Or feathered flash of lightning.
Her lofty flight, I said, "Thou art the queen
Of all the birds, and therefore 'tis but just
That thou'rt above them all." More was not needed,
For when I touched this point of majesty,
With pride and high ambition he discoursed;
His blood bestirring him to mighty things,
Saying, "If in this most unquiet state,
I mean the birds' republic, there is one
To whom the rest swear homage, 'tis a source
Of consolation, if I but reflect.
Since well I know, that if I am a subject,
It is by force alone. Of my free will,
Ne'er would I bend before another man!"
Seeing him thus excited in this matter,
Which ever was the subject of his grief,
I pledged him with the potion. When, behold!
Scarce could the cup's contents have reached his chest,
When a cold sweat ran through his veins and limbs,
And he in sleep had sunk. Had I not known
It was but death's appearance, I had feared
That he was dead indeed. On this arrived
Those whom thou trustest with th' experiment,
And bore him in a carriage to thy room,
Where all such majesty and lordly grandeur
Awaited him, as fitted his high rank.
There have they placed him in thy bed, my liege,
Until the lethargy shall lose its force,
And there too will they serve him as thyself.
Such were thy orders; if obeying thee
Merit a boon,-the only boon I ask,—
Pardon, I pray, my boldness,-is to know
What is thy purpose, that thou so hast brought
Sigismund to the palace?
Thy doubt is just,-therefore from thee alone
Will I remove it. As thou know'st, the stars
Threaten calamities to Sigismund.
Now would I fain examine, if the heav'ns,—
Seeing they cannot lie, and that besides
They prove their rigour, by my son's fierce mood,—
Cannot be soothed, or tempered at the least,
By courage and by prudence, and at last
Revoke their fell decree; for man bears sway
Above the stars. This, then, I fain would test,
And therefore bring him here, that he may know
He is my son, and prove his natural will.
If he subdue it-good; then let him reign:
* Del fuego rayo de pluma.
But if he show himself a cruel tyrant,
Let him again be chained. Now, should you ask,
Why, when I try this strange experiment,
I bring him hither sleeping:-I can give
An answer that shall wholly satisfy.
Suppose he knew to-day he was my son,
And then saw that to-morrow brought him back
To misery and imprisonment; 'tis sure
He would grow desperate; for how, indeed,
Were he consoled, well knowing who he was?
Therefore a door I open for the worst,
By telling him that nought but dreams he saw.
In this device two points are well considered.
First, I shall test his nature, seeing that
He will display all that he thinks and fancies;
And, secondly, 'twill be a consolation,
If now he sees himself obeyed, and now
Finds himself in his dungeon once again,
To learn he has but dream'd. And thinking this
He will not err, for all who live, Clotaldo,
Are ever dreaming.
I have many reasons
To prove that thou art wrong,-but 'tis too late,
For there are signs that he has waked already,
And is approaching us.
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Since knowing all, and seeing well his danger,
Perchance he may more easily avoid it.
Clarin (aside). Here at the cost of four most lusty blows,
Given me by a red-coat halberdier
Whose liv'ry served for beard, I came to peep.
No window truly is more sure than that
Which a man carries with him, without leave
Of any minister, for one can pry
At every feast with ease and impudence.
Clotaldo (aside). It is Clarin, her servant. Hers, alas!
Who, dealing in misfortunes, comes to Poland,
Bringing disgrace to me. What is the news?
Firstly, my Lord, your gracious clemency,
Resolving to avenge Rosaura's wrongs,
Has led her to resume her proper dress.
Clotaldo. 'Tis well, the other might be thought immodest.
Secondly, having changed her name, and feigning
That she's your niece, she has attained such honour,
That here within the palace she resides,
Attending on Estrella.
That once I take her honour for myself.
Thirdly, she waits the opportunity
And time, when you her honour may avenge.
Clotaldo. This, too, is prudent, for 'tis time alone
That will accomplish all.
And next, my lord,
Know that she's served and feasted like a queen,
Being esteemed thy niece; and next to that,
That I who came with her am famishing,-
They heed me not,-forget I am Clarin,
And that, if such a clarion* once should sound,
It might tell all that happens to the king.
