Touched the loose wrinkled throat, when the old man Beatr. Miserable slaves! Where, if ye dare not kill a sleeping man, With such a deed undone? Base palterers! A thousand daily acts disgracing men : And when a deed were mercy insults heaven—————— (Snatching a dagger from one of them, and raising it.) Hadst thou a tongue to say, She murdered her own father, I must do it! But never dream ye shall outlive him long! Mar. I will go back and kill him. Olim. Give me the weapon; we must do thy will. (Exeunt Olim, and Mar.) How pale thou art! We do but that which 'twere a deadly crime To leave undone. Lucr. Would it were done! Beatr. Even whilst That doubt is passing through your mind, the world Enter OLIMPIO and MARZIO. He is Olim. Dead; Mar. We strangled him that there might be no blood And then we threw his heavy corpse i' the garden Beatr. (Giving them a bag of coin.) Here, take this gold, and hasten to your homes. It was the mantle which my grandfather To a just use. Live long and thrive! and, mark, (A horn is sounded.) Lucr. Hark! 'tis the castle horn: my God! it sounds Like the last trump. Beatr. Some tedious guest is coming. Lucr. The drawbridge is let down; there is a tramp Of horses in the court; fly, hide yourselves! (Exeunt Olim, and Mar.) Beatr. Let us retire to counterfeit deep rest. The spirit which doth reign withio these limbs (Exeunt.) SCENE IV. Another apartment in the castle. Enter on one side the Legate SAVELLA, introduced by a servant, and on the other LUCRETIA and BERNARDO. Sav. Lady, my duty to his Holiness I break upon your rest. I must speak with Lucr. (in a hurried and confused manner.) Yet, wake him not, I pray. Spare me awhile, Should he be roused out of his sleep to-night, (aside) Oh, I am deadly sick! Sav. I grieve thus to distress you, but the Count Lucr. (with increased agitation.) I dare not rouse him: I know none who dare: Sav. Lady, my moments here Are counted. I must rouse him from his sleep, Lucr. (aside) O terror! O despair! (To Bernardo.) Bernardo, conduct you the Lord Legate to Your father's chamber. (Exeunt Sav. and Bern.) Enter BEATRICE. Beatr. 'Tis a messenger Come to arrest the culprit who now stands Luer. O agony of fear! Would that he yet might live! Even now I heard All was prepared by unforbidden means, Which we must pay ro dearly, having done. Even now they search the tower, and find the body: O horrible, 'tis all discovered! Beatr. Mother, What is done wisely, is done well. Be bold To fear that others know what thou hast done, Even from thine own strong consciousness, and thus Write on unsteady eyes and altered cheeks Free as the earth-surrounding air; as firm (A cry within and tumult Voices. Murder! murder! murder! Enter BERNARDO and SAVELLA. Sav. (To his followers) Go search the castle round; sound the alarm; Beatr. What now? Ber. I know not what to say: my father's dead! Beatr. How! dead? he only sleeps: you mistake brother. His sleep is very calm, very like death; 'Tis wonderful how well a tyrant sleeps. He is not dead! Ber. Dead! murdered!! Lucr. (with extreme agitation.) Oh, no, no, He is not murdered, though he may be dead; I have alone the keys of those apartments. Sav. Ha! Is it so? Beatr. My Lord, I pray excuse us; We will retire; my mother is not well: She seems quite overcome with this strange horror. (Exeunt Lucr. and Beatr.) Sav. Can you suspect who may have murdered him? Ber. I know not what to think. Sav. Can you name any Who had an interest in his death? Ber. Alas! can name none who had not, and those most Who most lament that such a deed is done; My mother, and my sister, and myself. Sav. 'Tis strange! There were clear marks of violence. I found the old man's body in the moonlight Hanging beneath the window of his chamber, Among the branches of a pine: he could not Have fallen there, for all his limbs lay heaped And effortless: 'tis true there was no blood Favour me, Sir, (it much imports your house That all should be made clear) to tell the ladies That I request their presence. Enter Guards, bringing in MARZIO. Guard. We have one. (Exit Ber.) Officer. My Lord, we found this ruffian and another Lurking among the rocks; there is no doubt But that they are the murderers of Count Cenci: Each had a bag of coin. This fellow wore A gold-inwoven robe, which, shining bright Under the dark rocks to the glimmering moon, Betrayed them to our notice: the other fell Desperately fighting. Sav. What does he confess? [on him Officer. He keeps firm silence; but these lines found May speak. Sav Their language is at least sincere. " TO THE LADY BEATRICE. (reads.) "That the atonement of what my nature sickens to conjecture may soon arrive, I send thee, at thy brother's desire, those who will speak and do more than I dare write Thy devoted servant, ORSINO. Enter LUCRETIA, BEATRICE, and BERNARDO. Knowest thou this writing, Lady? Heatr. No Sav. Nor thou? E |