University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

—A Hall in the Colonna Palace.
Enter Ursini, Stephen Colonna, Lady Colonna, Savelli, Frangipani, and Nobles, R.
Lady C.
(C.)
Five thousand horsemen at the gates of Rome,
And armed retainers in each horse and knights,
Harness'd in glittering mail; with banner proud,
And trump, and war-cry, hurling their bright spears
At the ursurper's head! Why, now I know ye,
My gallant kinsmen.—When ye crouched, like hounds,
Beneath the tyrant's lash; or stealthily,
At midnight meetings, and below your breath,
Mutter'd of murders—the quick poinard-stroke—
The calculated poison, that consumes
So much of life a day—or that mute slayer,
The Eastern bow-string,—chivalry of Rome,
What marvel that I knew ye not, distained
With such base purpose. Now ye have clothed death
In the brave guise of war, and made him gay
And lovely as a bridegroom, speed ye forth!
Away! the sun is low!—Ye have a city
To win, ere night!

Col.
(L.)
Better await the night;
And then, in darkness and in storm, at once
Crush the stunn'd Tribune.

Lady C.
(C.)
Dost thou say await,
Stephen Colonna? Dost thou seek the veil
Of darkness for a deed of light?—On, on!
Whilst yet the sunbeams kiss the glittering stream
Of armed knights and barbed steeds.—On, on!
Whilst yet the column'd banners of our house
May catch their parting glory, as the peaks
Of highest Alps shine o'er the twilight world.

Urs.
The lady counsels well. In every street
Stand knots of citizens in sad debate
Of their proud ruler's frenzy; I have sent
Bold tongues amongst them, madam—

Enter Angelo, L.
Col.
Lo! thy son!

Lady C.
Sir, since he called Rienzi's daughter wife,
I have no son!

Ang.
Oh, mother, say not so!
Savelli! Ursini! ye bade me hither
With broken phrase and solemn tone, and pause
Of mighty import. Good my lords, I come
To read your mystery. The city's full
Of camp-like noises; tramp of steeds, and clash
Of mail, and trumpet-blast, and ringing clang
Of busy armourers; the grim ban-dog bays;
The champing war-horse in his stall neighs loud;
The vulture shrieks aloft. Ye are still leagued
Against Rienzi.

Urs.
Wouldst betray—

Ang.
Betray!
Why, I am spurned, derided, scorned, cast off,
As a child's broken toy. Betray! I come
To join ye. Ay, dear mother, to pull down
The haughty tyrant from his throne, or fall
As may beseem thy son. Angels and saints,
Bear witness to my oath!

Sav.
I do believe thee
With a most constant faith. On thy clear brow
Honour and victory sit crowned.

Ang.
Oh, put me
To the proof, my lords! Why stay we here? Good father,
Think'st thou suspicion's straining eye-balls sleep,
Or that the watcher, doubt, hath lost his keen
And delicate sense of sound? We must forerun
The tyrant's fear. Follow me, ye that love
The joy of glorious battle!

Lady C.
Angelo!

Ang.
Nay, when the fight is won.—Then thou shalt dew
My laurels with glad tears.—Stay me not now.

Lady C.
Bear to the fight thy mother's blessing, boy—
Her proud and joyful blessing, not her tears.
Thou art the last of all my children, Angelo—
Dearest and last. Unkindness never came
Betwixt us twain save once. But, had I sons
As many and as brave as that old queen
Who mourned her Troy in ashes, I would peril
Each several warrior in this cause as freely
As thou, my one fair boy. Now speed thee forth,
To conquest or to death.—Why lingerest thou,
My Angelo?

Ang.
Mother!

Lady C.
What wouldst thou?

Ang.
Claudia!

Lady C.
His daughter.

Ang.
Poor, poor Claudia! I have left her
Even on our bridal-day. But, if I fall—
Mother!

Lady C.
Fie! Fie! his daughter! speed thee forth
To battle!—On, brave kinsmen!

[Exeunt, L.