 | The Count Arezzi |  |
SCENE VII.
An Apartment in the Palace.Duke, Duchess, Prince of Andria—Officers and Attendants.
PRINCE ANDRIA.
We have dispatched those warrants from your Grace.
The time is brief indeed, with much to do.
[Enter an Officer with a letter.
Well, who brought this?
OFFICER.
I cannot learn his name:
Your highness saw the man alone last night.
He seemed in haste.
PRINCE ANDRIA.
So—this will tell us more.
Now send us Asti hither.
[Enter Asti.
O!—good—your Grace
Shall learn it from his lips.
DUCHESS.
To-night, you say,
We must expect these traitors here?
142
How many?
ASTI.
I cannot search their numbers, but enough
To make division of their strength.
PRINCE ANDRIA.
One third
Will scale Saint Elmo?—we are sure of these.
ASTI.
There is another for the Mole and Fleet—
The strongest third I hear.
PRINCE ANDRIA.
So much the better.
Gold has been scattered there I know: at dusk
We shall withdraw their garrisons elsewhere.
ASTI.
The last is destined here.
PRINCE ANDRIA.
No doubt the trustiest.
DUCHESS.
Whence did he learn all this?
PRINCE ANDRIA.
From one among them,
Who has a capital part to play, and yet
Knows little but his share.
ASTI.
He told beside
That we might find old faces at the feast—
But knew not whose.
143
No matter.—It is set down
That some should enter first, you say, in masks?
ASTI.
Yes—ten or twelve, and masked. They come as guests,
Their dress and carriage suited to the place,
Till others left behind shall break the doors,
And enter too.
PRINCE ANDRIA.
Thus one may seem a score—
While every man is feared and fears the rest!
ASTI.
I learnt no more.
PRINCE ANDRIA.
Then hasten to the Mole,
And see that what we bid is done—quick! quick!
[Exit Asti.
We have from other mouths a warning too—
Now what says this? (Reads the letter.)
“Watch all tonight—beware
“Of guests with crimson scarfs and golden vizars,
“For such are dangerous.”—So—I wish we had
More space to make them welcome.
DUCHESS.
They seem, like us,
Scarce ready, and in haste.
PRINCE ANDRIA.
Faith! they do well;
They might have waited long a chance more likely.
144
Are restless till it come.
DUKE.
Shall we prevent them,
And chuse some other night.
PRINCE ANDRIA.
Not for the world;
Your Grace will pardon that I speak so plainly—
I would not for the world.
DUCHESS.
We should be glad
That all we fear must show itself and end.
PRINCE ANDRIA.
We dare not hope it may be granted twice
To bind invisible Danger, spite his charms,
And force him to the light.
DUCHESS.
These snakes crawl out,
But while our eyes are on them, cannot harm us.
PRINCE ANDRIA.
They leave their holes at last, to meet the sun:—
These crimson skinned and golden headed vipers—
Let them slink back to grow and multiply;
And we may feel their poison in our flesh,
Ere they be seen again. Come in there—ho!
Give some one this. Now stir thee, good Filippo—
Pick me out twenty men, the best we have—
Such as can understand us—find them masks,
Let them be armed, and habited as guests,
Then wait upon us here.—Your Grace will pardon.
[Exeunt.
| The Count Arezzi | |