And said my mother true, false is the world?
DON CAESAR
Believe her, false as air.
DON MANUEL
Give me thy hand!
DON CAESAR
And thine be ever next my heart!
[They stand clasping each other's hands, and regard each other in silence.
DON MANUEL
I gaze
Upon thy brow, and still behold my mother
In some dear lineament.
DON CAESAR
Her image looks
From thine, and wondrous in my bosom wakes
Affection's springs.
DON MANUEL
And is it thou? – that smile
Benignant on thy face? – thy lips that charm
With gracious sounds of love and dear forgiveness?
DON CAESAR
Is this my brother, this the hated foe?
His mien all gentleness and truth, his voice,
Whose soft prevailing accents breathe of friendship!
[After a pause.
DON MANUEL
Shall aught divide us?
DON CAESAR
We are one forever!
[They rush into each other's arms.
First CHORUS (to the Second)
Why stand we thus, and coldly gaze,
While Nature's holy transports burn?
No dear embrace of happier days
The pledge – that discord never shall return!
Brothers are they by kindred band;
We own the ties of home and native land.
[Both CHORUSES embrace.
A MESSENGER enters.
Second CHORUS to DON CAESAR (BOHEMUND)
Rejoice, my prince, thy messenger returns
And mark that beaming smile! the harbinger
Of happy tidings.
MESSENGER
Health to me, and health
To this delivered state! Oh sight of bliss,
That lights mine eyes with rapture! I behold
Their hands in sweet accord entwined; the sons
Of my departed lord, the princely pair
Dissevered late by conflict's hottest rage.
DON CAESAR
Yes, from the flames of hate, a new-born Phoenix,
Our love aspires!
MESSENGER
I bring another joy;
My staff is green with flourishing shoots.
DON CAESAR (taking him aside).
Oh, tell me
Thy gladsome message.
MESSENGER
All is happiness
On this auspicious day; long sought, the lost one
Is found.
DON CAESAR