University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

The inside of a rustic hermitage; the hermit discovered marking a figure on the wall.
Hermit.
This day to all the lonely days here spent;
Making a term of thirty years' repentance
For forty years of sin. Heav'n of its mercy
Accept the sacrifice! Who knocks without?
[Knocking at the door.
'Tis nothing but my fancy. Break of day
Yet scarcely peeps, nor hath a new-waked bird
Chirp'd on my branchy roof.
[Knocking again.
Nay, something does.
Lift up the latch, whoe'er thou art; nor lock
Nor bar, nor any hind'rance e'er prevents
Those who would enter here.

Enter Rovani.
Rov.
O pardon, holy hermit, this intrusion
At such untimely hour; for misery
Makes free with times and seasons.

Hermit.
Thou sayest well: it will doff ceremony
E'en in a monarch's court. Sit down, I pray:
I am myself a poor repentant sinner,
But, as I trust, a brand saved from the fire.
Then tell thy tale, and give thy sorrows vent:
What can I do for myself entreat thy pity

Rov.
I do not for myself entreat thy pity
But I am come from an unhappy man,
Who, inly torn with agony of mind,
Hath need of ghostly aid.

Hermit.
I am no priest.

Rov.
I know thou art not, but far better, father,
For that which I entreat thee:
The cowled monk, in peaceful cloisters bred,
Who hath for half a cent'ry undisturb'd
Told o'er his beads; what sympathy hath he
For perturb'd souls, storm-toss'd i' the wicked world?
Therefore Count Garcio most desires to see thee,
And will to thee alone unlock his breast.

Hermit.
Garcio, the lord of this domain?

Rov.
The same.

Hermit.
The blest in love, the rich, the prosp'rous Garcio?

Rov.
He hath since dead of night traversed his chamber
Like one distraught, or cast him on the ground
In all the frantic violence of despair.
I have watch'd by him, but from thee alone
He will hear words of counsel or of peace.
Thy voice, perhaps, will calm a stormy spirit
That ne'er has known control.

Hermit.
God grant it may!
We'll lose no time, my son; I follow thee.

[Exeunt.