Lohengrin (V. Busuttil)
V. Busuttil.
Lohengrin
Romanz popolari
Proprietà Letteraria.
Malta
Stampat fi Strada, Zecca, No. 16,
1895.
I.
Chien jirrenia fil Germania Enricu I.
Fi zmien dan is-Sultan chien hemm xi tahuid u ġlied. Il poplu ta Brabanza chien icun magh- fus spiss mill’Ungari; ghalecc il Brabantini talbu li icunu mharsin mill’ghedeuua tahhom.
Enrico ra li in-nies ta Brabanza chellom ra- giun, ghalecc ta uiden ghal lmenti tahhom u ta ordni li jingiabru in-nobbli colla u il cbarat m’hux biss ta’l Brabante izda ucoll tas-Sassonia u ta Turingia biex mahhom jaghmel cunsill ghal gid ta l’art li semmeina.
Il Cavalieri u il cbarat collha obdeu l’ordni tas-Sultan u marru fil-giurnata maghzula f’ue- sgha cbira fuk ix-xtaita ta’x-xmara Schelda— ftit boghod minn Anversa.
Xhin uaslu hemm, immexxijin mil Conti Fe- derico di Telramondo u minn martu Ortruda— sabu is-Sultan jistennighom bil keghda taht siġra. ta’l ballut li chienet is-servi f’loc tron. Hecc chif Enrico lemah lil dauc il Cavalieri ma duaru kam u kal : [ 8 ]—Jena sejjahtilcom biex leuuel nhabbarcom li in-nies ta Lvant keghdin ihedduna mil ġdid li ghandom jekerduna—mbaghad biex nistak- sicom x’parir tatuni halli narau x’naghmlu biex nilkghou ruiebna contra tahhom. Intom tafu li l’Ungari huma nies kliel u dejjem hakruna, gha- lecc minn mindu ili nahkem jena fir-reniu, hsibt sahbaht b’fortizzi kauuijin u bi suar gholijin l’ibliet taghna—milli nara izda daun in-nies ma katghux kalbom, iridu jerġghou ikumu contra taghna—X’naghmlu ?... nokghodu rekdin ?...
—Lè, lè culhatt ghajjat—ghall'armi !... ahna lesti biex nhallu hajitna ghall'art tagħna.
—Curaġġ mela ! ghajjat Enrico.
—Evviva is-Sultan !...
—Xein ma nghedilcom—issa hemm bzonn li intom tigiu mighi—nitilku ghal Magonza, com- pla igheid is-Sultan, imma... imma jiddispiacini uisk nara li intom ghadcom bla Gvernatur— minn ghair hatt li imixxicom... u dana collu htia taghcom—il ġlied ta beinietcom—katt ma tingiebu—Din hsara cbira ghalicom—jena irrid, li kabel ma ahna nitilku u narmau ruhna contra l'ghedenua, ncun naf xinù dan li kighed izom- mcom dejjem mhaudin beinietcom—irrid iva naf il ghaliex ma issibux min imexxicom u icun cap taghcom—Gheduli, minn minncom irid ifis[ 9 ]sirli l'ghaliex ma jistax icun hemm ftehim bei- nietcom ?
Uakt li Enrico chien kighed hecc jitchellem jilmah lil Federico Telramondo.
— Inti, kallu, fidil sudditu tighi—ragel msem- mi ghal hila u it-tieba tighec—gheidli, fissirli il ghaliex ma jistax isir ftehim beinietcom ?...
—Federico ghall'ordni tas-Sultan hareg minn gio'l folla u uiegeb :
—Maestà, la darba inti ghazilt lili biex nfis- sirlec ir-ragiuni tat-tahuid li ghandom in-nies ta'l Brabante beiniethom, ngheidlec ti leuuel hsara ju li il Brabante ghad ma rnexxilux jagh- zel bniedem seuua biex icun cap tighu — u ngheidlec ucoll li hia hagia difficili uisk biex isib.
—Ghaliex dana ? staksa ir-Re.
—Ngheidlec ucoll — inti taf li id-Duca ta Brabante kabel ma miet sejjahili u hallieli f'idej- ja it-trigia ta zeug uliedu, Goffredo u Elsa— jena ghar-rispett ta dana ir-ragel tant tajjeb ic- cuntait li naghmel cull ma nista biex nrabbi seuua daun iz-zeug titfal, specialment il Gof- fredo li giurnata chellu icun id-Duca ta Bra- bante f'loc missieru.
Goffredo chien l'ghaxka tighi, hsiebi chien dejjem fih, cont nhobbu daks ghainejja—Giur[ 10 ]nata uahda, jahasra !...Goffredo hareg fil ghodu ma ohtu Elsa—dina haditu fil bosc u fil ghaxia naragha gejja ueheda—u sa'l-lum ma raitux izied !... hatt ma jaf x'sar mintin.
—Ma stakseitiex lill'Elsa ghaliex ma gietx ma hugha ?
—Iva maestà, imma milli stait nara Elsa stess chienet li...
—Chif? jista katt icun li Elsa stess taghmel dan id-delitt ?
—Ma nafx jena, Elsa dehret li chienet hatia— Jena ghamilt li stait biex nehdilha minn rasa— sahansitra hedditha li naghlaka f'habs, izda ghal xein, ma kaltli xein.
