The Bride of Messina, and On the Use of the Chorus in Tragedy | Page 2

in silence; she beckons to an old attendant, who
remains.
Diego!
DIEGO. Honored mistress!
ISABELLA. Old faithful servant, then true heart, cone near me; Sharer
of all a mother's woes, be thine The sweet communion of her joys: my
treasure Shrined in thy heart, my dear and holy secret Shall pierce the
envious veil, and shine triumphant To cheerful day; too long by harsh
decrees, Silent and overpowered, affection yet Shall utterance find in
Nature's tones of rapture! And this imprisoned heart leap to the
embrace Of all it holds most dear, returned to glad My desolate halls;
So bend thy aged steps To the old cloistered sanctuary that guards The
darling of my soul, whose innocence To thy true love (sweet pledge of
happier days)! Trusting I gave, and asked from fortune's storm A
resting place and shrine. Oh, in this hour Of bliss; the dear reward of all
thy cares. Give to my longing arms my child again!
[Trumpets are heard in the distance.
Haste! be thy footsteps winged with joy--I hear The trumpet's blast, that
tells in warlike accents My sons are near:
[Exit DIEGO. Music is heard in an opposite direction, and becomes
gradually louder.
Messina is awake! Hark! how the stream of tongues hoarse murmuring
Rolls on the breeze,--'tis they! my mother's heart Feels their approach,
and beats with mighty throes Responsive to the loud, resounding march!
They come! they come! my children! oh, my children!

[Exit.
The CHORUS enters.
(It consists of two semi-choruses which enter at the same time from
opposite sides, and after marching round the stage range themselves in
rows, each on the side by which it entered. One semi-chorus consists of
young knights, the other of older ones, each has its peculiar costume
and ensigns. When the two choruses stand opposite to each other, the
march ceases, and the two leaders speak.) [The first chorus consists of
Cajetan, Berengar, Manfred, Tristan, and eight followers of Don
Manuel. The second of Bohemund, Roger, Hippolyte, and nine others
of the party of Don Caesar.
First Chorus (CAJETAN).
I greet ye, glittering halls Of olden time Cradle of kings! Hail! lordly
roof, In pillared majesty sublime!
Sheathed be the sword! In chains before the portal lies The fiend with
tresses snake-entwined, Fell Discord! Gently treat the inviolate floor!
Peace to this royal dome! Thus by the Furies' brood we swore, And all
the dark, avenging Deities!
Second Chorus (BOHEMUND).
I rage! I burn! and scarce refrain To lift the glittering steel on high, For,
lo! the Gorgon-visaged train Of the detested foeman nigh: Shall I my
swelling heart control? To parley deign--or still in mortal strife The
tumult of my soul? Dire sister, guardian of the spot, to thee Awe-struck
I bend the knee, Nor dare with arms profane thy deep tranquillity!
First Chorus (CAJETAN).
Welcome the peaceful strain! Together we adore the guardian power Of
these august abodes! Sacred the hour To kindred brotherly ties And
reverend, holy sympathies;-- Our hearts the genial charm shall own,
And melt awhile at friendship's soothing tone:-- But when in yonder

plain We meet--then peace away! Come gleaming arms, and battle's
deadly fray!
The whole Chorus.
But when in yonder plain We meet--then peace away! Come gleaming
arms, and battle's deadly fray!
First Chorus (BERENGAR).
I hate thee not--nor call thee foe, My brother! this our native earth, The
land that gave our fathers birth:-- Of chief's behest the slave decreed,
The vassal draws the sword at need, For chieftain's rage we strike the
blow, For stranger lords our kindred blood must flow.
Second Chorus (BOHEMUND).
Hate fires their souls--we ask not why;-- At honor's call to fight and die,
Boast of the true and brave! Unworthy of a soldier's name Who burns
not for his chieftain's fame!
The whole Chorus.
Unworthy of a soldier's name Who burns not for his chieftain's fame!
One of the Chorus (BERENGAR).
Thus spoke within my bosom's core The thought--as hitherward I
strayed; And pensive 'mid the waving store, I mused, of autumn's
yellow glade:-- These gifts of nature's bounteous reign,-- The teeming
earth, and golden grain, Yon elms, among whose leaves entwine The
tendrils of the clustering vine;-- Gay children of our sunny clime,--
Region of spring's eternal prime! Each charm should woo to love and
joy, No cares the dream of bliss annoy, And pleasure through life's
summer day Speed every laughing hour away. We rage in blood,--oh,
dire disgrace! For this usurping, alien race; From some far distant land
they came, Beyond the sun's departing flame. And owned upon our
friendly shore The welcome of our sires of yore. Alas! their sons in

thraldom pine, The vassals of this stranger line.
A second (MANFRED).
Yes! pleased, on our land, from his azure way, The sun ever smiles
with unclouded ray.