BEATRICE OF SWABIA
SCENE I
Her next subject was chosen from the story of the Sicilian Vespers; it was the rescue of Manfred's young daughter from the hands of Charles of Anjou.[1]
Ruggiero the fisher noble has swum to shore, his boat having foundered in a storm and, lying exhausted on the rock of Castel dell' Uovo, hears in a trance the voice of Beatrice (the imprisoned daughter of Manfred) singing from within the castle, inaudible to others.
Song of Proserpine
Still thro' Christendom, still my mother seeks for me;
- ↑ For this subject, indeed, one whole period, she had carefully studied various authorities, especially Amari's "Guerra del Vespro Siciliano."
186