Count Alarcos; a Tragedy
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Benjamin Disraeli
Benjamin Disraeli was a British statesman and politician who twice served as prime minister of the United Kingdom. He played a central role in the creation of the modern Conservative Party, defining its policies and its broad outreach. Disraeli is remembered for his influential voice in world affairs, his political battles with the Liberal Party leader William Ewart Gladstone, and his one-nation conservatism or “Tory democracy”. He made the Conservatives the party most identified with the British Empire, and used military action to expand it, both of which were popular among British voters. Disraeli was also a novelist, publishing works of fiction even as prime minister.
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Count Alarcos; a Tragedy - Benjamin Disraeli
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Title: Count Alarcos
A Tragedy
Author: Benjamin Disraeli
Release Date: July 31, 2009 [EBook #7487]
Language: English
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK COUNT ALARCOS ***
Produced by K. Kay Shearin, and David Widger
COUNT ALARCOS
A TRAGEDY
By Benjamin Disraeli
As there is no historical authority for the events of the celebrated Ballad on which this Tragedy is founded, I have fixed upon the thirteenth century for the period of their occurrence. At that time the kingdom of Castille had recently obtained that supremacy in Spain which led, in a subsequent age, to the political integrity of the country. Burgos, its capital, was a magnificent city; and then also arose that masterpiece of Christian architecture, its famous Cathedral.
This state of comparative refinement and civilisation permitted the introduction of more complicated motives than the rude manners of the Ballad would have authorised; while the picturesque features of the Castillian middle ages still flourished in full force; the factions of a powerful nobility, renowned for their turbulence, strong passions, enormous crimes, profound superstition.
[Delta]
London: May, 1839
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
THE KING OF CASTILLE.
COUNT ALARCOS, a Prince of the Blood.
COUNT OF SIDONIA.
COUNT OF LEON.
PRIOR OF BURGOS.
ORAN, a Moor.
FERDINAND, a PAGE.
GUZMAN JACA, a BRAVO.
GRAUS, the Keeper of a Posada.
SOLISA, Infanta of Castille, only child of the King.
FLORIMONDE, Countess Alarcos.
FLIX, a Hostess.
Courtiers, Pages, Chamberlains, Bravos, and Priests.
Time—the 13th Century. Scene—Burgos, the capital of Castille, and its vicinity.
ACT I
SCENE 1
A Street in Burgos; the Cathedral in the distance.
[Enter Two Courtiers.]
I:1:1 1ST COURT.
The Prince of Hungary dismissed?
I:1:2 2ND COURT.
Indeed
So runs the rumour.
I:1:3 1ST COURT.
Why the spousal note
Still floats upon the air!
I:1:4 2ND COURT.
Myself this morn
Beheld the Infanta's entrance, as she threw,
Proud as some hitless barb, her haughty glance
On our assembled chiefs.
I:1:5 1ST COURT.
The Prince was there?
I:1:6 2ND COURT.
Most royally; nor seemed a man more fit
To claim a kingdom for a dower. He looked
Our Gadian Hercules, as the advancing peers
Their homage paid. I followed in the train
Of Count Alarcos, with whose ancient house
My fortunes long have mingled.
I:1:7 1ST COURT.
'Tis the same,
But just returned?
I:1:8 2ND COURT.
Long banished from the Court;
And only favoured since the Queen's decease,
His ancient foe.
I:1:9 1ST COURT.
A very potent Lord?
I:1:10 2ND COURT.
Near to the throne; too near perchance for peace.
You're young at Burgos, or indeed 'twere vain
To sing Alarcos' praise, the brightest knight
That ever waved a lance in Old Castille.
I:1:11 1ST COURT.
You followed in his train?
I:1:12 2ND COURT.
And as we passed,
Alarcos bowing to the lowest earth,
The Infanta swooned; and pale as yon niched saint,
From off the throned step, her seat of place,
Fell in a wild and senseless agony.
I:1:13 1ST COURT.
Sancta Maria! and the King—
I:1:14 2ND COURT.
Uprose
And bore her from her maidens, then broke up
The hurried Court; indeed I know no more,
For like a turning tide the crowd pressed on,
And scarcely could I gain the grateful air.
