 | The Heroine of the Cave |  |
SCENE II.
Rampart of Vienna near the Gate of the City.Count ALBERTI and RODOLPHO.
ALBERTI.
No more, Rodolpho—Strive with efforts vain
To warp me from the purpose of my soul;
That's fix'd! unalterable! as the stamp of fate—
RODOLPHO.
But, Sir, consider with what danger's fraught
Thy desperate resolve, to act against
The imperial mandate of our gracious sovereign,
Who'll ne'er forgive thy disobedient rage.
'Tis friendship speaks, and reason backs my zeal.
3
I love thy friendship—but to reason's call
Am now reluctant; nor will hear her voice—
The die is thrown; and one or both must perish;
Thy friend, or fortune's minion in Colredo.—
Oh! 'tis an insult manhood cannot pardon;
No, none but such as wear its coward form
Void of all impulse from a noble heart.
RODOLPHO.
Yet, Sir, if what's the fountain of our honour
Call'd, and rever'd, doth specially forbid
Our farther process in attaints of glory,
And takes upon itself the event of all,
I mean the Emperor's supreme command;
Then sure no stain from dutiful submission
Can e'er arise—That from the charge of shame
Absolves—and reconciles us to ourselvs again.
ALBERTI.
Such doctrine may be fit for vulgar minds,
But cannot suit the swellings of a soul
That in my sovereign's cause hath never fail'd
To act the foremost in the ranks of danger—
And shall it prove a recreant in my own?
But cannot suit the swellings of a soul
That in my sovereign's cause hath never fail'd
To act the foremost in the ranks of danger—
And shall it prove a recreant in my own?
Yes, proud Vienna!—oft with thankful hymns
Your churches rung for conquests I had won;
And through your streets loud acclamations ran,
As in triumphant march I pass'd along,
To hail me fav'rite of the throne and people.
Your churches rung for conquests I had won;
And through your streets loud acclamations ran,
As in triumphant march I pass'd along,
To hail me fav'rite of the throne and people.
RODOLPHO.
And such you still may prove—suppress this wrath,
And bind your sovereign more by mild complying;
'Twill win new favours, and defeat the malice
Of your combin'd, your secret foes—but chiefly
Seyfert's—than whom a darker villain never breath'd.
4
I know him well—great artist in deceiving,
Train'd up in all the subtleties of courts,
And policy's mean, cringing, base devices,
He can convert to a friendly smiling look
His Protean features on the man he hates;
Oh! that such monsters shou'd debase our kind!
RODOLPHO.
He'll be the first t'exaggerate the crime
Of thy transgressing monarchy's command,
Which he'll not fail with ev'ry art to paint
In the most odious, most offensive light,
T'obtain thy exile or inglorious punishment.
ALBERTI.
Yet he's the very engine of this quarrel
Started between Colredo and myself;
Through various hints by his low creatures dropp'd,
From th'ancient grudge that twixt our houses rag'd,
H' has hurried both from means of reconcilement;
At least on my side—blood must be the consequence—
Now is the hour I've dar'd him to a meeting,
His sword 'gainst mine to terminate the fray.
RODOLPHO.
(holding him)
Stop—and attend Rodolpho's last request!
Since pow'r's high mandate, or the voice of friendship,
Can't turn thy soul from its determin'd purpose
To fall or conquer, in this test of manhood—
Consider, Sir, if fate should adverse prove,
And rob the world of thy illustrious life,
What must th'affliction of Constantia be?
Constantia! foremost of Vienna's dames!
Constantia! woo'd by all our German princes!
Who to Alberti gave a preference;
That made him envied by the great and brave.
5
And stealing tears supply my want of speech!
ALBERTI.
Rodolpho!—hold!—appear not thus unman'd;
No heart more tender, and no arm more brave,
Than I have always known this man's to be!
The dangerous infection gains upon me—
I must defeat it e'er it be too late!—
Hear, and observe Alberti's strict command;
His last perhaps—And with it take this last
Embrace—Be not seen near the place of combat,
Lest in my peril you shou'd be involv'd.
RODOLPHO.
I care not for my life if thou shou'd'st fall,
But Constantia!—
ALBERTI.
Oh! that name distracts me!
And raises a new tempest in my soul!
If from my fate Constantia prove a widow,
(She'll be expos'd again to a siege of wooers
Whom she repuls'd thro' virtuous dislike)
And all her days in bitterness must pass—
Or, if I decline t'assert her innocence,
The sland'rous whisp'ring of Colredo's faction,
Will through Vienna, o'er the empire spread
With an implicit charge of cowardice.
Hell's in that thought—Constantia must reject me,
As a reproach to her too partial choice,
For one who dared not vindicate her name.—
Pride—glory, fame, ambition, love rise up
In mutinous array to urge me on.
[Rodolpho offers to speak.
'Tis now no time for thought, blow winds—drive storm,
What honor dictates, courage shall perform.
[Exit Alberti.
6
(alone.)
How this unhappy man to ruin hastes!
Nor heeds the admonition of a friend!
Nor tend'rest passion for the best of wives!
Once disobedient to Alberti's order,
[Pausing.
I'll after, and, at distance, wait th'event—
If slain, his body will inter in private;
Or if victorious, aid him in his flight.
[Exit Rodolpho.
| The Heroine of the Cave | |