ACT II. SCENE I.-An antechamber in the Castle. Enter LUDOLPH and SIGIFred. Ludolph. No more advices, no more cautioning; I leave it all to fate-to any thing! I cannot square my conduct to time, place, It seems I am to wait Here in the anteroom ;-that may be a trifle. In this most honorable anteroom, Your patient scholar. Sigifred. Do not wrong me, Prince. By Heavens, I'd rather kiss Duke Conrad's slipper, Than see you humbled but a half-degree! Truth is, the Emperor would fain dismiss The Nobles ere he sees you. Enter GONFRED from the Council-room. Ludolph. Well, sir! what! Gonfred. Great honor to the Prince! The Emperor, Hearing that his brave son had reappeared, Instant dismiss'd the Council from his sight, As Jove fans off the clouds. Even now they pass. [Exit. [Enter the Nobles from the Council-room. They cross the Stage, bowing with respect to LUDOLPH, he frowning on them. CONRAD follows. Exeunt Nobles. Ludolph. Not the discolored poisons of a fen, Which he, who breathes, feels warning of his death, Could taste so nauseous to the bodily sense, As these prodigious sycophants disgust The soul's fine palate. Conrad. Princely Ludolph, hail! Welcome, thou younger sceptre to the realm! May burst, and swell, and flourish round thy brows, Yet be that hour far off; and may he live, Who waits for thee, as the chapp'd earth for rain. Set my life's star! I have lived long enough, Father and son each other re-possess. Ludolph. Fine wording, Duke! but words could never yet Who sung far different notes into mine ears. Conrad. My gracious Prince, Ludolph. Your Dukedom's privilege will grant so much. [Exit CONRAD. He's very close to Otho, a tight leech! Your hand-1 go! Ha! here the thunder comes Enter ОTHо and CONRAD. Otho. Will you make Titan play the lackey-page To chattering pigmies? I would have you know That such neglect of our high Majesty Annuls all feel of kindred. What is son, Or friend or brother-or all ties of blood,— Who dares take such large charter from our smiles! Off! And none pass this way on pain of death! [Exeunt CONRAD and SIGIFRED. Ludolph. This was but half expected, my good sire, Yet I am grieved at it, to the full height, As though my hopes of favor had been whole. Otho. How you indulge yourself! What can you hope for? Ludolph. Nothing, my liege, I have to hope for nothing. I come to greet you as a loving son, And then depart, if I may be so free, Seeing that blood of yours in my warm veins Has not yet mitigated into milk. Otho. What would you, sir? A lenient banishment; So please you let me unmolested pass Otho. And shall I let a rebel loose again Served with harsh food, with scum for Sunday-drink. Otho. And chains too heavy for your life : I'll choose a jailer, whose swart monstrous face Shall be a hell to look upon, and she— Otho. Shall be your fair Auranthe. Otho. To-day you marry her. Otho. No. None at all. Ludolph. If I sleep not, I Amaze! Amaze ! This is a sharp jest ! When have I said a lie ? am a waking wretch. Let me embrace my child. Ludolph. I dare not. "Twould pollute so good a father! O heavy crime! that your son's blinded eyes Could not see all his parent's love aright, As now I see it. Be not kind to me Punish me not with favor. Ludolph, you have no saving plea in store? Ludolph. My father, none ! Otho. Then you astonish me. Ludolph. No, I have no plea. Otho. You are a most perplexing, noble boy. Ludolph. You not less a perplexing noble father. Otho. Well, you shall have free passport through the gates. Farewell! Ludolph. Farewell! and by these tears believe, And still remember, I repent in pain All my misdeeds! Otho. Ludolph, I will! I will! But, Ludolph, ere you go, I would inquire If you, in all your wandering, ever met Ludolph. No, my good lord, I cannot say I did. Otho. Make not your father blind before his time; Nor let these arms paternal hunger more For an embrace, to dull the appetite Of my great love for thee, my supreme child! I knew you through disguise. You are the Arab! [Embracing him. Smote 'twixt the horns by the death-stunning mace Otho. Large as a God speak out, where all is thine. In tender victory, but for myself I still must mourn. The fair Auranthe mine! What more than I know of could so have changed At a word, this: Otho. Than your rejection of Erminia. To my appalling, I saw too good proof Of your keen-eyed suspicion,-she is naught! Otho. Ay, spite of her sweet looks. O, that my brother's daughter should so fall! Her fame has pass'd into the grosser lips Of soldiers in their cups. Ludolph. Otho. No more of her. "Tis very sad. Auranthe-Ludolph, come! This marriage be the bond of endless peace! [Exeunt. |