_On the hills above Monreale, as before. Enter PALICIO and MARGARET._
_MARGARET._
How fresh the morning air is. See how the mist
Melts in the sun, and while we look is gone,
Leisurely gathered on his sloping beams.
And guarded by her angel towers the city
Sleeps like an island in the solemn gray:
’Tis beauteous.—
_PALICIO._
I love the city: it holds the stir.
To-night I shall be there, and to do something
Worthy of thee.
_Mar._ Whate’er thou dost, Giovanni,
I could not love thee more.
_Pal._ Beneath yon roofs 1750
There’s many a heart that quicker beats and leaps
To hear my name.
_Mar._ Thinkest thou still of them?
They love thee not.
_Pal._ Not?
_Mar._ Nay; the thousandth part
Of my love dealt among them were enough
To make each man a hero. Now they are brave
Only to cheer thee on: and I that love thee,
And love but thee, shall lose thee.
_Pal._ Have better faith,
All will be well.
_Mar._ Pray heaven it be.
_Pal._ O, Margaret,
Speak not so sadly: I would have thee brave
To cheer me on as they. Last night I dreamed 1760
That thou hadst turned against me.
_Mar._ What, Giovanni?
_Pal._ Thou didst deride me.
_Mar._ I deride thy dream.
_Pal._ I thought I failed, and lost thy love.
_Mar._ O, faithless,
That could not lose my love. If thou succeed
Or fail, ’tis one. But tell me, giv’st thou heed
To visions? Are they not a fickle fabric,
Distorted fancies of the spirit, intruding
By night in memory’s darkened cell? Or holdst thou
They come from heaven?
_Pal._ Ay. Talk not of them now.
Let me not think of it.—
_Mar._ See here the flowers 1770
I have plucked. Know’st thou, Giovanni, why they grow?
_Pal._ How meanest thou?
_Mar._ Why in one place one flower
Will grow, and not another.
_Pal._ Canst thou tell?
_Mar._ The spirits of good men, allowed to wander
After their death about the mortal sites
Where once they dwelt, there where they love to rest
Shed virtue on the soil, as doth a ray
Of sunlight: but the immortal qualities
By which their races differ, as they once
Differed in blood alive, with various power 1780
Favour the various vegetable germs
With kindred specialty. This herb, I think,
Grows where the Greek hath been. Its beauty shows
A subtle and full knowledge, and betrays
A genius of contrivance. Seest thou how
The fading emerald and azure blent
On the white petals are immeshed about
With delicate sprigs of green? ’Tis therefore called
Love-in-a-mist.
_Pal._ Who is this thistle here?
_Mar._ O, he, with plumèd crest, springing all armed
In steely lustre, and erect as Mars, 1791
That is the Roman.
_Pal._ Find the Saracen.
_Mar._ This hot gladiolus, with waving swords
And crying colour.
_Pal._ And this marigold?
_Mar._ That is the Norman: nay, his furious blood
Blazes the secret. ’Tis said where’er he roamed
This flower is common; but ’tis in those climes
Where he wrought best it wears the strongest hue,
And so with us ’tis bravest.
_Pal._ And that’s thy countryman!
Dost thou know Greek?
_Mar._ My father ever spoke it; 1800
And Manuel made me study in it, because
Their learning was the best.
_Pal._ And yet their books
Were little thought of till great Frederick’s time,—
The infidel.
_Mar._ Was he an infidel?
_Pal._ He loved their heathen books and mocked the Pope:
And brought into his court a Scottish wizard,
Who trafficked with the devil.—See, Margaret;
Their courts are all alike. Here is the letter
Fat Blasco writes me. He betrays his master
For those few coins thou gav’st me in thy bag. 1810
[_Mar. takes letter._
Gold goeth in at any gate but heaven’s.
Ay, ’tis his writing, tho’ it be not signed.
It tells how Hugo would escape by ship,
And how to intercept him.
_Enter hastily a Brigand._
_BRIGAND._
Captain, a word.
_Pal._ Speak, Roger.
_Brig._ ’Tis for thee, captain, alone.
_Pal._ I am alone, this lady is as I.
What is’t?
_Brig._ Thou biddest?
_Pal._ Speak, man, by heav’n!
