University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

A Street near the Palace.
RODOLPHO and MENTZEL.
MENTZEL.
Oh! how I suffer for Constantia's sake;
I tremble, lest some fatal error shou'd ensue.

RODOLPHO.
All future ages must applauding hear
When the brave Count, her husband, hence was forc'd
By rigid sentence to the Cave of Idra—
A torpid interval numb'd every sense,
And all the wheels of life a while stood still;
But bounteous Nature soon reviv'd their springs:
Then all the horrors of her dread condition
Rush'd ghastly—glaring on her tortur'd soul.

MENTZEL.
At such a sight, humanity must shudder!

RODOLPHO.
No words can utter what her heart endur'd
Beneath th'impression of the horrid blow:
She flew to court to plead her husband's cause;
Her language such as guardian angels utter,
Who pray for mortals at the throne of grace.

MENTZEL.
And yet, alas! she met not with success!
Where was Lorenzo then to back her suit?

RODOLPHO.
The insolence of Seyfert had provok'd
His gen'rous nature up to such degree,
His friends by force withdrew him from the court,
Lest his too warm resentment shou'd incur
A treatment base as Count Alberti has;—
But let us seek and strive to comfort him.

[Exeunt.