 | The Sicilian Vespers |  |
SCENE I.
—A Street.—Distant Shrieks and Alarums.Enter several of the Populace armed, and headed by a Citizen.
CITIZEN.
This way!
A second Citizen enters, meeting them.
SECOND CITIZEN.
Haste! haste! The Viceroy suddenly
Hath gathered up a desperate band, and makes
Fierce havoc where he goes.
FIRST CITIZEN.
Upon him!
Villanelli enters.
VILLANELLI.
Hold!
I charge you, spare him—haste to save his life!
He is surrounded in the palace, where
He and his troop, closely beset, have made
Their last retreat. Let him capitulate;
And be his life your tribute to his virtues.
My name is Villanelli; for whose wrongs
This day a Frenchman fell beneath his sword—
A favourite of the king's, too;—yet he shed
His blood for sacred justice. Even now
Your wives and children must to-morrow toil
To free us of the slaughter. Let one act
Of signal mercy brighten in your annals
So black a tale.
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We'll spare him! Let him live!
VILLANELLI.
Demand his life of Procida; whose coming
They who surround the palace now await,
At my entreaty, ere their flaming brands
Doom to a dreadful fate a foe so noble.
Procida comes!
Enter Procida.
PROCIDA.
How now?
MOB.
Spare Montfort.
PROCIDA.
No!
The honour of my house demands his blood.
No mercy! Either he hath slain my son,
Or by some sorcery accurst hath won him
To perjury and treason. He must die!
Where'er he goes his ready followers
Assume a desperate courage and outface us.
Should they by miracle prevail, you'll perish
By a deliberate and hellish vengeance.
Enter a Citizen.
CITIZEN.
Bring up all aid! The Viceroy and his band
Have sallied forth, joined by the palace guards,
And mock all efforts of our chiefs to stem
Their daring course.
[A Shout.
PROCIDA.
The trial, then, be ours.
[Exeunt.
| The Sicilian Vespers | |