University of Virginia Library

SCENE IV.

—The Outside of a Church.
Enter Virgins strewing Flowers after the Bridal Party.
CHORUS OF VIRGINS.
As now the track with flowers we strew,
Your path of life with joys be fair!
Though wither these, no fading there;
Nor thorny care your footsteps rue.

[At the end of the Singing, Tumult is heard without at a distance.]
Gov.
What din is this that seems approaching us?

Le Clerc.
[Entering hastily.]
My lord, take shelter in the church! There's death
In the streets.

Gov.
What! Of Messina, sir; and I
Its governor? Am I to slink away
In fear? Swords, gentlemen! What man is he
Comes first? who flies, yet halts,—whom they, in chase of,
Striving, yet seem to fear, to overtake,
Turning pursuit to flight whene'er he stops
And shows them front?

Le Clerc.
'Tis Angelo Martini.

Gov.
What savage deed hath made a brute of him,
That men become a pack, and hunt him thus?

Le Clerc.
He has kill'd the Count de Marlez!

Fern.
Life for life!
The count first kill'd his daughter—little wrong,
To wrong more grievous that preceded it.

Gov.
You are sure of this?

Fern.
I am.

Gov.
Succour him, sirs.

Fern.
Too late!

Mart.
[without].
Take that!
[Enters staggering, followed by Guiscardo and others with swords drawn.
—Full payment, slave, and prompt!
As you are Christian men, don't suffer them
Hack me to death. I am wounded mortally!

[Falls.
Fern.
How is it, Angelo Martini?

Mart.
Thus,
Fernando, thus!—My daughter!—Where were you?
But I forgive you!

[Dies.
Fern.
O, look up, old man!

Guis.
He sleeps too sound, Fernando, to awake!
My lord, the Governor, protection for
The friends of Angelo Martini, who,
With naked weapons had not stood in the streets
But to protect him from foul butchery,
His mansion suffer'd violence, last night,
And murder in the person of his child;
Now burn'd to ashes with her natal roof,
Which Angelo himself in frenzy fired.
He caught and slew the caitiff, for which act,
By nature warranted, if not by law,
Began this game of death, which we would spoil,
But thus the just yet weaker side hath lost.

Gov.
Though great his crime first slain, the blood, so shed,
Was French! Moreover, it was noble! Look
Yourselves to your lives—I will not answer for them
Beyond Messina! Hence, and sheathe your blades.
Marks are upon them that offend our eyes,
And breed you danger!

Guis.
Are we safe, the while?

Gov.
You are, but quit Messina. Guard them to
The outskirts of the town.

Guis.
Fernando, speak.
Look there. Your bridal flowers have gone, you see,
To deck a bloody bier. So fare thy joys!

[Goes out with others guarded.
Gov.
Remove the body. In our way it lies.

Iso.
Nay, father; sooner let us go about!

Gov.
Come on, then.

Pro.
[Coming from the back of the stage.]
Stop. The rites must not proceed.

Gov.
They have not yet begun!

Pro.
Nor must begin!

Gov.
Who shall prevent them?

Pro.
Heaven. In the name of which
I charge you to desist!

Gov.
Your reasons?

Pro.
Those,
The bridegroom, when alone, shall learn; for him
They most regard.

Fern.
Impart them, then!

Pro.
Not here.

Gov.
You juggle with us!

Pro.
No; the part I act
Is honest.

Gov.
You are a religious man?

Pro.
A man devoted to a holy cause!
Young man, let go that hand and come with me!

Iso.
Is this the dark fulfilling of my dream?
Respect you, my Fernando, what he says?

Fern.
His tone, his words, his looks, his gestures, all
Declare authority.

Iso.
O, do not go?

Pro.
He must, would he escape my curse; which here
On him, and all who hold alliance with him,
I shall invoke, resists he my commands.

Gov.
You dare not do it!

Pro.
Dare not!—listen then—

Iso.
Peace!—Drop my hand and go.

Pro.
She bids thee go.
Come.

Iso.
Go, Fernando!

Pro.
Mark again; she bids thee.
Why shouldst thou hesitate? The cause is thine.
And thou thyself art constituted judge.
I hope thou'rt a brave man, and not afraid
To trust thyself with me. If idly, or
On slight pretence I interpose, thou knowest
Thou canst come back, and then the rites go on.
So mayst thou gain thy bride, and 'scape my curse.

Iso.
Shall he come back in any case?

Pro.
He shall.

Iso.
Go! go! Fernando.

Pro.
That is the third time
She bade thee go.

Fern.
I follow!

Pro.
Come along.

[Procida and Fernando go out. Isoline faints in her father's arms, as the latter disappears.