 | The Princess of Parma |  |
Scene the 3d.
Princess of Parma—Elvira
To purchase her an hour of Joy & Comfort
Princess of P.
Granvil here!
(Granvil enters in haste.)
Gran.
Forgive
This sudden Interruption, but I fly
Breathless with terror from a madman's rage
For shelter and defence
Prin. of P.
Speak who assaults
Your sacred character beneath my roof.
Gran.
One whom no character, no age, no Altar,
No shrine, how pure soever, can appall—
Egmont's the fearless the contemptuous man,
Whose dagger pointed at my trembling throat,
Scarce yet is sheathed.
10
Stand off and give me way
Oh! are You come?—(Egmont meets her and drops on his knee)
Is this the mighty man,
Hah! is it You that fill my court with treason,
You, Egmont, You to bring this shame upon me.
Hence from my sight—no safety can be near thee,
And when thy wild unbridled rage is loose,
Granvel or Parma are alike to thee.
Elvira.
O all is lost—Undone and lost forever.
Egm.
No, Madam, no; thus banisht from your sight,
This hateful object shall offend no more
Parma and Grenvel henceforth are secure.
Pr. Parm.
Hold, Sir, return—perhaps I shall not leave
Your hands at Liberty, Your life is claim'd
And 'tis not thou but justice must dispose on't.
Say, my good lord, how sprung this odious fray?
Gran.
Madam, I scarce can tell—my frighted spirits
Have yet resumed no order or composure.
Lord Egmont's less disturbed—One thing I gather
His friend has turn'd to treason and he knows it.
P. Parm.
Hah! does he know it?—Is your friend a traitor?
Thus am I used. What subterfuge is left You?
Egm.
None, I need none—I scorn it and disclaim it.
P. Parm.
Are You dumb too? (To Elvira.)
Egm.
If fir'd with martial Ardor,
And rous'd by liberty's expiring groans,
My friend has joind the standard of Revolt,
Be it to him the glory or the shame;
For me I shall not defend or blame him.
Pr. Parm.
Yes, You avow his treason, but remember
Your bold, rash Oath, and look that You observe it.
Egm.
I do remember—Promises and Vows,
(Those feeble bonds which priestcraft tears at pleasure)
For me are links of steel that honor wraps
Round my firm heart and rivets to truth.
11
Talks thou of Truth—thou Traitor?
Egm.
Hah! thou Traitor?
Take heed You make me not indeed a traitor
Such as You long may groan for—
Pr. Parm.
Guards arrest him.
Yet hold; surrender up yourself.
Egm.
Lo thus. (Breaks it)
I throw it to the winds—the brittle Toy
Is now no longer mine.
P. Parm.
Come my lord Cardinal,
Let us from hence.—Egmont, we meet no more.
(Exeunt Pr. and Gra.)
Egmont and Elvira remain
| The Princess of Parma | |