FullReads

DON MANUEL.

A secret to herself,–she ne’er has learned
Her name or fatherland.

Chorus

(CAJETAN).
And not a trace
Guides to her being’s undiscovered springs?

DON MANUEL.

An old domestic, the sole messenger
Sent by her unknown mother, oft bespeaks her
Of kingly race.

Chorus

(CAJETAN).
And hast thou won naught else
From her garrulous age?

DON MANUEL.

Too much I feared to peril
My secret bliss!

Chorus

(CAJETAN).
What were his words? What tidings
He bore–perchance thou know’st.

DON MANUEL.

Oft he has cheered her
With promise of a happier time, when all
Shall be revealed.

Chorus

(CAJETAN).
Oh, say–betokens aught
The time is near?

DON MANUEL.

Not distant far the day
That to the arms of kindred love once more
Shall give the long forsaken, orphaned maid–
Thus with mysterious words the aged man
Has shadowed oft what most I dread–for awe
Of change disturbs the soul supremely blest:
Nay, more; but yesterday his message spoke
The end of all my joys–this very dawn,
He told, should smile auspicious on her fate,
And light to other scenes–no precious hour
Delayed my quick resolves–by night I bore her
In secret to Messina.

Chorus

(CAJETAN).
Rash the deed
Of sacrilegious spoil! forgive, my prince,
The bold rebuke; thus to unthinking youth
Old age may speak in friendship’s warning voice.

DON MANUEL.

Hard by the convent of the Carmelites,
In a sequestered garden’s tranquil bound,
And safe from curious eyes, I left her,–hastening
To meet my brother: trembling there she counts
The slow-paced hours, nor deems how soon triumphant
In queenly state, high on the throne of fame,
Messina shall behold my timid bride.
For next, encompassed by your knightly train,
With pomp of greatness in the festal show,
Her lover’s form shall meet her wondering gaze!
Thus will I lead her to my mother; thus–
While countless thousands on her passage wait
Amid the loud acclaim–the royal bride
Shall reach my palace gates!

Chorus

(CAJETAN).
Command us, prince,
We live but to obey!

DON MANUEL.

I tore myself
Reluctant from her arms; my every thought
Shall still be hers: so come along, my friends,
To where the turbaned merchant spreads his store
Of fabrics golden wrought with curious art;
And all the gathered wealth of eastern climes.
First choose the well-formed sandals–meet to guard
And grace her delicate feet; then for her robe
The tissue, pure as Etna’s snow that lies
Nearest the sun-light as the wreathy mist
At summer dawn–so playful let it float
About her airy limbs. A girdle next,
Purple with gold embroidered o’er, to bind
With witching grace the tunic that confines
Her bosom’s swelling charms: of silk the mantle,
Gorgeous with like empurpled hues, and fixed
With clasp of gold–remember, too, the bracelets
To gird her beauteous arms; nor leave the treasure
Of ocean’s pearly deeps and coral caves.
About her locks entwine a diadem
Of purest gems–the ruby’s fiery glow
Commingling with the emerald’s green. A veil,
From her tiara pendent to her feet,
Like a bright fleecy cloud shall circle round
Her slender form; and let a myrtle wreath
Crown the enchanting whole!

Chorus

(CAJETAN).
We haste, my prince.
Amid the Bazar’s glittering rows, to cull
Each rich adornment.

DON MANUEL.

From my stables lead
A palfrey, milk-white as the steeds that draw
The chariot of the sun; purple the housings,
The bridle sparkling o’er with precious gems,
For it shall bear my queen! Yourselves be ready
With trumpet’s cheerful clang, in martial train
To lead your mistress home: let two attend me,
The rest await my quick return; and each
Guard well my secret purpose.