Serv'd with your valiant father in the wars, To let him have admittance to your presence.
Bertram conducts him hither.
RAYNER.
Now comes to see his son! Well, be it so:
This is no time for pride to winch and rear, And turn its back upon the patt'ring hail, Bearing the thunder's shock. Let it e'en be:
Admit him instantly. (Calling him back.)
———Nay, e'er thou goest,
What is he call'd?
KEEPER.
RAYNER.
Retire, my love:(to Elizabeth.) I cannot bear to have thy woes exposed
Before a stranger's gaze.
(She retires with Mardonio to an obscure part of the Prison at the bottom of the Stage.)
Enter Hardibrand and Bertram.
HARDIBRAND (to Bertram: stopping short as he enters, and gazing upon Rayner, who is turned away from them and looking after Elizabeth).
And face, tho' thus half turn'd from us, I see
His father. Still a soldier and a gentleman
In ev'ry plight be seem'd. A clown or child
Had sworn him such clad in a woollen rug.
(Advancing to Rayner.) Young soldier, I did know your gallant father;
Regard me not as an intruding stranger.
RAYNER.
Such greeting to my heart had been most welcome.
A gallant father and condemned son
May in the letter'd registers of kindred
Alliance have; but in the mind's pure record,
They no relation bear: let your brave friend
Still be to you as one who had no son.
HARDIBRAND.
Heed not those fetter'd hands: look in my face,
Look in my face with the full confidence
Of a brave man; for such I'll swear thou art.
Think'st thou that I am come to visit thee
In whining pity as a guilty man?
No, by the rood! if I had thought thee such, Being the son of him whose form thou wear'st,
I should have curs'd thee. Thou by mis'ry press'd,
Hast strongly tempted been, I know thy story:
Bertram has told it me: and spite of courts,
And black-rob'd judges, laws, and learn'd decisions,
I do believe it as I do my creed.
Shame on them! is all favour and respect
For brave and noble blood forgotten quite?
RAYNER.
And nail some sable trappings to my coffin.
HARDIBRAND.
Their asses' ears were nail'd! Think they that men, Brave men, for thou thyself—What corps I pray thee
Didst thou belong to in thy Prince's service?
RAYNER.
Was that in which I serv'd.
HARDIBRAND.
Those six brave officers of that division, Who on the fam'd redoubt, in his last siege,
Did in the teeth o' th' en'my's fiercest fire
Their daring lodgement make, must needs of course
Be known to thee.
RAYNER.
HARDIBRAND.
RAYNER.
To him I owe these bonds.
HARDIBRAND.
RAYNER.
Rest on his wretched head.
(Bowing low and putting his hand on his head.)
HARDIBRAND.
Thank heav'n for this! Then let them if they will
Upon a thousand scaffolds take thy life,
And spike thy head a thousand feet aloft;
Still will I say thy father had a son.
(Rushing into his arms.)
Come to my soldier's heart, thou noble bird
Of a brave nest!—Must thou indeed be pluck'd
And cast to kites? By heav'n thou shalt not die!
Shall such a man as thou art from his post
Be sham'd and push'd for one rash desp'rate act?
It shall not be, my child! it shall not be!
RAYNER (smiling).
I am not yet so tir'd of this bad world,
But I could well submit me to the change.
HARDIBRAND.
Nor be discourag'd, tho' he loudly prate
That grace and pardon will but leave at liberty
The perpetrators of such lawless deeds
To do the like again, with such poor cant.
(Elizabeth, who has been behind backs, listening eagerly to their conversation, and stealing nearer to them by degrees in her eagerness to hear it, now rushes forward, and throws herself at Hardibrand's feet.)
ELIZABETH.
O grant us this, and keep us where they will,
Or as they will. We shall do no disquiet.
O let them grant us life, and we will bless them!
RAYNER.
Forlorn and sad, in lothly dungeon pent,
Kept from the very use of mine own limbs,
A poor, lost, caged thing?
ELIZABETH.
Would'st thou be lonely then? would'st thou be sad?
I'd clear away the dark unwholesome air, And make a little parlour of thy cell.
With cheerful labour eke our little means, And go abroad at times to fetch thee in
The news and passing stories of the day.
I'd read thee books: I'd sit and sing to thee:
And every thing would to our willing minds
Some observation bring to cheer our hours. Yea, ev'n the varied voices of the wind
O' winter nights would be a play to us.
Nay, turn not from me thus, my gentle Rayner!
How many suffer the extremes of pain,
Ay, lop their limbs away, in lowest plight
Few years to spend upon a weary couch
With scarce a friend their sickly draughts to mingle!
