The Count Arezzi A Tragedy, In Five Acts |
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| 5. | SCENE V. |
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 | The Count Arezzi |  |
SCENE V.
Prison.—Night.Arezzi, Savelli, and Gerardo.
GERARDO.
Strength! talk of strength! These torments break the heart.
Brave men are weak in pain—the bravest dread it.
AREZZI.
I do not yet. Misery is thus far good—
It masters Fear. Savelli, speak of death.
I would prepare with awe to die, as one
That knows indeed how great a thing it is,
Even where the best give back their souls to Him
In whose sight none are guiltless—how much greater!
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With all its devilish passions hot about them—
Pride, Envy, Vengeance, desperate Love, and Wrath—
Men sink, at once, like me! It is not Death—
Or pain in passing to his rest—if rest—
That can affright me now—but what I am,
And may be soon!—Teach me to pray, good father!
Thy heart was spotless in this work—but mine!
SAVELLI.
You may lie down and sleep without a sigh—
As the tired infant slumbers after grief
With tears upon its cheek—or else, your spirit
Must pass to death through agony!—My son
Trust not this strength.
AREZZI.
How can I gain such rest?
SAVELLI.
Drink this, and sleep.
AREZZI.
What! poison? It is not poison?
SAVELLI.
The sin be mine, my son! if it be sin.—
GERARDO.
Women dare flee from Pain to Death—and think
His peace a blessing.
AREZZI.
I will face them both.
GERARDO.
Who, but the fool, with power to choose between them,
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AREZZI.
Art thou God's minister?
Tempt me not, devils—mine eyes are opened now—
Savelli!—fiend!
GERARDO.
The coward!—he dares not die!
AREZZI.
Not as the Iscariot died—though both were traitors!
GERARDO.
Thou slave!
AREZZI.
To-morrow I will answer that.
SAVELLI.
You will betray your friends.
AREZZI.
I have none, friar.
I thought that I had one till now! The last
Is dead already—you robbed me of the earliest.
SAVELLI.
Swear yet once more.
AREZZI.
I will not—I have promised.
[Enter Provost with Officers.
PROVOST.
You must cut short your shrift.
SAVELLI.
Why so?
GERARDO.
For what?
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To go with me elsewhere.
SAVELLI.
Good Provost—not yet.
PROVOST.
Nay, but you shall—your time is mine—good friar—
Bring them along.
[Exeunt.
| The Count Arezzi | |