Ludolph. For what cause I not less. Soe'er, I shall be honour'd. Gersa. Ludolph. What may it be? No trifle can take place Of such deliberate prologue, serious 'haviour. To listen with no common interest; Gersa. As thus:-for, pardon me, I cannot, in plain terms, grossly assault Ludolph. I attend. Gersa. Your generous father, most illustrious Otho, Sits in the banquet-room among his chiefs; His wine is bitter, for you are not there; And ev'ry passer in he frowns upon, Seeing no Ludolph comes. Ludolph. I do neglect. Gersa. And for your absence may I guess the cause? Ludolph. Stay there! No-guess? More princely As grieved to force it on you so abrupt; Yet, one day, you must know a grief, whose sting Ludolph. Say it at once, sir! dead-dead-is she dead? Gersa. Mine is a cruel task: she is not dead, And would, for your sake, she were innocent. Ludolph. Hungarian! Thou amazest me beyond Like crannied vermin,-no! but fresh, and young, The lie! Gersa. Lie!-but begone all ceremonious points Of honour battailous! I could not turn My wrath against thee for the orbed world. Ludolph. Your wrath, weak boy? Tremble at mine, unless Retraction follow close upon the heels Of that late stounding insult! Why has my sword Erminia, sir, was hidden in your tent,- Gersa. Furious fire! Thou mak'st me boil as hot as thou canst flame! And in thy teeth I give thee back the lie! Thou liest! Thou, Auranthe's fool! A wittol! Ludolph. Look! look at this bright sword; But shall indulge itself about thine heart! Gersa. Patience! Not here; I would not spill Here, underneath this roof where Otho breathes,— Thy father, almost mine. Ludolph. O faltering coward! [Enter Page. Stay, stay; here is one I have half a word with. Well? What ails thee, child? I hasten'd back, your grieving messenger, I thought her dead, and on the lowest step open air; The other cursing low, whose voice I knew The chamber's empty! Ludolph. As I will be of mercy! So, at last, This nail is in my temples! Gersa. Ludolph. I am. Gersa. Be calm in this. And Albert too has disappear'd; Ere I met you, I sought him everywhere; You would not hearken. Ludolph. Which way went they, boy? Gersa. I'll hunt with you. Ludolph. No, no, no. My senses are Still whole. I have survived. My arm is strong,— And so is my revenge, my lawful chattels ! Terrier, ferret them out! Burn-burn the witch! Trace me their footsteps! Away! [Exeunt. ACT V. SCENE I.-A part of the Forest. Enter CONRAD and AURANTHE. Auranthe. Go no further; not a step more. Thou art A master-plague in the midst of miseries. Go,-I fear thee! I tremble every limb, In thy resolved looks! Yes, I could kneel Conrad, go! go! |