Slenderer by much.

First Mask. Who thought 'twas really he? I only meant he talkt as morally.

Third Mask (coming up to Fourth). I am quite certain there is Frate Rupert.

Fourth Mask. Where is he not? The Devil's ubiquity! But, like the Devil, not well known when met.

How found you him so readily? What mark?

[70

Third Mask. Stout is he, nor ill-built, tho' the left

shoulder

Is half a finger's breadth above the right.

Fourth Mask. But that man's. let me look..

We catch him! over-sedulous disguise!

That,

ACT V. SCENE IV.

Andrea. We have a cousin in the house, my queen!

What dost thou blush at? why art troubled? sure

We are quite grand enough for him: our supper (I trust) will answer all his expectations.

Maria. So you have lookt then at the supper-table? Andrea. 'Twould mortify me if Giovanna's guests Were disappointed.

Giovanna. Mine! and not yours too?

Andrea. Ah sly one!

And would not tell me!

you have sent then for Taranto
Cousin to us both,

To both he should be welcome as to one.

Another little blush! Why, thou art mine,
And never shalt, if love's worth love, repent it.

Giovanna. Never, my own Andrea! for such trust
Is far more precious than the wealthiest realms,

Or all that ever did adorn or win them.

Andrea. I must not wait to hear its value told,
We shall have time to count it out together.
I now must go to greet our cousin yonder,

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He waits me in the balcony; the guards
Have sent away the loiterers that stood round,
And only two or three of his own friends
Remain with him. To tarry were uncourteous.
Maria (earnestly). I do believe Luigi is below.
Andrea. Do not detain me: we have never met
Since
your proud sister spoke unkindly to him,
And, vaulting on his horse, he hurried home.

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[Goes.

Maria. The soldiers there do well to guard the balcony, And close the folding-doors against intrusion. [Cry is heard. Fiammetta. Ha! some inquisitive young chamber-lady, 30 Who watcht Luigi enter, pays for it.

Those frolicsome young princes are demanding

A fine for trespass.

Giovanna. Nay, they are too rude,

Permitting any rudeness.

Struggles! sobs!

Andrea never caused them.

Maria. Shame, Taranto!

Giovanna. Stifling of screams! Those nearer are alarmed;

Those farther off are running for the staircase;

And

many come this way! What can they mean? See, they look angry as they run, and dash

Their hands against their foreheads!

Where's a page

?

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[Very alarmed.

[A page stands masked in the doorway; crowds of unmasked behind him.

Maria. A page! a page!

Page (to himself). I am one; and discovered! [Advances. Giovanna. Run; see what those young courtiers round

the princes

Are doing in the balcony. Below;

Not there.

Page. I might mistake the Prince Andrea,

Not having ever seen him.

Maria. Who then are you?

Page. The Prince Luigi's page, whom I awaited,

Το say his groom and horse are near at hand.

Maria. He goes then?

Page. Ere it dawn.

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Giovanna. O! hasten! hasten

Below, and instantly run back again,
Reporting me what you can discover there.

Page (returns). Lady! the lamps about the balcony
Are all extinguisht.

Giovanna. Is the wind so high?

What didst thou hear, what didst thou note, beside ?
Page (hesitating).

queen,

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Against the gentlest, the most virtuous

Opprobrious speech, threats, imprecations . .

Giovanna. Pass it.

Page. Upon the stairs; none from the gardens.
Giovanna. There

What sawest thou?

Page. Over the balcony

Downward some burden swang.

Giovanna. Some festive wreath

Perhaps.

Page. Too heavy; almost motionless.

Maria. Several damask draperies thrown across.

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Page. May-be. The wind just stirr'd the bottom of them: I had no time to look: I saw my prince

Fighting.

Maria. O heaven! was ever night like this

Page. For gallant sword! it left two proofs behind: The third man, seeing me (poor help for arm

So valiant!) fled.

Maria. O! we are safe then, all.

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[Very joyous.

Page. No cap lost they, nor did the one who fled:

Whose in the world of Naples, can be this?

[He takes from under his richly embroidered cloak the cap of ANDREA.

GIOVANNA

clasps it to her face, and falls with a stifled scream.

[Another Page brings in ANDREA's ermine
cloak.

This cloak fell near me from the balusters.
Maria. His own! Ha! this
Filippa. See! she revives!
Of our unhappy festival, retire.

dark speck is not the ermine's. Hide it away! O guests

GIOVANNA OF NAPLES.

CHARACTERS.

LEWIS, King of Hungary. LUIGI, Prince of Taranto. ACCIAJOLI, Seneschal of Naples. UGO DEL BALZO. SPINELLO, General of Naples. RIENZI, Tribune of Rome. FRA RUPERT. BOCCACCIO. PETRARCA. PSEIN, a Hungarian Captain. POPE'S NUNCIO. PRIOR of the CELESTINES. WIFE OF RIENZI. FILIPPA OF CATANIA. SANCIA, her Granddaughter. PRINCESS MARIA. FIAMMETTA.

Boccaccio.

ACT I. SCENE I.

GARDEN OF CAPO-DI-MONTE.

BOCCACCIO and FIAMMETTA.

Adieu the starlit gardens of Aversa,

The groves of Capo-Monte!

Fiammetta. Why adieu?

Boccaccio. One night will throw its gloom upon them long.

Fiammetta. It will indeed, but love can dwell in gloom, And not repine in it.

Boccaccio. The generous man,

Who might have much impeded ours, gave way

To bitter impulses. My face is flusht

To think of his hard doom, and find myself

Happy where he was happy, and so lately!

Fiammetta. I too have sighs, nor for thee only, now.

Giovanna, had an angel told it me

The other day, I should have disbelieved.

We all are now alike.

Even queen Sancia,1

TO

[1L. reads

Even Queen Sancia

Sancia so calm in sorrow, said, "Death comes

To some with flames across his angry brow,

To others holds green palm and aureole crown," &c.]

Whose sadness is scarce sadness, so resign'd
Is she to Heaven, at this balustrade
Lean'd and lookt over, hearing some one sing.
"Impatient is the singer there," said she,
"To run thro' his delight, to fill the conch
Of song up to the brim, and wise were he
Thought he not, O my child, as think he might,
How every gust of music, every air,

Breathing its freshness over youthful breasts,
Is a faint prelude to the choirs above,

And how Death stands in the dark space between,
To some with invitations free and meek,
To some with flames athwart an angry brow;
To others holds green palm and aureole crown,
Dreadless as is the shadow of a leaf . .”

But, while she said it, prest my hand and wept,
Then prayed of Heaven its peace for poor Andrea.
Boccaccio. We may think too as wisely as the queen
When we attain her age; of other flames

And other palms and other crowns just now.
Like every growth, thoughts also have their seasons;
We will not pluck unripe ones; they might hurt us.
That lady then was with you?

Fiammetta. She herself

Led me up hither by the sleeve. Giovanna

Is there below, secure, in Castel-Nuovo.

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Look you! what crowds are gathering round about it. Boccaccio. I see them, and implore you, my Fiammetta, To tarry here, protected by queen Sancia.

Fiammetta. And will you tarry near me?

Boccaccio. While the

Your sister is quite safe.

queen

Fiammetta. What! thinkest thou
She ever can be otherwise than safe?
I will run down to her.

Boccaccio. There is no danger
At present; if there should be, my weak aid
Shall not be wanting. He whom she laments
I too lament: this bond unites me with her ;

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