A sacred vow, imperative, and urgent,
A solemn vow!

Monk. Daughter, this zeal is well!

Lal. Father, this zeal is anything but well! Hast thou a crucifix fit for this thing?

A crucifix whereon to register

This sacred vow? (he hands her his own.)
Not that-Oh! no!no!no! (shuddering.)

Not that! Not that!-I tell thee, holy man,
Thy raiments and thy ebony cross affright me!
Stand back! I have a crucifix myself,-

I have a crucifix! Methinks 'twere fitting
The deed-the vow-the symbol of the deed—

And the deed's register should tally, father!

(draws a cross-handled dagger and raises it m high.) Behold the cross wherewith a vow like mine

Is written in Heaven!

Monk. Thy words are madness, daughter,
And speak a purpose unholy-thy lips are livid—
Thine eyes are wild-tempt not the wrath divine!
Pause ere too late!-oh be not-be not rash!
Swear not the oath-oh swear it not!

Lal. 'Tis sworn!

4*

III.

An apartment in a palace. Politian and Baldazzar

Baldazzar.

Arouse thee now, Politian!

Thou must not-nay indeed, indeed, thou shalt not Give way unto these humours. Be thyself!

Shake off the idle fancies that beset thee,

And live, for now thou diest!

Politian. Not so, Baldazzar!

Surely I live.

Bal. Politian, it doth grieve me

To see thee thus.

Pol. Baldazzar, it doth grieve me

To give thee cause for grief, my honoured friend.
Command me, sir! what wouldst thou have me do?
At thy behest I will shake off that nature
Which from my forefathers I did inherit,
Which with my mother's milk I did imbibe,
And be no more Politian, but some other.
Command me, sir!

Bal. To the field then-to the field-
To the senate or the field.

Pol. Alas! alas!

There is an imp would follow me even there!

There is an imp hath followed me even there!
There is- -what voice was that?

Bal. I heard it not.

I heard not any voice except thine own,
And the echo of thine own.

Pol. Then I but dreamed.

Bal. Give not thy soul to dreams: the camp-the court Befit thee-Fame awaits thee-Glory calls—

And her the trumpet-tongued thou wilt not hear

In hearkening to imaginary sounds

And phantom voices.

Pol. It is a phantom voice!

Didst thou not hear it then?

Bal. I heard it not.

Pol. Thou heardst it not !-Baldazzar, speak no more

To me, Politian, of thy camps and courts.

Oh! I am sick, sick, sick, even unto death,

Of the hollow and high-sounding vanities

Of the populous Earth! Bear with me yet awhile!
We have been boys together-school-fellows-
And now are friends—yet shall not be so long-
For in the eternal city thou shalt do me
A kind and gentle office, and a Power—
A Power august, benignant and supreme—
Shall then absolve thee of all farther duties
Unto thy friend.

Bal. Thou speakest a fearful riddle

I will not understand.

Pol. Yet now as Fate

Approaches, and the Hours are breathing low,
The sands of Time are changed to golden grains,
And dazzle me, Baldazzar. Alas! alas!

I cannot die, having within my heart

So keen a relish for the beautiful

As hath been kindled within it. Methinks the air

Is balmier now than it was wont to be-
Rich melodies are floating in the winds-
A rarer loveliness bedecks the earth-

And with a holier lustre the quiet moon

Sitteth in Heaven.-Hist! hist! thou canst not say

Thou hearest not now, Baldazzar?

Bal. Indeed I hear not.

Pol. Not hear it !—listen now—listen !—the faintest sound

And yet the sweetest that ear ever heard!
A lady's voice!—and sorrow in the tone!
Baldazzar, it oppresses me like a spell!
Again!—again!—how solemnly it falls
Into my heart of hearts! that eloquent voice
Surely I never heard-yet it were well
Had I but heard it with its thrilling tones
In earlier days!

Bal. I myself hear it now.

Be still the voice, if I mistake not greatly,
Proceeds from yonder lattice-which you may see
Very plainly through the window-it belongs,
Does it not? unto this palace of the Duke.
The singer is undoubtedly beneath
The roof of his Excellency-and perhaps
Is even that Alessandra of whom he spoke
As the betrothed of Castiglione,

His son and heir.

Pol. Be still!-it comes again!

Voice

"And is thy heart so strong

(very faintly.) As for to leave me thus

Who hath loved thee so long
In wealth and wo among?

And is thy heart so strong

As for to leave me thus ?

Say nay-say nay!"

Bal. The song is English, and I oft have heard it

In merry England-never so plaintively—

(more loudly.) As for to leave me thus

Who hath loved thee so long
In wealth and wo among?

And is thy heart so strong

As for to leave me thus ?

Say nay-say nay!"

Bal. 'Tis hushed and all is still !

Pol. All is not still.

Bal. Let us go down.

Pol. Go down, Baldazzar, go!

Bal. The hour is growing late—the Duke awaits us,— Thy presence is expected in the hall

Below.

What ails thee, Earl Politian?

Voice

(distinctly.)

"Who hath loved thee so long,

In wealth and wo among,

And is thy heart so strong?

Say nay-say nay !"

Bal. Let us descend!-'tis time. Politian, give

These fancies to the wind. Remember, pray,

Your bearing lately savoured much of rudeness

Unto the Duke. Arouse thee! and remember!

Pol. Remember? I do. Lead on! I do remember.

Let us descend. Believe me I would give,

Freely would give the broad lands of my earldom

To look upon the face hidden by yon lattice—

"To gaze upon that veiled face, and hear

Once more that silent tongue."

Bal. Let me beg you, sir,

Descend with me--the Duke may be offended.
Let us go down, I pray you.

(going.)