SCENE I. Before the gates of a City in Palestine. URBAN, PRIESTS, CITIZENS, at the gates. Others looking from the walls above.

Urb. (to a CITIZEN on the walls above.) You see their lances glistening? You can tell

The way they take?

Cit.

Not yet. Their march is slow; They have not reach'd the jutting cliff, where first

The mountain path divides.

Urb.

Cit.

And now?

The wood

Shuts o'er their track. Now spears are flashing outIt is the banner of De Chatillon.

(Very slow and mournful military music without.) This way! they come this way!

Urb. All holy saints Grant that they pass us not! Those martial sounds Have a strange tone of sadness! Hark, they swell Proudly, yet full of sorrow.

[Knights, Soldiers, &c. enter, with RAIMER DE CHATILLON.]

Welcome, knights!

Ye bring us timely aid! men's hearts were full
Of doubt and terror. Brave De Chatillon!
True soldier of the Cross! I welcome thee;
I greet thee with all blessing! Where thou art
There is deliverance !

Rai. (bending to receive the Priest's blessing.)
Holy man, I come

From a lost battle.

Urb.

And thou bring'st the heart

Whose spirit yields not to defeat.

Rai.

My father's bier.

Urb.

I bring

His bier!-I marvel not

To see your brow thus darken'd!—And he died

As he had lived, in arms?

Rai. (gloomily.)

Not, not in arins—

His war-cry had been silenced. Have ye place
Amidst your ancient knightly sepulchres

For a warrior with his sword?-He bade me bear
His dust to slumber here.

Urb.

And it shall sleep

Beside our noblest, while we yet can call

One holy place our own!-Heard you, my lord,
That the fierce Kaled's host is on its march

Against our city?

Rai. (with sudden exultation.) That were joy to know!

That were proud joy!-who told it?-there's a weight

That must be heaved from off my troubled heart
By the strong tide of battle !—Kaled!—Ay,

A gallant name!—how heard you?

Urb.

Nay, it seem'd

As if a breeze first bore the rumour in.
I know not how it rose; but now it comes
Like fearful truth, and we were sad, thus left
Hopeless of aid or counsel―till we saw—————

Rai. (hastily.) You have my brother here?
Urb. (with embarrassment.) We have—but he—
Rai. But he-but he !-Aymer de Chatillon!
The fiery knight-the very soul o' the field—
Rushing on danger with the joyous step
Of a hunter o'er the hills!—is that a tone
Wherewith to speak of him ?—I heard a tale
If it be true-nay, tell me!

Urb.

Ask him to tell thee

He is here;

Rai.

-If that tale be true

(he turns suddenly to his companions.)

-Follow me!-give the noble dead his rites,
And we will have our day of vengeance yet,

Soldiers and friends!

[Exeunt omnes.

SCENE II-A Hall of Oriental architecture, opening upon gardens. A fountain in the centre.

AYMER DE CHATILLON-MORAIMA.

Mor. (bending over a couch on which her brother is sleeping.) He sleeps so calmly now; the soft wind here

Brings in such lulling sounds!-Nay, think you not This slumber will restore him? See you not

His cheek's faint glow?

Aym. (turning away.) It was my sword which gave The wound he dies from !

Mor.
Dies from! say not so!
The brother of my childhood and my youth,
My heart's first friend!-Oh! I have been too weak,
I have delay'd too long!—He could not sue,
He bade me urge the prayer he would not speak,
And I withheld it!—Christian, set us free!

You have been gentle with us! 'tis the weight,
The bitter feeling, of captivity

Which preys upon his life!

Aym.

You would go hence?

Mor. For his sake!

Aym.

You would leave me! 'tis too late!

You see it not-you know not, that

your voice

Hath power in its low mournfulness to shake
Mine inmost soul?—That you but look on me,
With the soft darkness of your earnest eyes,
And bid the world fade from me, and call up
A thousand passionate dreams, which wrap my life,
As with a troubled cloud?—The very sound
Of your light step hath made my heart o'erflow
Even unto aching, with the sudden gush

Of its deep tenderness!—You know it not?
-Moraima !—speak to me!

Mor. (covering herself with her veil.) I can but weep! Is it even so?-this love was born for tears!

Aymer! I can but weep!

detains her.)

(going to leave him, he

Aym. Hear me, yet hear me !-I was rear'd in arms
And the proud blast of trumpets, and the shouts
Of banner'd armies, these were joy to me,
Enough of joy! Till you-I look'd on you—
We met where swords were flashing, and the light
Of burning towers glared wildly on the slain-
And then-

Mor. (hurriedly.) Yes! then you saved me!
Aym.

Then I knew

At once, what springs of deeper happiness

Lay far within my soul-and they burst forth Troubled and dash'd with fear-yet sweet!—I loved! Moraima! leave me not!

For us to love!

Mor.
Oh! is't not taking sorrow to our hearts,
Binding her there.--I know not what I say!
How shall I look upon my brother? Hark!
Did he not call? (she goes up to the couch.)