Poems [62]
to dawn of day, Hope's star sheds not a single ray To light the solemn hour!
Alas! what pangs must guilt conceal, When innocence like mine can feel So crushed in such an hour! I know not whether love be crime-- But if it is, in every clime 'Tis woman's fatal dower! I can find no clew to this most cruel treachery.
What fiend in human shape has plotted my destruction? (Sound of chains--prison-door is unlocked.) Ah! Karl here!
(Enter KARL, who secures the door through which he came in. He takes a position on the opposite side of the stage, and regards SOPHIA attentively.)
KARL. Well, Sophia, we meet at last where we can confer without the possibility of interruption. I came to save you.
SOPHIA. My life would not be worth preserving, owing anything to you.
KARL. Subdue this unavailing anger, and listen to your friend.
SOPHIA. Not to you. The enmity of such a man is a tribute paid to honesty. Friend! (scornfully.)
KARL. I came to give you liberty.
SOPHIA. How?
KARL. By flight.
SOPHIA. Where?
KARL. To Saxony.
SOPHIA. With whom!
KARL. The only one who loves you.
SOPHIA. Name him.
KARL. Behold him at your feet!
SOPHIA. What mockery is this? Mark me, Karl: I am a weak, friendless, unprotected girl. If your sex is strong, mine is resolute. Abandon your present designs--give up this useless suit, and cease to persecute the innocent.
KARL. I have heard you! Now listen to me. You are my destiny.
SOPHIA. Wretch!
KARL. I can not and I will not live without you. To secure, if not your love, at least the possession of your person, I have periled everything. You are mine by right, and I will have my own.
SOPHIA. Yours by right!--
KARL. Yes.
SOPHIA. What right?
KARL. The king gave you to me.
SOPHIA. I was not his to give.
KARL. You were his bondwoman.
SOPHIA. And his bondwoman spurned you, as she ought!
KARL. With scorn you did!--I have not forgotten it.
SOPHIA. And does so now again.
KARL. You love another!
SOPHIA. I'll not deny it.
KARL. Torture! (Draws his dagger.)
SOPHIA (greatly terrified.) Karl, you would not stain this prison-floor with blood!
KARL. I would, to strike my rival's heart through yours!--But words make the blow unnecessary. (Puts up his dagger.) Hear me, Sophia. Till I saw you, I never felt the pangs of love!--I never shed a tear! From manhood's early dawn, my savage nature could not brook reproof; nor friend nor foe had power over me. Your smile alone subdued this callous heart. Sophia, save me!--Save a repentant, wretched man!
SONG--KARL. (German air.) Once, mild and gentle was my heart! My youth from guile was free! But when love's bonds were torn apart, What joy had life for me? No words, no threats could daunt my soul, My reckless spirit spurned control Till swayed by smiles from thee!
A wanderer o'er the desert sand, And outcast on the sea, An exile from my native land-- What's all the world to me? Each friend misfortune proved a foe: I scorned the high--despised the low-- Till swayed by smiles from thee!
(At he conclusion of the song, enter, by the secret door, HAROLD, with a carbine, conducting in ALBERT and WEDGEWOOD stealthily.)
HAROLD (aside.) I knew that I was right.
ALBERT (aside.) Silence--on your lives!
WEDGEWOOD (aside.) If it is convenient! [They conceal themselves.
SOPHIA. It is in vain!
KARL. Then you must away with me this very night, this very hour, or perish here! (KARL advances and takes her by the wrist. ALBERT keeps WEDGEWOOD and HAROLD off.)
SOPHIA. Villain, forbear! Oh, help me, Heaven!
KARL (drawing his dagger.) You call in vain! Your doom is sealed!--Die! (As he is about to stab SOPHIA, WEDGEWOOD seizes his arm.)
WEDGEWOOD. You lie, you infernal scoundrel!
