Albert. Oh, you shall hear-it is a new romance! On what conditions, sail you with this man? Albert. On strange conditions truly, for himself; Albert. Nay, hear me on. To this I made reply, That I shall hold myself to him subservient. "Your good opinion flatters me too much!" To this I have subscribed; and by a notary [She goes out. Cons. Must we not part? Albert. Mad. L. It is a compact that comes o'er my heart The price of blood! Like evil influence. Albert. But you Oh, foolish, foolish girl! shall wear them! They are amuletsAnd will grow dim if I am false to you! Cons. Oh, take them, take them hence! they are so heavy! [She falls on his neck and weeps. Albert. My dearest one! look up, and let me kiss Away these idle tears. Cons. Oh, Albert, Albert! I know that some great sorrow hangeth o'er us— the boat is at the quay. Albert. Truly he keeps quick time !-The moon's There was another ere Noah began; not up But we must part at last,— and farewell's said As easily now as at another time. My dearest love, good bye! Mother, God bless you! Mad. L. Farewell, my son- May God Almighty bless you. [He looks upon them with great tenderness, Albert. I am a fool, a very childish fool, [He embraces her solemnly. [to Cons. Once more, once more farewell! What ails my heart? I never was so much a child before. Cons. May God in heaven bless you! SCENE II. [Albert rushes out. Who he was, tell me? Tightly and strong Who was the first sailor?- tell me who can ; Don't be a blockhead, boy! Tightly and strong Ha! 't is nought but the poor little Nautilus He has no need of a compass like us, Over the water he goes! Helmsman. Land a-head!-Down with you to the captains below, and don't keep dinning there with your cracked pipes! Enter the CAPTAIN and ALBERT. Cap. The isle I told you of! 't is in our reckoning, But 't is an undiscovered island yet Night.-A vessel on the mid seas; a fine moon shining. By any but myself. In my last voyage, The watch on deck. Thus standing on the deck, helmsman myself 1st Man. Now, messmate, can you understand And watch, I first discerned it on a night Radiant as this, yet do I claim it notwhat sort of a trip we are on? 2nd Man. Trading, I take it. Ar'n't we bound Yours be the honour of discovering it! to the Indies? 1st Man. So they say; but mark me if there is n't some other scheme at bottom. Here have we been tacking about in these seas for the last fifteen days, and a steady wind blowing all the time! The old the captain gives orders through the young onedevil's at the bottom of the business, I say. 2nd Man. And let it be the devil himself!-while he gives the wages he does, and plenty of grog, I'll go round the world with him. Don't you bother your brains with other folks' business; let's have a song! here's mine without asking for, the jolly song of the devil at sea You shall first give the knowledge to the world Albert. How bright the moonlight falls upon its shores! What slumberous shades lie in those woody valleys— [The anchor is cast - all hands crowd on deck, eagerly looking out. — Morning be gins to break-The Captain and Albert Cap. Now, friend, you will acknowledge your Pardon me! Cap. [taking his hand eagerly.] No, doubt me not. Albert. I will-I will;-and by yon glorious isle. 26 To serve you, but free confidence in you. [aside. You have sworn! Now contemplate the island at your leisure.— Now is he my sure victim, and for ever! Yon fairy isle will so subdue his soul With its luxurious pleasures - he no more Will be the chafed lion he has been! [He goes below. [The morning shines out, and the island becomes perfectly distinct. Albert. Beautiful island, rising out of darkness Like a divine creation, a new day Hath dawned upon thee, a momentous day Hast thou sinned That God has taken away the sacred veil [He examines them through his glass. And in the lap of pleasure take your ease, Albert. A sylvan grotto, the floor covered with rich Indian mat. Albert asleep, with his head resting on the knees of Edah, a beautiful young native, who fans him with a gorgeous plume of feathers—she sings in a low, sweet voice: Little waves upon the deep When thou wak'st, the sea will pour Albert. [opening his eyes.] 