Chapter XXIII: Act II

SCENE--DON RUY GOMEZ, _an old, grey-haired, but superb-looking man, is
standing in the hall of his castle in the Aragon mountains._

DON RUY GOMEZ: Only an hour, and then she is my wife!
I have been jealous and unjust, and used
Some violence. But now she is my bride
She shall know how a man can love.

[_A_ PAGE _enters._

PAGE: My lord,
There is a pilgrim at the gate, who craves
For shelter.

DON RUY GOMEZ: Let him in. On this glad day
Give friend or stranger welcome. Is there news
Of Hernani?

PAGE: King Charles has routed him
And killed him, so they say.

DON RUY GOMEZ: Thank Heaven for that!
My cup of happiness is full. Run, boy!
Bid Doña Sol put on her wedding-gown,
And as you go admit my pilgrim guest.

[_The_ PAGE _retires._

Would I could let the whole world see my joy!

[HERNANI _enters, disguised as a pilgrim._

HERNANI: To you, my lord, all peace and happiness!

DON RUY GOMEZ: And peace and happiness to you, my guest!
Where are you bound for?

HERNANI: For Our Lady's shrine.

[DOÑA SOL _enters, arrayed in a wedding-dress._

DON RUY GOMEZ: Here is the lady at whose shrine I pray.
My dearest bride! Where is your coronet?
You have forgotten it, and all the gems
I gave you as a wedding gift.

HERNANI (_in a wild, loud voice_): What man
Wishes to gain ten thousand golden crowns?
This is the price set upon Hernani.

[_Everyone is amazed. Tearing off his pilgrim robe, he
shows himself in the dress of a mountaineer._

I am Hernani.

DOÑA SOL: Ah! he is not dead!

HERNANI: Ten thousand crowns for me!

DON RUY GOMEZ: The sum is great.
I am not sure of all my men.

HERNANI: Which one
Will sell me to King Charles? Will you? Will you?

[_The retainers move away from him._ DOÑA SOL _makes
an imploring gesture; she is speechless with fear._

DON RUY GOMEZ: My friend, you are my guest, and I will slay
The man that dare lay hands on you. I come
Of noble race. And were you Hernani
Or Satan, I would keep the sacred law
Of hospitality. My honour is
A thing I prize above all else on earth,
And King Charles shall not stain it while I live!
Come, men, and arm, and close the castle gate.

[_He goes out, followed by all his retainers._ DOÑA SOL
_remains, her face white with anguish._ HERNANI
_glares at her_.

HERNANI: So he has bought you, this old wealthy man!
Bought you outright!
Oh, God, how false and vain
All women are!

DOÑA SOL: When I refused the throne
Offered me by King Charles, was I then false?
Is this an ornament vain women wear
Upon their wedding day?

[_She takes a dagger from her bosom._

Oh, Hernani,
They told me you were killed! I have been dressed
For marriage, but against the bridal night
I kept this dagger.

HERNANI: Slay me with it, love!
I am unworthy of you! Blind and mad
Was I to doubt the sweetest, bravest soul
That ever walked in beauty on this earth.

DOÑA SOL (_clasping him in her arms_): My hero and my lover,
and my lord,
Love me, and love me always!

HERNANI: Unto death.

[_As he embraces her,_ DON RUY GOMEZ _enters._

DON RUY GOMEZ: Judas!

HERNANI: Yes. Draw your sword and take my life.
But spare your bride, for she is innocent.
I came to carry her away, but she
Refused to follow me.

DOÑA SOL: It is not true.
I love him. Slay us both, or pardon us!

DON RUY GOMEZ: You love him, Doña Sol? Then he must die.

[_There is a sound of trumpets outside. A_ PAGE _enters._

THE PAGE: His Majesty King Charles is at the gate,
With all his army.

DON RUY GOMEZ: Open to the king!

DOÑA SOL: Nothing can save him now!

[DON RUY GOMEZ _presses a spring in the wall, and a
door opens into a hiding-place._

DON RUY GOMEZ (_to_ HERNANI): Here you are safe.

HERNANI: Surrender me! I am a prisoner now,
And not a guest.

[_He enters the hiding-place._ DON RUY GOMEZ _closes it._

THE PAGE: His Majesty, the King!

[KING CHARLES _enters, followed by his soldiers._ DOÑA
SOL _covers herself hastily in her bridal veil._

THE KING (_to the soldiers_): Seize all the keys, and guard the gates!
(_To_ DON RUY GOMEZ) My lord,
I hear that you are sheltering my foe,
The brigand Hernani.

DON RUY GOMEZ: Sire, that is true.

THE KING: I want his head--or yours.

DON RUY GOMEZ: He is my guest.
I come of men who are not used to sell
The head of any guest, even to their king.

THE KING: Why, man, he is your rival! You resolved
To help me hunt him down. You gave your word.

DON RUY GOMEZ: But now he is my guest.

THE KING: He shall be found,
Though every stone in all your castle walls
Fall ere I find him.

DON RUY GOMEZ: Raze my castle, then;
I cannot play the traitor.

THE KING: Well, two heads
Are better, some men say, than one. My lord,
I must have yours as well as Hernani's.
Arrest this man!

[_As the soldiers come forward_, DOÑA SOL _throws up her
veil and strides up hastily to_ KING CHARLES.

DOÑA SOL: You are a wicked and cruel king!

THE KING: What? Doña Sol? (_In a whisper_)
It is my love for you
That stirs in me this passion. You alone
Can calm it. (To DON RUY GOMEZ)
Until you deliver up
Hernani, I shall keep your lovely ward
As hostage.

DOÑA SOL (_taking the dagger, and hiding it again in
her bosom_): It will save him! I must go!

[_She goes up to_ KING CHARLES _and he leads her out._
DON RUY GOMEZ _runs to the wall to press the
spring._ DOÑA SOL _turns as she passes through the
door, and stops him by a wild glance. He waits,
with heaving breast, till the hall is empty, and then
lets_ HERNANI _out._

DON RUY GOMEZ: The king is gone. Here are two swords. Now fight.

HERNANI: No! You have saved me! No. I cannot fight.
My life belongs to you. But ere I die
Let me see Doña Sol.

DON RUY GOMEZ: Did you not hear
What happened? Till I give you up, King Charles
Holds her as hostage.

HERNANI: Fool! He loves her.

DON RUY GOMEZ: Quick!
Call up my men! To horse! Pursue the king!

HERNANI: Leave it to me. I will avenge us both.
My way is best--a dagger in the dark.
Let us go forth on foot and track him down.

DON RUY GOMEZ: And when your rival dies?

HERNANI (_taking a horn from his belt_): Then claim your debt!
My life belongs to you. At any time
You wish to take it, sound upon this horn,
And I will kill myself.

DON RUY GOMEZ: Your hand on it!