University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

—A Street in Messina.
Enter Stephano, Thomaso, Carlo.
Carlo.
No mischief come, last night, to any friends
Of yours?

Steph.
None, sir, that I have heard.

Carlo.
No throat
In frolic cut? No gamesome robbery?
No courtesy on wife or daughter forced
Of any that you know?

Steph.
None.

Carlo.
Luckless man!
My brother was compell'd keep open shop
After the hour of shutting—customers
So hot, there's not a shelf he has but gapes
For new replenishing—and that took place
Not half a month before. No pleasant news
With you?

[To Thomaso.
Thom.
None yet!

Carlo.
Take comfort, it will come
Before we get to the end of the next street.
The Frenchman loves us, sirs; and, like true friend,
Will keep our spirits from stagnation, though
It be against our wills. 'Tis good for our health!
Come on. We'll have news yet, and plenty on't.

[Going.
Guis.
[without, at the opposite side].
Thomaso! Stephano! Stop! Turn! [Enters.]
At last
You hear me, sirs! I am breath'd with chasing you!
Why were you not at home?

Thom.
Why, what's the matter?

Guis.
Blood, sirs!

Carlo.
The news!

Guis.
News! 'Tis the common cry
Of every day!

Thom.
Yes; but the common'st thing
That affects others, has a stranger's face
When it comes home to us. Whose blood, Guiscardo?
Take breath and tell us.

Guis.
Are you not akin
To Angelo Martini?

Thom. and Steph.
What of him?

Guis.
His roof-tree suffer'd shame last night!—His daughter!
His only child!—That force could dare assail
A temple of such holy chastity!
The spoiler of her honour and her life—
For with her virgin jewel he purloin'd
The witness of the theft—a mangled corse,
Cast into the street by Angelo, who came
Too late to save, but timely for revenge,
Lies 'fore the father's gate, which hounds beset,
More monstrous for the human forms they wear,
Howling to lap the blood of Angelo;
And casting looks of savage purposes
On the few friends, that, holding yet aloof,
With augmentation might defy their fangs!
Have you your weapons?

Steph.
Yes. Who goes without them
That walks through streets of licensed murderers?

Guis.
Grasp them then! Hie ye straight to Angelo,
While to the castle I, in hope to move
A friend's good offices to stop the fray,
The favourite of the governor—Fernando.
And be ye resolute, comes it to more blood!
Death's nothing to the fear! There lies the pang,
And that we suffer every hour in the day.

[They go out severally.