Albert.

Trust! to me!

Conrad (aside). He is the sole one in this mystery.

Erminia. Well, I give up, and save my prayers for Heaven! You, who could do this deed, would ne'er relent,

Though, at my words, the hollow prison-vaults

Would groan for pity.

Conrad.

Manacle them both!

Ethelbert. I know it-it must be-I see it all! Albert, thou art the minion!

Erminia.

Ah! too plain

Conrad. Silence! Gag up their mouths! I cannot bear More of this brawling. That the Emperor

Had placed you in some other custody!

Bring them away.

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[Exeunt all but ALBERT.

Albert. Though my name perish from the book of honour,
Almost before the recent ink is dry,

And be no more remember'd after death
Than any drummer's in the muster-roll;
Yet shall I season high my sudden fall
With triumph o'er that evil-witted duke!
He shall feel what it is to have the hand
Of a man drowning, on his hateful throat.

Enter GERSA and SIGIFRED.

Gersa. What discord is at ferment in this house? Sigifred. We are without conjecture; not a soul We met could answer any certainty.

Gersa. Young Ludolph, like a fiery arrow, shot
By us.

Sigifred. The Emperor, with cross'd arms, in thought.
Gersa. In one room music, in another sadness,

Perplexity everywhere!

Albert.

A trifle more!

Follow; your presences will much avail

To tune our jarred spirits. I'll explain.

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[Exeunt.

W

ACT IV

SCENE I.-AURANTHE'S Apartment.
AURANTHE and CONRAD discovered.

Conrad.

ELL, well, I know what ugly jeopardy

We are caged in; you need not pester that

Into my ears. Prythee, let me be spared
A foolish tongue, that I may bethink me

Of remedies with some deliberation.
You cannot doubt but 'tis in Albert's power

To crush or save us?

Auranthe.

No, I cannot doubt.

He has, assure yourself, by some strange means,
My secret; which I ever hid from him,
Knowing his mawkish honesty.

Conrad.

Cursed slave!

Auranthe. Ay, I could almost curse him now myself. Wretched impediment! Evil genius!

A glue upon my wings, that cannot spread,

When they should span the provinces! A snake,

A scorpion, sprawling on the first gold step,

Conducting to the throne high canopied.

Conrad. You would not hear my counsel, when his life

Might have been trodden out, all sure and hush'd;

Now the dull animal forsooth must be

Intreated, managed! When can you contrive
The interview he demands?

Auranthe.

As speedily

It must be done as my bribed woman can

Unseen conduct him to me; but I fear
'Twill be impossible, while the broad day

Comes through the panes with persecuting glare.
Methinks, if 't now were night I could intrigue
With darkness, bring the stars to second me,
And settle all this trouble.

Conrad.

Nonsense!

See him immediately; why not now?

Child!

Auranthe. Do you forget that even the senseless door-posts Are on the watch and gape through all the house?

How many whisperers there are about,

Hungry for evidence to ruin me.—

Men I have spurn'd, and women I have taunted?

Besides, the foolish prince sends, minute whiles,
His pages so they tell me to inquire
After my health, entreating, if I please,

To see me.

Conrad. Well, suppose this Albert here; What is your power with him?

Auranthe.

He should be

My echo, my taught parrot! but I fear

He will be cur enough to bark at me;

Have his own say; read me some silly creed 'Bout shame and pity.

Conrad.

What will you do then?

Auranthe. What I shall do, I know not what I would

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Cannot be done; for see, this chamber-floor

Will not yield to the pick-axe and the spade,-
Here is no quiet depth of hollow ground.

Conrad. Sister, you have grown sensible and wise,
Seconding, ere I speak it, what is now,

I hope, resolved between us.

Auranthe.

Say, what is't?

Conrad. You need not be his sexton too: a man
May carry that with him shall make him die
Elsewhere, give that to him; pretend the while
You will to-morrow succumb to his wishes,

Be what they may, and send him from the Castle
On some fool's errand; let his latest groan

Frighten the wolves!

Auranthe.

Alas! he must not die !

Conrad. Would you were both hearsed up in stifling lead! Detested

Auranthe. Conrad, hold! I would not bear

The little thunder of your fretful tongue,
Tho' I alone were taken in these toils,

And you could free me; but remember, sir,
You live alone in my security :

So keep your wits at work, for your own sake,
Not mine, and be more mannerly.

Conrad.

If my domains were emptied of these folk,
And I had thee to starve-

Auranthe.

