University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

—A Prison.
Enter Ludovico, R. H. meeting Spalatro, L. H.
Lud.
Where is Colonna?—Not yet arrived?

Spal.
Guarded he bore
His sister to his palace, from the which
He will be soon led here.—

Lud.
Spalatro, as I passed, a rumour came,
Colonna's sword had but half done the work,
And that Vicentio was not stabbed to death—
If he still lives—but till I am sure of it,
No need to speak my resolution,—
Thou art his friend—

Spal.
Such I'm indeed accounted,
But, save yourself, none doth deserve the name.

Lud.
Then, hie thee hence, Spalatro, to inform me,
If yet Vicentio breathes— (Spalatro crosses to R. H.
—and afterwards,
I'll make some trial of thy love to me.

[Exit Spalatro, R. H.
Enter Colonna, Officer, and eight Guards, L. H.
Col.
Conduct me to my dungeon!—I have parted
From all that bound my bosom to the world—
Ludovico!—

Lud.
The same.

Col.
Come you, my lord,
To swill with drunken thirst, the poor revenge
That makes a little mind's ignoble joy?

Lud.
Guards! I discharge Colonna from your care;
He is no more your prisoner—Hence!
[Exeunt Officer and Guards, L. H.
My lord,
Such is the vengeance of Ludovico!

Col.
What is a man doomed to the stroke of death
To understand by this?

Lud.
That I am his friend
Who called me traitor!

Col.
Such I call you still.

Lud.
Well then, I am a traitor.

Col.
There is here
A kind of marvellous honesty, my lord.

Lud.
In you 'twas nobleness to bear the charge,
And yet 'twas glory to deserve it too.
Your father was the tutor of the king,
And loyalty is your inheritance—
I am not blind to such exalted virtue,
And I resolved to win Colonna's heart,
As hearts like his are won!—Unto the king
Soon as Vicentio's fate had reached mine ear,
I hastened and implored your life.

Col.
My life!—
Well, sir, my life?—

(With indifference.)
Lud.
Upon my knees I fell,
Nor can I speak the joy that in my heart—
Leaped, when I heard him say, that thou shouldst live.

Col.
I am loth to owe you gratitude, my lord,
But, for my sister's sake, whom I would not
Leave unprotected on the earth, I thank you!

Lud.
You have no cause to thank me; for, Colonna,
He did pronounce your death, e'en as he said
He gave you life.

Col.
I understand you not.

Lud.
Your honour's death, Colonna, which I hold
The fountain of vitality.

Col.
Go on!
I scarce did hear what did concern my life,
But aught that touches honour—

Lud.
Oh! Colonna,
I almost dread to tell thee!

Col.
Prithee, speak!
You put me on the rack!

Lud.
Wilt thou promise me,—
I will not ask thee to be calm, Colonna,—
Wilt promise me, that thou wilt not be mad?

Col.
Whate'er it be, I will contain myself.
You said 'twas something that concern'd mine honour,
The honour of mine house—he did not dare
To say my blood should by a foul attaint
Be in my veins corrupted; from their height
The mouldering banners of my family,
Flung to the earth; the 'scutcheons of my fame
Trod by dishonour's foot, and my great race
Struck from the list of nobles?

Lud.
No, Colonna,
Struck from the list of men!—he dared to ask
As a condition for thy life, (my tongue
Doth falter as I speak it, and my heart
Can scarcely heave) by heavens he dared to ask
That, to his foul and impious clasp, thou shouldst
Yield up thy sister—

Col.
Ha!

Lud.
The king doth set a price
Upon thy life, and 'tis thy sister's honour.

Col.
My sister!

Lud.
Aye, thy sister!

Col.
What!—my sister!

Lud.
Yes!—your sister, sir,—Evadne!

Col.
By yon heaven,
Tho' he were born with immortality,
I will find some way to kill him!
My sister!

Lud.
Do not waste in idle wrath—

Col.
My fathers! do you hear it in the tomb?
Do not your mouldering remnants of the earth
Feel horrid animation in the grave,
And strive to burst the ponderous sepulchre,
And throw it off?—My sister! oh! yon heavens!
Was this reserved for me? for me!—the son
Of that great man that tutored him in arms,
And loved him as myself?—I know you wonder
That tears are dropping from my flaming eye-lids;
But 'tis the streaming of a burning heart,
And these are drops of fire—my sister!

Lud.
Now—
Do you now call me traitor? Do you think
'Twas such a crime from off my country's heart
To fling this incubus of royalty?—
Am I a traitor? is't a sin, my lord,
To think a dagger were of use in Naples?

Col.
Thou shalt not touch a solitary hair
Upon the villain's head!—his life is mine;
His heart is grown my property—Ludovico,
None kills him but myself!—I will, this moment,
Amid the assembled court, in face of day,
Rush on the monster, and without a sword
Tear him to pieces!— (Going, L. H.)


Lud.
Nay, Colonna,
Within his court he might perchance escape you,—
But, if you do incline to do a deed
Antiquity would envy,—with the means
He hath furnished you himself!—He means, Colonna,
In your own house that you should hold to-night
A glorious revelry, to celebrate
Your sovereign's sacred presence; and so soon
As all the guests are parted, you yourself
Should lead your sister to him—

Col.
That I should
Convert the palace of mine ancestors
Into a place of brothelry—myself!—
Tell me no more, I prithee, if thou wouldst
I should be fit for death!—

Lud.
In honour be
A Roman, an Italian in revenge.
Waste not in idle or tempestuous sound
Thy great resolve. The king intends to bear
The honour of his presence to your house,—
Nay, hold!—I'll tell him you consent—he straight
Will fall into the snare, and then, Colonna,
Make offering of his blood to thy revenge!

Col.
I thank thee for thy warning—'tis well thought on—
I'll make my vengeance certain, and commend
Thy wisdom in the counselling.

Lud.
Then, hie thee hence!
And make meet preparation for the banquet.
I'll straight return, and tell him you're all joy
In the honour of his coming.

Col.
The rigourous muscles of my clenched hand
Already feel impatience for the blow
That strikes the crowned monster to the heart.

[Exeunt; Col. L. H. Lud. R. H.