Ghal dac il cliem ta Federico in-nies collha li chien hemm ma duar is-Sultan tchexcxu u hatt ma sata katt jemmen li Elsa chella il hila taghmel dan id-delitt li toktol lill hugha fil bosc.
Is-Sultun stess l'ankas ma sata jemmen—ma jistax icun kal, li xbeiba tant tuaiba, bint id- Duca ta Brabante, tasal sa haun—hemm bzonn li icolloc provi uisk ciari biex tghamel din l'ac- cusa, kallu lil Federico. Ghalecc jena ma nem- men katt li Elsa ghanda htia.
—L'ankas jena ma stait katt indahhala f'rasi li Elsa ghanda il hila tasal haun—izda rait bic- ciar li l'imgiba tahha uara id-delitt chienet bil [ 11 ]bosta misteriusa—sirt nitchexchex meta nara- gha kuddiemi, inti taf Maestà li id-Duca ta Brabante kabel ma miet ir-raccmandali, li ne- hodha b'gharusa tighi—jenu lil hatt ma cont niehu hlief l'Elsa—izda issa nitchexchex meta naragha kuddiem uicci, ghalecc rsolveit li nit- laka u nitgharras man-nobbli Ortruda ta Rad- bord li keghda haun kuddiemec—Din hi issa l'gharusa tighi—xbeiba mnissla mil familja ta'l Princpijiet ta Friesi u ta Brabante.
Ghal dac il cliem Ortruda resket lein is-Sul- tan u selmitlu b'sinial tal kima—allura in-nob- bli daru mahha biex jifirhula u Telramondo compla igheid :
—Maestà issa billi, permezz ta marti jena l'ekreb uiehed fir-razza ghat-tron ta Brabante niddichiara ruhi is-successur ta'd-Duca missier Goffredo u naghmel l'accusa contra Elsa li katlet lil hugha !...
—X'uahda din ! kalu xi Cavalieri.
—Ma jistax icun—compleu xi ohrain.
—Infamità !...
—Imma chiecu chien jissogra jaghmel din l'accusa li ma chienx sgur?—kabzu kalu ohrain.
Ghal dac il ghaidut ta danc in-nobbli is- Sultan kam u kal :
Jena già ghedtilcom li ma nista katt nem[ 12 ]men li Elsa tasal ma haun—nisk nibza li chie- net xi disgrazia ta Goffredo, u ghalecc nitlob l'Alla li jatina il grazia niexfu chif chienet il biccia.
—Xein ma ghandec ghaliex thabbel rasec— kabes kal Telramondo—Maestà, staksigha inti stess u tara chif Elsa hi hatia.
—Tajjeb, ghajjut Enrico, gibuli lill'Elsu haun halli nistaksighu jena.
— Kabel xein Maestà ghandi ngħarfec hag'ohra—cun af li minn dac inhar li sar id- delitt ta Goffredo, Elsa kaghdet dejjem husbie- na miġbura ghaligha, dana hassibni hazin— jenu ghandi f'rasi li Elsa ghanda xi complici mahha—xi uiehed li ghandu hsieb jizzeuuigia biex per mezz tahha jired it-tron u il curuna ta Brabanza.
Ghal duc il cliem x'uhud min-nobbli habtu idahhlugha f'rashom li jista icun li Elsa chella xi complici ; obrain izda ma riedu jemmnu katt, u li ma chienux jirrispettau bil bosta lil Telramondo chiecu sgur chienu jithalsu minnu b'ideighom.
—Collox seuua mela ghajjat—intom o Nob- bli li smaitu din l'accusa contra Elsa okghodu haun halli tiggiudicau intom stess milli tarau
u tisimghou—Frittant morru gibu l'Elxa haun. [ 13 ]II.
Hecc chif il ghases marru biex igibu l'Elsa is-Sultan nehha it-tarea dendila mas-siġra u kal :
—Ma nilbisiex din it-tarea kabel ma issir giu- stizia.
Minnufih in-nobbli collha hargiu ix-xuabel, u uaghhlughom fl'art—biex ifissru li huma ucoll iridu giustizia.
Fil mument ifacciat Elsa liebsa l'abind f'nofs is-suldati miexia lein is-Sultan b'ghaineigha baxxi lein l'art u tirtighed bil biza, chienet ig- giblee hniena.
Xhin uaslet kuddiem Eurico harset leih bid- dmuh f'ghaineigha u stenniet li jibda jistak- sigha.
Ortruda biss chienet keghda tiehu piacir tara lil dic ix-xbeiba is-sofri.
—Inti Elsa ta Bralunte ? staksa ir-Re.
—Elsa ghamlet is-sinial b'rasu, biex turi li chienet dac li staksigha Enrico.
—Taf li jena is-Sultan, u l'imhallef tighec ?
—Elsa reġgħet ghamlet l'istess sinial b'rasha.
—Taf int x'accusa ghandec ?
Elsa, bid-dmuh niezel, tat dakka ta ghain lein Telramondo u reġghet ghamlet is-sinial b'rasha li iva. [ 14 ]—Elsa ta Brabante, jena nordnalec li inti tipprova li m’intix hatia—xi tgheid ?
—Xein ma ngheid jena—uieġbet Elsa tolfok b’kalba, maksuma.
—Ghamel curaġġ—ragia kal is-Sultan—ghe- dilna is-seuua.
Elsa refghet ghaineigha lein is-Sema—rabtet ideigha u kalet :
—O hia!... mahbub hia!... u nfexxet f’bichia.
