Nobles, Soldiers, Messengers, Vassals, Peasants, &c. &c. SCENE-Palermo. ACT I. SCENE I.-A Valley with Vineyards and Cottages. 1st Pea. Ay, this was wont to be a festal time In days gone by! I can remember well The old familiar melodies that rose At break of morn, from all our purple hills, To welcome in the vintage. Never since Hath music seem'd so sweet. But the light hearts Are tamed to stillness now. There is no voice 2d Pea. Yes! there are sounds Of revelry within the palaces, And the fair castles of our ancient lords, Where now the stranger banquets. Ye may hear, 3d Pea. Alas! we sat, In happier days, so peacefully beneath Falls on the peasant's neck as heavily Pea's Child. My father, tell me when 1st Pea. When there are light and reckless hearts once more In Sicily's green vales. Alas! my boy, Men meet not now to quaff the flowing bowl, To hear the mirthful song, and cast aside The weight of work-day care:-they meet to speak Of wrongs and sorrows, and to whisper thoughts Pro. (from the background.) Ay, it is well An Old Pea. What deep voice Came with that startling tone? 1st Pea. It was our guest's, The stranger pilgrim who hath sojourn'd here Whose glance looks through the heart. His mien accords Ill with such vestments. How he folds round him His pilgrim cloak, e'en as it were a robe Of knightly ermine! That commanding step Old Pea. Nay, rather, mark him not; the times Old Pea. Peace! we are becer By snares on every side, and we must learn In silence and in patience to endure. Talk not of vengeance, for the word is death. And what hath life for thee, The word is death: That thou shouldst cling to it thus? thou abject thing? Whose very soul is moulded to the yoke, And stamp'd with servitude. What! is it life, Pale jealous looks around thee, lest e'en then. Which drag thus poorly on? Away, away! |