8
UGOLINO.
Blest be the hour when I did break with him,
And blest the chance which brought unto mine ear, men
The dismal tale with which I urged my plea.
[To Servant.] Go, sirrah, seek the Marquis of Serassi,
And if thou shouldst o'ertake him ere he reach
Monteno's palace, pray him to return,
That I may speak with him. Stay, come thou in with me,
A note may more persuade him—thou shalt bear one,
Should my late promise to the Marquis reach
Count Ugolino's ear,—I know not what
May be the desperate issue of his rage,
And they should meet—I'll forthwith see Serassi,
And warn him of his danger, ere too late. [Exit with Servant, r.
And blest the chance which brought unto mine ear, men
The dismal tale with which I urged my plea.
[To Servant.] Go, sirrah, seek the Marquis of Serassi,
And if thou shouldst o'ertake him ere he reach
Monteno's palace, pray him to return,
That I may speak with him. Stay, come thou in with me,
A note may more persuade him—thou shalt bear one,
Should my late promise to the Marquis reach
Count Ugolino's ear,—I know not what
May be the desperate issue of his rage,
And they should meet—I'll forthwith see Serassi,
And warn him of his danger, ere too late. [Exit with Servant, r.
SCENE III.—Outside of the Marquis de Monteno's Palace, the interior illuminated. Music is heard playing within. Groups of Maskers pass over the Stage and enter the palace. Dark stage.
Enter Count Ugolino and Angelica, l. f. e. the latter in a Page's dress.
Count. I tell thee Julio, 'tis impossible—
Thou couldst not hear aright—what? wed to-morrow!
Will she scarce suffer the cold earth to close
Above her father's corse before she breaks
In sunder the fond chain he vainly thought
His aged hands had fasten'd round our souls;
And will she then, contemptuous of remorse
For one, whom she hath forced in haste to close
The book of joy forever, and to read
His bitter lesson in the ugly scroll,
Of heart-consuming grief: will she—O, hell!
Will she, who seem'd made up of gentleness,
Of loving charity, and sweet compassion,
Thrust with rude hand the barbed sting of scorn,
Into the green wounds of neglected love?
It is impossible. [Crosses to l.
Ang. Indeed my lord,
The Marquis de Serassi and the Countess,
In close communion. but this morn I heard,
Fix on to-morrow for their wedding day.
Olympia for a while, indeed, hung back,
Pleaded her father's late decease—Your suit,
But newly silenc'd—the necessity
To let these matters wear their strangeness off,
And grow familiar to the public ear,
Ere gossip fame should cram it with the news
Of vows between Serassi and herself,
At holy altar made—but all in vain—
The Marquis urg'd his love with so much warmth,
That she who doubtless such excuses framed,
But for the joy of hearing them o'eruled,
Consented blushingly, that they should meet
Count. I tell thee Julio, 'tis impossible—
Thou couldst not hear aright—what? wed to-morrow!
Will she scarce suffer the cold earth to close
Above her father's corse before she breaks
In sunder the fond chain he vainly thought
His aged hands had fasten'd round our souls;
And will she then, contemptuous of remorse
For one, whom she hath forced in haste to close
The book of joy forever, and to read
His bitter lesson in the ugly scroll,
Of heart-consuming grief: will she—O, hell!
Will she, who seem'd made up of gentleness,
Of loving charity, and sweet compassion,
Thrust with rude hand the barbed sting of scorn,
Into the green wounds of neglected love?
It is impossible. [Crosses to l.
Ang. Indeed my lord,
The Marquis de Serassi and the Countess,
In close communion. but this morn I heard,
Fix on to-morrow for their wedding day.
Olympia for a while, indeed, hung back,
Pleaded her father's late decease—Your suit,
But newly silenc'd—the necessity
To let these matters wear their strangeness off,
And grow familiar to the public ear,
Ere gossip fame should cram it with the news
Of vows between Serassi and herself,
At holy altar made—but all in vain—
The Marquis urg'd his love with so much warmth,
That she who doubtless such excuses framed,
But for the joy of hearing them o'eruled,
Consented blushingly, that they should meet
