Madrigal And Trulletta | ||
SCENE V.
Trulletta, Sculliona, Fustiano.Fus.
Queen of the verseful kingdom's lord: his heart's
High empress, hail!—this tender greeting sends
Thy bard enamour'd—tho' his bosom feels
Th' incessant flame of love's devouring fire,
Tho' much he wishes to behold thy beauties,
As much, I think, as a fond lover can,
And bask him in the sunshine of those eyes;
Yet necessary prudence stays his visit,
Till night hath spread her sable mantle o'er
The azure hemisphere—this afternoon—
O horrible to tell! most horrible!—
Nine of the verseful train—by all the gods,
Not less than nine—the tuneful sister's number—
Unwary, unintent, uncircumspect,
Or deeply wrapt in meditation, fell
In legal ambush, and were vilely dragg'd
To spunging dome by slaves, that know no mercy.
Trul.
Ice at my conscious heart were warm compar'd
13
My tear-touch'd eye, in sympathetic woe,
Wails their disaster.
Fus.
More I would unfold
Of misery poetic; but my stay
Admits no farther parle—illumin'd maid,
Adieu.
[Exit.
Trul.
O iron-hearted law! what cause
Have bards to curse thy rigour—Sculliona,
Thy arm—to my sad chamber guide my steps—
Griefs rush on griefs, on passions passions roll,
And in the rapid torrent whelm my soul.
End of the FIRST ACT.
Madrigal And Trulletta | ||