SCENE II My lord, a noise ! This way hark! SCENE II. - Another part of the Forest Albert. O! for enough life to support me on To Otho's feet! Enter LUDOLPH. Ludolph. Thrice villanous, stay there! Albert. My good Prince, with me Conrad has it home Where is his sister? Enter AURANTHE. Auranthe. Albert ! There There! there! - He is the paramour! hug him - dying! O, thou inno cence, Shrine him and comfort him at his last gasp, Kiss down his eyelids! Was he not thy love? Wilt thou forsake him at his latest hour? Albert. O that that door with hollow slam would close Upon me sudden, for I cannot meet, Ludolph. Auranthe ! what can he mean? 21 OTHO, ERMINIA, ETHELBERT, and a Physician, discovered. Otho. O, my poor boy! My son! My son! My Ludolph! Have ye no comfort for me, ye physicians Of the weak body and soul? Ethelbert. Otho. A kind forbearance, holy Abbot. Erminia; here, sit by me, gentle girl; to pray for you! Otho. Why will ye keep me from my darling child? 10 Physician. Forgive me, but he must not Otho. Is then a father's countenance a Hath it not comfort in it? Would it not Console my poor boy, cheer him, help his spirits? Let me embrace him; let me speak to him; I will! Who hinders me? Who's Emperor ? Physician. You may not, Sire; 't would overwhelm him quite, He is so full of grief and passionate wrath; Too heavy a sigh would kill him, or do Indeed! Once he complain'd of weariness. Physician. 'Tis good, 't is good; let him but fall asleep, That saves him. Otho. Gersa, watch him like a child; Ward him from harm, and bring me better news! Physician. Humour him to the height. I fear to go; 50 For should he catch a glimpse of my dull garb, It might affright him, fill him with suspicion That we believe him sick, which must not be. Gersa. I will invent what soothing means I can. [Exit GERSA. Physician. This should cheer up your Highness; weariness Is a good symptom, and most favourable; It gives me pleasant hopes. Please you, walk forth Upon the terrace; the refreshing air away. [Exeunt. The remedy grows hopeless! SCENE V. A Banqueting Hall, bril liantly illuminated, and set forth with all costly magnificence, with suppertables laden with services of gold and silver. A door in the back scene, guarded by two Soldiers. Lords, Ladies, Knights, Gentlemen, etc., whispering sadly, and ranging themselves; part entering and part discovered. 1st Knight. Grievously are we tantalized, one and all; Sway'd here and there, commanded to and fro, As though we were the shadows of a sleep, And link'd to a dreaming fancy. What do we here? Gonfred. I am no seer; you know we must obey The prince from A to Z, though it should be To set the place in flames. I pray, hast Here he 20 comes, Observe what I have said show no surprise. Enter LUDOLPH, followed by SIGIFRED and Page. Ludolph. A splendid company! rare beauties here! I should have Orphean lips, and Plato's These draperies are fine, and, being a mortal, I should desire no better; yet, in truth, Slung from the spheres; gauzes of silver mist, Loop'd up with cords of twisted wreathed Her nostrils, small, fragrant, fairy-delicate; Sigifred. Ludolph. 'Tis not to-morrow then? Say you so, Prince ? Her lips-I swear no human bones e'er We'll have her presently; ay, you shall see her, And wonder at her, friends, she is so fair; She is the world's chief jewel, and, by heaven, She's mine by right of marriage! — she is Patience, good people, in fit time I send 80 [A soft strain of Music. Ludolph. Ye have none better? No, I am content; Indeed full time we slept; 'T is a rich sobbing melody, with reliefs Ludolph. I say I quarrel'd with you; Sigifred. Retire, Gersa! here: There should be three more |