KARL. Ha! betrayed!--Have at you, then! (A struggle ensues between KARL and WEDGEWOOD, in which the former is overcome, and thrown upon the ground. SOPHIA rushes into ALBERT's arms in great agitation. HAROLD advances to the center of the stage, and aims
Alas! what pangs must guilt conceal, When innocence like mine can feel So crushed in such an hour! I know not whether love be crime-- But if it is, in every clime 'Tis woman's fatal dower! I can find no clew to this most cruel treachery.
What fiend in human shape has plotted my destruction? (Sound of chains--prison-door is unlocked.) Ah! Karl here!
(Enter KARL, who secures the door through which he came in. He takes a position on the opposite side of the stage, and regards SOPHIA attentively.)
KARL. Well, Sophia, we meet at last where we can confer without the possibility of interruption. I came to save you.
SOPHIA. My life would not be worth preserving, owing anything to you.
KARL. Subdue this unavailing anger, and listen to your friend.
SOPHIA. Not to you. The enmity of such a man is a tribute paid to honesty. Friend! (scornfully.)
KARL. I came to give you liberty.
SOPHIA. How?
KARL. By flight.
SOPHIA. Where?
KARL. To Saxony.
SOPHIA. With whom!
KARL. The only one who loves you.
SOPHIA. Name him.
KARL. Behold him at your feet!
SOPHIA. What mockery is this? Mark me, Karl: I am a weak, friendless, unprotected girl. If your sex is strong, mine is resolute. Abandon your present designs--give up this useless suit, and cease to persecute the innocent.
KARL. I have heard you! Now listen to me. You are my destiny.
SOPHIA. Wretch!
KARL. I can not and I will not live without you. To secure, if not your love, at least the possession of your person, I have periled everything. You are mine by right, and I will have my own.
SOPHIA. Yours by right!--
KARL. Yes.
SOPHIA. What right?
KARL. The king gave you to me.
SOPHIA. I was not his to give.
KARL. You were his bondwoman.
SOPHIA. And his bondwoman spurned you, as she ought!
KARL. With scorn you did!--I have not forgotten it.
SOPHIA. And does so now again.
KARL. You love another!
SOPHIA. I'll not deny it.
KARL. Torture! (Draws his dagger.)
SOPHIA (greatly terrified.) Karl, you would not stain this prison-floor with blood!
KARL. I would, to strike my rival's heart through yours!--But words make the blow unnecessary. (Puts up his dagger.) Hear me, Sophia. Till I saw you, I never felt the pangs of love!--I never shed a tear! From manhood's early dawn, my savage nature could not brook reproof; nor friend nor foe had power over me. Your smile alone subdued this callous heart. Sophia, save me!--Save a repentant, wretched man!
SONG--KARL. (German air.) Once, mild and gentle was my heart! My youth from guile was free! But when love's bonds were torn apart, What joy had life for me? No words, no threats could daunt my soul, My reckless spirit spurned control Till swayed by smiles from thee!
A wanderer o'er the desert sand, And outcast on the sea, An exile from my native land-- What's all the world to me? Each friend misfortune proved a foe: I scorned the high--despised the low-- Till swayed by smiles from thee!
(At he conclusion of the song, enter, by the secret door, HAROLD, with a carbine, conducting in ALBERT and WEDGEWOOD stealthily.)
HAROLD (aside.) I knew that I was right.
ALBERT (aside.) Silence--on your lives!
WEDGEWOOD (aside.) If it is convenient! [They conceal themselves.
SOPHIA. It is in vain!
KARL. Then you must away with me this very night, this very hour, or perish here! (KARL advances and takes her by the wrist. ALBERT keeps WEDGEWOOD and HAROLD off.)
SOPHIA. Villain, forbear! Oh, help me, Heaven!
KARL (drawing his dagger.) You call in vain! Your doom is sealed!--Die! (As he is about to stab SOPHIA, WEDGEWOOD seizes his arm.)
WEDGEWOOD. You lie, you infernal scoundrel!
KARL. Ha! betrayed!--Have at you, then! (A struggle ensues between KARL and WEDGEWOOD, in which the former is overcome, and thrown upon the ground. SOPHIA rushes into ALBERT's arms in great agitation. HAROLD advances to the center of the stage, and aims