University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

Alfonso's Tent.
Enter Claudia, musing.
Clau.
This does perplex me more,
Than all my other causes of complaint!
Manfredi missing?—'Tis a mystery
I have no power to solve.—The king?—he comes,
When I'm but ill prepared to meet him.—List!—

Enter Alfonso, Sciolto, and several Officers. Officers retire to the back part of the stage.
[Claudia retiring.
Alf.
Whither, my gentle Claudia, art thou going?
I would exchange some words of import with thee.

Clau.
Ever obedient to thy sacred will!
What wouldst thou urge, my lord?

Alf.
I fear me much,
Signor Manfredi has dishonoured us.—

Clau.
In what?—dishonoured thee?—Impossible!

Alf.
He came not, at our bidding, to the council;
Which I've thought prudent, therefore, to delay.
And rumour says, he's no where to be found.
This looks suspicious.—Whither is he gone?

Clau.
It is a question, I'd give worlds to solve!

Alf.
Ha!—wouldst thou?

Clau.
Yes!—assuredly I would!—

Alf.
I know not why thou should'st:—Fontano's fate
Call'd from thine eye-lid not one pitying tear.—
I see no urgent reason, therefore, why
Manfredi's should distress thee.—He's a villain.

Clau.
A villain?—What?—Thy faithful friend, Manfredi?

Alf.
There's one, who gives us reason to suspect,
This “faithful friend,” Manfredi, is a villain!

Clau.
I much do question it—

Alf.
Indeed?—Indeed?

Clau.
Beware, my liege, the monarch's bitterest foe,
Suspicion!—'Tis an enemy, that sits—
Oh! how ungracefully—on a manly brow.
Dismiss it, Sire, I charge thee.—Tis a fiend!
We ought not to give credit to vile tales,
Against an absent man.

[Exit haughtily.
Alf.
'Tis nobly said!
Oh!—had I listened to that bosom truth,
Ere I had given such credit to Manfredi!
Hither,—Sciolto!—To the neighbouring rocks
Thou shalt attend us.—There Fontano travels,
Led by a guide.—We must propose some plan,
As thither we are journeying, to establish,
Whether or no Cavallo's tale be true.
Prepare my Claudia for the march
She must attend us—Haste:—away

Scio.
But if
The stern Albanio should surprize us there?
Ere morrow's night, he meditates, they say,
Naples to lay in ruins!—Mid yon rocks
He sits, when military caution grants,
And loads the air, with many a bitter curse,
Against the sons of Naples.

Alf.
Yes;—'tis true.
But I'm a foe to fear.—He 'll dearly pay
For bearing arms against his native city.
Let us away:—I will not sleep, till I
Have proved the worth, or falsehood, of Fontano.

[Exeunt.