The Mirror of Taste, and Dramatic Censor, Vol. I, No. 5, May 1810
History
The Mirror of Taste, and Dramatic Censor, Vol. I, No. 5, May 1810
Drama -- Periodicals; Theater -- Periodicals
_Amel._ That word, that blessed word,
So quickly said, so easy, as 'twere magic
Breaks sorrow's spell and bids her phantoms fly!
That word, that word, that one, one little word.
And I am blest!----
_Alfonso._ [_Yielding to his emotions, and clasping
her eagerly to his bosom._] Be blest then! _Exit._
_Amel._ Now, ye stars,
Which nightly grace the sky, if ye love goodness
Pour dews celestial from your golden vials
On yon dear gracious head!--Oh why is now
My husband absent? Lend thy doves dear Venus,
That I may send them where Caesario strays;
And while he smoothes their silver wings, and gives them
For drink the honey of his lips, I'll bid them
Coo in his ear, his Amelrosa's happy!
Joy, joy, my soul! Bound, my gay dancing heart!
Waft me, ye winds! To bear so blest a creature
Earth is not worthy! Loved by those I love,
I've all my soul e'er wished, my hopes e'er fancied,
My father's friendship, and Caesario's heart!
Leave me but these, and, fortune I defy thee! [_Exit._
SCENE II. _The forest as before._
_Enter_ Caesario _and_ Henriquez.
_Caesa._ He spurned him, Marquis, spurned him! With such scorn,
Such genuine ardent hate, repaid his soothing--
Oh! by that hate I feel, the blood which fills
These veins is right Orsino's!
_Hen._ 'Tis reported,
The king shed tears.
_Caesa._ Marquis, he wept, fawned, pleaded
Remorse, and sued for pardon, with such fervour,
As starving souls for bread!
_Hen._ Did not at this
Orsino's ire melt?
_Caesa._ Melt? Like yon fortress rock,
(Which rears his tower-clad front above the billows,
Nor heeds the winds that blow, nor rains that beat)
Proof against tears, and deaf to all entreaties,
Unmoved the stern one stood, and frowned his answer.
Oh! fear not, friend: like me he loaths Alfonso,
And, when I place revenge within his grasping,
Will spring to reach it.
_Hen._ 'Tis past doubt, his aid
Were to our cause a tower of strength; yet still
I fear, lest----Some one leaves the cave!--'Tis he!
I'll wait beneath yon limes. [_Exit._
Orsino _enters from the cave_.
_Caesa._ Now by my life
A noble ruin!
_Orsi._ I return to Burgos?
For what? To show my scars and hear court ladies
Rail at the wars for making men so hideous?
To bear the coxcomb's sneer, the minion's fawning,
And see fools sweetly smile at my good fortune,
Who, when my death was signed, smiled full as sweetly?
No, no, I'll none on't. [_Seeing_ Caesario.]
Plagues and fiends! another!
More gold and silk; more musk, fair words, and lying!
Will these court flies ne'er cease to buz around me?
Well, sir, what seek ye here?
_Caesa._ Revenge.
_Orsi._ Indeed!
On whom?
_Caesa._ On lawless power. Ask ye for what?
A father's wrongs and mother's murder!
_Orsi._ (_starting._) How!
That voice--Let me look on thee well--Those lips,
Those eyes--Oh Heaven! those eyes, too! I ne'er saw
But one have eyes like thine, an earthly angel,
And with the angels now. Fair youth, who art thou?
_Caesa._ Speaks not thy heart?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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