—Tchellem Elsa, ghedilna...
Cull min chien hemm chiser kalbu meta rau lill'Eisa b’dac id-dmuh niezel — Elsa allura ghamlet il curaġġ u b’lehen chemm chemm tin- stama uieġbet:
—X’nista ngheid jena?... dejjem uahdi... il- tima... ma naf il hatt... mdeika u mbicchia dejjem... sventurata... mis-Sema biss nistonna it hniena... rkadd darba u hlomt li jena ghad neun hienia ghalavolia jiccongiurau contra ti- ghi u jaccusauni biex jarauni mbati...
—Ipprova li mintix hatia !... ghamel curaġġ, kabes kal is-Sultan.
—Mischina !... kalu x’uhud.
—Iva, compliet tgheid Elsa, chien’ li f’dic il holma jena rait riesak lejja giuvni guerrier, il ġmiel tighu, dana rani hecc imbicchia tani idu, beda jicconsolani bi cliem l’actar helu u kalli : [ 15 ]“ Tibza xein Elsa, jena haun ghalic, niddefen- dic, nakbes ghalic ghaliex inti bla htia—nic- confondi iva l’ghedeuua tighec, tahseb xein, halli f’idejja inti tcun hienia” ghalec jena issa nistenna lilu... jiddefendini hu, tani il chelma tighu, naf sgur li ma jonkosnix—nistennih...
Cull min chien jisma tchexchex: il hbieb ta Federico daru mighu u bdeu jippersuaduh li jirtira l’accusa tighu ghaliex chien jidher bic- ciar li dic, ix-xbeiba chienet innocenti.
—Xi tgheid Telramondo ? staksa ir-Re—tir- tira l’accusa ?
—Ah Maestà, kabes kal Telramondo, dan id- deliriu ta Elsa iuettakni actar fil fidi li hia hatia—chif smait inti—ghanda f’rasa lil xi giu- vnhi guerrier—thobbu—dana hu il complici ta Elsa... iridha biex bhal ma già gheddtlec jired il curuna ta Brabante; intom tarau chif jena ghandi ragiun—Xi tgheidu ?
—Chif tgheid inti narau li hi hatia, uieġbu x’uhud mil Cavalieri.
Bosta ohrain izda chienu contra Telramonde u ma kalu xein.
Meta Telramondo ra li m’hux culhatt chien ta’l fehma tighu, ta dakka ta ghain lein Ortru- da, li chella mitt sena sa chemm tara f’rasa il curuna ta Brabante u li chienet kgheda thares [ 16 ]tant icreh lein Elsa—mbaghad dar lein is-Sul- tan u kallu:
—Isma, Maestà, jena nitma li inti ghandec fidi fia—taf li m'iniex capaci nittradic—taf x'ghamilt ghalic, liema hila ureit meta chelna il guerra contra id-Danisi.
—Collox naf iva, u nixtiek uisk li nara lilec Duca ta Brabante, imma jena ma ghandix ninsa li ghandi naghmel giustizia—ghalec giustizia naghmel — u nerhi ruhi f'idein Alla, imixxini hu—jecc Elsa m'hix hatia ma ghandiex tigi ic- castigata.
—Iva!...Iva!...
—Evviva ir-Re!
—Alla iharsec!... bdeu ighaitu x'uhud mil Cavalieri u min-nobbli.
Telramondo beda ihares ma duaru b'ghaineih mberka biex jara min chien contra tighu, chien già se'r igheid xi hagia xhin Enrico I kabes kal:
—Federico Telramondo, ghandec il hila is- sostni l'accusa contra Elsa?
—Iva, Maestà!...
—Elsa inti xi tgheid?
—Jena nistenna lil dac li ghandu jigi jakbes ghalia.
—Tajjeb mela — Telramondo jidduella ma dac li ghandu jigi jiddefendic, narau min jaka [ 17 ]minnom—b'dan il mod nicxfu min hu hati—xi tgheid Telramondo, staksa ir-Re, inti taccetta?
Telramondo, billi chien jaf li hua jimmanig- gia l'armi tajjeb, accetta minnufih il patt tas- Sultan.
—Collox seuua issa, ragia kal Enrico, Elsa fein hu dan il giuvni guerrier li semmeit?
—Ghandu jigi.
—X'jismu?
—Ma nafx—naf biss li hu mibghut mis-Sema biex jiddefendi l'innocenza tighi.
—U jecc ma jigix, minn trid li jidduella ma Telramondo?
—Tiehux hsieb, jigi sgur.
Frattant chien sar il hin ġmielu u dac il giuvni, is-salvatur ta Elsa ghadu ma iffacciax.
—Ma nistghoux ndumu uisk ahna, kal is- Sultan.
Cullhatt beda jincuieta ruhu ghal dic ix- xbeiba—is-Sultan mbaghad ta ordni li idokku it-trombi biex dac li ghandu jasal biex jiccum- batti ma Telramondo jinkala u jigi.
L'ebda sinial—ma iffaccia hatt.
Elsa mbaghad xtehtet ghar-rcubteigha, ref- ghet ghaineigha lein is-Sema u talbet bil kalb l'Alla li jibghatila lil dac li chellu jiddefendigha halli turi lis-Sultan u lil dauc in-nobbli li hia bla htia. [ 18 ]Uakt li Elsa chienet titlob, il Cavalieri lemhu fil boghod gei fuk uiċċ ix-xmara ciniu abiad— cull ma imur jokrob leighom.
