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Life and Literary Remains of L. E. L.

by Laman Blanchard. In Two Volumes
(1802-1838)

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VOL. I.
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VOL. II.
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CASTRUCCIO CASTRUCANI;
  
DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.
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ACT I.
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ACT II.
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ACT III.
 III. 
Scene I.
 II. 
Scene II.
 III. 
Scene III.
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ACT IV.
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ACT V.
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SUBJECTS FOR PICTURES.
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[subsection]
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FRAGMENTS
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FUGITIVE POEMS

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46

Scene III.

—A Hall in one of the Palaces.
Leoni, and several Nobles.
1ST NOBLE.
I would you had been with us yesterday.

LEONI.
To-day will serve us better; for to-day
Has yesterday's experience.

1ST NOBLE.
We were wrong
To trust the people and the light of day;
Now secret night is round our enterprise,
And we will be as secret.

LEONI.
All now rests
Upon your own good swords and with yourselves.

2ND NOBLE.
If that the matter rested with my sword
I were content—that were a soldier's part.
Midnight assassins are we now!

LEONI.
Actions are ever judged by their success;
To-morrow sees us paramount in Lucca;
The doom to-night dealt on the Castrucani
Will then be rightful justice

1ST NOBLE.
We have no choice: it is his fall or ours,
And I, for one, care little if my sword
Or if my dagger end an enemy.

47

LEONI.
We are degraded by the Castrucani;
Our order has not left one privilege
Beyond the meanest citizen.

2ND NOBLE.
He talks, too, of dismissing our retainers.

LEONI.
'Tis the old fable of the lion's claws,
But we must re-assert our ancient rule;
Assert it now or never, for I know
The emperor's envoys are upon their way
To own the Castrucani Lord of Lucca,
But they must find us masters!

1ST NOBLE.
Your entrance at the banquet is our signal?

LEONI.
Yes, and I ask one favour; let my dagger
Be that which strikes Castruccio!

ALL.
Agreed!

LEONI.
Our time is precious; to your care, Count Ludolph,
I will commend my uncle: he is old,
And weak, and fearful—see he falter not.
You, Count Rinaldo, have our followers arm'd,
And meet me secret in the cypress-grove;
I'll wait there, coming from the Florentines.
Our forces and their band must join at once;
This fix'd, we'll seek the banquet-room together.
My welcome to Castruccio is my dagger!

48

1ST NOBLE.
One cup of wine, Leoni, ere you go.

LEONI.
I have not time—yet stay—we'll drink one pledge.
(They pour out wine; each takes a goblet.)
Death to the Castrucani!

ALL.
Death to the Castrucani!

LEONI.
And now away—away—for life and death
Is on the hour!

[Exeunt.
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