Ay, and Estrella, and Astolfo too.
Clarin and servant are two things, i'faith,
That do not well accord with secrecy;
And if, perchance, silence should let me slip,
The proverb might be current: The bright dawn
Is never wakaned by a clearer clarion.
I will relieve you,-your complaint is just,-
Only save me.
Hold, here comes Sigismund.
Enter Musicians singing, and Servants assisting SIGISMUND to dress. The latter appears astounded.
Sigismund. Good Heavens!-What is this wonder I behold?
I can admire it fearless, but believe it
With many doubts. I in a costly palace?
I among rich brocades, and waited on
By all these glittering and gallant servants?
Could I awake in such a splendid bed?
Assisted by so many hands to dress?
say it is a dream would be untrue,—
I know I am awake,-I'm Sigismund!
Oh undeceive me, Heav'n,-say, what is this,
That pressed upon my fancy when asleep,
So that 'tis here I find myself? No more.
Be it what will, I'll not investigate.
And come what will,-I'll let them wait on me.
* "Clarin" is Spanish for "trumpet," and I have adopted the word "clarion" give some approximation to the poor quibble which is here intended.-J. O.
1st Servant. Why does he look so melancholy?
(The Servants converse apart.)
Who, with so strange a lot, could well avoid it?
2nd Servant. Go and accost him now.
1st Servant. Say, shall they sing again?
I do not want their singing.
But we thought,
Being thus pensive, we might soothe thy grief.
Sigismund. Those voices will console no grief of mine ;-
'Tis only martial music I would hear.
Prithee, your Highness, let me kiss thy hand. Being the first to render thee this homage. Sigismund (aside). It is Clotaldo. If with such respect He treats me now, who used me so severely When in my prison-Heav'ns, what can it mean? With the confusion of a state so new,
Thy reason will endure a thousand doubts.
From these I would deliver thee, my lord.
Know that thou art the prince inheriting
The crown of Poland, and if thou wert hid,
It was to shun the cruelty of fate,
Which threatened all the realms with countless wars,
Should thy august brow wear the imperial laurel.
Now, trusting that thou wouldst subdue the stars,-
As with a gallant soul 'tis possible-
They brought thee to the palace, from the tower
Where thou wert hidden, while thou wert asleep.
The king thy father, and my noble lord,
Will see thee soon, and thou wilt know the rest.
Sigismund. Thou art a traitor, vile and infamous;
I need no further knowledge, now I know
My proper state, and now I can henceforth
Exhibit all my power, and all my pride.
Say, how couldst thou such treason perpetrate
Against thy country, hiding from my knowledge,
In breach of ev'ry law, my real rank-
And me concealing from myself?*
Sigismund. Thou wert a traitor thus against the law,
Thus thou wert a false flatterer to thy king,
And against me thou wert most merciless.
For these thy crimes, the law, the king, and I,
Decree that I should kill thee.
Sigismund. Let none prevent me,-all will be in vain.
By Heav'ns, if one should dare obstruct my path,
I'll hurl him from the window.
Alas for thee! Thou showest so much pride,
And dost not know that all is but a dream.
2nd Servant. Consider
Sigismund. Against the law he should not have obeyed him;
Besides, I was his prince.
But he could not
Examine whether he did well, or ill.
Sigismund. Methinks these bold replies become thee not.
Clarin. The prince is right, and you are very wrong.
2nd Servant. And who gave thee this licence?
Sigismund. Who art thou? Tell me?
And chief of all my tribe-indeed I am
The greatest sneak the world has ever known.
Sigismund. In my new life, 'tis thou alone hast pleased me.
Sir, I'm esteemed by all the Sigismunds.
Oh, happy day, the day thou show'st thyself
The sun of Poland, most illustrious prince,
Spreading around such splendour and delight,
And gilding the horizon as the dawn,
While like the sun thou risest from the hills.
Rise then! And since thy brow has late been crowned
With royal laurel,-Oh, may it be late
Before that crown shall fade.
That thou art ignorant of my quality,
I hold the sole excuse that thou hast shown
No more respect. Know that I am Astolfo,
The Duke of Muscovy; thy cousin, too,
And every way thine equal."
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