University of Virginia Library

Scene I.

—A Prison.
Arrezi and the Confessor.
ARREZI.
Thou bring'st my youth again; thou who didst link
Her faith to mine—the lost and the beloved.
Fateful to me has been thy ministering;
It has been thine, oh! ancient priest, to bless
My marriage and my scaffold!

CONFESSOR.
Not on the past, my son, fix thou thy thoughts,
But on the solemn future!

ARREZI.
I cannot choose: I sought thee out for years.
Give me to know her fate—my secret bride—
Soon lost, but long beloved—and I will turn
From thee to thy companion—death!

CONFESSOR.
When the proud Castrucani forced thy bride
To secret banishment, and made thee prisoner,
Chance brought me to the village, and I watch'd
Above her and her child—

ARREZI.
Her child!

CONFESSOR.
It was two years before the mother died;
With her last breath she gave her to my charge.

ARREZI.
What of the orphan?

CONFESSOR.
For years I saw her grow in loveliness,
And deem'd her happy in her lowly state;
For Lucca was distracted with the wars
Her nobles kept among themselves.

ARREZI.
I dread—yet still must ask—does my child live?

CONFESSOR.
But that it breaks a link with this sad world,
My heart would fail me—no, the girl is dead!
She had just sprung to blooming womanhood,
When Heaven claim'd its own. The Florentines
Burnt Arola, the village where she dwelt;
Not one escaped to tell the tale of death!

ARREZI.
Oh, subtle force of nature's secret love!
That child, although I knew her not for mine,
Has been my care; I have reproach'd myself
That more my heart drew to her than Bianca:
Our house almost enforced my second marriage.
I wedded with a lady cold and proud,
Who left her likeness to her child—Bianca
Ne'er sought, ne'er won affection like Claricha;
Would I might bless her ere I die.

CONFESSOR.
Alas! my son, think not on human ties.

Enter Claricha.
ARREZI.
And hast thou sought me out, my own sweet child?
Come to your father's heart! 'twas Heaven and nature
That made me love thee, ere I knew thy right
To claim a parent's love. How hard it is
To only know thee in this last sad hour!
Shrink not away, my child—I am thy father!

CLARICHA.
My father!

CONFESSOR.
She wears the very chain around her neck
Placed by her dying mother. Start not thus,
But kneel and ask a father's latest blessing.

CLARICHA.
Mercy—mercy.

ARREZI.
In evil times we meet; but still, my child,
Come to my heart—Claricha, let me bless thee!

CLARICHA.
Curse me—your blessing sinks me to the earth:
Curse me—and in me curse your murderer!

ARREZI.
Cease these wild words, you know not what you say.

CLARICHA.
I know too well: I gave the Count Castruccio
The tidings of his danger.

ARREZI.
You told Castruccio!

CONFESSOR.
Unhappy girl!

CLARICHA.
I told Castruccio—in our early youth
We met and loved; the burning of our village
Lost us each other's trace; again we met—
That very day I overheard your scheme,
And gave him warning.

ARREZI.
I cannot blame thee.

CLARICHA.
He loves me—oh! he cannot let me die—
Die with a parent's blood upon my soul!
He did not know of this—yes, there is hope.

ARREZI.
Hope!

CLARICHA.
My father—let me call thee by that name—
My father, bless me—bless thy wretched child!
Oh, try to say one word of comfort to me!
I come to seek thy pardon.

(Kneels.)
ARREZI.
I blame our evil destiny, and feel
'Tis my own crime has brought down Heaven's vengeance;
I dare not say I pardon thee, Claricha,
But take thy father's blessing; my last prayer
Shall be for thee!

CLARICHA.
Either I bring thy pardon, or I die;
I seek Castruccio: never will I rise
From kneeling at his feet, until I win
Forgiveness for my father. Once, again,
I pray thee bless me.

ARREZI.
Come to my heart?

(They embrace.)
CLARICHA.
Now, pitying Heaven assist me.

—[Exit.
CONFESSOR.
Let us now seek the inner cell, and pray.

ARREZI.
She must succeed; I feel
My heart beat quick with hope.—I follow thee.

[Exeunt.