'Tis a sweet song, who Edah. Love taught it me-I made it as I sang Albert. My glorious Edah, thou art like a star The wise men of our nation call them worlds, Where happy spirits dwell-where those that loved, I love the stars-the happy stars- dost thou? Edah. When called it thee? Edah. Albert. No, no, my beautiful! it is not death, Edah. Oh! I would leave my mother for thy sake! Let me go with thee! Albert. Sweet love, that cannot be ! Far, far we go beyond the setting sun! I cannot take thee with me. Yon dark man That ever in the ship keeps by himself, Is a stern chief,-we dare not disobey him; He would not let thee come on board with me! Edah. Oh woe is me! oh woe, oh woe is me! [She wrings her hands in an agony of despair - Albert embraces her tenderly. Albert. My dearest love! my dark-eyed island beauty! Look on me, Edah, listen to my words- Day after day, that we should never part? [She rushes from the grotto. Enter THE CAPTAIN. And rosy corallines, I have collected Oh come thou back! I would be slave to thee, Cap. What, are you tarrying still! the girl is gone, For ever from the hills, and all night long Night-third night from parting with the ship-deck of Albert's vessel - watch on deck. 1st Man. And all to have share and share alike in the plunder-why you can't say but that is fair enough; and yet drown me, if I like the job! 2nd Man. Neither do I! and yet if they 're dead, Mid-seas the deck of the ship-Albert and the Cap-'t will be neither robbery nor murder, and they must tain stand together, with glasses in their hands-a ship is seen in the distance, slowly making way as if heavily laden. Albert. She is a goodly ship, well-built and large, But in her aspect she has something strange; She walks the glittering waters wearily; There is an air of desolation on her; If she were human, I should call her haggard! Cap. [to the seamen.] Quick, slacken sail! we will join company! [He looks again through his glass. 'Tis a strange vessel, and a stranger crew! They look like dead men risen from their graves! Albert. [speaking through a trumpet.] What cheer, whence come, and whither are ye bound? And why are ye so few, and ghastly all? [No answer is returned, the ship slowly takes in sail, and comes alongside. Albert. Oh heavens! they are like dead men! Many weak voices from the ship.] Water! water! Cap. Speak, one of you, whence come? and what's your freight? Man. Our cargo is of gold, and pearl, and diamond, A kingly freight, from India; but we're cursed; The plague is in the ship! All, all are dead Save we, and we are twelve! Give, give us water! We have not had a drop for twenty hours! Cap. [To Albert.] You see these men - 't were merciful to kill them, They will go raging mad before to-morrow, [Albert speaks with his seamen — - they crowd on sail with alacrity, and the ship begins to move. be dead by this time. But somehow, it went against my conscience to leave 'em as we did: I warrant a cask o' water wouldn't have kept 'em alive a day longer. 1st Man. But th' old one said if they had water they would go raging mad, and eat one another. 2nd Man. I say, did you see the big fellow with the red eyes? never saw I such a sight before! 1st Man. Well, the fearsomest thing I saw, and the saddest, was a boy about as big as my Jack, with hands like claws, they were so wasted away, and a poor, yellow, deathly face, that set its patient leadcoloured eyes upon me, and for all the clamour, never said a word, but kept looking and looking, as if it had a meaning of its own, that I should know. Well, I'll tell you a secret: what, said I to myself, should it want but water, so I heaved up a can of water over to him, and I shall never forget his look, to my dying day! My heart fairly sprung a leakfor what did he do with it? he tasted not a drop himself, but poured it into a poor fellow's mouth, that was lying gasping beside him-I guessed it was his father! 2nd Man. Well, I'll tell you what, I wish we had got it all over! It looks dismal to see that death-ship always before us. But this is the third day, and as soon as morning breaks we shall come up with her and see what state she's in. Board them at once, And cut them down at once, nor thus be mouthed at Albert. Still, still you are a bloody counsellor! Cap. Well, if you still object unto the means, Let's leave this wretched ship to rot at once, |