—Ara hemm!...
—Ara x'gei!...
—Dan x'icun!...
—Elsa ghanda ragiun!... bdeu ighaitu dauc il Cavalieri.
Dac ic-ciniu chien kighed jirmonca freiga- tina—u gio din chien hemm, uiekaf, giuvni guer- rier—sabieh, liebes bi huejjeg tant ghanjin li chienu jghammxu ghainein dauc li chienu iharsu.
—Uasal! uasal! bdeu ighaitu dauc — uasal dac li ghandu isalva lill'Elsa—Oh! xi ġmiel ta guerrier—arau kighed izomm ic-ciniu b'catina tad-deheb!...
Ghal dac il ghajjat is-Sultan kam u baka bhal scantat ihares lein dac il ġmiel ta guerrier gei rmuncat fi freigatina minn dac ic-ciniu.
Federicu u Ortruda bdeu jirtoghdu, bezghou, Ortruda chella il meut fuka.
Elsa chienet ghada gharcubteigha u dac il guerrier nizel l'art fost il ghajjat ta'l poplu, u ic-ciniu ragia lura baka seijer mnein telak.
Il guerrier allura resak lein is-Sultan, gha- mel riverenza u kallu: [ 19 ]—Sliem ghalic o Sultan—is-Sema ihennic u jekaf mighec biex tara dejjem il paci u il hena tas-sudditi tighec.
—Grazie o guerrier, uiegeb ir-Re, gheidli chif uasalt haun.
—Baghatni is-Sema biex niddefendi xbeiba li ma ghandiex htia.
Dauuar uicciu u lemah lill'Elsa li chienet ka- met u rieska leih.
—Lil din geit niddefendi, ragia kal il guer- rier—Xi tgheid Elsa, trid int tatini il chelma li tibka il fidila tighi?...
Elsa xtehtet gharrcubteigha f'riġlein dac il giuvni u kalet:
—O salvatur tighi!...kalbi hia tighec—m'hux biss, imma ucoll ix-xettru u il curuna ta missieri.
—Ahlifli mela Elsa li meta tcun tighi ma tistaksini katt u la x'jisimni, u la minn fein gei, u l'ankas min jena.
—Nahliflec iva, uieġbet Elsa, colla ferhana.
Hecc chif Elsa tat il chelma tahha, il guer- rier kabada min ida mexxiha sa hdein is-Sultan, u ghajjat:
—Naghmel tajjeb li Elsa hia bla htia—dar imbaghad lein Telramondo u kal:
—Telramondo, inti ghedt hagia b'ohra lis- Sultan stess, nisfidac. [ 20 ]Federico habat jibza—Ortruda izda harset leih u ghamlitlu is-sinial biex jaccetta.
—Elsa hatia, u jena naccetta l'isfida, kal Tel- ramondo.
—Tajjeb mela, ghajjat is-Sultan—isir il cum- battiment—ma jindahal hatt.
Il guerrier u Telramondo armau ruiehhom, meta chien lest collox is-Sultan ghamel is-sinial u bdeu.
Hemda cullimchien—ma leuuel dakka Telra- mondo uaka minn tulu fl'art—il guerrier uah- hallu ix-xabla ma griezmu.
—Ara kallu, nfami, jecc irrid haitec f’idejja— irtira l'accusa ta Elsa—raitx issa sa fein jasal dac li jaghmel hsara fl'unur ta'l proxxmu tighu?
—Evviva Elsa ta Brabante!...
—Evviva il guerrier!... bdeu ighaitu il Ca- valieri.
Il guerrier allura xehet fl'art ix-xabla, kabad lill'Elsa, halla lil Telramondo mixhut avvilut fl'art u uassluh fuk l'idein, ma Elsa, kuddiem is- Sultan.
Telramondo mbaghad dar lein Ortruda u b'kalbu mahsuma kal:
—Collox spiccia issa.
—Katt temmen, uieġbet Ortruda.
—X'ghandec f'rasec li taghmel?
—Mbaghad tara—nasal sa fl'ahhar! [ 21 ]III.
Ortruda chienet mara l'actar infami, chella f'rasa li tara rvinata lill'Elsa biex tiehu hia il curuna ta Brabanza minn f'loca.
Federico chien avvilut, ried li jitlak mill'actar fis, ma chellux uiċċ jidher izied f'dic l'art—Or- truda izda ghamlita f'rasa li tivvendica ruhha— ghalecc ghal xein ma scua it-theddid ta Tel- ramondo, Ortruda riedet tibka sat-tieg.
—Imxi ahiar ghalic — o mara nfernali, kal Telramondo lill'Ortruda—bizzejjed avvileitni — mara nassiesa—geit tgheidli li rait lill'Elsa tim- botta lil hugha flx-xmara.
—Iva !...
—Din klajja tighec, u issa Alla iccastigani mhabba fic.
—Ghaliex ktait kalbec mil guerrier?
—Iscot, mara nfami.
—Telramondo, cun af li jena ghandi il hila navvilixxi lil dac il giuvni li gie jiddefendi lil- l'Elsa.
—Chif?...
—B'sigriet...
—Gheidli.
—Cun af mela li dac nhar li icollu jistkarr x'jismu u min hu, hua ghandu jitlef cull setgha u kauua li ghandu. [ 22 ]—Hallini minnec Ortruda !...