And dost thou grudge to spend thy life with me?
RAYNER.
In the cleft crevice of a savage den,
Where coils the snake, and bats and owlets roost,
And cheerful light of day no entrance finds.
But would'st thou have me live degraded also;
Humbled and low? No, liberty or nought
Must be our boon.
HARDIBRAND.
Thou hast upon thy side a better advocate
Than these grey hairs of mine.(To Elizabeth.)
Bless that fair face! it was not made for nothing.
We'll have our boon; such as befits us too.
No, hang them if we stoop to halving it!
(Taking her eagerly by the hand.)
Come with me quickly; let us lose no time:
Angel from heaven thou art, and with heav'ns power
Thou'lt plead and wilt prevail.
RAYNER.
And draw some new misfortune on thy head.
(Endeavouring to draw her away from Hardibrand.)
ELIZABETH (to Hardibrand).
We're tardy: O move quickly! lose no time.
HARDIBRAND.
His heart is in the cause.
BERTRAM.
Could now make some amends for what those hands
Against him have unwittingly committed.
O that the fellest pains had shrunk their nerves
Ere I had seiz'd upon him!
RAYNER.
Cease to upbraid thyself. Thou didst thy duty
Like a brave man, and thou art in my mind
Not he who seiz'd, but he whose gen'rous pity
Did, in my fallen state, first shew me kindness.
(Bertram kisses his hand.)
Go go! they wait for thee.
BERTRAM.
Bearing good tidings!
HARDIBRAND.
(Exeunt Elizabeth, Hardibrand and Bertram. Manent Rayner and Mardonio.)
MARDONIO.
And to the conflict turns it loosely forth,
Weak and divided. I'm disturb'd for thee.
RAYNER.
Your governor hath ne'er yet pardon'd; therefore
Be not disturb'd for me; my hopes are small.
MARDONIO.
We will direct—Who comes to interrupt us?
Enter the Turnkey.
RAYNER.
His state in life favours not the kind growth
Of soft affections, has shewn kindness to me.
He wears upon his face the aukwardness
And hesitating look of one who comes
To ask some favour; send him not away.
(To Turnkey) What dost thou want, good friend? out with it, man!
We are not very stern.
TURNKEY.
To shew the curious peasantry and boors,
Who from the country flock o' holy days,
Thro' his strait prison bars, the famous robber,
That over-head is cell'd; and now a company
Waits here without to see him, but he's sullen,
And will not shew himself. If it might please you
But for a moment opposite your grate
To stand, without great wrong to any one,
You might pass for him, and do me great kindness.
Or the good Father there, if he be willing
To doff his cowl and turn him to the light,
He hath a good thick beard, and a stern eye,
That would be better still.
RAYNER (laughing).
(Laughing again more violently than at first.)
MARDONIO (turning out the Turnkey in a passion, and returning sternly to Rayner).
This lightness of the soul, strange and unsuited
To thy unhappy state? it shocks me much.
Approaching death brings naught to scare the good,
Yet has it wherewithal to awe the boldest:
And there are seasons when the lighted soul
Is call'd on to look inward on itself
In awful seriousness.
RAYNER.
I laugh'd, but, faith! I am not light of soul:
And he who most misfortune's scourge hath felt
Will tell thee laughter is the child of mis'ry.
Ere sin brought wretchedness into the world,
The soberness of undisturbed bliss
Held even empire o'er the minds of men,
Like steady sunshine of a cloudless sky.
But when she came, then came the roaring storm,
Lowering and dark; wild, changeful, and perturb'd;
Whist thro' the rent clouds oft times shot the gleam
More bright and powerful for the gloom around it,
E'en midst the savage strife of waring passions,
Distorted and fantastic, laughter came,
Hasty and keen, like wild-fire in the night;
And wretches learnt to catch the fitful thought
That swells with antic and uneasy mirth
The hollow care-lined cheek. I pray thee pardon!
I am not light of soul.
Death is to me an awful thing; nay, Father,
I fear to die. And were it in my power, By suffering of the keenest racking pains,
To keep upon me still these weeds of nature,
I could such things endure, that thou would'st marvel,
And cross thyself to see such coward bravery.
For oh! it goes against the mind of man
To be turn'd out from its warm wonted home,
Ere yet one rent admits the winter's chill.
MARDONIO.
(Embracing him.)
And now we will lift up our thoughts to him
Who hath in mercy saved thy hands from blood.
RAYNER.
