Whom do you think she call'd to her? . . the youth

Who cut the cables, and then hid himself

That none might praise him . . him who brought in safety Your lover to the shore.

Maria. I do not hear those shy ones ever break

A woman's heart, or win one.

But who minds that?

Erminia.

Maria.

You hasten to her presence?

They may scorn;

Leave me.

And tell the countess

Erminia.

Is he there?

O! then, Stamura.

Erminia. Are there none brave but he?
Maria.

No: when he led her from the mole again,

And she had enter'd the hall-door, he left her.

Erminia. I fear'd he might be with her. Were he with her, What matter! I could wait until.. Wait! why?

Were he born

He would not look at me, nor I at him.
Maria. No; I can answer for him.
Under the waves, and never saw the sun,
He could not have been colder. But you might
Have lookt at him, perhaps.

Erminia.

Not I indeed.

Maria. Few men are like him. How you hug me!
Erminia.

40

Go..

ACT V. SCENE III.

CHAMBER IN THE CONSUL'S HOUSE.

COUNTESS and Erminia.

Countess. The depths of love are warmer than the shallows, Purer, and much more silent.

Erminia (aside).

Ah! how true!

Countess. He loves you, my sweet girl; I know he does. Erminia. He says not so.

Countess.

Child! all men are dissemblers

The generous man dissembles his best thoughts,

His worst the ungenerous.

Erminia.

Countess. He told me so.
Erminia.

Ah! then he loves me not.

Who, who that loves, can tell it?

Countess.

Who can hide it?

His voice betray'd him; half his words were traitors

To him, my sweet Erminia! not to you.

What! still unhappy!

[ERMINIA weeps

Erminia.

Let me weep away

of too much happiness.

Countess.

I wish

One more could see it. From these early showers
What sweets, that never spring but once, arise!

Before you leave us, since you part to-day,
From our full hearts take what lies deepest there,
And what God wills beyond all sacrifice
Our praises, our thanksgivings. Thee we hail,
Protectress! But can words, can deeds, requite

20

The debt of our deliverance?

Countess.

What I ask

Should not infringe your freedom. Power is sweet,
And victory claims something. I am fain
To exercise a brief authority

Within the walls, appointing you my colleague.

Consul. Lady! this very night my power expires. Countess. And mine, with your connivance, shall begin. Consul. Lady! all power within the walls is yours.

10

ACT V. SCENE V.

ARCH OF TRAJAN ON THe mole.

CONSUL, MARCHESELLA, COUNTESS, SENATORS, &c.

Consul. We have no flowers to decorate the arch
Whence the most glorious ruler of mankind
Smiles on you, lady! and on you, who rival
His valour, his humanity, his bounty.

Nor are there many voices that can sing

Your praises. For, alas! our poor frail nature
(May it be seldom!) hears one call above
The call of gratitude. The famishing

Devour your bread. But, though we hear no praises,
There are who sing them to their harps on high,

And he who can alone reward you both

Listens in all his brightness to the song.

I do entreat you, blemish not your glory.
No exercise of might or sovranty
Can ever bring you such content again
As this day's victory, these altar-prayers

From rescued men, men perishing; from child

And parent every parent, every child,

Who hears your name, should bless you evermore.

10

Countess. I find, sir, I must win you through your daughter.
Consul. The girl is grateful: urge her not too far:

I could not, without much compunction, thwart her.
Erminia! go: we meet again to-morrow.

[20

Countess. Come hither, my sweet girl! Coy as thou art,

I have seen one, once in my life, as coy.

Stand forth thou skulking youth! Here is no sea

To cover thee; no ships to scatter.

Take

This maiden's hand. . unless her sire forbid .
Holdest thou back? after confession too!

I will reveal it.

And art thou ashamed?

Erminia. I am ashamed.
Countess.

[To ERMINIA. 30

Of what? thou simpleton!
of having been ashamed.

Erminia. I know not what

Consul. Antonio! if thou truly lovedst her,

What, after deeds so valiant, kept thee silent?
Stamura. Inferior rank, deep reverence, due fear.

I know who rules our country.

Consul.

F. John.

I, who saved her.

[FATHER JOHN enters.

40

What! and am I to be without reward?

Consul. Father! be sure it will be voted you. Marchesella. And may not we too make our pious offerings, For such they are, when such men will receive them.

F. John. I claim the hand of the affianced. Shrink not from me! Give it to God!

Erminia.

Girl!

"Tis given:
I can not, would not, will not, take it back.
F. John. Refractory! hast thou not dedicated
To God thy heart and soul?

Erminia.

Had never this day shone.

F. John.

I might have done it

50

And that youth's deeds

Outshone this day, or any day before.

When thou didst give thy hand to the deliverer
Whom God had chosen for us, then didst thou
Accomplish his great work, else incomplete.
I claim to pour his benediction on you
And yours for ever. Much, much misery,
Have I inflicted on the young and brave,
And can not so repent me as I should;
But 'twas in one day only my device

60

My father's!

Paolucci.

Ay, thy grandfather's to boot.

And there was one, about my age, before him,

Sir Stefano, who wore a certain rose,

Radiant with pearls and rubies and pure gold,

70

Above the horse-tail grappled from the Turk.

Marchesella. We have not in the house that ornament. Paolucci. I do believe he wears it in the grave.

Countess. There is a sword here bright enough to throw A lustre on Stamura. Marchesella!

Marchesella. Kneel, sir!

Countess.

Marchesella.

[He kneels to ERminia.

Not there.

Yes, there; what fitter place?

80

We know but one high title in the world,
One only set apart for deeds of valour,
And palsied be the hand that ill confers it.
Here is the field of battle; here I knight thee.

Rise, my compeer! Teach him his duties, lady,
Toward the poor, the proud, the faith, the sex.
Countess (smiling).

service?

[Knights him.

Stamura! would you enter now my

Stamura. Yes, lady, were you wrong'd, this very hour; Then might I better earn the bliss I seek.