—Telramondo, smaitu inti igheid lill’Elsa biex ma tistaksieh katt x'jismu, u minn fein gei, u min hu ?
—Iva.
—Dan hu is-sigriet, ghalecc jena hsibt li per mezz ta Elsa stess naslu—frattant int uassal f'uidnein is-Sultan li dac il giuvni hu sahhar—u biex tati prova gheid li jecc taktghalu mkar biccia minn sebghu ta idu, is-sigriet jinchixef— ghamel chif ghedtlec u ghal bkia nahseb jen.
Telramondo iccuntenta.
Dic il-leila stess Ortruda kaghdet tistenna taht il palazz biex tchellem lill’Elsa.
Uara ftit nfethet it-tieka u ix-xbeiba iffacciat.
—Elsa !... kalet bil mod Ortruda.
—Min kighed isejjahli ?
—Jena, Ortruda...
—Xi trid da'l hin ?
—Jena sventurata .
—X'nahtilec jena ?
—Xein, biss ngheidlec li Telramondo tghar- ras mighi ghaliex int ma ridtux, u nfamac li ktilt il Goffredo ghaliex chien muaggia—izda issa nidem.
—O Sema nizzichair !...ghaitet ferhana Elsa, stenna ftit Ortruda halli ninzel hdeic. [ 23 ]Ortruda ferhet actar minn Elsa, rat li bdiet tokrob ġmiela ghal vendetta—ghalec b'uiċċ ta uahda mniccta marret tilka lill'Elsa.
Ortruda !... kalet Elsa hecc chif harget mil bieb.
L'infami xtehtet ghar-rcubteigha f'riġlein Elsa.
—Kum minn, hemm nitolboc , jena nahfirlec bil kalb ta'd-deni li ghamiltli—u ghada nitlob ucoll lil guerrier tighi li jitlob ghal mahfra ta Federico.
—Oh ! chemm int kalbec taiba !...
—Dmir tighi—derri issa Ortruda u nistiednec biex ghada tigi u tarani ntejjeg...
—Ma nistax, ma jisthokklix.
—Hallic min dan, kalet Elsa.
—Ma jistax icun—jen ma nafx biex nibda nhalsec ta'l hniena tighec, ma ghandix x'natic, biss parir.
—Jakau ?
—Ma ghandix il curaġġ ngheidlec.
-Ghamilli piacir, nitolboc.
—Mela la tridni ngheidlec, cun af li inti teun sventurata...
—Jena ?... u l’ghaliex ? staksiet Elsa.
—Int ma tafx is-sigriet ta dac il guerrier ?
—Ortruda ! ... ghaitet Elsa ncurlata, dac is salvatur tighi—ghandi fidi shiha fich—nhobbu ghaliex ihobbni. [ 24 ]—Ah ! jahasra thobb uiehed minn ghair taf u la min hu, u l'ankas ismu...
—La naf li salvani u uera li jen bla htia, naf bizzejjed, uieġbet Elsa.
Ortruda bdiet tghiddem xufteigha bir-rabia.
—Ahfirli Elsa, jena biex nuiddbec.
—Grazie Ortruda—biex nuric chemm tasseu ihobbni imxi mighi u tcun taf.
Ortruda ir-rabiata, mxiet uara Elsa u dahlet fil Palazz biex tokghod ghal festa ta't-tieg.
L'aghda fil ghodu in-nies ta'l palazz culhatt chien mhabbat jahdem—chienu ilestu ghat-tieg ta Elsa.
Xhin lesteu collox instemghou idokku it- trombi—Is-Sultan chien ta l'ordni biex javzau li seirin johorgiu ghat-tieg.
Meta cullhatt chien liebes u lest Enrico ha- reg fil gallaria u għajjat :
—Nifirhu ghaliex Elsa seira tiehu il curag- gius guerrier li uasal haun biex jiddefendi l'in- nocenza tahha—Telramondo icun it-turufnat— Il guerrier icun id-Duca ta Brabante, lilu biss jisthokk dan it-titlu.
—Evviva Elsa u is-salvatur tahha !...
—Evviva id-Duca ta Brabante ! bdeu ighai- tu ferhanin il Cavalieri.
Uiehed jista jahseb x'chienet thoss gio fiha, Ortruda ghal dac il cliem u l'għajjat. [ 25 ]Meta spiccia is-Sultan bdeu mexjin ghal cnisia.
Hecc chif Elsa bdiet tielgha leuuel targiet, Ortruda b'ghaineigha mberrka u b'raghua ma halka marret kuddiema u
—Le ma tidholx haun, ghaitet :
—Argia lura !...
F'dakka uahda kamet xeuuiexa shieha—id- Dami bdeu jibzghu, Elsa tirtghod — in-nobbli colla bdeu jimbuttau l'Ortruda, hasbugha ig- gennet.
—Orbtugha !—Oktlugha ! bdeu ighaitu.
—Halluni nitchellem, bdiet tghajjat Ortruda.
—Nisimghu xi trid tgheid, kalet Elsa.
—Zeugi giè iccundannat ghal xein—Telra- mondo hu maghruf bizzejjed — culhatt jafu— mentri il gharus tighec ma jaf hatt min ù u x'jismu u l'ankas mnein hu... ghaitet Ortruda.
—Sicchet Isienec, mara nfami ! kabzet kalet Elsa—ghalecc geit tibchi kuddiemi ghal mah- fra ?... Jena gia ghedtlec l'gharus tighi naf min ù tajjeb, cuntenta bieh.