Yet on the Prado's walk came smiling by
The Bishop of Ossuna; as he passed
He clutched my cloak, and whispered in my ear,
'The match is off.'
[Enter PAGE.]
I:1:15 1ST COURT.
Hush! hush! a passenger.
I:1:16 PAGE.
Most noble Cavaliers, I pray, inform me
Where the great Count Alarcos holds his quarter.
I:1:17 2ND COURT.
In the chief square. His banner tells the roof;
Your pleasure with the Count, my gentle youth?
I:1:18 PAGE.
I were a sorry messenger to tell
My mission to the first who asks its aim.
I:1:19 2ND COURT.
The Count Alarcos is my friend and chief.
I:1:20 PAGE.
Then better reason I should trusty be,
For you can be a witness to my trust.
I:1:21 1ST COURT.
A forward youth!
I:1:22 2ND COURT.
A page is ever pert
I:1:23 PAGE.
Ay! ever pert is youth that baffles age.
[Exit PAGE.]
I:1:24 1ST COURT.
The Count is married?
I:1:25 2ND COURT.
To a beauteous lady;
And blessed with a fair race. A happy man
Indeed is Count Alarcos.
[A trumpet sounds.]
I:1:26 1ST COURT.
Prithee, see;
Passes he now?
I:1:27 2ND COURT.
Long since. Yon banner tells
The Count Sidonia. Let us on, and view
The passage of his pomp. His Moorish steeds,
They say, are very choice.
[Exeunt Two Courtiers.]
SCENE 2.
A Chamber in the Palace of Alarcos. The COUNTESS seated and
working at her tapestry; the COUNT pacing the Chamber.
I:2:1 COUN.
You are disturbed, Alarcos?
I:2:2 ALAR.
'Tis the stir
And tumult of this morn. I am not used
To Courts.
I:2:3 COUN.
I know not why, it is a name
That makes me tremble.
I:2:4 ALAR.
Tremble, Florimonde,
Why should you tremble?
I:2:5 COUN.
Sooth I cannot say.
Methinks the Court but little suits my kind;
I love our quiet home.
I:2:6 ALAR.
This is our home,
I:2:7 COUN.
When you are here.
I:2:8 ALAR.
I will be always here.
I:2:9 COUN.
Thou canst not, sweet Alarcos. Happy hours,
When we were parted but to hear thy horn
Sound in our native woods!
I:2:10 ALAR.
Why, this is humour!
We're courtiers now; and we must smile and smirk.
I:2:11 COUN.
Methinks your tongue is gayer than your glance.
The King, I hope, was gracious?
I:2:12 ALAR.
Were he not,
My frown's as prompt as his. He was most gracious.
I:2:13 COUN.
Something has chafed thee?
I:2:14 ALAR.
What should chafe me, child,
And when should hearts be light, if mine be dull?
Is not mine exile over? Is it nought
To breathe in the same house where we were born,
And sleep where slept our fathers? Should that chafe?
I:2:15 COUN.
Yet didst then leave my side this very morn,
And with a vow this day should ever count
Amid thy life most happy; when we meet
Thy brow is clouded.
I:2:16 ALAR.
Joy is sometimes grave,
And deepest when 'tis calm. And I am joyful
If it be joy, this long forbidden hall
Once more to pace, and feel each fearless step
Tread on a baffled foe.
I:2:17 COUN.
Hast thou still foes
I:2:18 ALAR.
I trust so; I should not be what I am,
Still less what I will be, if hate did not
Pursue me as my shadow. Ah! fair wife,
Thou knowest not Burgos. Thou hast yet to fathom
The depths of thy new world.
I:2:19 COUN.
I do recoil
As from some unknown woo, from this same world.
I thought we came for peace.
I:2:20 ALAR.
Peace dwells within
No lordly roof in Burgos. We have come
For triumph.
I:2:21 COUN.
So I share thy lot, Alarcos,
All feelings are the same.
I:2:22 ALAR.
My Florimonde,
I took thee from a fair and pleasant home
In a soft land, where, like the air they live in,
Men's hearts are mild. This proud and fierce Castille
Resembles not thy gentle Aquitaine,
More than the eagle may a dove, and yet
It is my country. Danger in its bounds
Weighs