Nobles, Soldiers, Messengers, Vassals, Peasants, &c. &c. SCENE-Palermo. ACT 1. 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 But the light hearts At break of morn, from all our purple hills, 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, At midnight's deepest hour. 3d Pea. Alas! we sat, In happier days, so peacefully beneath The olives and the vines our fathers rear'd, 7 Falls on the peasant's neck as heavily E'en to the earth. We are bow'd My father, tell me when Shall the gay dance and song again resound 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 Should have been used in courts and camps to move. Old Pea. Nay, rather, mark him not; the times Old Pea. Peace! we are beset 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? And stamp'd with servitude. What! is it life, Pale jealous looks around thee, lest e'en then, Which drag thus poorly on? Some of Peas. Away, away! THE VESPERS OF PALERMO. Leave us, for there is danger in thy presence. Pro. Why, what is danger?-Are there deeper ills To fear or shrink from-therefore, be ye strong! A youth (coming forward.) No, no! say on, say on! That kindle at thy words. Pea. If that indeed There is hope For all who suffer with indignant thoughts Which work in silent strength. What! think ye Heaven, Pro. Be vigilant ; And when the signal wakes the land, arise! The peasant's arm is strong, and there shall be A rich and noble harvest. Fare ye well. 9 [Exit PROCIDA 1st Pea. This man should be a prophet: how he seem'd To read our hearts with his dark searching glance And aspect of command! and yet his garb Is mean as ours. 2d Pea. Speak low; I know him well. His form, seen oft when in my youth I served Then Heaven protect him! for around his steps 1st Pea. He comes not thus But with some mighty purpose; doubt it not; Whose faith, through many a trial, hath been prøved The noontide heat is past, and from the seas Light gales are wandering through the vineyards; now [Exeunt Peasants SCENE II.-A Terrace of q Castle. ERIBERT, VITTORIA. Vit. Have I not told thee, that I bear a heart Which hath its home in woman's breast, ere yet Eri. O lady! doth the flower That sleeps entomb'd through the long wintry storms, And shall not woman's heart, from chill despair, Vit. Love!-make love's name thy spell And I am strong!-the very word calls up From the dark past, thoughts, feelings, powers, array'd As bow'd all hearts before him!-Was he not He died!-hast thou forgotten?-And thou'rt here, Yet in the mien of thine affianced bride, Eri. Vit. Provençal, tell TEL VESPERS OF PALERMO. 11 That make earth Paradise. I stand alone; Eri. Is there not one Who ne'er commands in vain ?-proud lady, bend My deeds have well deserved; and who hath power Vit. Viceroy, tell thy lord, That e'en where chains lie heaviest on the land, Inhabiting man's breast.-A spark bursts forth, Eri. 'Tis well. Then nerve that lofty heart to bear Still finds what most it seeks for. Fare thee well. -Look to it yet!-To-morrow I return. [Exit ERIBERT. Vit. To-morrow!-Some ere now have slept and dreamt Of morrows which ne'er dawn'd-or ne'er for them, So silently their deep and still repose Hath melted into death!-Are there not balms In nature's boundless realms, to pour out sleep Free and avenged.-Thou should'st be now at work, Thy spiry pillar of dark smoke so high, Through the red heaven of sunset !-sleep'st thou still, With all thy founts of fire, while spoilers tread The glowing vales beneath? [PROCIDA enters, disguised. Ha! who art thou, Unbidden guest, that with so mute a step Dost steal upon me? Pro. One, o'er whom hath pass'd All that can change man's aspect!-Yet not long Shalt thou find safety in forgetfulness. -I am he, to breathe whose name is perilous, Unless thy wealth could bribe the winds to silence -Know'st thou this lady? [He shows a ring Vit. Righteous Heaven! the pledge |