In truer thankfulness, my good Mardonio,
Ev'n with these fears of nature on my mind,
Than for the blessing of my spared life,
Were it now proffer'd me.
(They retire into the obscurity of the dungeon, at the bottom of the stage, and the Scene closes on them.)
SCENE II. A small apartment in a solitary cottage in the country: Enter Count Zaterloo, supported by an attendant and followed by the Countess in the disguise of a Pilgrim; both of them wearing masks. She places a pillow for his head on a couch or sick chair, and he is placed upon it, apparently with pain.
COUNTESS ZATERLOO (to Attendant).
(Exit Attendant.
COUNT ZATERLOO (unmasking).
Speak thine own natural voice, and be thyself:
There is no eye to look upon us now;
No more excuse for this mysteriousness.
Let me now look upon thy face and bless it!
Thou hast done well by me: thou'rt wond'rous gentle. I knew thee fair and charming, but I knew not
Thou wert of such a soft and kindly nature.
(The Countess unmasks and looks at him sorrowfully.)
Ha, mother! is it you?
COUNTESS ZATERLOO.
When we are sick where can we turn for succour;
When we are wretched where can we complain;
And when the world looks cold and surly on us,
Where can we go to meet a warmer eye
With such sure confidence as to a mother?
The world may scowl, acquaintance may forsake,
Friends may neglect, and lovers know a change,
But when a mother doth forsake her child,
Men lift their hands and cry, "a prodigy!"
COUNT ZATERLOO (taking hold of both her hands and kissing them).
I've given thee hoary hairs before thy time;
And added weight to thy declining years,
Who should have been their stay.
COUNTESS ZATERLOO.
COUNT ZATERLOO.
And therefore bound by no divided tie
To be to thee thy hold and thy support.
I was a widow's son, and therefore bound
By every generous and manly tie
To be in filial duty most devoted.
O I have vilely done! I feel it now;
But if I live to be a man again,
I'll prove a better son to thee, dear mother.
COUNTESS ZATERLOO.
And do not thus upbraid thyself too sharply;
I've been a foolish mother to thy youth, But thou wilt pardon me.
COUNT ZATERLOO.
If you did intercept it on its way,
Mira is faithful still.
COUNTESS ZATERLOO.
She toss'd it at me with a jeering smile
When I with anxious tears inquired for thee.
COUNT ZATERLOO (rising half from his seat in great passion.)
Who made of me the cursed thing I am!
I've been a fool indeed and well requited.
Base, avaricious and ungrateful——oh!
(Putting his hand on his side as if seized with sudden pain.)
COUNTESS ZATERLOO.
What ails thee now?
COUNT ZATERLOO.
With encreased violence.
COUNTESS ZATERLOO.
And grasp my hand so hard? What is't disturbs thee?
COUNT ZATERLOO.
COUNTESS ZATERLOO.
O why this seeming agony of mind?
'Tis not the pain that racks thee.
COUNT ZATERLOO.
COUNTESS ZATERLOO.
Thy life I know is forfeit to the law
By some unlawful act, but oh no blood!
COUNT ZATERLOO.
I feel my time is near.
COUNTESS ZATERLOO.
Dark'ning thy fancy.
COUNT ZATERLOO.
He who must suffer for it did it not.
COUNTESS ZATERLOO.
COUNT ZATERLOO (alarm'd).
All round me is exposed and insecure.
(Countess Zaterloo goes to the door and receives something from a Servant, shutting the door immediately.)
COUNTESS ZATERLOO.
COUNT ZATERLOO.
(In violent alarm and agitation.)
COUNTESS ZATERLOO.
Thou'st wak'd the pain again; I see thee tremble.
COUNT ZATERLOO (writhing as if in great pain).
What can be done? O for a short reprieve!
COUNTESS ZATERLOO.
COUNT ZATERLOO.
And what is past ne'er to have been: myself
A thing that no existence ever had.
Canst thou do this for me?
COUNTESS ZATERLOO.
COUNT ZATERLOO.
Would thou had'st lifted up my infant form
And dash'd it on the stones! I had not liv'd—
I had not lived to curse thee for thy pains.
COUNTESS ZATERLOO.
COUNT ZATERLOO (soften'd).
I did not curse thee, mother: was it so?
COUNTESS ZATERLOO.
I was a mother selfish in my fondness;
And with indulgence, senseless and extreme,
Blasted the goodly promise of thy youth.
COUNT ZATERLOO (rising half up alarm'd from his couch).
Coming with errands to thee?—We're discover'd!
COUNTESS ZATERLOO.
