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RAIMOND.

It will not, love!

That hour will bring no bridal!-Nought of this
To human ear; but speed thou hither, fly,
When evening brings that signal.-Dost thou heed?
This is no meeting, by a lover sought

To breathe fond tales, and make the twilight groves
And stars, attest his vows; deem thou not so,
Therefore denying it !—I tell thee, Constance!
If thou wouldst save me from such fierce despair
As falls on man, beholding all he loves
Perish before him, while his strength can but
Strive with his agony-thou 'lt meet me then?
Look on me, love !-I am not oft so moved—
Thou 'lt meet me? ·

CONSTANCE.

Oh! what mean thy words?-If then

My steps are free,-I will. Be thou but calm.

RAIMOND.

Be calm!-there is a cold and sullen calm,

And, were my wild fears made realities,

It might be mine; but, in this dread suspense,
This conflict of all terrible phantasies,

There is no calm.-Yet fear thou not, dear love!

I will watch o'er thee still. And now, farewell

Until that hour!

CONSTANCE.

My Raimond, fare thee well.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.-Room in the Citadel of Palermo.

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All arm'd, and strong in vengeance and despair.

DE COUCI.

Doubtful and strange the tale! Why was not this
Reveal'd before?

ALBERTI.

Mistrust me not, my lord!

That stern and jealous Procida hath kept
O'er all my steps (as though he did suspect
The purposes, which oft his eye hath sought
To read in mine,) a watch so vigilant,

I knew not how to warn thee, though for this
Alone I mingled with his bands, to learn

Their projects and their strength. Thou know'st my faith
To Anjou's house full well.

DE COUCI.

How may we now

Avert the gathering storm?-The viceroy holds

His bridal feast, and all is revelry.

-'Twas a true-boding heaviness of hear

Which kept me from these nuptials.

ALBERTI.

Thou thyself

Mayst yet escape, and, haply of thy bands

Rescue a part, ere long to wreak full vengeance
Upon these rebels. 'Tis too late to dream
Of saving Eribert. E'en shouldst thou rush

Before him with the tidings, in his pride
And confidence of soul, he would but laugh
Thy tale to scorn.

DE COUCI.

He must not die unwarn'd,

Though it be all in vain. But thou, Alberti,
Rejoin thy comrades, lest thine absence wake
Suspicion in their hearts. Thou hast done well,
And shalt not pass unguerdon'd, should I live
Through the deep horrors of th' approaching night.

ALBERTI.

Noble De Couci, trust me still. Anjou.

Commands no heart more faithful than Alberti's.

DE COUCI.

[Exit ALBERTI.

The grovelling slave !-And yet he spoke too true!
For Eribert, in blind elated joy,

Will scorn the warning voice.—The day wanes fast,
And through the city, recklessly dispersed,
Unarm'd and unprepared, my soldiers revel,
E'en on the brink of fate.-I must away.

[Exit DE COUCH.

SCENE V.-A Banqueting Hall.

PROVENÇAL NOBLES assembled.

FIRST NOBLE.

Joy be to this fair meeting!-Who hath seen

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Her castle's wood-girt solitude. "Twill gall

These proud Sicilians, that her wide domains

Should be the conqueror's guerdon.

THIRD NOBLE.

"Twas their boast

With what fond faith she worshipp'd still the name

Of the boy, Conradin. How will the slaves

Brook this new triumph of their lords?

SECOND NOBLE.

In sooth

It stings them to the quick. In the full streets

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