_Man._ The time
Can be but short, but it shall make amends.
[_They talk together._
_Bl._ (_coming forward with Fer._). Fair lady Margaret,
Count Ferdinand of Vergas; I present him
At his desire.
_Fer._ Your ladyship’s true servant.
_Mar._ I am much honoured.
_Fer._ Lady, ’tis worth the pains
To cross from Spain to see you.
_Mar._ From that I guess
That you are a better sailor than the duke. 110
_Fer._ Nay, you judge wrong.
_Mar._ Have you then ate no dinner?
_Fer._ Now if I had not, I’d blame your stormy town
Before the sea for that: since we left ship
We are cabined in this house; to pass the door
Were to leap overboard in a whole gale.
_Mar._ I fear this is no country for you, sir,
If noises in the street keep you indoors.
_LIVIO._
Take warning, count; Sicily’s fairest rose
Blooms on an angry plant.
_Mar._ But we can boast
Of warriors that for fragrance shame the rose. 120
(_To Liv._) Is’t musk to-day?
_Liv._ (_to Fer._). I told you.
_Enter Messenger_ R., _crosses to Hugo_ L.
_MESSENGER._
This paper, sire, is posted thro’ the town.
_Hu._ Eh, eh! what have we here? [_Reads._
_Citizens of Palermo, King Pedro is dead. God rest his soul! The
office of Viceroy being vacant, the Parliament of townsmen, assembled
in the church of San Lorenzo, have this day elected Manuel to be your
viceroy, in place of Hugo. Death to Hugo! Long live the king!_
Why, Manuel, what’s this parliament?
_Man._ I know 130
No more than doth your excellence. But ’tis plain
That they are orderers who put on a dress
Of regular authority; they use
The senatorial voice, and over all
They have now usurped my name to have it thought
That I have set their hatch.
[_Shouts without of “Death to Hugo! The Despatches!”_]
_Ph._ Here comes the parliament.
_Hu._ Now this is what I feared. Manuel, I pray you,
Go to the balcony, you have their ear;
Use then your credit.
_Man._ What, sire, shall I say?
_Hu._ Well, you should know. 140
_Liv._ (_to Man._). Look, if they ask to hear
The last despatches, gull them with some paper;
Which while you show, you make as if therefrom
You read the king’s not dead.
_Ph._ (_to Liv._). Nay, Livio:
The word is wanted for a troop of horse.
My father never would have brooked this insult
From such a mob.
_Liv._ Our soldiers are not idle.
They laid hands yesterday upon the chief
And head of all, one John Palicio.
We have certain information that the rebels
Cannot be kept together but by him. 150
Hark! they are quiet now.
_Hu._ (_to Man. returning_). What is your charm
To win such meek obedience?
_Man._ They’re gone, your excellence;
But not from aught I said: for ere I spoke
Some rumour reached them, and the skirt of the throng,
That far beyond my hearing stood apart
In scattered groups, broke hastily away:
Then the next ranks shed off; and then the next
Loosened and followed them: till the voice came
To the very midst and huddle, where they pressed
With upturned faces; then all heads went down,
And with a cry they fled. 161
_Hu._ Whither?
_Man._ I think
To the prison, my lord.
_Enter a Soldier._
_Hu._ What now? give me thy matter.
_SOLDIER._
The prisoner Palicio is escaped.
He killed his guards, and fled beyond pursuit.
_Ph._ (_to Liv._). Why, is not this the man you spoke of?
_Liv._ Ay,
That is the man.
_Hu._ Let the patrol be doubled for the night,
And give not o’er the search. Alive or dead,
A hundred florins to whoever finds him.
Blasco, go see to it: he must not escape. 169
_Bl._ (_aside_). But if he be escaped, who’s viceroy
then? [_Exit with soldier._
_Hu._ This same Palicio, duke, is the chief rebel:
While he was caged, I could despise the rest.
But he’s a dangerous fellow; bred in the hills,
He is yet of noble blood and high descent:
A proud and lofty temper, that hath taken
A graft of wildness, and shot forth afresh
In base luxuriance. Tho’ yet unbearded,
Bandits and exiles own him; and the people,
Who hold such men in honour, can be drawn
But by his name to any enterprise. 180
’Tis he that with his bread-tax cry hath stirred
The commons to rebel, and be he ’scaped
Clear, as ’tis thought, there will be more ado.
I’ll not so much as vouch, duke, for your safety,
If you should sleep in the palace.
_Man._ Let the duke
Come to my house. What say you?
_Hu._ What say you, Philip?
They would not seek you there.
_Ph._ If ’tis your wish.
I would not bring you trouble. (_To Fer._) Ferdinand,
These papers must be copied: take them straight
Into your chamber. [_Exit Ferdinand._
_Hu._ ’Tis but truth, your grace, 190
We may be driven hence. The people’s cry
Is _Sack and fire the palace_.
_Mar._ See if Livio
Have not gone pale! Now, Livio, if you think
’Tis safer at our house, for pity’s sake
Spare your complexion and come back with us.
_Liv._ No doubt that sleep were sweeter, and all things else
Beneath thy roof, lady: and came there danger,
That my sword might protect thee...
_Mar._ The heavens shield us,
When we be left to that.
_Liv._ Didst thou not treat
All men with like contempt, I were much wronged:
But there’s none thou wilt praise. 201
_Mar._ Now, if I needed
A man to look at, I would pass my time
Searching for this Palicio. As for you,
When you can lead the people, and cut your way
Thro’ guards and prison walls, and get a price
Set on your head ... I’ll marry you.
_Man._ Come, sister,
This goes too far.
_Mar._ Why, no. Be generous.
If I be wrong, what makes you ill at ease
When this man’s free? Palicio is in prison,
And all goes cheerfully; you sit to feast, 210
You have no care, a joke will raise a laugh.
Palicio is escaped—hey! at that news
What blackness reigns! Forgive me, friends; I see
This man’s your master, and I like him for it.
Bravery I love, and there’s no cause so poor
It cannot justify.
_Hu._ If we should take him,
I’ll send him to you stuffed.
_Mar._ Is that a speech
One should forgive?
_Man._ Enough. We take our leave.
We pass by a private way, duke.
_Ph._ I come with you. 219
Good-night.
_All._ Good-night.
[_Exeunt Philip, Manuel, and Margaret._
_Hu._ (_to Con._). And you to bed.
_Con._ I pray there’s nought to fear?
_Hu._ Nay, nay. Good-night, child; sleep you sound.
_Con._ Dear father,
Heaven keep you safe. Good-night.
_Hu._ Fear not for me.
[_Exit Constance._
Hark, Livio.
I have learned somewhat from Philip: the Spanish court
Is open to my enemies. My best hope
If things go worse will be to sail for Spain
And face them boldly there. ’Tis an extremity
’Twere best to avoid: but since my hands are tied
I may be forced; and am so far resolved,
That if Palicio now should raise the town, 230
And come to attack the palace, I shall fly.
I have had a way cut thro’ the chapel wall,
Whence by a covered passage I can reach
The harbour, where I keep a ship prepared.
Thee I must leave. But let this news be spread,
That Philip is with Manuel; it may serve
To draw the people thither—his being here
Would have impeded my escape. And first
We’ll go the rounds, and see that at all points
The watch is strong and wakeful. Come with me.
[_Exeunt._