embrace; and swear how lucky ’twasThat I, by happy chance, hit the right man
Of all the world to trust in.
Albert.
Trust! to me!
Conrad (aside). He is the sole one in this mystery.
Erminia.
Well, I give up, and save my prayers for Heaven!
You, who could do this deed, would ne’er relent,
Though, at my words, the hollow prison-vaults
Would groan for pity.
Conrad.
Manacle them both!
Ethelbert.
I know it — it must be I see it all!
Albert, thou art the minion!
Erminia.
Ah ! too plain
Conrad. Silence! Gag up their mouths! I cannot bear
More of this brawling. That the Emperor
Had plac’d you in some other custody!
Bring them away.
[Exeunt all but ALBERT.
Albert.
Though my name perish from the book of honour,
Almost before the recent ink is dry,
And be no more remember’d after death,
Than any drummer’s in the muster-roll;
Yet shall I season high my sudden fall
With triumph o’er that evil-witted duke!
He shall feel what it is to have the hand
Of a man drowning, on his hateful throat.
Enter GERSA and SIGIFRED.
Gersa.
What discord is at ferment in this house?
Sigifred.
We are without conjecture; not a soul
We met could answer any certainty.
Gersa.
Young Ludolph, like a fiery arrow, shot
By us.
Sigifred.
The Emperor, with cross’d arms, in thought.
Gersa.
In one room music, in another sadness,
Perplexity every where!
Albert.
A trifle more!
Follow; your presences will much avail
To tune our jarred spirits. I’ll explain. [Exeunt.
Act IV
Scene I
AURANTHE’S Apartment.
AURANTHE and CONRAD discovered.
Conrad.
Well, well, I know what ugly jeopardy
We are cag’d in; you need not pester that
Into my ears. Prythee, let me be spared
A foolish tongue, that I may bethink me
Of remedies with some deliberation.
You cannot doubt but ’tis in Albert’s power
To crush or save us?
Auranthe.
No, I cannot doubt.
He has, assure yourself, by some strange means,
My secret ; which I ever hid from him,
Knowing his mawkish honesty.
Conrad.
Curs’d slave!
Auranthe. Ay, I could almost curse him now myself.
Wretched impediment! Evil genius!
A glue upon my wings, that cannot spread,
When they should span the provinces! A snake,
A scorpion, sprawling on the first gold step,
Conducting to the throne, high canopied.
Conrad.
You would not hear my council, when his life
Might have been trodden out, all sure and hush’d;
Now the dull animal forsooth must be
Intreated, managed! When can you contrive
The interview he demands?
Auranthe.
As speedily
It must be done as my brib’d woman can
Unseen conduct him to me; but I fear
Twill be impossible, while the broad day
Comes through the panes with persecuting glare.
Methinks, if ‘t now were night I could intrigue
With darkness, bring the stars to second me,
And settle all this trouble.
Conrad.
Nonsense! Child!
See him immediately; why not now?
Auranthe.
Do you forget that even the senseless door-posts
Are on the watch and gape through all the house?
How many
