Their everlasting attributes for thee?"

-Oh! blind security !-He, in whose dread hand
The lightnings vibrate, holds them back, until
The trampler of this goodly earth hath reach'd
His pyramid-height of power; that so his fall
May, with more fearful oracles, make pale
Man's crown'd oppressors!

CONSTANCE.

Oh! reproach him not!

His soul is trembling on the dizzy brink

Of that dim world where passion may not enter.

Leave him in peace!

VOICES (without).

Anjou, Anjou !-De Couci to the rescue! ERIBERT (half-raising himself).

My brave Provençals! do ye combat still? And I, your chief, am here!-Now, now I feel

That death indeed is bitter!

VITTORIA.

Fare thee well!

Thine eyes so oft, with their insulting smile,

Have looked on man's last pangs, thou shouldst, by this,

Be perfect how to die!

[Exit VITTORIA.

RAIMOND enters.

RAIMOND.

Away, my Constance !
Our slaughtering bands
A little while
Know'st thou not

Now is the time for flight.
Are scatter'd far and wide.

And thou shalt be in safety.

That low sweet vale, where dwells the holy man, Anselmo? He whose hermitage is rear'd

'Mid some old temple's ruins?-Round the spot His name hath spread so pure and deep a charm, "Tis hallow'd as a sanctuary, wherein

Thou shalt securely bide, till this wild storm

Have spent its fury.

Haste!

CONSTANCE.

I will not fly!

While in his heart there is one throb of life,
One spark in his dim eyes, I will not leave
The brother of my youth to perish thus,
Without one kindly bosom to sustain

His dying head.

ERIBERT.

The clouds are darkening round.

There are strange voices ringing in mine ear
That summon me-to what?-But I have been
Used to command!-Away! I will not die

But on the field

CONSTANCE (kneeling by him).

Oh Heaven! be merciful,

As thou art just!-for he is now where nought
But mercy can avail him!—It is past!

GUIDO enters, with his sword drawn.

GUIDO (to RAIMOND).

[He dies.

I've sought thee long-Why art thou lingering here?
Haste, follow me!-Suspicion with thy name

Joins that word-Traitor?

Hast thou not heard that, with his men-at-arms,
After vain conflict with a people's wrath,

De Couci hath escaped?-And there are those
Who murmur that from thee the warning came
Which saved him from our vengeance.

But e'en yet

In the red current of Provençal blood

That doubt may be effaced. Draw thy good sword,

And follow me!

RAIMOND.

And thou couldst doubt me, Guido !

"Tis come to this!-Away! mistrust me still.

I will not stain my sword with deeds like thine.
Thou know'st me not!

GUIDO.

Raimond di Procida!

If thou art he whom once I deemed so noble

Call me thy friend no more!

RAIMOND (after a pause).

[Exit GUIDO.

Rise, dearest, rise!

Thy duty's task hath nobly been fulfill'd,

E'en in the face of death; but all is o'er,

And this is now no place where nature's tears

In quiet sanctity may freely flow.

-Hark! the wild sounds that wait on fearful deeds

Are swelling on the winds, as the deep roar

Of fast-advancing billows; and for thee

I shame not thus to tremble.-Speed, oh, speed!

END OF ACT THE THIRD.

[Exeunt.

ACT THE FOURTH.

SCENE I.-A Street in Palermo.

PROCIDA enters.

PROCIDA.

How strange and deep a stillness loads the air.
As with the power of midnight!-Aye, where death
Hath pass'd, there should be silence.-But this hush
Of nature's heart, this breathlessness of all things,
Doth press on thought too heavily, and the sky,
With its dark robe of purple thunder-clouds
Brooding in sullen masses, o'er my spirit

Weighs like an omen !-Wherefore should this be?
Is not our task achieved, the mighty work
Of our deliverance?—Yes; I should be joyous :
But this our feeble nature, with its quick
Instinctive superstitions, will drag down.

Th' ascending soul. And I have fearful bodings