 | Don Garcia |  |
SCENE THE FOURTH.
Eleonora, Garcia.Ele.
Oh son! ...
Gar.
Mother, whence comest thou? To rescue me
From this commanded crime?
Ele.
Oh heaven! To thee
Thy cruel father sends me.
Gar.
What wills he?
Ele.
That I should come, alas! to ascertain
47
To obey him. This abominable task
Belong'd to Piero; but he found him not;
Hence he chose me ... Alas! and I to him
Am instantly commanded to return.
What shall I say to him?
Gar.
That hitherto
My hands are pure: ah, that my lips were so!
But, if I promised it, I now refuse
That promise to fulfil. Go, tell him this ...
Ele.
Oh heaven! Dost thou not know, if I should dare
To repeat this to him, I should expose thee
To dreadful danger? He is blind with rage ...
Gar.
Let him be so; and let him murder me;
This I expect.
Ele.
And Julia?
Gar.
Oh that name! ...
Ele.
Take pity on her, if thou do refuse it
Both to thy wretched mother and thyself.
Gar.
Go then, and say to him, ... that I obey:
Meanwhile without delay my Julia rescue ...
Ele.
Rescue! Does Cosmo trust to simple words?
He, with his own eyes, here will see the victim.
Ah son! it tortures me to goad thee thus
To an unworthy deed; ... but yet, ... reflect ...
Gar.
Is it impossible that Julia then ...
Ele.
I dare not tell thee all; ... yet, if I'm silent ...
Gar.
Speak, mother, speak at once. Thou mak'st me tremble.
Ele.
While I confer with thee, ... Cosmo himself ...
Holds o'er the bosom of the trembling maid
An unsheathed dagger ...
48
Oh atrocious sight!
Stop, father, stop thy aim; I will destroy him; ...
I return quickly; ... stop; ... thou shalt behold me
Swimming in blood ... Where is my sword, my sword? ...
'Tis here; I fly ... Oh father ... stop ... I fly.
| Don Garcia | |