Thou wasp!

O, marvellous !

But Conrad, now be gone; the host is look'd for ;
Cringe to the Emperor, entertain the lords,
And, do ye mind, above all things, proclaim
My sickness, with a brother's sadden'd eye,
Condoling with Prince Ludolph. In fit time
Return to me.

Conrad.

I leave you to your thoughts.

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[Exit.

Auranthe (sola). Down, down, proud temper! down, Auranthe's

pride!

Why do I anger him when I should kneel?

Conrad! Albert! help! help! What can I do?

O wretched woman! lost, wreck'd, swallow'd up,
Accursed, blasted! O, thou golden Crown,
Orbing along the serene firmament
Of a wide empire, like a glowing moon;
And thou, bright sceptre! lustrous in my eyes
There-as the fabled fair Hesperian tree,
Bearing a fruit more precious! graceful thing,

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Delicate, godlike, magic! must I leave
Thee to melt in the visionary air,

Ere, by one grasp, this common hand is made
Imperial? I do not know the time

When I have wept for sorrow; but methinks
I could now sit upon the ground, and shed
Tears, tears of misery. O, the heavy day!
How shall I bear my life till Albert comes?
Ludolph! Erminia! Proofs! O heavy day!
Bring me some mourning weeds, that I may 'tire
Myself as fits one wailing her own death:
Cut off these curls, and brand this lily hand,
And throw these jewels from my loathing sight,—
Fetch me a missal, and a string of beads,—

A

cup of bitter'd water, and a crust,

I will confess, O holy Abbot !-How!
What is this? Auranthe thou fool, dolt,
Whimpering idiot! up! up! and quell!
I am safe! Coward! why am I in fear?
Albert! he cannot stickle, chew the cud
In such a fine extreme,―impossible!
Who knocks?

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[Goes to the Door, listens, and opens it.

Enter ALBERT.

Albert, I have been waiting for you here

With such an aching heart, such swooning throbs
On my poor brain, such cruel-cruel sorrow,

That I should claim your pity! Art not well?
Albert. Yes, lady, well.

Auranthe.

You look not so, alas!

But pale, as if you brought some heavy news.

Albert. You know full well what makes me look so pale.
Auranthe. No! Do I? Surely I am still to learn

Some horror; all I know, this present, is

I am near hustled to a dangerous gulf,

Which you can save me from,-and therefore safe,
So trusting in thy love; that should not make

Thee pale, my Albert.

Albert.

It doth make me freeze.

Auranthe. Why should it, love?
Albert.

You should not ask me that,

But make your own heart monitor, and save

Me the great pain of telling. You must know.

Auranthe. Something has vext you, Albert. There are times

When simplest things put on a sombre cast;

A melancholy mood will haunt a man,

ΙΙΟ

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Until most easy matters take the shape

Of unachievable tasks; small rivulets

Then seem impassable.

Albert.

Do not cheat yourself

With hope that gloss of words, or suppliant action,
Or tears, or ravings, or self-threaten'd death,

Can alter my resolve.

Auranthe.

You make me tremble,

Not so much at your threats, as at your voice,
Untuned, and harsh, and barren of all love.

Stop this devil's parley,
once for all.

Albert. You suffocate me!
And listen to me; know me
Auranthe. I thought I did.
Albert. No, you are not deceived.

Alas! I am deceived.
You took me for

A man detesting all inhuman crime;
And therefore kept from me your demon's plot
Against Erminia. Silent ? Be so still;

For ever! Speak no more; but hear my words,
Thy fate. Your safety I have bought to-day
By blazoning a lie, which in the dawn

I'll expiate with truth.

Albert. For I would not set eyes upon thy shame;
I would not see thee dragg'd to death by the hair,
Penanced, and taunted on a scaffolding!
To-night, upon the skirts of the blind wood
That blackens northward of these horrid towers,
I wait for you with horses. Choose your fate.
Farewell!

Auranthe. Albert, you jest; I'm sure you must.
You, an ambitious Soldier! I, a Queen,

One who could say,-Here, rule these Provinces !
Take tribute from those cities for thyself!
Empty these armouries, these treasuries,
Muster thy warlike thousands at a nod !
Go! conquer Italy!

Albert.

The whole world chaff to me.

Auranthe. Out, villain! dastard!

Auranthe, you have made

Your doom is fix'd.

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Do not affect amazement, hypocrite,

At seeing me in this chamber.

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