University of Virginia Library

SCENE V.

A Corridor of the Ducal Palace.—Enter Duchess.
Duch.
Oh, wherefore left I Garcia in that mood—
So changed from all he was!—Where is he now?
Would I could find him, for my trembling frame
Tells me some dreadful things are hovering round
Whose fall will make us shriek ere we know why!
The Duke!—with mighty bounds this way he comes!
And looks as though he had just seen a ghost!
What!—what!—if he be moved to leap the earth,
Earth's centre's lost!

[Retreats in terror.
Cosmo rushes in.
Cosmo.
He's saved from worse than death!
His fame is saved!—“unto his father's hand
He hath resign'd that life his father gave!”
No horrible public executioner
Hath seal'd disgrace upon our ancient house.
My wife! ha!—what's the matter?

Duch.
Oh, my lord!
How—how is this? what can have made you thus?

Cosmo
(recovering himself loftily).
How thus!

Duch.
Where—where is Garcia?—where?—
I left him recently in fearful state—
His nature hath been gall'd—I fear he's mad—
For God's sake, tell me—tell me where he is?

Cosmo
(agitated).
Good mother of my sons—we all at times
Border on madness; nay, in sooth, we're mad—
And but it lasts not, men would call us so,
And chain our damn'd magnificence of will!
Retire—I will be left alone—retire!

Duch.
My heart-strings strain—strain!—Garcia! where art thou?

[Exit Duchess.
Cosmo.
He'll answer her no more—save from the air!
What if that echo be his voice, not hers?

(Duchess
calling within).
Where—where is Garcia!

Cosmo.
With the all-merciful God!

(Duchess
calling within).
Garcia!

Cosmo.
The walls do render back the sound!
What if the earth should open at my feet,
And he himself make answer, ‘I am here!’
Then should his mother ask, ‘Who plac'd thee there?’
Can I stand upright, saying who it was?
I could!—but not to her—no, not to her!
Enter Dalmasso.
Away!

Dal.
Your Highness did command—

Cosmo.
True—true:
Your pardon, sir. Thou'st kept the secret close?

Dal.
My liege, I have.

Cosmo.
Forth now, and publicly
Announce this dolorous news throughout the city;
That, of the pestilence, our dear loved sons,
Giovanni and young Garcia, are both dead!

Dal.
Both dead, my lord?

Cosmo.
Did'st thou not hear me say it?
A bell tolls in my brain as for earth's end:
They are both dead!

Dal.
Your Highness—I crave pardon—

Cosmo.
See that all honours, fitting their princely state,
With high oration and sad ceremony,
Be straight prepared?

Dal.
Religiously, my liege.
Yet will your Highness bear with me, if now,
At such a moment, I intrude to tell
How that the corsair Zacheo is arrested,
With two of his band. Is it your will to order
Their execution?

Cosmo.
No, no, no!—'tis hideous!
No more of executions. They are pardon'd!

Dal.
And for their future conduct—

Cosmo.
Set them all free!
Death hath two noble gifts, and well can wait
For the flaw'd casts from man's precarious mould.

[Exeunt.