ATTENDANTS.

Oh, lady, we obey.

(They take off RAIMOND's chains. He springs up

exultingly.)

RAIMOND.

Is this no dream?

-Mount, eagle! thou art free!-Shall I then die,

Not 'midst the mockery of insulting crowds,

But on the field of banners, where the brave
Are striving for an immortality?

-It is e'en so!-Now for bright arms of proof,

A helm, a keen-edged falchion, and e'en yet
My father may be saved!

VITTORIA.

Away, be strong!

And let thy battle-word, to rule the storm,

Be Conradin !

(He rushes out.)

Oh! for one hour of life

To hear that name blent with the exulting shout
Of victory!-'twill not be !-A mightier power

Doth summon me away.

ANSELMO.

To purer worlds

Raise thy last thoughts in hope.

VITTORIA.

Yes! he is there,

All glorious in his beauty!-Conradin !

Death parted us-and death shall re-unite!

-He will not stay-it is all darkness now;

Night gathers o'er my spirit.

(She dies.)

ANSELMO.

She is gone.

It is an awful hour which stills the heart

That beat so proudly once.-Have mercy, Heaven!

(He kneels beside her.)

(The scene closes.)

SCENE IV. Before the Gates of Palermo.

SICILIANS flying tumultuously towards the Gates.

VOICES (without).

Montjoy! Montjoy! St. Denis for Anjou!

Provençals on!

SICILIANS.

Fly, fly, or all is lost!

RAIMOND appears in the gateway, armed, and carrying

a banner.

RAIMOND.

Back, back, I say! ye men of Sicily!

All is not lost! Oh shame!-A few brave hearts
In such a cause, ere now, have set their breasts
Against the rush of thousands, and sustain'd,
And made the shock recoil.-Aye, man, free man,
Still to be call'd so, hath achieved such deeds
As Heaven and earth have marvell'd at; and souls,
Whose spark yet slumbers with the days to come
Shall burn to hear: transmitting brightly thus
Freedom from race to race!-Back! or prepare,
Amidst your hearths, your bowers, your very shrines,
To bleed and die in vain!-Turn, follow me!

Conradin, Conradin!-for Sicily

His spirit fights!—Remember Conradin !

(They begin to rally around him.)

Aye, this is well!-Now follow me, and charge!

(The PROVENÇALS rush in, but are repulsed by the

SICILIANS.)

[Exeunt.

SCENE V.-Part of the Field of Battle.

MONTALBA enters wounded, and supported by RAIMOND, whose face is concealed by his helmet.

Here rest thee, warrior.

RAIMOND.

MONTALBA.

Rest, aye, death is rest,

And such will soon be mine-But thanks to thee,

I shall not die a captive. Brave Sicilian !
These lips are all unused to soothing words,
Or I should bless the valour which hath won
For my last hour, the proud free solitude

Wherewith my soul would gird itself.-Thy name?

RAIMOND.

"Twill be no music to thine ear, Montalba.

Gaze-read it thus !

(He lifts the visor of his helmet.)

MONTALBA.

Raimond di Procida!

RAIMOND.

Thou hast pursued me with a bitter hate,

But fare thee well! Heaven's peace be with thy soul!
I must away-One glorious effort more

And this proud field is won!

[Exit RAIMOND.

MONTALBA.

Am I thus humbled?

How

my

heart sinks within me! But 'tis death
(And he can tame the mightiest) hath subdued
My towering nature thus !-Yet is he welcome!
That youth-'twas in his pride he rescued me!
I was his deadliest foe, and thus he proved
His fearless scorn. Ha ha! but he shall fail
To melt me into womanish feebleness.
There I still baffle him-the grave shall seal
My lips for ever-mortal shall not hear
Montalba say "forgive!"

[He dies.

(The scene closes.)

SCENE VI.-Another part of the Field.

PROCIDA.

GUIDO.

And other SICILIANS.

PROCIDA.

The day is ours; but he, the brave unknown,