University of Virginia Library

SCENE THE FIRST.

Piero, Diego.
Di.
Say, what does Garcia in his thoughts revolve?
For like a man whose reason is bereft
I saw him come, and go, and come again.

Pi.
Dost thou not know that he ...

Di.
What should I know
Of him? Thou seest that from the woodland chace
Weary and breathless I return. I know
That I bring back a plenteous spoil; nought else.
But as an arrow darting silently
And swiftly by me, Garcia towards me cast
Inflamed and furious looks. Say, what new rage
Invades his heart?

Pi.
Ah! 'tis not new: for he
Always avoids, blames, envies, even scorns thee,
Whenever he can do it. Perhaps to see thee
Of all thy regal ornaments despoil'd,
As now thou art; divested of thy sword;
And in thy aspect rather like to one
That dwells in forests than a monarch's son,
Perhaps this excited him to such a mute,
Though supercilious comment. Evermore
That which he does not, he condemns in others.

Di.
'Tis a propensity, methinks, more royal
To harass wild beasts in th'adventurous chace,
Than evermore immured 'mid ponderous volumes,
Wrapt in soft indolence, to learn to fear.
His supercilious looks excite my pity.
But whither goes he in such wond'rous haste?

Pi.
Great projects he revolves. His father now
He seeks in haste, now to his mother flies,
And thus employ'd, with zealous speed improves
The lucky interval. Diego absent,
And I excluded from these interviews;
Thou seest the opportunity for intrigue
Is too inviting to be overlook'd.
I know no further: but the guilty friendship
Of Garcia and Salviati, once
Call'd treason, now is call'd a slight imprudence:
And that so oft repeated prate with thee,
Which once was insolence, with other terms
Is designated now a youthful fire:
And that contempt for individual power
Which he professes openly, I hear
Now call'd a thoughtless eccentricity.
Just indignation every day I see
Arise in Cosmo; but the senile flame
By female artifice is soon extinguish'd.
In short, this morning Garcia heard himself
Pronounced a traitor; and this very day
(Or ere 'tis closed) he hears himself from all
Exculpated, defended, and exalted;
And even yet, perchance, he may behold
Himself rewarded.

Di.
What indeed does that
Import to us? Shall I afflict myself
That Garcia gains once more my father's favour?
Perhaps this alone may lead him to reform?

Pi.
And am I more invidious than thyself
Of other men's advantages? But yet
Th'imposture grieves me, and e'en more than this
The fatal and inevitable ruin
Threatening our race, our father, and thyself.

Di.
My father? and myself? Say, what would Garcia?
What can he?

Pi.
He would reign: and may indeed,
If thou art silent.

Di.
Reign? ... But have I not
A sword?

Pi.
Far different arms he wields. Erewhile,
A transient wrath against himself inflamed thee;
Thou know'st not how to hate, or recollect
The injuries of others: but, if they
Cherish them in the bottom of their hearts;
If black and fervid anger rankle there,
Ready at every instant to explode ...

Di.
But th'impious contest Cosmo hath not yet
Consign'd to deep oblivion? ...

Pi.
So I deem;
But Garcia deems otherwise.

Di.
But thou,
Thou seem'st to come to me to stir up strife.
How can my brother injure me?

Pi.
Indeed,
I am the brand of discord 'twixt you both:
Do thou, abandoning thy judgment, stand
Securely in thy valour; I, like thee,
Might be secure, if I did love thee less.
Attribute it to thy propitious fate
That I discover'd his designs in time.
Now at once thy security and ours
Compel me to develope them to thee:
For, had I wish'd t'excite disturbances,
I had divulged them only to my father:
But yet I will go there, if thou refuse
To hear me.

Di.
What has happen'd then? Relate.

Pi.
The silent night with more than usual gloom
Already is advanced. Within the grot
Which terminates the hollow avenue,
Embower'd in shade of lofty cypresses,
Thither doth Salviati now repair,
By Garcia bidden, to a guilty council:
Perchance already he is hidden there,
And every moment there expects his friend.
There they've agreed upon to fix the means
Of final vengeance. I have learn'd the whole
From him who was their chosen messenger.
Prayers, menaces, and vigilant espial,
Much art and bribes, have now disclosed to me
The horrible mystery: in short ... But what
Do I behold? For once at least I see
Amazement stamp'd on thy intrepid face! ...
Yet that which I affirm to thee is little:
Do thou be irrefragably convinced
With thy own ears; and be thy eyes alone
The witnesses of my veracity.

Di.
But what a miscreant is he then! The day,
The very day on which my father pardons
His past offences, new ones he projects.—
He runs to certain ruin.

Pi.
But to it
He first goads us. Thou know'st by Salviati
Thou art not less detested than thy father.
Scarcely will Garcia have divulged to him
That thou advisedst Cosmo first to slay him,
Than he ... I tremble to express it ... Both
Are madden'd with resentment: artifice
To malice will be join'd; for stratagems
The time is opportune: ... and wilt thou be
Neglectful? Be so then; I fly to Cosmo,
Come what come may.—The method I devise
To obviate more mischief, to procure
Deliverance for us all; and thou dost spurn it.
My father then shall be resorted to:
And he, the witness of their trait'rous plot,
With me shall go to them.

Di.
Ah no! desist:
Think that a man can never be the accuser
Who holds himself not viler than the accused.
By what means would'st thou that I thwart the traitor?
Speak; I will do it.

Pi.
Thou should'st first hear all:
'Tis easy from detected stratagems
To extricate oneself: thou may'st alone,
Without the interposition of thy father,
When thou hast once convicted him of treason,
Keep, with thy valour, Garcia at bay;
Inspire his heart with salutary fear;
And even yet to duty's path restore him.—
Ah go! already is the hour arrived:
Now hide thyself within the gloomy grot;
And there wilt thou hear unexpected things.

Di.
Thou dost compel me to it; and I yield,
Although against my will, that to this place
My father may not be enticed by thee:
He would inflict a too severe revenge.

Pi.
Ah yes! I also tremble at the thought:
Yet 'tis our duty to anticipate
The ill designs of others ... But methinks ...
I hear a noise ... it is himself ... step softly ...
'Tis Garcia.—Come, enter unseen; make haste.