UGOLINO.
23
But on the other hand, since naught doth prove
Your actual commission of the deed,
And the unsettled mind of our poor kinswoman
Deprives us of her weighty evidence,
We mitigate the penalty to exile,
Which we do here pronounce upon you both,
And claim the senate's sanction to our sentence. [The Senate bow.
Break up the court!—On forfeit of your lives,
Be not beyond two hours found in Venice.
[Trumpet. Exeunt Doge, Senators, &c., severally. Manent Monteno, Caliari, and Orsino.
Orsi. Why, how now, good Monteno,—why these tears?
Mon. I am the hapless cause of your disgrace,
Yet, I have said but what yourselves do know,
I did both hear and see—As I do live,
I think you both are guiltless of this deed,
And crave your pardons for whate'er my tongue
Hath utter'd in its duty to the state.
Orsi. Give me thy hand, now, Caliari, thine,
We three did love Serassi, and we three
Have in his timeless death received a blow,
Which hath so stunn'd and deaden'd every sense,
That other hurts do seem as scratches, merely
Compar'd with its great evil. Let us part,
Since part we must, like brothers and like friends,
Who bent on travel, thus dividing stray
As fortune or as fancy lead the way.
Far off, yet not forgotten, tho' apart,
Dwelling together in each others heart!
[Exeunt Monteno, r.; Caliari and Orsino, l.
Your actual commission of the deed,
And the unsettled mind of our poor kinswoman
Deprives us of her weighty evidence,
We mitigate the penalty to exile,
Which we do here pronounce upon you both,
And claim the senate's sanction to our sentence. [The Senate bow.
Break up the court!—On forfeit of your lives,
Be not beyond two hours found in Venice.
[Trumpet. Exeunt Doge, Senators, &c., severally. Manent Monteno, Caliari, and Orsino.
Orsi. Why, how now, good Monteno,—why these tears?
Mon. I am the hapless cause of your disgrace,
Yet, I have said but what yourselves do know,
I did both hear and see—As I do live,
I think you both are guiltless of this deed,
And crave your pardons for whate'er my tongue
Hath utter'd in its duty to the state.
Orsi. Give me thy hand, now, Caliari, thine,
We three did love Serassi, and we three
Have in his timeless death received a blow,
Which hath so stunn'd and deaden'd every sense,
That other hurts do seem as scratches, merely
Compar'd with its great evil. Let us part,
Since part we must, like brothers and like friends,
Who bent on travel, thus dividing stray
As fortune or as fancy lead the way.
Far off, yet not forgotten, tho' apart,
Dwelling together in each others heart!
[Exeunt Monteno, r.; Caliari and Orsino, l.
SCENE IV.—Apartment at Ugolino's. Storm heard without.
Enter Ugolino, hastily with a letter, followed by Angelica, d. f. l.
Count. Stand off! art mad?
Ang. I shall be shortly!
Count. Cross not the famish'd tiger in his path,
Away, I say!
Ang. I will not, I will follow thee
Into the public street, and on my knees,
Amidst the gaping multitude, still pray thee,
O, do not, on thy soul already stain'd
With blood, pour crime and crime thus needlessly,
'Till it shall be one foul and horrid blot,
Which not the mercy e'en of heaven may cleanse!
Give me that dreadful letter!
Count. Hence, rash boy!
Rouse not the whirlwind of my wrath till e'en
The very fury of my eye shall kill thee,
I was a fool to trust thee with its purport;
Count. Stand off! art mad?
Ang. I shall be shortly!
Count. Cross not the famish'd tiger in his path,
Away, I say!
Ang. I will not, I will follow thee
Into the public street, and on my knees,
Amidst the gaping multitude, still pray thee,
O, do not, on thy soul already stain'd
With blood, pour crime and crime thus needlessly,
'Till it shall be one foul and horrid blot,
Which not the mercy e'en of heaven may cleanse!
Give me that dreadful letter!
Count. Hence, rash boy!
Rouse not the whirlwind of my wrath till e'en
The very fury of my eye shall kill thee,
I was a fool to trust thee with its purport;
