University of Virginia Library

Scene II.

—Exterior of the Castel-Novo. (Churches, Terraces, Gardens, Citrons, and Cedars.)
Enter Roberto, Geronimo, and Salvator.
Salvator.
Since you must go, farewell! receive my thanks
For having brought me hither. Fare you well.

Geronimo.
Roberto's care will serve.

[Exit.
Salvator.
'Tis well!—Proceed.

Roberto.
As I was saying, while we came along,
Doubtless the Church has much authority,
And, for the exercise of magic art,
Might make example of her; but, Salvator,
Because she is your daughter, and you have been
A true son of the faith, we fain would spare her—

Salvator.
I am beholden to you.

Roberto.
Yet 'tis hard
To shew forbearance in so plain a case,
When all in Naples know, her sway at Court
Hath been by witchcraft won—But she's your daughter.
Dissension between states is of her causing.
Maria, the Queen's sister, should have wedded
Louis of Hungary, the King's elder brother;
When, lo, she plots Durazzo's marriage with her,
Whence Hungary and Naples are at strife;
Which, 'stead of healing, she persuades the Queen
To tastes and customs alien from the King's,
Whence those of the two kingdoms, in our streets,
Brawl nightly on their quarrel; these affecting
Our northern manly manners, those the soft
Luxuriance taught us by the poets now,
Petrarca, Dante, and Boccaccio.

Salvator.
There is the girl, my own! I taught her song!
Good friar, be not harsh; but spare the Poet,
Who seldom hath his guerdon till he dies.
The Sun's a Poet, and his poetry
The stars of heaven, that shine when he is absent:
So live men's verses best when they are dead,
Gilding the night of time. 'Tis joy at eve,
To the Sicilian fisherman, to hear
His wife sing from the shore, and to respond
Far out amidst the waters. See! who comes?

Enter Duke and Duchess Durazzo, with Men, Women, and Monks, barefoot, &c., in procession, chanting a hymn.
Roberto.
That is Durazzo's Duke, I told you of;
The Princess that, Maria, with her maidens;
And their retainers; in religious state,
Seeking the Virgin's altars.

Salvator.
To the soul,
Priceless as water, vital as the air,
Is piety. The mercy it brings down,
From the encircling heavens, absolve this land
Of every curse she merits!

Duke.
Stay, awhile,
Our ceremonial walk: I would repay
This strange but solemn greeting. Art thou he,
(I know thou art,) the Countess' aged sire,
Of whom but now she spake?

Salvator.
Does she draw nigh?

Duke.
She does; with such profound humility,
As, were she the magician he reports,
Would, from a witch, translate her to a saint,
Or more—a blessed martyr.

Salvator.
Welcome news!
Repentance changes Heaven as well as Man:
Methought, she were not lapsed beyond all hope!
No soul so lost, repentance may not find:
Good sleeps in all. The meanest, grossest clod
Is a bright splendor, but outshone by others;
And, fitly wrought, may far outshine the brightest!
—Where is my daughter? I'll go meet her.

[Exit.
Duke.
Friar!
You are well and holily employed, in lying
'Gainst the Queen's friends—

Roberto.
Your highness might be better,
Than railing 'gainst the King's—

Duke.
Base Monk of Hungary!

Roberto.
Smooth Prince of Naples!

Duke.
Fall we into rank—
Salvator is returning.

Re-enter Salvator.
Salvator.
Here I'll wait
Philippa. Scarce I know her, such the change
So many years have made in her and me.

Duke.
She follows in the troop that now approaches.
Enter Philippa, the Count Evoli, Lady Sancha, Count Terlizi, Giulio, and others, in procession, chanting, &c.
That is her son, the Count Evoli, leads;
Her beautiful grand-daughter, Sancha, next;
And then her husband, Count Terlizi—

Salvator.
Why,
I'm founder of a noble family!
The peasant father of a line of princes!
Hath witchcraft done this? Look, Philippa, here!
That I may know my child!

Philippa.
Salvator! father!

Roberto.
Embrace her not! Avoid the sorceress!
Avoid the Scarlet Horror!

Salvator.
Gently, monk!
Nay! give me leave.—When Nineveh repented,
Jonah was wroth. Her penitence, perhaps,
May save, by good example, Naples too!
Stand not 'tween me and her! These tears enough
Blind me, without you!

Roberto
(aside).
Softness will spoil all—
I meant that he should challenge her in the street
Of witchcraft, that the populace might be raised
With passionate exhibition. Would the earth,
Now gaping, whelmed them both!

Philippa.
An age ago
You were my father—ere you made a vow
Still with your poverty to shame my pride.
Am I now proud? Nor has it been by pride,
That I have flattered power into my keeping.
But hypocrites, who have your conscience' key,
Have still your credulous ears corrupted, telling
Of bad ambition, by unearthly means,
Charming dominion, like a falcon, down,
My wrist to grace; that never, by such means,
Not even in desire, was lured thereto.
Thine honorable heart has been deceived—
But now with us in these devotions join,
And from their majesties themselves shall you
Hear and judge my demerits.

Salvator.
Be it so!

Philippa.
We meet the Royal Couple at the Bay,
Whereat three galleys have arrived from Cyprus,
Three others anchored there already; also,
One with four hundred galley-slaves on board.
We fear for them, if come the stormy wrath!
But never was there a serener sky,
Than, on this dreaded eve, laughs over Naples,
With promise of a glad rejoicing morrow.

[Exeunt.