University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

—A CHAMBER IN THE HOUSE OF IMELDA.
Enter Imelda with a letter.
IMELDA.
Astonishment! and oh! profoundest anguish!
How do I blush at my remember'd love—
A load of infamy upon my soul!
I loved thee! Prince of Mantua!—loved thee well:
Not for thou wert a prince!—No! my true heart
Loved thee as poor love poor! Oh! artful copyist
Of all the charming aspects of pure virtue!—
But hence with thought, self-communing, and sorrow,
My friend's sad state should sole engross my mind!
Already have I form'd—matured a plan,
Which much I hope may compass her deliverance!
Already sent for one I know will aid me—
The long-devoted Guilio!—for Colonna—
In the Duke's power it seems that he is placed—
Though little can I share the racking fears
Of Angiolina, that the Duke will dare
Achieve his ruin if indeed—He comes—
The noble Giulio!
[Enter Giulio.
Lose not, sir! one moment
In saying if, on reading my despatch,
Thou dost consider my planned scheme may be
A feasible and sound one!

GIULIO.
Lady! Yes!
I am perplex'd! Indeed the want of time—
The abruptly-pressing exigence o' the case,
Might well bewilder clearer heads than mine;
And with my heart, too, rack'd and riven—

IMELDA.
At once
'Twere best then I assumed this deep disguise:
The youthful page, methinks, resembleth me:
His hair—complexion, of the self-same colour;
His stature, to an inch mine own; his features,—
Not much unlike.—I shall not be discover'd!
But say, ere yet I seek mine injured friend,
What tidings hast thou learned of lost Colonna?

GIULIO.
I have much reason to believe he is
A prisoner for the present, strictly made
In his own house, where I have ask'd in vain
To greet him (if, indeed, still there abiding),
I was denied admittance surlily,
Plainly, and peremptorily. Methinks,
All circumstances well considered o'er
'Twere best, if truly (as Heaven grant thou may'st!)
Thou thus effectest escape with Angiolina!—
That she, in like disguise of some young page
(If possible the Duke's own livery wearing),
Should gain access unto Colonna's house,
And set him free,—and fly with him till well
This pestilent storm may have blown over.

IMELDA.
Good!
Thyself remain upon the watch to serve us,
Arm'd at all points, and press Emmanuel, too,
Into this holiest service! She once safe,
Will I speed back unto this house, to make
Due preparations for her quick reception,
In case she needs such refuge and concealment.
First, she would haply in Colonna's mansion
(Her father dead, as doubtless knows the Duke,)
Be sought for—yet ah! no! it cannot be,
Not steel-faced tyranny dare trench so far
On human holy rights! I pray thee watch;
Do thou and brave Emmanuel (who I feel
Will promptly pledge himself to aid the cause)
Well sentinel the streets, especially
Near to the palace and the princely house
Of that deceiver—that dark-soul'd Durazzo!
I doubt not, he hath, helped these horrors all!

GIULIO.
Count upon me as on thine own strong soul!
'Tis for her safety—for her weal, I work!

[Exeunt together.