And, like an anxious warder, strain his sight Ludolph. Say no more. Not as a swordsman would I pardon claim, But as a son. The bronzed centurion, Long toil'd in foreign wars, and whose high deeds Known only to his troop, hath greater plea Sigifred. My lord, forgive me that I cannot see Or the mad-fumed wine? Nay, do not frown, I rather would grieve with you than upbraid. Ludolph. I do believe you. No, 'twas not to make A father his son's debtor, or to heal No, not a thousand foughten fields could sponge Hath he not gall'd my spirit to the quick ? Pour'd out a phial of wrath upon my faults, Can I so? Sigifred. Remember how he spared the rebel lords. That cannot trample on the fallen. But his Is not the only proud heart in his realm. He hath wrong'd me, and I have done him wrong; Sigifred. Yet, for all this, I would you had appear'd among those lords, Ha! Till now I thought Ludolph. Or hug the golden housings of his steed, Those men I mean, who on my shoulders propp'd 70 Till flurried danger held the mirror up, 80 And then they own'd themselves without a blush, Curling, like spaniels, round my father's feet. Such things deserted me and are forgiven, While I, least guilty, am an outcast still, And will be, for I love such fair disgrace. Sigifred. I know the clear truth; so would Otho see, For he is just and noble. Be pleader for you— Ludolph. Fain would I He'll hear none of it; You know his temper, hot, proud, obstinate; I will encounter his thwart spleen myself, To-day, at the Duke Conrad's, where he keeps There will I be, a most unwelcome guest, Sigifred. Be not so rash; wait till his wrath shall pass, 90 100 Until his royal spirit softly ebbs, Self-influenced; then, in his morning dreams Ludolph. I must be there, while her young pulses beat She should be paler for my troublous days— And there it is-my father's iron lips Yes, to-day 110 Have sworn divorcement 'twixt me and my right. Sigifred (aside). Auranthe! I had hoped this whim had pass'd. Ludolph. And, Sigifred, with all his love of justice, When will he take that grandchild in his arms, That, by my love I swear, shall soon be his? This reconcilement is impossible, For see-but who are these? Sigifred. They are messengers From our great emperor; to you, I doubt not, you out. Enter THEODORE and GONFRED. Theodore. Seeing so many vigilant eyes explore Ludolph. Go. I follow you. 120 [Exeunt THEODORE and GONFRED. I play the prude: it is but venturing— 130 N° ACT II SCENE I.- An Ante-chamber in the Castle. Enter LUDOLPH and SIGIFRED. O more advices, no more cautioning; It seems I am to wait Sigifred. I say no more. Sigifred. Do not wrong me, Prince. By heavens, I'd rather kiss Duke Conrad's slipper, The nobles ere he sees you. Ludolph. Enter GONFRED, from the Council-room. Well, sir! what? Gonfred. Great honour to the Prince! The Emperor, Hearing that his brave son had re-appeared, Instant dismiss'd the Council from his sight, ΙΟ 20 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 discoloured poisons of a fen, Which he who breathes feels warning of his death, 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, Maturing to a weighty diadem! 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, Since under my glad roof, propitiously, Father and son each other repossess. Ludolph. Fine wording, Duke! but words could never yet, Forestall the fates; have you not learnt that yet? 30 Let me look well: your features are the same; I have mine own particular comments on 't; Conrad. My gracious Prince, Ludolph. Your Dukedom's privilege will grant so much. He's very close to Otho, a tight leech! Your hand-I go. Ha! here the thunder comes Enter ОTHO and CONRAD. know Otho. Will you make Titan play the lackey-page Off! And none pass this way on pain of death! 40 50 [Exit CONRAD. 60 70 [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 favour had been whole. Otho. How you indulge yourself! What can you hope for? And then depart, if I may be so free, |