310 THE OLD MAN OF THE MOUNTAIN; A DRAMATIC FRAGMENT*. CHARACTERS. Conrad. Malek. Theodore. Calaf. Ghulenda. SCENE I.-MALEK and CALAF at a Banquet. CALAF. I pray thee, ask me not-I have no heart For revelry. Oh tell me, pitying tell me, Is my Ghulenda happy? MALEK. Cheer thee, man— Here's balm for thee. (offers wine) CAL. Of fallible votaries. *There was a petty prince in Asia, commonly called The old Man of the Mountain, who had acquired such an ascendant over his fanatical subjects, that they paid the most implicit deference to his commands; esteemed assassination meritorious when sanctified by his mandate; courted danger and even certain death in the execution of his orders, and fancied that when they sacrificed their lives for his sake, the highest joys of paradise were the infallible reward of their devoted obedience. It was the custom of this Prince, when he imagined himself injured, to despatch secretly some of his subjects against the aggressor, to charge them with the execution of his revenge; to instruct them in every art of disguising their purpose; and no precaution was sufficient to guard any man, however powerful, against the attempts of these subtle and determined ruffians. The greatest monarchs stood in awe of this Prince of the Assassins, (for that was the name of his people, whence the word has passed into most European languages,) and it was the highest indiscretion in Conrad, Marquis of Montserrat, to offend and affront him. The inhabitants of Tyre, who were governed by that nobleman, had put to death some of this dangerous people. The Prince demanded satisfaction; for, as he piqued himself in never beginning any offence, he had his regular and established formalities in requiring atonement. Conrad treated his messengers with disdain. The Prince issued the fatal orders. Two of his subjects who had insinuated themselves in disguise among Conrad's guards, openly in the streets of Sidon, wounded him mortally, and when they were seized and put to the most cruel tortures, they triumphed amidst their agonies, and rejoiced that they had been destined by Heaven to suffer in so just and meritorious a cause.- -HUME'S ENGLAND. Save when the chaste moon shrinks to see his eyes. CAL. (starting up) Traitor and liar (sits down) Peace, peace, I see your purpose; Sound me not thus-I am no hollow convert. MAL. Valiant believer-Keep your ready courage, For greater ends-O brave and credulous heart! CAL. What mean you, Malek ?-why am I thus mock'd? Have I not ripen'd in our common faith? Breath'd I my orisons to the great Spirit Of the green hills, and ask'd a clearer voice That' to quit life, and with it quit all happiness MAL. O glorious faith! 'T will purify all things! rapine, or secret murder, CAL. MAL. It may be-but I fear not-we are safe now A prophet in the sun,- -a mere, mere man In the curtains of night-Then lips that shame the rose Full cups have deeper wisdom in their dregs Than the unclasp'd Koran. CAL. Presumptuous wretch My heart's blood curdles-and my spirit shrinks MAL. Thou art too noble to be sacrificed At Bigotry's Altar! CAL. Unhappy youth, Stir me not thus-To doubt Think you, the light Of natural truth which beam'd upon your soul In these deep solitudes-and that red glare Which bow'd you to his bidding, had their source CAL. Malek, I will not think. MAL. The power which bade you strike the poisoned blade To Conrad's heart; and the Omniscient Spirit Which held your murderous aim-Are they the same? CAL. Shake not my brain to madness-righteous Heaven Instruct me! MAL. Wisdom may be learn'd from her Who taught thee love. CAL. Ghulenda? even the smile Hovering around her lips, like a glad beam Gilding the crimson clouds, hath wisdom in't! MAL. She smiles not now as she was wont to smile! Has not estrang'd her thus from her own heart, Her glad and innocent heart. MAL. Our prophet's mysteries— CAL. MAL. Too much has she read Hah! He hath private creeds The bless'd Mahomed Rouse me not For trusting maids, that man may never learn! CAL. Creeds! what creeds? MAL. Was frail when woman tempted! CAL. To curse thee, Malek-thy words are serpent stings- MAL. A prophet's love is harmless-like the sun Malek, to jests; answer me this to-morrow. Mock me not, Malek. CAL. To leave me hurtless. MAL. Shall the harem doors Unclose to win thee?-Ay-there's choice for kings. MAL. Rest on this couch, Be calm awhile; and I will wake such eyes As kindle dervise-hearts. Be calm, awhile. (MALEK unlocks a door in the back Scene, and goes in, closing it after him.) CAL. I heard him curs'd in Europe-but my sword Had blood for it. They call'd him murderer O no, it mov'd me not-and yet I doubted once before-twice-always in sleep A Prophet's love! Adulteress ! Ghulenda! My radiant angel-art thou spotted thus ? On his own altar will I sacrifice him— Out, out, black blasphemy-can Heaven's own oracle Has yon bright orb a God? yea, one of power It will not leave me-pure ?-A murderer pure? And why not then a gloating sensualist? (MALEK enters, leading in GHULENDA veiled; closes the door cautiously.) GHU. (to MALEK) What man is this? MAL. Be calm; speak to him soothly He bears a blessing from the gallant youth GHU. It is his dying benizon. MAL. (to CALAF) From Calaf? A Lady claims thy courtesy- Comes she to speak, Of joys or grief-I have no chords of pleasure GHU. That voice-that voice It sounded like the echo of my dreams,- CAL. (rising hesitatingly.) I pray thee- GHU. Heaven-'tis he-I thank thee Calaf, my Calaf. (faints in his arms.) CAL. Look up, look up-O, cheek, where is thy health Lips, let me press you-parch'd-parch'd Shrivell'd like blossoms that a pestilent air Has gathered o'er your, brightness-have ye tears, GHU. (recovering.) Methought a blessed spirit GHU. He told me thou wert dead-I thought thou cam'st To bear me from this earth. (rises up.) Of hope and blessing-we have loved, Ghulenda. GHU. He told me thou wert dead-'tis false-'tis false. Oh, name it not,-one look, GHU. CAL. The wretched have no smiles; The weak and guilty smile. GHU. Oh, hast thou suffered? Let us fly, my Calaf, To our kiosk, where never sorrow came; And let us dream again that this fair world Is not the home of sin and misery. CAL. Dream as we will, the waking time will come. GHU. Madness is here, my Calaf-the dread cry Of guilt is howling round us-save me—save me. CAL. Malek is right. (aside.) The gracious Scheik protect thee! GHU. Oh, not to him, my Calaf, not to him, Abandon thy Ghulenda-bear me hence; He is CAL. A saint! Oh, thought we thus to meet, Go to the prophet's bed;—a mutter'd prayer GHU. Save me from that-oh, save me but from that, In the tangled thickets, till my feeble frame. Shall sink to the chill earth, and as I lie Wrestling with famine, not a groan shall speak CAL. Poor wretch; These are the grievous penalties of sin, And deep credulity. GHU. I'll break the chains Of my impious oaths-O, guilty, guilty dupe, To vow my slavery-but thou art free, Thou hast not sworn? CAL. To give thee to pollution? That would have broke the spell-I only swore To be a murderer. A murderer? (shuddering.) GHU. GHU. Was it for this his praise Breath'd on our childish ears, while as we grew |