Act 4 — Act IV
Reading edition
Scene—A terrace by the palace of Aragon. It is midnight, and the guests are departing from the marriage feast of Hernani and Doña Sol.
Doña Sol: At last, my husband, we are left alone. How glad I am the feast and noise is done— Are over.
Hernani: I, too, am weary of the loud, wild joy. Happiness is a deep and quiet thing, As deep and grave and quiet as true love.
Doña Sol: Yes, happiness and love are like a strain Of calm and lovely music. Hernani, Listen! (The sound of a mountain horn floats on the air.) It is some mountaineer that plays Upon your silver horn. [Hernani staggers back.
Hernani: The tiger comes! The old, grey tiger! Look! In the shadows there!
Doña Sol: What is it frightens you?
[The horn sounds again.
Hernani: He wants my blood! I cannot!
[Don Ruy Gomez enters, playing on the horn like a madman.
Don Ruy Gomez: So you have not kept your word. "My life belongs to you. At any time You wish to take it, sound upon this horn And I will kill myself." You are forsworn!
Hernani: I have no weapon on me.
Don Ruy Gomez (offering a dagger and a phial): Which of these Do you prefer?
Hernani: The poison.
Doña Sol: Are you mad?
Hernani: He saved my life at Aragon. I gave My word of honour I would kill myself When he desired.
[He raises the phial to his lips, but his wife wrests it from him.
Doña Sol (to her guardian): Why do you desire To kill my husband?
Don Ruy Gomez: I have sworn no man Shall marry you but me. I keep my oath!
[With a wild gesture Doña Sol drinks half of the poison, and hands Hernani the rest.
Doña Sol: You are two cruel men. Drink, Hernani, And let us go to sleep!
Hernani (emptying the phial): Kiss me, my sweet. It is our bridal night.
Doña Sol (falling beside him on the ground): Fold me, my love, Close in your arms. [They die.
Don Ruy Gomez: Oh, I am a lost soul!
[He kills himself.
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