LITMIR.BIZ

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To be so tam’d, so

       Gersa. Do me the courtesy

       Gentlemen to pass on.

      Courtier.

       We are your servants.

       [Exeunt Courtiers.

      Ludolph.

       It seems then, Sir, you have found out the man

       You would confer with; me?

      Gersa.

       If I break not

       Too much upon your thoughtful mood, I will

       Claim a brief while your patience.

      Ludolph.

       For what cause

       Soe’er I shall be honour ‘d.

      Gersa.

       I not less.

       Ludolph. What may it be? No trifle can take place

       Of such deliberate prologue, serious ‘haviour.

       But be it what it may I cannot fail

       To listen with no common interest

       For though so new your presence is to me,

       I have a soldier’s friendship for your fame

       Please you explain.

      Gersa.

       As thus for, pardon me,

       I cannot in plain terms grossly assault

       A noble nature ; and would faintly sketch

       What your quick apprehension will fill up

       So finely I esteem you.

      Ludolph.

       I attend

       Gersa. Your generous Father, most illustrious Otho,

       Sits in the Banquet room among his chiefs

       His wine is bitter, for you are not there

       His eyes are fix’d still on the open doors,

       And every passer in he frowns upon

       Seeing no Ludolph comes.

      Ludolph.

       I do neglect

       Gersa. And for your absence, may I guess the cause?

      Ludolph.

       Stay there! no guess? more princely you must be

       Than to make guesses at me. ’Tis enough,

       I’m sorry I can hear no more.

      Gersa.

       And I

       As griev’d to force it on you so abrupt;

       Yet one day you must know a grief whose sting

       Will sharpen more the longer ’tis concealed.

      Ludolph.

       Say it at once, sir, dead, dead, is she dead?

      Gersa.

       Mine is a cruel task : she is not dead

       And would for your sake she were innocent

       Ludolph. Thou liest! thou amazest me beyond

       All scope of thought; convulsest my heart’s blood

       To deadly churning Gersa you are young

       As I am ; let me observe you face to face ;

       Not grey-brow’d like the poisonous Ethelbert,

       No rheumed eyes, no furrowing of age,

       No wrinkles where all vices nestle in

       Like crannied vermin no, but fresh and young

       And hopeful featured. Ha! by heaven you weep

       Tears, human tears Do you repent you then

       Of a curs’d torturer’s office! Why shouldst join

       Tell me, the league of Devils? Confess confess

       The Lie.

      Gersa.

       Lie!- but begone all ceremonious points

       Of honour battailous. I could not turn

       My wrath against thee for the orbed world.

      Ludolph.

       Your wrath, weak boy? Tremble at mine unless

       Retraction follow close upon the heels

       Of that late stounding insult: why has my sword

       Not done already a sheer judgment on thee?

       Despair, or eat thy words. Why, thou wast nigh

       Whimpering away my reason: hark ye, Sir,

       It is no secret; that Erminia,

       Erminia, Sir, was hidden in your tent;

       O bless ‘d asylum! comfortable home!

       Begone, I pity thee, thou art a Gull

       Erminia’s last new puppet

       Gersa. Furious fire!

       Thou mak’st me boil as hot as thou canst flame!

       And in thy teeth I give thee back the lie!

       Thou liest! Thou, Auranthe’s fool, a wittol

       Ludolph. Look! look at this bright sword;

       There is no part of it to the very hilt

       But shall indulge itself about thine heart

       Draw but remember thou must cower thy plumes,

       As yesterday the Arab made thee stoop

       Gersa. Patience! not here, I would not spill thy blood

       Here underneath this roof where Otho breathes,

       Thy father almost mine

       Ludolph. O faltering coward

       Re-enter PAGE.

       Stay, stay, here is one I have half a word with

       Well What ails thee child?

      Page.

       My lord,

       Ludolph. Good fellow

       Page. They are fled!

      Ludolph.

       They who?

      Page.

       When anxiously

       I hasten ‘d back, your grieving messenger,

       I found the stairs all dark, the lamps extinct,

       And not a foot or whisper to be heard.

       I thought her dead, and on the lowest step

       Sat listening; when presently came by

       Two muffled up, one sighing heavily,

       The other cursing low, whose voice I knew

       For the Duke Conrad’s. Close I follow’d them

       Thro’ the dark ways they chose to the open air;

       And, as I follow’d, heard my lady speak.

      Ludolph.

       Thy life answers the truth!

      Page.

       The chamber’s empty!

      Ludolph.

       As I will be of mercy! So, at last,

       This nail is in my temples!

      Gersa.

       Be calm in this.

       Ludolph. I am.

      Gersa.

       And Albert too has disappeared;

       Ere I met you, I sought him everywhere ;

      

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