Classic Poem

Battle of Alcazar, The - Act 2, Prologue

[ACT II]

Alarum, and then the Presenter speaketh .

Now war begins his rage and ruthless reign,
And Nemesis, with bloody whip in hand,
Thunders for vengeance on this Negro-Moor;
Nor may the silence of the speechless night,
Dire architect of murders and misdeeds,
Of tragedies and tragic tyrannies,
Hide or contain the barbarous cruelty
Of this usurper to his progeny.
[Three Ghosts crying " Vindicta! "
Hark, lords, as in a hollow place afar,
The dreadful shrieks and clamours that resound,
And sound revenge upon this traitor's soul,
Traitor to kin and kind, to gods and men!
Now Nemesis upon her doubling drum,
Moved with this ghastly moan, this sad complaint,
'Larums aloud into Alecto's ears,
And with her thundering wakes, whereas they lie
In cave as dark as hell and beds of steel,
The Furies, just imps of dire revenge,
" Revenge! " cries Abdelmunen's grieved ghost,
And rouseth with the terror of this noise
These nymphs of Erebus; " Wreak and revenge! "
Ring out the souls of his unhappy brethren.
And now start up these torments of the world,
Waked with the thunder of Rhamnusia's drum.
And fearful echoes of these grieved ghosts, —
Alecto with her brand and bloody torch,
Megaera with her whip and snaky hair,
Tisiphone with her fatal murdering iron:
These three conspire, these three complain and moan.
Thus, Muly Mahamet, is a council held
To wreak the wrongs and murders thou hast done.
By this imagine was this barbarous Moor
Chased from his dignity and his diadem,
And lives forlorn among the mountain-shrubs,
And makes his food the flesh of savage beasts,
Amurath's soldiers have by this install'd
Good Abdelmelec in his royal seat.
The dames of Fess and ladies of the land,
In honour of the son of Soliman,
Erect a statue made of beaten gold,
And sing to Amurath songs of lasting praise.
Muly Mahamet's fury over-ruled,
His cruelty controll'd, and pride rebuked,
Now at last when sober thoughts renew'd
Care of his kingdom and desired crown,
The aid that once was offer'd and refused
By messengers he furiously implores,
Sebastian's aid, brave King of Portugal.
He, forward in all arms and chivalry,
Hearkens to his ambassadors, and grants
What they in letters and by words entreat.
Now listen, lordings, now begins the game,
Sebastian's tragedy in this tragic war.English