—Izda min ù ? ghedilna ?...
—Giuvni mibghud mil'Alla biex javvilisci lil Telramondo zengec b'castig ta'l accusa nfami li ghamilli. [ 26 ]Fil pront tinstama iz-zarzar trumbetta—chien sinial li uasal ir-Re ma'l gharus, il Cavalieri u il mistednin.
Evviva is-Sultan ! u id-Duca ta Brabante ! bdeu ighaitu in-nies.
Elsa bhal berka marret xtehtet f'dirghain il gharus tahha.
—Xi gralec Elsa ? staksa dan.
Ortruda bdiet tinheba kalb in-nies, izda il guerrier ragha.
—Xi trid dic il mara ?
—Ah! nitolboc ehlisni minna, mara nfami, kalet tolfok Elsa.
—Ghaliex ? x'ghamlitlec ?...
—Kaltli biex ma nafdacx.
—Mur, thighed minn haun, mara nfami, ghaj- jat il guerrier.
Ortruda ma chelliex il hila titniffes.
—Imxi, imxi, Elsa l'altar ke'd jistenniena—II guerrier dauuar uicciu u jilmah lil Telramondo kighed jitchellem mas-Sultan.
—Ismaghni nitolboc, Maestà, beda igheidlu.
—Ghal meut l'infami, bdeu ighaitu in-nies.
—Le, Maestà cun af li jena iccumbatteit ma guerrier sahhar... ghajjat Telramondo — irrid giustizia, staksuh min hu, gheidlu igheid mnein gei. [ 27 ]Is-Sultan icconfonda u dar lein il guerrier kallu.
—Uiegeb int, biex ticconfondi lil Telramondo.
—Le Maestà, ma ghandix biza li ngheid x'ji- simni, izda il chelma tighi ma nicsirjex.
Il Cavalieri daru ma'l guerrier biex igheidulu izomm chelmtu.
F'dic il confusioni Telramondo resak lein Elsa u kalilha.
—Il-leila nigi, hallini nersak lein dac il guer- rier naktghalu biccia minn sebghou u teun taf is-sigriet tighu... tcun taf min ù, x'jismu...
—Hallini ! ... ma'rridx naf !... ghaitet Elsa.
Il guerrier nduna li Federico chellem lill'Elsa.
—X'kallec, l'infami ?
—Xein, xein... ma nehux ghalih ...
Fil uakt Ortruda resket lein zeugia u kaltlu :
—Curaġġ ! naslu !...
Il Sultan allura ta l'ordni biex jesiliau lil Fe- dericu u il martu.
Il guerrier mbaghad kabad l'Elsa u telak mahha lein il cnisia fein teigiu fost il ferh u l'ghajjat ta'l poplu.
IV.
Uara il festa ta't-tieg. Il guerrier ma Elsa, marru lein il palazz tahhom. [ 28 ]Nizzihair l'Alla issa kalet Elsa li jena mar- buta ghal dejjem mighec—chemm chelli nsofri jahasra !... x'kalghou fuki l'ghedeuua, x'accusa nfami !...
Hallic minn dan issa Elsa, collox ghadda, haun jen ghalic—int l'hena tighi il paci tighi—insa collox, ngheixu henijn flimchien chif irid Alla.
—Nitma jena ucoll fis-Sema li nibkghou dej- jem ngheixu kalb uahda u ghalania—cun af li jena cont già habbeitec kabel ma raitec—hlomt biss li ghandec tigi int biex tiddefendini u thennili il kalbi.
—Jena ucoll Elsa—hlomt li ghandi nasal sa haun halli niddefendi l'innocenza tighec—Oh Elsa ! ... chemm hu helu dan l'isem ghalia.
—Iva mahbub tighi, ghalece nitolboc li jena ucoll icolli il piacir li nsejjahlec b'ismec biex ncun nista ngiarrab l'istess hena fil kalb tighi.
—Ismi ?...
—Iva, mahbub tighi—gheidli nitolboc, jena nzommu sigriet, iccuntani...
—Elsa !...
—Ghaliex tichadli din il grazia illum, il giur- nata tar-rabta taghna ?
—Ma jistax icun...
—Mela int izzommni b'mara li ma ghandix il hila nghożż sigriet ? [ 29 ]—Iscot Elsa, bizzejjed—bizzejjed it-tama ti- ghec fia—jena haun ghalic dejjem—cun af li jena halleit l'art ta'l cbir hena, biex geit haun ghalic—cont mill'actar bnedmin henijn—halleit collox biex geit nitgharras mighec...
—Mela kighed tiftacar fil hena li halleit ? forsi mgholli ucoll ghaliex tliftu ?...
—Le, Elsa jena issa hieni mighec, ma jonko- sni xein.
—Ah !... nibza li inti ghad thallini biex tar- gia tmur fl'art ta'l hena tighec.
—Okghod b'sabrec Elsa, jena nhobboc biz- zejjed biex nibka haun dejjem mighec — biss nitolboc li icolloc fidi fia.
—Jahasra, reġghet kalet Elsa — ma ncunx actar hienia issa—int ghad tmur u thallini — iva nitolboc gheidli fein hi din l'art ?... minn fein gei inti ?...
—Elsa ma jistax icun li ngheidlec...
—Iva gheidli x'jismec...
—Katt !...
—Ah ! ghaitet Elsa, irrid naf—nitolboc ic- cuntentani—jahtieg naf.
