University of Virginia Library

SCENE VI.

RAYMOND, EUDORA, GUARDS, &c.
Uberto enters before the litter, with the body of the Prince.
Dirge.

UBERTO.
Why sleeps the sword of justice? Heaven has sent me
Loudly to call it into instant action.
In me Sicilians, in my faithful voice
You hear your murdered prince. This sacred corse
Speaks thro' my organs and demands revenge.

THE GUARDS SEIZE RAYMOND.
EUDORA.
Hold yet a moment in the name of Heaven!
I feel inspired, for Truth and Equity
Two seraphs on my side sustain my soul
And with their searching spirit, bid me question
This recreant man of God, whose treacherous tongue
Turned agent to the fiend of murderous slander.

UBERTO,
(aside.)
Curse on this penetrating woman's voice!
It pierces thro' my heart; she must be silenced
Or we are lost indeed. Good citizens!
Who pity female wretchedness, convey,
This lady, frantic from her husband's crimes,
Safe to some quiet scene.

EUDORA.
Arch hypocrite!
'Tis not a frantic woman, whom thou hear'st;
It is thy warning genius speaks in me,
And bids thee not in thy career of guilt,
Pass on, beyond those barriers of perdition,
Which, if they close on thy encumbered soul,
The arm of heavenly mercy may not open.

UBERTO.
Away with her! my friends! away with her!
Some heavenly visitation would lay waste
Your populous city, could Palermo suffer
The church's holy sons to be insulted,
By the wild ravings of a troubled woman:

EUDORA.
Unhand me villains! if the living lose
All sense of right, the dead may be my friend;
O that in thee thou precious sacred corse!
The honest blood (they say such things have been)
Might at the touch of the concealed assassin,
Gush, and proclaim the real man of guilt.
This may not be—Yet will I fondly clasp
Thy clay cold hand, and gaze upon thy features,
Whence comfort used to beam on all the afflicted
(Uncovers the face of the Prince.
Benignant still in death!

UBERTO,
(aside)
Wretch that I am,
This pallid form appals me.

EUDORA.
I implore
The spirit from its seat of heavenly radiance,
To dart one beam of doubt-dispelling light,
And in this dreadful crisis here decide
'Twixt truth and falsehood calling both on thee.
But is thy spirit fled—

UBERTO.
O could I here discover
The slightest symptom of suspended life,
Thou wert indeed an angel of redemption!
No! there is none!—
Heaven prompts thee not to cancel, but to punish
Repented guilt. Thy words are brands of fire
Hell is already in the murderer's breast—
These torments tell thee I am he—Majone—
Majone's curst ambition was the tempter—
Release Lord Raymond, from his guiltless blood,
Still let me save my over-burdened soul!

EUDORA.
O blessed moment! merciful detection!
My heaven-protected lord!

RAYMOND.
My guardian angel!

UBERTO.
Seize me, ye ready ministers of justice!
Nothing can slake the flames around my soul,
But bathing in my own detested blood!

EUDORA.
Unhappy man be calm.

UBERTO.
Thou blest inquisitor, whom heaven inspires,
Fly, and reveal to the deluded king
Thy Raymond's innocence, Majone's crimes,
And my remorse, my anguish, my despair

EUDORA.
I go, and will entreat him to suspend
The doom, thou call'st for, and allow thee time,
To make, if possible, thy peace with heaven!

(Exit.