University of Virginia Library

SCENE changes to the Princess's Apartment.
Enter Leonora and Cardono, discoursing.
Leon.
If Antimora's Passion fails to move,
And bring Learchus over to our Interest,
Thou may'st have Hope, Cardono, to succeed;
For she has vow'd to see his Face no more,
If he denies to set Lorenzo free.

Card.
My Friend and you command what e'er I can,
But I despair of Antimora's Love;
Nor will I poorly ask it on such Terms;
To free Lorenzo, none would hazard more;
If in the Field I saw his Life beset,
My own, for his, should offer at the Ransom;
But to attempt his Rescue here, is fruitless,
When under Sentence by the King's Command,
And guarded by his most inveterate Foe;
'Twou'd plunge us all in certain Death at once,
And not relieve, but bring his End on faster.

Leon.
Then will you tamely stand, and see him die!
His Death conspir'd to feed a Traytor's Pride;
And will you nothing dare, to save your Friend?
Can you forget who led you forth to conquer,
And stood the Danger equal with the Meanest?
Has he not gain'd immortal Honours for you?
And made the Name, the very Name of Lombard,
More formidable than once the Romans were,
And can you now refuse to lend him Succour?

Card.
Oh, Royal Madam! think with what Concern
I hear your Words, and know my Friend's Distress!
Think you I need these Arguments to rouse me!
No, I only want the Means to set him free,
And not the Will to do it.

Enter Antimora.
Leon.
See where the mourning Antimora comes,
Like Lillies weeping with the Morning Dew,
Which, tho' it wets, yet sullies not their Beauty:
I fear, alas! to ask thee what Success.

Anti.
For me, most gracious Princess, nought remains,
Not the least Gleam of Comfort now appears:
My Hopes are dead, as soon will be my Brother:
Where shall I hide me from the fatal News,
Or how support me under it?

Leon.
That both thou and I must leave to Providence:
But, say, suppose that I should find a Way,
With Lord Cardono's Help, to free Lorenzo,
What wouldest thou contribute to his Liberty.

Anti.
Oh! most ador'd of Princes, let me kneel,
[kneels,
And bless you for this Supposition only.
If ought in me could aid the glorious Work,
Tho 'twere to lance these Veins, and let out Life,
If I deny'd, may Heav'n deny my Prayers,
When in my last Extremity I make 'em.
[rises.
But oh! I know what 'tis that you would ask,
And therefore make the Offer of my self.
Hear me, ye Powers, and curse me if I fail,
Whoever gives my dearest Brother Freedom,
The holy Priest shall give him Antimora;
Yes, I am his, and I will love him too,
At least, I'm sure I shall not love another.

Card.
Let Death attend in all those hideous Forms
That Tyrants study to afflict Mankind with,
I'd rush thro' all for such a glorious Prize;
Love and Friendship now surmount all Danger,
My Princess, Mistress, and my Friend, are Names
That give to Resolution double Strength;
Propose the Manner, and conclude it done.

Leon.
Behold the Signet of the King, Cardono;
Tho' how procur'd, imports not you to know;
This gives you Admittance to Lorenzo;
Six trusty Slaves whom I have bought to serve me,
All resolutely bold, and bent for Action,
Wait without, and ready for the Enterprize:
The Officer who guards the Fort this Day,
I also have brought over to our Interest;
His Soldiers are by this prepar'd with Wine,
To let you pass unheeded thro' the Fort;
If any others should resist, these Men,
At your Command, will soon dispose of them.

Anti.
So may you prosper, as your Cause is just,
And be rewarded as your Soul desires.

Card.
Such a Reward would make a Coward brave;
But if Success should crown our rising Hopes,
Where can Lorenzo safely lye conceal'd
From the quick-sighted Eye of Power and Malice?

Leon.
Below the Postern Gate you'll find a Boat,
That ready waits to pass him o'er the Adige,
Where I have order'd Horses to attend him,
By which he may escape to Rome.

Card.
Enough.
Now, Madam, Death or Lorenzo's Liberty;
Remember, Antimora, what you swore.
[Ex. Cardono.

Anti.
I do, and will observe it faithfully.

Leon.
Look down, ye Angels, with propitious Smiles;
You, whose Business 'tis to guard the Innocent
Thro' all the Mazes of this treach'rous World,
And give a just Account of mortal Actions.
Look down, I say, and bless us with Success,
And seal the Vow that here I make before you;
That if it e'er shall be my Lot to reign,
And fill the Throne of my great Ancestors,
Each Year I'll dedicate this Day to Heaven,
And all the Realm shall pay its Thanks with me.
Religion is the best Support of Power,
And honest Men are still its best Defenders.

Anti.
Forgive me, Heaven, if, for my Brother's Sake,
I wish she were already on the Throne.
How natural is it to prefer those Things
That touch us nearly, Spite of Education?
For tho' I have been ever taught to love,
And pay a strict Obedience to my Sovereign,
Yet now I feel that Nature's eldest Law
Pleads strongly in me for my Brother's Life:
And oh! this Day, if young Cardono prospers,
I give a fatal Proof of my Affection.
Now to the Postern, where I'll wait to see
What Destiny allots for him and me:
If Life, I care not how my Lot is cast,
Since all my Joys are in my Brother plac'd;
But if a Blank, and Death these Hopes succeed,
At once I'm from my Vow, and all my Sorrows freed.

[Exit.
Leon.
Lorenzo is a Pattern for Posterity;
It matters not from whence, or whom he sprung,
Since he has all that forms the Godlike Hero.
The Man, tho' ne'er so meanly born in Blood,
That, next his Soul, prefers his Country's Good;
Who more than Interest, does his Honour prize,
And scorns by secret Treachery to rise;
That can the base and gilded Bribe disdain,
Prevent Reflections on his Prince's Fame,
And point out glorious Virtues for his Reign:
That Man should be a Monarch's chiefest Care,
And none but such should Royal Favours wear.

[Exit.