Count Alarcos | Page 7

Harp not, I pray, On an old sorrow.
I:4:20 SOL. Old! he calls it old! The wound is green, and staunch it, or
I die.
I:4:21 KING. Have I the skill?
I:4:22 SOL. Why! art thou not a King? Wherein consists the magic of a
crown But in the bold achievement of a deed Would scare a clown to
dream?
I:4:23 KING. I'd read thy thought.
I:4:24 SOL. Then have it; I would marry.
I:4:25 KING. It is well; It is my wish.
I:4:26 SOL. And unto such a prince As I've described withal. For
though a prince Of Fancy's realm alone, as thou dost deem, Yet doth he
live indeed.
I:4:27 KING. To me unknown.
I:4:28 SOL. O! father mine, before thy reverend knees Ere this we
twain have knelt.
I:4:29 KING. Forbear, my child; Or can it be my daughter doth not
know He is no longer free?
I:4:30 SOL. The power that bound him, That bondage might dissolve?
To holy church Thou hast given great alms?
I:4:31 KING. There's more to gain thy wish, If more would gain it; but
it cannot be, Even were he content.
I:4:32 SOL. He is content.
I:4:33 KING. Hah!
I:4:34 SOL. For he loves me still.
I:4:35 KING. I would do much To please thee. I'm prepared to bear the
brunt Of Hungary's ire; but do not urge, Solisa, Beyond capacity of
sufferance My temper's proof.
I:4:36 SOL. Alarcos is my husband, Or shall the sceptre from our line
depart. Listen, ye saints of Spain, I'll have his hand, Or by our faith, my
fated womb shall be As barren as thy love, proud King.
I:4:37 KING. Thou'rt mad! Thou'rt mad!
I:4:38 SOL. Is he not mine? Thy very hand, Did it not consecrate our

vows? What claim So sacred as my own?
I:4:39 KING. He did conspire --
I:4:40 SOL. 'Tis false, thou know'st 'tis false: against themselves Men
do not plot: I would as soon believe My hand could hatch a treason
'gainst my sight, As that Alarcos would conspire to seize A diadem I
would myself have placed Upon his brow.
I:4:41 KING.
[taking her hand] Nay, calmness. Say 'tis true He was not guilty, say
perchance he was not --
I:4:42 SOL. Perchance, O! vile perchance. Thou know'st full well,
Because he did reject her loose desires And wanton overtures --
I:4:43 KING. Hush, hush, O hush!
I:4:44 SOL. The woman called my mother --
I:4:45 KING. Spare me, spare --
I:4:46 SOL. Who spared me? Did not I kneel, and vouch his faith, and
bathe Thy hand with my quick tears, and clutch thy robe With frantic
grasp? Spare, spare indeed? In faith Thou hast taught me to be merciful,
thou hast, -- Thou and my mother!
I:4:47 KING. Ah! no more, no more! A crowned King cannot recall the
past, And yet may glad the future. She thou namest, She was at least
thy mother; but to me, Whate'er her deeds, for truly, there were times
Some spirit did possess her, such as gleams Now in her daughter's eye,
she was a passion, A witching form that did inflame my life By a
breath or glance. Thou art our child; the link That binds me to my race;
thou host her place Within my shrined heart, where thou'rt the priest
And others are unhallowed; for, indeed, Passion and time have so dried
up my soul, And drained its generous juices, that I own No sympathy
with man, and all his hopes To me are mockeries.
I:4:48 SOL. Ah! I see, my father, That thou will'st aid me!
I:4:49 KING. Thou canst aid thyself. Is there a law to let him from thy
presence? His voice may reach thine ear; thy gracious glance May meet
his graceful offices. Go to. Shall Hungary frown, if his right royal
spouse Smile on the equal of her blood and state, Her gentle cousin?
I:4:50 SOL. And is this thine aid!
I:4:51 KING. What word has roughed the brow, but now confiding In a
fond father's love?
I:4:52 SOL. Alas! what word? What have I said? what done? that thou

should'st deem I could do this, this, this, that is so foul, My baffled
tongue deserts me. Thou should'st know me, Thou hast set spies on me.
What! have they told thee I am a wanton? I do love this man As fits a
virgin's heart. Heaven sent such thoughts To be our solace. But to act a
toy For his loose hours, or worse, to find him one Procured for mine,
grateful for opportunities Contrived with decency, spared skillfully
From claims more urgent; not to dare to show Before the world my
homage; when he's ill To be away, and only share his gay And lusty
pillow; to be shut out