Page:Poems Shore.djvu/200

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

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;

  1. For this subject, indeed, one whole period, she had carefully studied various authorities, especially Amari's "Guerra del Vespro Siciliano."

186