CONRAD.

My guards, ho!

ERMINIA.

Albert, wilt thou follow there?
Wilt thou creep dastardly behind his back,
And shrink away from a weak woman's eye?
Turn, thou court-Janus! thou forget'st thyself;
Here is the duke, waiting with open arms,

245

[Enter Guards.

To thank thee; here congratulate each other;
Wring hands; embrace; and swear how lucky 'twas
That I, by happy chance, hit the right man
Of all the world to trust in.

250

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.

255

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, 265
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.

270

275

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.

280

[Exeunt.

ACT IV.

SCENE I.-AURANTHE'S Apartment.

AURANTHE and CONRAD discovered.

CONRAD.

WELL, well, I know what ugly jeopardy
We are caged 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.

5

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.

15

CONRAD.

You would not hear my counsel, 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

20

25

30

Are on the watch and gape through all the house?
How many whisperers there are about,

Hungry for evidence to ruin me;

Men I have spurn'd, and women I have taunted?
Besides, the foolish prince sends, minute whiles,
His pages-so they tell me-to enquire

35

After my health, entreating, if I please,

To see me.

CONRAD.

Well, suppose this Albert here;

What is your power with him?