And settle all this trouble. Conrad. Nonsense! Child! See him immediately; why not now? Auranthe. Do you forget that even the senseless Are on the watch and gape through all the house; Hungry for evidence to ruin me : Men I have spurn'd, and women I have taunted. After my health, entreating, if I please, 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 The little thunder of your fretful tongue, Tho' I alone were taken in these toils, 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, And I had thee to starve Auranthe. O, marvellous! But Conrad, now be gone; the Host is look'd for; Cringe to the Emperor, entertain the Lords, And, do ye mind, above all things, proclaim Return to me. Conrad. I leave you to your thoughts. [Exit. Auranthe (sola). Down, down, proud temper! down, Why do I anger him when I should kneel? Of a wide empire, like a glowing moon; And thou, bright sceptre! lustrous in my eyes,- Ere, by one grasp, this common hand is made Myself, as fits one wailing her own death: Cut off these curls, and brand this lily hand, [Goes to the door, listens, and opens it. Enter ALBERT. Albert, I have been waiting for you here With such an aching heart, such swooning throbs Auranthe. You look not so, alas! But pale, as if you brought some heavy news. Albert. You know full well what makes me look so pale. Auranthe. No! Do I? Surely I am still to learn Some horror; all I know, this present, is I am near hustled to a dangerous gulph, Which you can save me from,—and therefore safe, So trusting in thy love; that should not make But make your own heart monitor, and save When simplest things put on a sombre cast; Until most easy matters take the shape Albert. Do not cheat yourself With hope that gloss of words, or suppliant action, Or tears, or ravings, or self-threaten'd death, Can alter my resolve. Auranthe. You make me tremble; Not so much at your threats, as at your voice, Albert. You suffocate me! Stop this devil's parley, And listen to me; know me once for all. Auranthe. I thought I did. Alas! I am deceived. Albert. No, you are not deceived. You took me for A man detesting all inhuman crime; |