Methinks it is the organ's solemn swell, That from the church's aisles ascends to heaven. CHORUS. The mystic light [A distant chorus sings. Has dawned upon his sight: He sees, and he believes. Rejoice, rejoice, With one acclaiming voice! Strike, seraphs! strike your harps, and through the sky [The Curtain falls, while Florinda kneels. END OF ACT II. ACT III. SCENE I.—A magnificent Apartment in the House of the Cadi of Grenada. A number of MOORS are assembled together—the CADI, HALY, HAMET, &c. Cadi. Haly, the noblest of Grenada's Moors, Within the sacred walls where we are wont To celebrate the Prophet's holy name, Meet at your bidding. Hal. You are called together By the command of Malec; he returns From the Alpuxerras, fraught with some great tidings, And bade me summon you. Cadi. We need his counsel In this our hour of sorrow; when our prince Ham. See-he comes!- Enter MALEC, L. Mal. He is a Christian! Lend me thy aid, good Hamet!-ha! I am old- Moors, fellow countrymen Cadi. Speak, thou brave man! we wait the voice of Heaven Mal. The voice of Heaven First waked the great design. Amid the mountains Their freedom and their faith!-the Prophet smiled, You will not brook to see your sacred rights Moors. We will die before it. Mal. No, you shall live in freedom! Know that already twenty thousand Moors Are leagued by direst oaths;-[Moors touch swords.] ha! I am glad Your hands are laid upon your cimeters ; Draw, draw them forth; and, as they blaze aloft, Moors. We swear! Mal. Then learn, Through the Morisco towns a wide conspiracy Their marshalled numbers, 'neath the auspicious moon, Shall move upon the glorious enterprise! And, ere the morn, the crescent shall be fixed Moors. We shall be free! [They brandish their cimeters. Mal. God and the Prophet grant it! Oh, Mahomet! look down from Paradise, Pity thy suffering people; raise again Amid the land where once our fathers ruled, For 'tis in heaven we trust! CHANT. The Moors kneel. Allah! hear thy people's pray'r, And set us free! Prophet of God! restore The conqu'ring days of yore, And set us free! [A step is heard without. Cadi. Suspend your holy rite; let your hymns cease! Behold a Spaniard with profaning step Comes rushing tow'rds the shrine ! Mal. An infidel Presumes to break on our solemnity! Enter HEMEYA, L., in precipitation, and in Spanish garments-the Moors all rise. What do I see? ha! does he come to blast me? Ha! now I feel my guilt. Mal. Speak, noble Christian! [Moors turn away. How are we honoured with your gracious presence? Hem. Oh! hear my prayer Mal. You mean your high commands I am a Moor, a vile ignoble slave You are a Christian! These costly garments that adorn your body Proclaim your lordly rule:-What is your pleasure? If you would buffet me, as many a time Mal. Ha! the Inquisition Hem. Prepare to drag thee to their cells of death! Mal. Are we betrayed? hast thou betrayed us too! Traitor! accursed traitor! [Scizes him—after a pause.] I had forgot! 'Tis well-I had forget; I did not tell thee.— Hem. Oh, use me as thou wilt; I will not pause He came to greet me, and, with outstretched arm, And then, in pledge of friendship, bade me seek thee. Had marked thee for their victim: I had doubted him, And would have turned with scorn, but that I saw Their bands of death move o'er Grenada's streets. E'en now they come. Mal. Why, let them come; I'm glad They choose me for the torture! let them come, And I will brave them:-Knock, c.] Ha! I know you well The knock of death is there! Hem. He is lost forever! [A loud knocking. [The Moors draw their cimeters. Mal. Let your cimeters Shrink back within their sheaths. Put up your weapons Moors. They're drawn but to defend Mal. Put them up! you. Rumour, perchance, has reached their watchful ears, Confession from my lips; but I will brave them. Fly hence! begone! [Knock-the Moors retire.-Hem. and Malec remain. -Chain falls. They burst the gates: I am prepared to meet them. Enter GOMEZ at the head of the INQUISITORS, L. 3d E. Gom. You stand the Inquisition's prisoner! Invet'rate infidel, by thy example The Moors shall learn Mal. That I'm beyond your power. Gom. Beyond our power? Mal. These old and palsied limbs indeed are yours, But my eternal spirit is my own! Then hear! I spurn as well as curse your power, Gom. Bear witness that he utters blasphemy Against the anointed king. Mal. Against the king! against the anointed king! Oh, you profane that name, when thus you call The villain who has shamed the diadem Is palled with black, and stained with martyr blood, Stands its fierce guardian! monks, with holy rage, Gom. Hold! or yon roof Will topple on our heads! you have confirmed Hem. A Moor! what Moor? |