Ethelbert. Deluded monarch, 'tis a cruel lie. Otho. Peace, rebel-priest! Conrad. Erminia. Almost a dream! •Insult beyond credence! We have awaked from! A foolish dream that from my brow hath wrung A wrathful dew. O folly! why did I So act the lion with this silly gnat ? I ever grieved for you, as who did not? But now you have, with such a brazen front, To dazzle the soft moon, when tenderest clouds More than against a nightmare, which a man Otho. Still in extremes. [Exit LUDOLPH. No, they must not be loose. Ethelbert. Albert, I must suspect thee of a crime So fiendish Otho. Fear'st thou not my fury, monk? Till we determine some fit punishment. And question them in private; for perhaps, Whether they merit death, or should be placed [Exeunt OTHо and Nobles, ALBERT following. Conrad. My guards, ho! Erminia. Albert, wilt thou follow there? Wilt thou creep dastardly behind his back, And shrink away from a weak woman's eye? Turn, thou court-Janus! thou forget'st thyself; [Enter Guards. To thank thee; here congratulate each other; Of all the world to trust in. Conrad (aside). He is the sole one in this mystery. You, who could do this deed, would ne'er relent, Conrad. Manacle them both! Ethelbert. I know it-it must be-I see it all! Albert, thou art the minion! Conrad. Silence! Gag up their mouths! I cannot bear More of this brawling. That the Emperor Had placed you in some other custody! Bring them away. [Exeunt all but ALBERT. Albert. Though my name perish from the book of honor, Almost before the recent ink is dry, And be no more remember'd after death, Than any drummer's in the muster-roll; Yet shall I season high my sudden fall With triumph o'er that evil-witted duke! He shall feel what it is to have the hand Of a man drowning, on his hateful throat. Enter GERSA and SIGIFRED. Gersa. What discord is at ferment in this house? Sigifred. We are without conjecture; not a soul We met could answer any certainty. Gersa. Young Ludolph, like a fiery arrow, shot By us. Sigifred. The Emperor, with cross'd arms, in thought. Gersa. In one room music, in another sadness, Perplexity every where! Conrad. Well, well, I know what ugly jeopardy You cannot doubt but 'tis in Albert's power He has, assure yourself, by some strange means, Knowing his mawkish honesty. Conrad. Cursed slave! Auranthe. Ay, I could almost curse him now myself, Wretched impediment! Evil genius! A glue upon my wings, that cannot spread, When they should span the provinces! A snake, A scorpion, sprawling on the first gold step, Conducting to the throne, high canopied. Conrad. You would not hear my counsel, when his life Might have been trodden out, all sure and hush'd; Mow the dull animal forsooth must be Entreated, managed! When can you contrive It must be done as my bribed woman can Conrad. Nonsense! Child! See him immediately; why not now? Auranthe. Do you forget that even the senseless door-posts Are on the watch and gape through all the house; How many whisperers there are about, Hungry for evidence to ruin me: Men I have spurn'd, and women I have taunted. His pages so they tell me to inquire Conrad. Well, suppose this Albert here; Auranthe. He should be My echo, my taught parrot! but I fear He will be cur enough to bark at me; Have his own say; read me some silly creed 'Bout shame and pity. Conrad. What will you do then? Auranthe. What I shall do, I know not; what I would Cannot be done; for see, this chamber-floor Will not yield to the pick-axe and the spade, Here is no quiet depth of hollow ground. Conrad. Sister, you have grown sensible and wise, Seconding, ere I speak it, what is now, I hope, resolved between us. Auranthe. Say, what is 't? Conrad. You need not be his sexton too; a man May carry that with him shall make him die Elsewhere, give that to him; pretend the while You will to-morrow succumb to his wishes, Be what they may, and send him from the Castle Frighten the wolves! Auranthe. Alas! he must not die! Conrad. Would you were both hearsed up in stifling lead! Detested Auranthe. Conrad, hold! I would not bear And you could free me; but remember, sir, So keep your wits at work, for your own sake, Conrad. Thou wasp! If my domains were emptied of these folk, But Conrad, now be gone; the Host is look'd for; Conrad. I leave you to your thoughts. [Exit. Auranthe (sola). Down, down, proud temper! down, Auranthe's pride! Why do I anger him when I should kneel? Conrad! Albert! help! help! What can I do? Of a wide empire, like a glowing moon; And thou, bright sceptre! lustrous in my eyes,— |