University of Virginia Library

SCENE THE FIFTH.

Almachilde, Ildovaldo, Rosmunda, Romilda, Soldiers, and Followers of Ildovaldo.
Il.
Com'st thou
In quest of me perchance? Behold me ...

Al.
Check,
My heroes, check your swords: we have atchieved
Enough of slaughter. Let us now desist
From further violence.

Il.
It yet remains
For thee to murder me: but first ...

Ros.
Dispatch him.

Al.
Hear me, strong Ildovaldo, hear, Romilda.
Retreat from hence, ye soldiers; I command it.
Here all whom I have sought I meet at once.
Thou seest, Ildovaldo, vainly now
Wouldst thou defend thyself against my power.
To every individual of thy train
I can at least oppose an hundred here.
Thou hast to-day my life preserved; to-day
Life I give thee. More thou deservest not.
I will that thou, Romilda, be alone
The arbitress of thy own destiny;
The sovereign of ourselves, and of that woman.
Thou seest now clearly whether I have sought
To plot against thee.

Ros.
She my sovereign!
Mine!—In her breast I plunge at once this dagger ...

Il.
Ah! stop ...

Al.
Desist ...

Ros.
Let no one dare approach,
Or I at once the dagger plunge.

Rom.
And plunge it:
Thus Ildovaldo's I at least shall die ...

Ros.
Now, which of us is sovereign here?

Al.
Thou ... thou ..
Ah, cease ...

Il.
Oh heaven! ... Distraction ... Oh Romilda!
And cannot I deliver thee? ...

Ros.
Oh thou
In name alone a king, that sword surrender.

Al.
Behold me weaponless ...

Ros.
From forth the palace
Dismiss now all thy soldiers ...

Al.
Go, disperse,
Make haste, all, all ...

Ros.
And thou who didst refuse,
Cold lover, with a crime to acquire thy mistress,
Dismiss thy troops at once.

Il.
See, they are vanished.

Ros.
So far well done.—Ragauso, instantly
Hither return, and all my armed guards ...

Al.
Come, come, ah quickly, come ...

Ros.
Behold Ragauso.—
—I am, yet I am here then, queen?

Al.
Thou art,
Thou only. Ah! ..

Il.
Accomplish thy revenge
On which of us thou first wouldst immolate ...
But oh Romilda! ... Wouldst thou I should die? ...
Behold I turn the sword against my breast ...

Ros.
My fury cannot even in your blood
Be now appeased. When I commanded it
Thou shouldest then have aim'd the mortal blow:
Thou knewest well what blood from thee I sought.
But yet, in time, do I repent that I
To thee, base recreant, such a vengeance trusted;
Or ever placed a confidence in thee,
Poor perjured palterer.—But wholly now,
In my own keeping, chastisement I hold;
So that I venture to promulgate it
Without reserve.—Oh thou, in whom are centred
All my aversions, who so well as thou
Their ravening turbulence canst satiate?
Thou almost for my fury may'st suffice.
Fool that I was! and would I yield thee up
To thy beloved lover? Thee reserve
For life, who giv'st to me a thousand deaths?

Il.
In pity hear me! ..

Ros.
Tremble.

Rom.
Ildovaldo! ...

Al.
Her looks dart death! ... To me that sword ...

Ros.
In her,
In her I first immerge it. Die!

Il.
Ah! ... thou
Shalt rather die!

Ros.
Soldiers, surround them both.

Rom.
My Ildovaldo ... I ... at least ... die ... thine.

Il.
To follow thee ..

Al.
To avenge thee ..

Il.
To survive thee
Is now impossible. Oh thou avenge her,
Thou who remain'st alive ..

Al.
I swear to do it.

Ros.
Yet, yet have I the sword; tremble; for now
The retribution scarcely is begun,
That in thyself I swear to consummate.