Fil uakt li Elsa chienet keghda ecc titchel- lem u tistaksi lil guerrier zeugia, dahal bil mohbi fil camra ragel mghezuer f'mantell cbir—bix- xabla f'idu u resak bil mod minn uara il guer- rier biex ixejjirlu id-dakka. [ 30 ]Elsa lemhitu—malair ghaitet bhal miġnuna.
—Ara rasec !—tradiment !... u hatfet malair ix-xabla ta zeugia li chien hemm fuk meida u tata f'ideih.
Il guerrier b'heffa ta berka xejjer dakka bix- xabla li tatu Elsa, u medd minn tulu cadavru lill dac ir-ragel.
Hecc chif dac uaka fl'art il guerrier ghajjat :
—L'infami... Telramondo !...
—Elsa bakghet thares bhal scantata—tbel- lghet bil biza.
—Collox spiccia issa—kal il guerrier—il hena taghna sa haun chellu jasal...
Elsa ghal dauc il chelmiet ta zeugia xtehtet ghaxia fl'art—il guerrier refahha bhal tarbia u kegheda fuk sufan li chien hemm — ghajjat mbagħad il paggi u kalilom :
—Haun il cadavru ta Telramondo huduh ghand is-Sultan—ghedulu li ktiltu jena ghaliex dahal bil mohbi fil camra tighi uakt li cont nitchellem ma marti, biex jassassnani.
Il paggi b'roghda cbira retghou il cadavru mill'art u telku bieh ghal ghand is-Sultan.
Hecc chif hargiu dauna, il guerrier sejjah id- dami u kalilhom b'kalbu micsura.
—Arau l'Elsa mixhuta ghaxia hemm fuk dac is-sufan, malli jisbah ghàda, hudugha ghand is[ 31 ]Sultan—ncun nistenniecom u hemm l'imseicna tcun taf min jena...
Il guerrier allura b'uicċ ta uiehed mnicchet hareg mil camra u dauc id-dami kaghdu iduru b'Elsa u jaghmlula li ghanda bzonn.
V.
L'aghda fil ghodu Anversa chienet xeuuiexa uahda.
Suldati imarciau, dakk ta trombi, giri ta nies, ghajjat, hsejjes ta carrijet — chienu seirin it- truppi collha biex jokghodu schierati kuddiem is-Sultan halli dana jippresentalhom id-Duca il ġdid ta Brabante u jerhihom f'ideih.
Culhatt ferhan u dahcani jistenna li jasal is- Sultan.
Xi saghtein uara tluh ix-xemx reġghou bdeu idokku it-trombi—chien sinial li uasal is-Sultan.
—Evviva Enrico I !
—Evviva is-Sultan ! bdeu ighaitu dauc il hlejjak ta nies ecc chif ir-Re mar kaghad bil keghda taht il balluta fuk ix-xtaita tax-xmara Schelda.
Enrico allura kam bil uiekfa—u kal : “ Brabantini mahbubin tighi. Ma nistax nfis srilcom il ferh li ghandi f'kalbi xhin naracom hecc ilcoll miġbura ma duar it-tron tighi, fer hanin u dejjem ubbidienti ghas-seiha tighi. [ 32 ]“ Din l'imgiba taghcom tnissilli fia, tama cbira ficom. Nara li tasseu intom thobbu l'art fein tuelidtu, u lili Sultan taghcom, ghalecc nserrah rasi bicom, naf sgur li jecc katt icollna bzonn li niehdu l'armi contra l'ghedeuua taghna nsib- com dejjem lesti, curaggiusi—Seuua uisk—nie- hu piacir cbir bicom—complu hecc u hatt ma icun jista jeghlibna. Issa nitma f'Alla li tcunu ahiar taht it-trigia ta'd-Duca il ġdid taghcom. ”
Feinu id-Duca ta Brabante il valorus guer- rier ?... ghajjat is-Sultan.
Uakghet hemda cbira, il guerrier chien gha- du ma uasalx.
—Nistenneuh—jigi sgur, ragia kal is-Sultan.
Uakt l'in-nies bdeu jitchelmu, ghagha uahda, fuk il valorus gharus ta Elsa, id-Duca ġdid tah- hom—jilmhu gejjn il paggi b'tebut.
Hemda !... cullhatt chesah !...
Daun keghdu it-tebut mghotti b'biccia seuda f'riġlein is-Sultan.
Enrico mchexchex—nehha il biccia seuda u jilmah il cadavru ta Telramondo !...
—Dana ?... ghajjat Enrico mrighed.
—Il guerrier Duca ta Brabante tana l'ordni li ngibuh haun, u nghedulec li katlu hu, ghaliex dahal f'daru biex jassassnah.
—Oh Sema ! ghajjat Enrico u cullhatt beda ihares bhal scantat lein xulxin. [ 33 ]Fil uakt jinstama ghajjat
—Evviva Elsa !...
—Evviva id-Duca ta Brabante !...
F'chemm ili ngheidlec Elsa, uiċċ ta cadavru. u il guerrier chienu ma gemb is-Sultan.
Enricu ma satax jifhem dac il misteru—kabad lill'Elsa u ghena titla hdeih, fein tala ucoll il guerrier zeugia.
—Brabantini—ragia ghajjat is-Sultan — id- Duca taghcom uasal... taht ideih intom tohor- giu rebbiha sgur f'cull guerra li icolcom.
