_Reception-room at the Palace. As first scene of first act. CONSTANCE,
ROSSO, and MANUEL disguised._
_CONSTANCE._
Nay, I can walk. I am very well. See, Manuel,
There’s no one here: thou mayst be Manuel
Yet awhile. Is not this, love, a recovery
To make the memories of sickness glad? 2610
The days seem years since I stood here. But now
Must I see Philip?
_MANUEL._
Be kind to him, Constance.
The self-condemned need more than full forgiveness
Ere they forgive themselves.
_Con._ I am too happy
To be unkind. And where is Margaret?
I long to rally her about her lover.
Sweet Margaret caught: Margaret who mocked us all.
Hath she not chosen a madcap brother for us?
_Man._ Well, I had wished for Rosso, love; but women
Favour strange fellows.
_ROSSO._
She was difficult 2620
To win, and now at least she has met her match.
_Man._ I pray all may go well. Indeed I have hope
That Hugo is by this possessed of orders
Which will resolve all trouble.
_Con._ Hush, father Thomas;
See, here they come.
_Enter Hugo, Philip, Livio, and Ferdinand._
_HUGO._
My dearest daughter, ’tis a happy day.
Thy health and safety—Ay, I am glad to see
Thy face of happiness, and I can add
Now to thy joy. King Frederick is crowned,
And I shall rule in Sicily.
_Man._ (_aside_). How is this? 2630
_Con._ Then for this happy news grant me, dear father,
One favour. Philip here will join in asking.
_PHILIP._
Ere it be asked, I wish before all here
To say some words. Good father, hast thou won
The lady’s ear for me?
_Man._ I have, your grace.
_Ph._ May I speak, Constance?
_Con._ Philip, you may speak.
_Ph._ Once I asked this, and thou didst bid me then
Speak and end all. Hear while I speak my last.
I have wronged thee, Constance.
_Con._ That is now forgiven.
_Hu._ O, well done, Constance.
_Ph._ And I wronged Manuel. 2640
I violated friendship, and the bond
Of hospitality.
_Con._ All that I know,
And all forgive.
_Hu._ Forgive him, and forget it.
So should it be.
_Ph._ Yet if thou sayest that,
Thou dost not know that ’twas my treachery
Procured his exile, whence ensued his death.
_Con._ All this I know, and I forgive it all.
_Hu._ (_aside_). This is too soft. Doth her mind wander still?
_Ph._ Thou understandest? Knowest thou that did he live
To-day he were the ruler of his country? 2650
_Con._ Nay; now, sir, this is new. How came you by it?
_Ph._ In a despatch I hold, his full appointment
Is writ and sealed.
_Con._ He will be very glad
To hear of this.
_Ph._ What sayst thou, then?
_Hu._ (_aside_). O misery!
_Con._ I know you call him dead; but still to me
He makes his visitations. I have seen him
This morning in my chamber. Nay, I say,
I see him now.
_Hu._ What saith she? (_To Livio._) Alas, alas!
Thy sister’s mind is gone. This was the reason
Of her strange cheerfulness.
_Ph._ May God forgive us 2660
Our fatal mischief.
_Con._ Give me the despatch:
I’ll shew it him, sirs, else he might not believe me:
But if I take it ...
_Ph._ (_to Hu._). What, sir, shall I do?
_Ros._ Humour her fancy, I will lead her out.
_Hu._ Ferdinand, give it to her. Alas, alas!
_Con._ (_taking_). I thank thee, sir. (_To Man._) Now,
father, here’s a matter
To make us laugh within.
[_Exeunt Rosso, Constance, and Manuel._
_Hu._ Philip, she is mad.
_Ph._ I see it, and I the cause.
_Hu._ A laughing idiot. O, cruel heavens,
Ye had no stroke more fearful. Would to God 2670
That Manuel yet were living, tho’ I hate him,
Rather than this.
[_Shouting without of “Palicio,” etc._]
What noise is that?
_LIVIO._
The rebels, sir, again.
_Enter an Officer._
_OFFICER._
The city, sire, is risen; and the people,
With John Palicio at their head, demand
The king’s despatches.
_Hu._ John Palicio!
Is he escaped again? Send Blasco hither.
Livio, where is he?
_Liv._ Sir, I do not know.
_Hu._ ’Tis this accursed rebellion hath done all:
I have been too merciful. I tell thee, Philip, 2679
That was the cause of all, of Constance’s madness,
Of Manuel’s death. By heaven, the sword shall fall.
I will have blood for blood, and wail for wail.
None of these villains whom I hold in prison
Shall see the sunset. Send me Blasco hither.
Call out the troops.
_Ph._ Pray you remember, sire,
Pardon to all is urged in the despatch.
_Hu._ Send pardon to the devil. Oppose me not!
I’ll teach these rebels I am master now.
[_Cries heard without._
_Enter Manuel (as himself, with paper in hand) and Constance.
Margaret, Lucia, and Rosso following._
Manuel! why, Manuel!
_Ph._ O, Manuel,
My friend, I am saved.
_Con._ My father, 2690
Let me present to you my ghostly father;
And at your will my loving living husband.
_Hu._ Why, what! How’s this? Is’t thou? Is this a trick?
_Man._ Ay: but a trick of fortune. Let my escape,
Which makes you wonder, be explained hereafter.
But now, since here I hold my title, sire,
I’ll fill my place at once. Philip, I pray thee
Go to the window, and make known to all
These latest tidings. Send the people home.
[_Philip goes to window._
Meanwhile, sir; if before thou hadst some warrant
For anger shewn against me, now I ask 2701
Thy pardon; and for wrongs against me done
Assure thee, that if freely thou make over
Thy daughter for my wife, there is in my love
Means for full reconcilement. May I say
Constance is mine?
_Hu._ I see that she is thine.
_Man._ I pray thou never shalt regret this day.
_Ph._ (_returning from window_). There is John Palicio,
with half the town
At their old cries. I can make nothing of him.
_Man._ Bid him surrender as my prisoner. 2710
I will receive him here.
_Hu._ Thou must not think
He comes at asking thus.
_Man._ He will obey.
But I will shew myself. [_Goes to window._
_Hu._ How comes he out of prison?
_MARGARET._
That I can tell.
Your secretary Blasco promised me,
Who desired nothing more than the release
Of John Palicio, that he would contrive
To free him, if on my part I returned
A certain letter to his hands, wherein, [_Shewing._
As you may read, he had betrayed your person 2720
To John Palicio for a price. Then I,
As holder of this written ransom, came
To see my kinsman freed; when in the dungeon
False Blasco, with two villains and another,
Who was your son, appeared before us armed:
And thinking there to find Palicio
Defenceless, would have slain him, and forced me
To give them back this writing: but Palicio
Sprang up, slew Blasco, and escaped.
_Ph._ His death
Was due from me.
_Hu._ Give me the letter, pray. 2730
Say, Livio, is this true?
_Liv._ I never knew
Of this betrayal, sir; I trusted Blasco.
_Mar._ He counts for nothing, since he ran away.
_Enter Palicio._
_Hu._ Is this the man?
_Man._ Thou art my prisoner.
_PALICIO._