University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

CONSTANTIA'S House.
LORENZO and LAURA.
LORENZO.
How did my sister go? and when depart?
And which way did she steer her desp'rate course?
Did you not strive to keep her till my coming?

LAURA.
My Lord, I did; as far as I cou'd dare,
And ev'ry anxious argument employ'd,
Which she with seeming acquiescence heard,
And said she wou'd rely on Heav'n's decree;
Then sent me forth to pray Rodolpho's lady
Wou'd come to soothe her melancholy hours.
I chearfully obey'd—but on return,
Found, with astonishment, that she was gone!
No token left behind of her design:
'Twas this fell paper hurried her away.

LORENZO
reads it.
Cruel indeed, and of alarming purport;
What subject's safe, if such dire orders pass
Unfelt, and unresented by a people?

Enter a SERVANT.
SERVANT.
The Prince Colredo—

LORENZO.
Are the dead reviv'd!
Admit him straight— [Enter Colredo.]
You are a sight of joy
To me, tho' here a cause of misery—
The ancient palace of Alberti's race
Is now a desart scene of desolation;
Its master to the Cave of Idra sent,
And poor Constantia fled; we know not whither
This cruel scroll has caus'd her sudden flight.

COLREDO.
Let me behold, and the contents peruse.
[Reads it.
“Leopold,”—that's not the Emperor's hand—

LORENZO.
No?—

COLREDO.
No, by Heav'n! I know it, Sir, as well
As my own hand, and cannot be mistaken.

LORENZO.
But that is Seyfert's signature you'll own.

COLREDO.
It is most sure—and hence do I suspect
Seyfert to be a most flagitious villain;
Therefore I'm hither come for information
Of all relating to th'unhappy duel,
Ere I present me to the Emperor,
Whom Seyfert has induc'd to think I'm dead;
And had his plan succeeded must have been,
Having employ'd a surgeon, not to cure
But poison me—yet under friendship's mask.
The man, too honest for so base a deed,
Deceiving Seyfert, let me know the whole.
This dark transaction soon shall be display'd
In the strong colouring it deserves; and
Prove the means of rescuing Alberti.
Let's send forth scouts to scour the country round,
And bring the fair Constantia to her home.
You'll with me to the court, to join complaints
Against this unprovok'd, this harden'd villain.

LORENZO.
My Lord, let's lose no time in virtue's cause.
We'll call upon Rodolpho in our way,
Whose interest will strengthen our design.

[Exeunt.