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.
But, be it what it may, I cannot fail

To listen with no common interest;
For tho' so new your presence is to me,
I have a soldier's friendship for your fame.
Please you explain.

Gersa.

As thus:-for, pardon me,

I cannot, in plain terms, grossly assault
A noble nature; and would faintly sketch
What your quick apprehension will fill up;
So finely I esteem you.

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;
His eyes are fix'd still on the open doors,

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
Will sharpen more the longer 'tis conceal'd.

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
All scope of thought, convulsest my heart's blood
To deadly churning! Gersa, you are young,
As I am; let me observe you, face to face :
Not grey-brow'd like the poisonous Ethelbert,
No rheumed eyes, no furrowing of age,
No wrinkles, where all vices nestle in

Like crannied vermin,-no! but fresh, and young,
And hopeful featured. Ha! by Heaven you weep!
Tears, human tears! Do you repent you then
Of a curs'd torturer's office? Why shouldst join,—
Tell me, the league of devils? Confess-con-
fess-

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
Not done already a sheer judgment on thee?
Despair, or eat thy words! Why, thou wast nigh
Whimpering away my reason! Hark 'e, sir,
It is no secret, that Erminia,

Erminia, sir, was hidden in your tent,-
O bless'd asylum! Comfortable home!
Begone! I pity thee; thou art a gull,
Erminia's last new puppet!

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;
There is no part of it, to the very hilt,

But shall indulge itself about thine heart!
Draw! but remember thou must cower thy plumes,
As yesterday the Arab made thee stoop.

Gersa. Patience! Not here; I would not spill
thy blood

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 found the stairs all dark, the lamps extinct,
And not a foot or whisper to be heard.

I thought her dead, and on the lowest step
Sat listening; when presently came by
Two muffled up,-one sighing heavily,

open

air;

The other cursing low, whose voice I knew
For the Duke Conrad's. Close I follow'd them
Thro' the dark ways they chose to the
And, as I follow'd, heard my lady speak.
Ludolph. Thy life answers the truth!
Page.

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,—
My appetite sharp-for revenge! I'll no sharer
In my feast; my injury is all my own,

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,
Who never shook before. There's moody death

In thy resolved looks!
To pray thee far away!

Yes, I could kneel

Conrad, go! go!