Not to thine ear alone I make confession, I know how the great basement of all power Of fear and weakness, and a hollow state. Conrad. To kiss that hand, My emperor, is ample recompense, Otho. Thou art wrong; For what can any man on earth do more? Conrad. How is Friedburg honored! Enter EEHELBERT and six Monks. Ethelbert. The benison of heaven on your head, Otho. Otho. Pray, do not prose, good Ethelbert, but speak Ethelbert. The restoration of some captive maids, Devoted to Heaven's pious ministries, Who, driven forth from their religious cells, Ethelbert. The saints will bless you for this pious care. [Music. ETHELBERT raises his hands, as in benediction of ОTHO. Exeunt severally. The scene closes on them. SCENE III.-The Country, with the Castle in the distance. Enter LUDOLPH and SIGIFred. Ludolph. You have my secret; let it not be breath'd. Sigifred. Still give me leave to wonder that the prince, Ludolph, and the swift Arab are the same; Still to rejoice that 'twas a German arm Ludolph. The emperor must not know it, Sigifred. Ludolph. Still it must not be known, good Sigifred; Sigifred. Kept danger all aloof from Otho's head, And left him space for wonder. Ludolph. Say no more. Not as a swordsman would I pardon claim, But as a son. The bronze centurion, Long toil'd in foreign wars, and whose high deeds Known only to his troop, hath greater plea Sigifred. My lord, forgive me that I cannot see Hover around that life, whose bitter days You vext with bad revolt? Was 't opium, Or the mad-fumed wine? Nay, do not frown, I rather would grieve with you than upbraid. Ludolph. I do believe you. No, 'twas not to make A father his son's debtor, or to heal His deep heart-sickness for a rebel child. Though now upon my head he heaps disgrace. Hath he not gall'd my spirit to the quick? And with a sullen rigor obstinate Can I so? Pour'd out a phial of wrath upon my faults? . Driven me to the very edge o' the world, Sigifred. Remember how he spared the rebel lords. He hath wrong'd me, and I have done him wrong; He hath loved me, and I have shown him kindness; We should be almost equal. Sigifred. Yet for all this, I would you had appear'd among those lords, And ta'en his favor. Ludolph. Ha! till now I thought My friend had held poor Ludolph's honor dear. But yesterday? And, at the trumpet sound, Because some dozen vassals cried—my lord! And then they own'd themselves without a blush, And will be, for I love such fair disgrace. Sigifred. I know the clear truth; so would Otho see, For he is just and noble. Fain would I Be pleader for you Ludolph. He'll hear none of it; You know his temper, hot, proud, obstinate; I will encounter his thwart spleen myself, There will I be, a most unwelcome guest, Sigifred. Be not so rash; wait till his wrath shall pass, Until his royal spirit softly ebbs Self-influenced; then, in his morning dreams He will forgive thee, and awake in grief To have not thy good morrow. I must be there, while her young pulses beat She should be paler for my troublous days— Have sworn divorcement 'twixt me and my right. Sigifred (aside). Auranthe! I had hoped this whim had pass'd. Ludolph. And, Sigifred, with all his love of justice, When will he take that grandchild in his arms, That, by my love I swear, shall soon be his? This reconcilement is impossible, For see-but who are these? Sigifred. They are messengers From our great emperor; to you, I doubt not, Enter THEODORE and GONFRED. Theodore. Seeing so many vigilant eyes explore Ludolph. Go. I follow you. [Exeunt THEODORE and GONFred. I play the prude: it is but venturing Why should he be so earnest ? Come, my friend, Let us to Friedburg castle. |