Search -
The Poetical Works of Robert Browning (v. 3); King Victor and King Charles. Dramatic Lyrics. the Return of the Druses. 1872
The Poetical Works of Robert Browning King Victor and King Charles Dramatic Lyrics the Return of the Druses 1872 - v. 3 Author:Robert Browning Volume: v. 3 General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1883 Original Publisher: Smith Elder Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com whe... more »re you can select from more than a million books for free. Excerpt: THE RETURN OF THE DRUSES. A TRAGEDY. 1843. Persons. The Grand-Master's Prefect. The Patriarch's Nuncio. The Republic's Admiral. Loys De Dreux, Knight-Novice. Initiated Druses -- Djabal, Khalil, Anael, Maani, Karshook, Raghib, Ayoob and others. Uninitiated Druses. Prefect's Guard, Nuncio's Attendants, Admiral's Force. Time, 14 -- Place, An Islet of the Southern Sporades, colonised by Druses of Lebanon, and garrisoned by the Knights-Hospitallers of Rhodes. Scene, A Hall in the Prefect's Palace. THE RETURN OF THE DRUSES. ACT I. Enter stealthily Karshook, Raghib, Ayoob and other initiated Druses, each as he enters casting off a robe that conceals his distinctive black vest and white turban; then, as giving a loose to exultation, -- Kar. The moon is carried off in purple fire : Day breaks at last! Break glory, with the day, On Djabal's dread incarnate mystery Now ready to resume its pristine shape Of Hakeem, as the Khalif vanished erst In what seemed death to uninstructed eyes, On red Mokattam's verge -- our Founder's flesh, As he resumes our Founder's function ! Ragh. -- Death Sweep to the Christian Prefect that enslaved So long us sad Druse exiles o'er the sea ! Ay. -- Most joy be thine, O Mother-mount! Thy brood Returns to thee, no outcasts as we left, But thus -- but thus ! Behind, our Prefect's corse ; Before, a presence like the morning -- thine, Absolute Djabal late, -- God Hakeem now That day breaks ! Kar. Off then, with disguise at last! As from our forms this hateful garb we strip, Lose ever...« less