Part 2 / Act 3 — Scene III.—A hall in the citadel, hung with arms and banners.

Her. (coming forward and speaking hurriedly.) Is it done? Have you done it? Rai. (with disgust.) What! you thirst For blood so deeply? Her. (indignantly.) Have you struck, and saved The honour of your house? Rai. (thoughtfully to himself.) The light i’ the soul Is such a wavering thing! Have I done well? (To Herman). Ask me not! Never shall they meet again. Is ’t not enough? Aymer enters hurriedly with the dagger, and goes up with it to several of the knights, who begin to gather round the front. Aym. Whose is this dagger? Rai. (coming forward and taking it.) Mine. Aym. Yours! yours!—and know you where— Rai. (about to sheath it, but stopping.) Oh! you do well So to remind me! Yes! it must have lain In the Moslem burial-ground—and that vile dust— Hence with it! ’tis defiled. [Throws it from him. Aym. If such a deed—— Brother! where is she? Rai. Who?—what knight hath lost A Ladye-love? Aym. Could he speak thus, and wear That scornful calm, if——No! he is not calm. What have you done? Rai. (aside.) Yes! she shall die to him! Aym. (grasping his arm.) What have you done—speak! Rai. You should know the tale Of our dark ancestor, the Lion-Chief, And his son’s bride. Aym. Man! man! you murder’d her! [Sinking back. It grows so dark around me! She is dead! (Wildly.) I’ll not believe it! No! she never look’d Like what could die! [Goes up to his brother. If you have done that deed—— Rai. (sternly.) If I have done it, I have flung off shame From my brave father’s house! Aym. (in a low voice to himself.) So young, and dead!—because I loved her—dead! (To Rainier). Where is she, murderer? Let me see her face. You think to hide it with the dust!—ha! ha! The dust to cover her! We’ll mock you still: If I call her back, she’ll come! Where is she?—speak! Now, by my father’s tomb! but I am calm. Rai. Never more hope to see her! Aym. Never more! [Sitting down on the ground. I loved her, so she perish’d!—All the earth Hath not another voice to reach my soul, Now hers is silent! Never, never more! If she had but said farewell!—(Bewildered.) It grows so dark! This is some fearful dream. When the morn comes I shall wake. ——My life’s bright hours are done! Rai. I must be firm. (Takes a banner from the wall, and brings it to Aymer.) Have you forgotten this? We thought it lost, But it rose proudly waving o’er the fight In a warrior’s hand again! Yours, Aymer! yours! Brother! redeem your fame! Aym. (putting it from him.) The worthless thing! Fame! She is dead!—give a king’s robe to one Stretch’d on the rack! Hence with your pageantries Down to the dust! Her. The banner of the Cross! Shame on the recreant! Cast him from us! Rai. Boy! Degenerate boy! Here, with the trophies won By the sainted chiefs of old in Paynim war Above you and around; the very air, When it but shakes their armour on the walls, Murmuring of glorious deeds; to sit and weep Here for an Infidel! My father’s son, Shame! shame! deep shame! Knights. Aymer de Chatillon! Go from us, leave us! Aym. (starting up.) Leave you! what! ye thought That I would stay to breathe the air you breathe!— And fight by you! Murderers! I burst all ties! [Throws his sword on the ground before them. There’s not a thing of the desert half so free! (To Rainier.) You have no brother! Live to need the love Of a human heart, and steep your soul in fame To still its restless yearnings! Die alone! Midst all your pomps and trophies—die alone! [Going out, he suddenly returns. Did she not call on me to succour her? Kneel to you—plead for life? The Voice of Blood Follow you to your grave! [Exit. Rai. (with emotion.) Alas! my brother! The time hath been, when in the face of Death I have bid him leave me, and he would not! (Turning to the Knights.) Knights! The Soldan marches for Jerusalem— We’ll meet him on the way.