SCENE V.
An apartment in the Palace, on each side of
which is a small elegant recess, in which are placed
two small sophas; an elegant sopha in the centre
of the scene; between the two recesses, a correspondent
table and chair—in the recesses, over
the small sophas are two painted windows, and
at the entrance of each recess curtains to open occasionally.
The Princess enters, supported by Maria, distracted
at learning her casket has fallen into the
hands of Bireno, and the danger she, and all who
are dear to her are involved in—the King follows in
tears, and, with trembling hands, presents her a
scroll to this purport:
“Accused of Infamy, Death awaits Conviction.”
She shudders on perusing it, falls on her knees,
seizes his hand, and bathes it with her tears—he
averts his face—she is on the point of communicating
every circumstance relative to her unhappy
situation, when Bireno, with guards, suddenly enters,
the
King embracing her, leaves her in
Bireno's
care, and with the dignity of a monarch, but feelings
of a parent, withdraws.—
Maria is commanded to
follow, but contrives to conceal herself behind the
sopha—in the interim, the
Princess having thrown
herself despondent into a chair, Bireno examines
the recesses, and perceiving a window in each, orders
Sentinels to guard the avenues, &c. then pointing
to the scroll, promises, that if she will consent to
their union, he will save her from disgrace—she
treats his proffer with contempt, and vowing revenge
he throws himself, chagrined, upon the centre sopha
—after a pause,
Maria peeps over the sopha,
and conceiving
Bireno asleep, comes forward on
tip-toe—the Princess on perceiving her starts; the
noise arouses
Bireno, and Sentinels rush on—
Maria,
unperceived, again conceals herself—
Bireno interrogating
the
Princess concerning the cause of her
alarm, she points to the scroll, intimating that horrid
accusation deprives her of rest—he again proffers
his hand, which she more resolutely refuses—he
orders the Sentinels to return to their posts, and,
intimating he wants repose, again throws himself on
the sopha—another pause—
Maria re-appears, peeps
through the curtain of one of the recesses, and
seems convinced the Sentinel sleeps, beckons
Princess,
who, with trepidation approaching, she shews
her the sleeping guard leaning on his halbert, draws
the curtain round him, and opening the window, requests
her to ascend the sopha and leap from it—she
does so, and convinced of her escape and safety,
Maria drops on her knees in thanks to heaven—the
Sentinel awakes—
Bireno starts from his couch, and
guards rush on—they seize
Maria, who, exulting
in the escape of her much beloved mistress—endeavours
to prevent
Bireno from pursuit, he
stabs her—
the King enters, receives her as she
falls, and
females following bear her off—
Bireno
darts past the
King with contempt, and is followed
by soldiers.
Exeunt.