_Brig._ Our men
Are all betrayed. They were in dark of night
Closely surrounded at their several trysts 1819
By Hugo’s soldiers; bound, and taken to prison.
_Pal._ O, Christ! my dream.
_Mar._ (_aside_). Now, well done, Livio!
Done like a man.
_Pal._ Thou say’st all taken?
_Brig._ All.
_Mar._ (_aside_). I fear joy will betray me.
_Pal._ It cannot be
They are all betrayed.
_Brig._ As many as had assembled
At the ten trysts were taken.
_Pal._ Who hath done it?
(_To Mar._) Take courage, dearest.
_Mar._ Ay, ay.
_Pal._ Nay, thou’rt pale.
_Mar._ I thought that I should faint. (_To Pal. aside._)
O, fly, Giovanni!
Fly now with me! thou see’st this game is lost.
_Pal._ Be still awhile. (_To Brigand._) And where wert thou?
_Brig._ In the city,
From house to house.
_Pal._ What say they there?
_Brig._ This tale 1830
I heard. ’Tis told that ’mongst our men was one
Of Benedettu’s band, who, being engirt,
Stabbed himself to the heart. Some cried thereon
That he was the betrayer. There are others
Who dare the thought I would not breathe if thou
Couldst think I thought it.
_Pal._ Hold! I know, I see.
All hath been like to build it. Who is with thee?
_Brig._ Three, and the boy Federigo.
_Pal._ Go to the hut:
There I will join you. [_Exit Brigand._
Margaret, fare thee well
Now for some time. This most untoward treason
Demands my care. Lucia is not far. 1841
_Mar._ What wilt thou do?
_Pal._ Whatever may be done:
Trust me.
_Mar._ O, while thou’rt safe, Giovanni, fly.
I claim thy promise. Remember it: thou wilt see
If I deride thee. We will make this ill
Our perfect good.
_Pal._ It cannot be. It cannot.
_Mar._ What wilt thou do?
_Pal._ I know not. Thou remain.
I will go see these men, and send thee word.
Farewell. [_Exit._
_Mar._ O, I had betrayed myself but that my fear
Took other pretext. Ah! well done, well done! 1851
The ruffians caught—Giovanni safe, and mine;
Giovanni mine. Ah, Messer Squarcialupu,
And all your gang. Lucia, ho, Lucia! [_Calling._
Yet will I have them treated well. Ay, now,
Manuel must know. No drop of their base blood
Shall stain my hand. Lucia!
_Enter Lucia._
_LUCIA._
Here I am.
_Mar._ The men are caught, Lucia; all goes well.
There’s none to steal Giovanni from me now.
We go to Rome. But first I must see Manuel. 1860
_Lu._ I pray he take all kindly.
_Mar._ I fear him not.
Giovanni promised, should this venture fail,
To sail to Rome.
_Lu._ And I? shall I to Rome?
_Mar._ See, see! who is it, that gallops down the hill?
Why, ’tis Giovanni!
_Lu._ Where, my lady, where?
_Mar._ See’st thou not by the firs?
_Lu._ I hear the hoofs,
But cannot see the rider.
_Mar._ There he goes:
Now on the road.
_Lu._ I see him.
_Mar._ Look, Lucia;
That is his horse.
_Lu._ Maybe a messenger
He mounts for speed. He rides to Monreale. 1870
_Mar._ Now we shall see. Nay, nay: he turns to the left.
He’s for Palermo: and ’tis he, ’tis he,
Giovanni.
_Enter the Brigand with a letter._
_Brig._ A letter for the lady, from the captain.
[_Gives and stands aside._
_Mar._ Give’t me. I faint. Lucia, take it, read it.
Look! Read it me. I cannot see. The letters dance.
_Lu._ (_reading_).
_Margaret, there’s but one course. My men suspect me.
Of those who held this secret, I alone
Was absent. Manuel’s shelter, my escape,
Thy presence here, all point alike at me._ 1880
_I could not say farewell! When thou hast this
I am gone. I ride to join my men in prison._
_Mar._ Ah! ah! I knew it, I knew it! what have [_Sinks down._
I done?
_Lu._ Mistress, my dearest mistress!