LITMIR.BIZ

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May change you to a Spider, so to crawl

       Into some cranny to escape my wrath?

       Albert. Sometimes the counsel of a dying man

       Doth operate quietly when his breath is gone

       Disjoin those hands part — part, do not destroy

       Each other forget her our miseries

       Are equal shar’d, and mercy is

       Ludolph. A boon

       When one can compass it. Auranthe, try

       Your oratory your breath is not so hitch’d

       Aye, stare for help

       [ALBERT groans and dies.

       There goes a spotted soul

       Howling in vain along the hollow night

       Hear him he calls you Sweet Auranthe, come!

       Auranthe. Kill me.

      Ludolph.

       No! What? upon our Marriage-night!

       The earth would shudder at so foul a deed

       A fair Bride, a sweet Bride, an innocent Bride!

       No, we must revel it, as ’tis in use

       In times of delicate brilliant ceremony:

       Come, let me lead you to our halls again

       Nay, linger not make no resistance sweet

       Will you Ah wretch, thou canst not, for I have

       The strength of twenty lions ‘gainst a lamb

       Now one adieu for Albert come away.

       [Exeunt.

Scene III

       Table of Contents

      An inner Court of the Castle.

      Enter SIGIFRED, GONFRED, and THEODORE meeting.

      Theodore.

       Was ever such a night?

      Sigifred.

       What horrors more?

       Things unbeliev’d one hour, so strange they are,

       The next hour stamps with credit.

      Theodore.

       Your last news ?

      Gonfred.

       After the Page’s story of the death

       Of Albert and Duke Conrad?

      Sigifred.

       And the return

       Of Ludolph with the Princess.

      Gonfred.

       No more save

       Prince Gersa’s freeing Abbot Ethelbert,

       And the sweet lady, fair Erminia,

       From prison.

      Theodore.

       Where are they now? hast yet heard?

      Gonfred.

       With the sad Emperor they are closeted ;

       I saw the three pass slowly up the stairs,

       The lady weeping, the old Abbot cowl’d.

      Sigifred.

       What next?

      Thedore.

       I ache to think on’t.

      Gonfred.

       ’Tis with fate.

      Theodore.

       One while these proud towers are hush’d as death.

      Gonfred.

       The next our poor Prince fills the arched rooms

       With ghastly ravings.

      Sigifred.

       I do fear his brain.

      Gonfred.

       I will see more. Bear you so stout a heart?

       [Exeunt into the Castle.

Scene IV

       Table of Contents

      A Cabinet, opening towards a Terrace.

      OTHO, ERMINIA, ETHELBERT, and a Physician, discovered.

      Otho.

       O, my poor Boy! my Son! my Son! My Ludolph!

       Have ye no comfort for me, ye Physicians

       Of the weak Body and Soul?

      Ethelbert.

       ’Tis not the Medicine

       Either of heaven or earth can cure unless

       Fit time be chosen to administer

       Otho. A kind forbearance, holy Abbot come

       Erminia, here sit by me, gentle Girl;

       Give me thy hand hast thou forgiven me?

      Erminia.

       Would I were with the saints to pray for you!

       Otho. Why will ye keep me from my darling child?

      Physician.

       Forgive me, but he must not see thy face

       Otho. Is then a father’s countenance a Gorgon?

       Hath it not comfort in it? Would it not

       Console my poor Boy, cheer him, heal his spirits?

       Let me embrace him, let me speak to him

       I will who hinders me? Who’s Emperor?

      Physician.

       You may not, Sire ’twould overwhelm him quite,

       He is so full of grief and passionate wrath,

       Too heavy a sigh would kill him or do worse.

       He must be sav’d by fine contrivances

       And most especially we must keep clear

       Out of his sight a Father whom he loves

       His heart is full, it can contain no more,

       And do its ruddy office.

      Ethelbert.

       Sage advice;

       We must endeavour how to ease and slacken

       The tight-wound energies of his despair,

       Not make them tenser

       Otho. Enough! I hear, I hear.

       Yet you were about to advise more I listen.

      Ethelbert.

       This learned doctor will agree with me,

       That not in the smallest point should he be thwarted

       Or gainsaid by one word his very motions,

       Nods, becks and hints, should be obey’d with care,

       Even on the moment: so his troubled mind

       May cure itself

       Physician. There is no other means.

      Otho.

       Open the door: let’s hear if all is quiet

       Physician. Beseech you, Sire, forbear.

      Erminia.

       Do, do.

      Otho.

       I command!

       Open it straight hush! quiet

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