—Evviva id-Duca taghna !...
Il guerrier izda talab il permess is-Sultan biex jitchellem u kal :
—Sultan Enrico u poplu fidil ta'l Brabanza— jena nirringraziacom bil kalb ta'l fiducia li ghandcom fia biex ghaziltuni Duca u Cap ta'l Brabanza, izda jena, ghandcom tafu, rsolveit li ma naccettax—sibu il hatt jehor...
Is-Sultan u il Cavalieri bdeu iharsu bhal mi- blughin uiehed lein l'jehor.
—Dana ghaliex ? x'inkala ? stakseu.
—Mil bierah sa da'l ghodu grau huejjeg ta tant importanza cbira li jena nsib ruhi costrett li nargia lura mil chelma li tait.
—X'giara ? ghedilna !...
—Tcunu tafu il kuddiem, biss nghedilcom li [ 34 ]jena hati—ktilt lil dan il bniedem haun mixhut il ghaliex dahal f'dari biex jassasnani.
—Ghamilt seuua ktiltu, ghajjat Enrico—Dac chien ragel nfami !
Il guerrier allura xehet ghaineih fuk Elsa li chienet b'uiccia mghotti tibchi, u compla igheid :
—Maestà, ghandec teun taf ucoll li dan il bniedem li ktilt jena chellu complici—il mara li izzeuuigt ilbierah jena ?...
—Elsa ! x'uahda din ! bdeu igheidu dauc il hlejjak mistaghġbin.
—Iva, Elsa, compla igheid il guerrier—intom tafu—kuddiemcom stess tlabta, meta geit nid- defendi l'innocenza tahha, li ma ghanda katt tistaksini u la ismi u l'ankas min jen, jeu mnein gei u Elsa tatni il chelma li ticcuntentani—Din il mara izda, mghouija mill'ghedeuua tahha stess, ma zammitx chelmita—talbitni, riedet taf bil fors dauc il huejjeg li jen ghedtila li ma tistaksinix—Jena issa geit haun biex nghedil- com collox, u tisma Elsa ucoll — nghedilcom ucoll ghaliex ridt nzomm is-sigriet—nghedilcom iva, biex Elsa tara, u intom mahha, li jena ma ghandix huejjeg x'nahbi—anzi li jena uiehed mill'actar nies henjin—u li jista igib tituli u unuri...
In-nies colla bdeu jifthu actar uidneighom [ 35 ]meta semghou dac il cliem—Elsa kabdita tant roghda cbira, nizlet minn fein chienet uxtehtet f'riglein dac il guerrier zeugia.
—Nisimghou mela, ghajjat is-Sultan.
Il guerrier allura kal :
—Jena uiehed mil Cavalieri msemmia ta Saint Graal li jinsab f'dic l'art tant boghod minn haun, fein hemm il castell ta Monsalvato—Ji- simni Lohengrin, geit haun mibghut mil Cap u Suvran taghna Parcival, li hu missieri ucoll, biex niddefendi l'innocenza ta Elsa...
—Ghall dac il cliem is-Sultan u il poplu collu bakghou miblughin.
Elsa b'kalba maksuma xtehtet f'dirghain Lo- hengrin—riedet titolbu il mahfra — izda ma chelliex sahha u hila titchellem.
Elsa ! Elsa !... ghajjat Lohengrin — missieri baghatni biex niddefendic—jena geit, ridt nibka mighec—inti izda ma ridtx.
—Oh Sema !... ghaitet Elsa.
—Issa tard, giaghaltni nisvela is-sigriet... Addio !...
—Oh ! Lohengrin—nitolboc ! ahfirli—okghod mighi !...
—Ma jistax icun, Elsa Addio !
Elsa riedet chiecu targia titolbu mahfra lil Lohengrin izda ntilfet xtchtet ghaxia f'dirghaih. [ 36 ]Uakt li culhatt beda jiffolla ma duar Lohen- grin u Elsa biex jarau dic ix-xena ta'l bichi, iffaccia ic-ciniu jirmonca il freigatina.
—Ic-ciniu ! Ic-ciniu !... bdeu ighaitu.
Elsa fethet ghaineigha.
Lohengrin allura kalilha :
—Elsa cun af li huc m'hux mejjet !...
—X'inù ? hia Goffredo ?...
—Iva, huc Goffredo m'hux mejjet.
Haunec kamet ghagha cbira, ghal dac il ghajjat, Ortruda li chienet keghda ftit boghod tissamma collox giet b'giria u ghaitet
—Iva, Maestà Goffredo ghadu hai—jena stess giaghalt li jimbidel u isir dac ic-ciniu li tarau gei ghal Lohengrin !... nghedilcom ghaliex...
Minnufih il Cavalieri arrestau lill die il chic- fra u hadugha ghal meut.
Lohengrin allura tala bil giri fil freigatina, hall ic-ciniu — dana dbiddel f'giuvni sabih — chien Goffredo—Lohengrin baka sejjer.
Ferh ma cullimchien.
Evviva Goffredo, id-Duca ta Brabante! ghaitu is-Sultan u il poplu.
—Hia, mahbub Goffredo !
—Elsa ghazisa tighi ghajjat Goffredo xhin mar ighannak l'ohtu.
—Elsa izda ma felhitx actar, kalba nkasmet bil ferh—bid-dahca f'fomma bakghet meita gio dirghain Goffredo hugha.
Tmiem.