14
UGOLINO.
Re-enter Caliari, u. e. r.
Cali. Sure, 'tis Orsino gliding there away,
There's some one with him, too, Serassi, then,
Was not accused unjustly; I will after him,
And see the end of this, if possible. [Exit Caliari, l
Re-enter Monteno with a letter, u. e. r.
Monteno, [reads.] “If you would save the life of a dear friend,
Send instantly your servants to the foot
Of the Rialto—pause, and he is lost.”
Directed to the Marquis de Monteno!
What can this mean? a "dear friend's life,”
Pause and he is lost! I will not pause—
Assistance shall be sent immediately,
Myself will lead the servants to the spot. [Exit Monteno, f. e. r.
Cali. Sure, 'tis Orsino gliding there away,
There's some one with him, too, Serassi, then,
Was not accused unjustly; I will after him,
And see the end of this, if possible. [Exit Caliari, l
Re-enter Monteno with a letter, u. e. r.
Monteno, [reads.] “If you would save the life of a dear friend,
Send instantly your servants to the foot
Of the Rialto—pause, and he is lost.”
Directed to the Marquis de Monteno!
What can this mean? a "dear friend's life,”
Pause and he is lost! I will not pause—
Assistance shall be sent immediately,
Myself will lead the servants to the spot. [Exit Monteno, f. e. r.
SCENE II.—An Apartment of the Countess de Bertoldi.
Enter Serassi and Olympia, l.
Ser. Nay, my Olympia, why these sad forebodings?
What hast thou now to fear from Ugolino?
Thy father's death hath left thee free as air,
Thou ne'r dids't love this Count, and though obedience
To a stern parent's mandate fetters thee,
That chain was broken with his thread of life.
Besides, Count Ugolino then was rich,
And the dark story of his lawless love,
And cruelty to poor Angelica,
(The which her sudden flight hath blazed abroad)
Was then unknown; now ruin'd in his fortune,
And that by gaming too. A vice, thy sire
Held in abhorrence; charged with the seduction,
And mean desertion of a trusting female?
Were old Bertoldi living, he would spurn him,
And bless the Providence that saved his child.
Olym. O! love hath in its train a thousand fears
To dash its sweetness; when thou leav'st Olympia,
Her heart goes with thee, and into dreary void,
Anxieties spring up like baneful weeds,
Choking the flowers of hope, and happiness,
Which thou hast planted. "Pardon me, Serassi,
But I must learn to love thee less, before
Thine absence can be borne without a fear.
Ser. Alas! dear lady, you will make me rove,
If thus you rate me for't, I shall play truant,
On purpose to be chid in such sweet terms.
Olym. You ask me why I dread Count Ugolino.
O, my Serassi, have I not a cause?—
Do I not know him, hasty, bold, revengeful?
And will he lightly brook his late rejection,
Ser. Nay, my Olympia, why these sad forebodings?
What hast thou now to fear from Ugolino?
Thy father's death hath left thee free as air,
Thou ne'r dids't love this Count, and though obedience
To a stern parent's mandate fetters thee,
That chain was broken with his thread of life.
Besides, Count Ugolino then was rich,
And the dark story of his lawless love,
And cruelty to poor Angelica,
(The which her sudden flight hath blazed abroad)
Was then unknown; now ruin'd in his fortune,
And that by gaming too. A vice, thy sire
Held in abhorrence; charged with the seduction,
And mean desertion of a trusting female?
Were old Bertoldi living, he would spurn him,
And bless the Providence that saved his child.
Olym. O! love hath in its train a thousand fears
To dash its sweetness; when thou leav'st Olympia,
Her heart goes with thee, and into dreary void,
Anxieties spring up like baneful weeds,
Choking the flowers of hope, and happiness,
Which thou hast planted. "Pardon me, Serassi,
But I must learn to love thee less, before
Thine absence can be borne without a fear.
Ser. Alas! dear lady, you will make me rove,
If thus you rate me for't, I shall play truant,
On purpose to be chid in such sweet terms.
Olym. You ask me why I dread Count Ugolino.
O, my Serassi, have I not a cause?—
Do I not know him, hasty, bold, revengeful?
And will he lightly brook his late rejection,
