University of Virginia Library

SCENE THE THIRD.

Eleonora, Garcia.
Ele.
Son, whither dost thou go? Ah stay; to me
Interpret the mysterious words of Cosmo.
Hither he hath dispatch'd me to assist thee:
Wherefore? Say what has happen'd? ...

Gar.
Oh, my mother! ...
What did he say to thee?

Ele.
“Go; give advice
“To thy beloved Garcia, now he needs thee:
“And make him recollect.”—Nor added more;
But with a countenance more discomposed
Than ever I beheld in him, pass'd on.
Now speak; delay not; what has happen'd?

Gar.
Mother,
Know'st thou this sword?

Ele.
I, at thy father's side,
Have always seen it hang; and what of this? ...

Gar.
This is an instrument of government:
Ah, were it Cosmo's only! Ne'er should I
Contaminate with it my innocent hand!
But to this right-hand my unnatural father
Himself consign'd it, and insists that I
Plunge it by stealth in Salviati's breast.

Ele.
What do I hear? ... Oh Heaven! ... But whence to thee
Commits he such a terrible revenge?

Gar.
He chuses me, only because I feel
Pity for Salviati; and because
I am not yet contaminate with blood;
Because the daughter, the unhappy daughter,
Of that unhappy father, I adore.

Ele.
What say'st thou? Julia!

Gar.
I love Julia; yes;
And indiscreetly I myself declared
That love to Cosmo: hence in him arose
Th'unnatural wish, worthy of him alone,
To make the father of the maid beloved
Die by the lover's hands. Time serves not now
To say to thee how I was first enthrall'd
By so much beauty join'd to so much virtue;
Nor, if I told it, would'st thou blame it, mother;
Now I alone assure thee that I love her,
And that I will far sooner sacrifice
My own life than her father's.

Ele.
Ah! ... my son! ...
Alas! ... what say'st thou? ... and what shall I do?
Oh fatal love! ... Although I love thee far,
Far more than aught besides, I cannot praise it.

Gar.
Julia is ever at thy side, oh mother;
Thou knowest well, and equally dost prize
Her rare accomplishments; and thou dost love her
More than all other damsels of thy court:
Thence thou may'st well infer that I deserve
At least to be excused, if not commended.
But, if thou rather wilt, condemn me: never
Have I displeased thee, mother: I have held
Thy smallest wish inviolably sacred.
And I, at least, if I cannot root out
This love, can moderate its ecstacies.
I only ask of thee that thou would'st save
That heavenly and defenceless innocence,
From Cosmo's pitiless and fatal grasp.
I wish to save her, not to make her mine.
Incensed, and loading me with frantic threats,
Cosmo departed hence: perchance one crime
Will not suffice to his ferocious heart;
Perhaps Julia too ... oh Heaven! ... Ah, mother, fly;
If I was ever dear to thee, go now,
Watch o'er my love. Who knows? ...

Ele.
Thy love excites
In thee immoderate fear ...

Gar.
All may be fear'd
From Cosmo's deadly rage: thou yet hast time;
Thou hast the remedy; it now behoves thee
His fury to delude; 'twere vain to sooth him.
As best it may be done, deliver Julia;
And meanwhile feign that I am now almost
Prepared t'obey: time, and nought else, I ask.
In fine, thou art a mother; and the love
Thou bear'st thy son shall animate thy heart.
Thou oughtest from so horrible a crime
T'exempt a son; thou oughtest to deliver
From unjust violence an innocent maid.
Thou see'st me now humble myself in tears,
And supplicate while yet a hope remains:
Woe, if my father goad me to revenge;
Woe, if he dare to wreak his rage on her
In whom alone I live! Rivers of blood
Shall be effused to inundate the palace;
And this my arm shall shed it. Then no more
Shall I hear reason; then no more shall deem
Myself a son.

Ele.
Ah calm thyself; what say'st thou?
Thou seest things that are not: far from thee
Be e'en the thought of such extravagance ...

Gar.
Do thou, oh mother, then anticipate
That which thou canst not afterwards prevent.
From this severe extremity, to which
I'm driven by my father, do thou find
Some method of escape for me, that I
Be not a traitor.

Ele.
Yes, son, yes; but calm
Thy irritated soul: to him I fly.
Ah may I change his horrible resolve!
Julia I will at least in safety place,
To give thee peace. Meanwhile I interdict
Thee from attempting aught till I return.