COUNT ZATERLOO.
(Pointing to a door.)
From thine own house, suspicion may create:
Return to it again, and thro' the day
Live there as thou art wont; by fall of eve
Thou'lt come to me again.—I'm very weak
I must lean hard upon thee.
(Exit, looking suspiciously behind him as if he heard a noise, and supported with great difficulty by his mother.)
SCENE III. The Countess Zaterloo's house: enter Countess and a Female Attendant.
ATTENDANT.
Pacing from room to room with restless change.
And turning still a keen and anxious ear
To every noise? What can I do for you?
COUNTESS ZATERLOO.
I have a cause, but do not seek to know it.
Enter a Servant.
SERVANT.
COUNTESS ZATERLOO (starting with alarm).
A stranger! what appearance does he wear?
Is there but one? Looks he suspiciously?
SERVANT.
COUNTESS ZATERLOO (feigning composure).
Or man or woman, whosoe'er it be,
I am unwell, and must not be disturb'd.
SERVANT.
Tho' much in grief, and she so earnestly
Pleads for admittance that I am compell'd—
Pardon me, madam; but to look upon her
Would move your heart to pity.
COUNTESS ZATERLOO.
Who may this be? why do I tremble thus?
In grief!—the wretched surely will not come
In guileful seeming to betray the wretched.
(To Attendant.) Know'st thou who this may be?
ATTENDANT.
COUNTESS ZATERLOO.
But do not leave the chamber.
(Attendant retires to the bottom of the stage, and enter Elizabeth with her hair and dress disordered, like one distracted with grief.)
ELIZABETH.
By misery embolden'd, and urg'd on
By desperation. In your pity only
Lives all the hope of my most wretched state:
O kill it not! push me not to the brink
Of misery so deep and terrible!
Have pity! O have pity on my woe!
Thou art a woman, and a woman's heart
Will not be shut against a wretched woman.
COUNTRSS ZATERLOO.
Conceal the point and object of thy suit.
ELIZABETH.
And for a crime by others hands committed,
A noble youth, and my betrothed love:
Your son—O shrink not back, nor look so sternly!
Your son, as secret rumour hath inform'd me,
Mortally wounded and with little hope
Of life, can ample testimony give,
Being himself of those who did the deed,
That Rayner did it not:—let him then, In whate'er secret place he lies conceal'd,
In pity let him true confession make;
And we will bless him—Heav'n will pardon him!
COUNTESS ZATERLOO.
What thou dost ask of me? Go to our governors;
They may have pity on thee; but from me
It were an act against the sense of nature.
ELIZABETH.
At the proud feet of power, and been rejected:
What injury can reach a dying man?
Can his few hours of breathing poise the scales
'Gainst the whole term of a man's reckon'd life
In youth's best strength?
COUNTESS ZATERLOO.
And, were it true, hope ends not but with life;
Heaven only knows who is a dying man.
ELIZABETH.
Againd all other feelings but your own!
(Clasplng the Countess' knees and kissing her hand.) Sweet lady! gentle lady! dearest lady!
O be not ruthless to a soul bow'd down
In extreme wretchedness!
COUNTESS ZATERLOO.
Has he for whom thou plead'st from out o' thyself
Receiv'd his being? press'd with infant lips
Thy yearning bosom? smiled upon thy knees,
And bless'd thine ear with his first voice of words?
Away, away! despair has made thee mad,
That thus thou hang'st upon me.
ELIZABETH.
Its soul: is to my fancy its bound world, In which it lives and moves; all else beyond
Darkness, annihilation. O have pity!
For well thou say'st, despair has made me mad.
COUNTESS ZATERLOO.
Defending her bay'd whelp: I have no pity.
Heav'n will have pity on thee! let me go;
Unlock thy desp'rate hold.
(Breaks from her and runs out, and Elizabeth, quite overcome, sinks upon the ground, the Attendant rushing forward from the bottom of the stage to support her.)
Enter FATHER MARDONIO.
MARDONIO (raising her).
The aid that is appointed for thy state.
Contend no more, but to its righteous will
Submit thyself. Let me conduct thee hence.
(Exeunt Mardonio and Attendant supporting her. Re-enter the Countess, looking fearfully round her as she enters.)
COUNTESS ZATERLOO.
There is a horrid conflict in my mind.
What shall I do? I strongly am beset.
I will go quickly to some holy man,
And ghostly counsel ask.
(Exit, crossing the stage with a quick irresolute step, sometimes stopping to consider, and then hurrying on again.)
END OF THE FOURTH ACT.