Page:The Vespers of Palermo.pdf/78

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74
THE VESPERS
[Act IV.

Bear him in chains before us. We will sit
To-day in judgment, and the skies shall see
The strength which girds our nature.—Will not this
Be glorious, brave Montalba?—Linger not,
Ye tardy messengers! for there are things
Which ask the speed of storms.
[Exeunt Guido and others.
Is not this well?

Mon. 'T is noble. Keep thy spirit to this proud height,
(Aside) And then—be desolate like me!—my woes
Will at the thought grow light.

Pro. What now remains
To be prepared?—There should be solemn pomp
To grace a day like this.—Ay, breaking hearts
Require a drapery to conceal their throbs
From cold inquiring eyes; and it must be
Ample and rich, that so their gaze may not
Explore what lies beneath. [Exit Procida.

Mon. Now this is well!
—I hate this Procida; for he hath won
In all our councils that ascendancy
And mastery o'er bold hearts, which should have been
Mine by a thousand claims.—Had he the strength
Of wrongs like mine?— No! for that name—his country—
He strikes—my vengeance hath a deeper fount:
But there's dark joy in this!—And fate hath barr'd
My soul from every other. [Exit Montalba.

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