University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

To BIRENO, ASCANIO.
Well, the great period comes;
No champion meets my challenge?

ASCANIO.
No, not one.
Fear puts the livery of conscience on:
They cannot think one of your nobleness,
Wou'd charge a lady falsely to the death;
And few are the examples of success
Against conviction: “true, 'tis pitiful,
“That one so fair, so young, of royal birth,
“For the meer frailty of impulsive nature,
“Should meet so sad a doom; the law's to blame,
“That bloodily enrolls a venial trespass,
“With those o'ergrown and huge enormities,
“That shake society;” but they can no more,
Than drop a tear or two, and let her die.

BIRENO.
True; she must die; and the heart-wounded king,
Whose age already totters o'er the grave,
Like a crush'd serpent, but a little longer
Will drag his painful being. Yet one fear
Sits, like a boding raven o'er my breast,
And flaps its heavy wing to damp my joy.

ASCANIO.
What fear can reach you now? From Paladore?

BIRENO.
Perdition seize him! yes. But, my good ruffians,
Ere this, I trust, have sent to his account,
That ill-star'd Briton. Doubly arm'd they wait him—
Close by a brambled cavern he must pass,
Returning hither. Yet, should he escape—
It cannot be—Heart, re-assume thy seat.
But, come, the time draws on—Bear to the lists,
My martial ensigns; I must seem prepar'd
To oppose a danger that will never meet me.
[As he is going, a servant delivers a paper.
The hand of Bernardine, my trusty spy.
[Reads.
Confusion! rescue her! Come back, Ascanio!
Fly to St. Mark's, collect the cohort there;
Go, place them instantly around the prison;
Bid them disarm the guard that holds that place,
And, on their lives, drive back the populace.
I'll to Honorias—These stout veterans
Will sweep the rabble like vile chaff before them.
Away—A moment may be fatal to us.

[Exeunt severally.