The Mirror of Taste, and Dramatic Censor Part 15

_Pri._ And in fact-- why renounce all the delights of life for one who cannot know the sacrifice-- who now is nothing more than an unconscious heap of ashes----

_Venoni._ Josepha!

_Pri._ No more will you kneel at yonder grate; no more will that tomb----

_Venoni._ Josepha!

_Vice._ (_indignant at the prior's success_) This artifice-- this insidious language----

_Pri._ (_pressing his point_) Yes, yes! I see how it will be! she, whom heaven scarcely balanced in your heart, soon abandoned, soon forgotten, soon replaced----

_Venoni._ (_almost frantic_) Never, never!

_Vice._ Rash youth! p.r.o.nounce not----

_Pri._ You have sworn a thousand times to live near her, to die near her----

_Venoni._ (_in the most violent agitation_) I have! I have sworn it!

I will keep my vow, and-- hark! (_the bell strikes nine; at the first sound Venoni starts, and utters a dreadful shriek; the blood seems to curdle in his veins, and he remains in an att.i.tude of horror like one petrified._)

_Pri._ (_triumphant_) Ah, listen to that bell! twas at this very hour, that Josepha's eye-lids closed for ever! twas at this very hour, that-- (_the bell ceases to strike; Venoni recovers animation_)

_Venoni._ Josepha! oh, my Josepha! (_he rushes towards the grate, sinks on his knees, and extends his arms through the bars towards the tomb._)

_Venoni._ (_after a short pause starts up, comes forward, and embraces the viceroy in a hurried manner_) Farewell! I am grateful for your zeal; but my fate is irrevocable!

_Vice._ Cruel youth! yet hear----

_Venoni._ No more, no more! I am dead to the world! yet forget not, that while I lived, I lived to love you. Farewell, Benvolio-- farewell for ever!

[Breaks from him, and exit.

(The viceroy remains in an att.i.tude of profound grief; the prior surveys him in silence with a look of malignant joy; at length he advances towards him)

_Pri._ (_in a hypocritical tone_) May I without offence represent to your excellence, that night approaches? it must be near the time, when our rules require, that the monastery gates should be closed.

_Vice._ I read your soul, and your inhuman joy bursts out in spite of your hypocrisy. Exult; but your triumph will be short. I have eyes-- they are fixed upon you!-- tremble!

[Exit.

_Pri._ (_fiercely_) And you who talk so loudly and so high-- tremble for yourself! vain man, you little dream to what heights I can extend my vengeance!

(Father _Jeronymo_ enters with a dark lantern.)

(_During the following scene, night comes on, and the moon rises_)

_Jer._ Even now I encountered Venoni, his eyes wild, his lips pale, his whole frame trembling with agitation. I almost dread to inquire the issue of this interview. Say, what result----

_Pri._ Jeronymo, there was one dreadful moment, when I gave up all for lost-- Venoni was on the point of escaping from my power.

_Jer._ What! the viceroy's arguments----

_Pri._ Spoke but too forcibly to Venoni's heart. He talked to him of his duties; he painted the world as a s.p.a.cious field for the exercise of virtue, and Venoni no longer looked upon the world with disgust.

_Jer._ But surely his love-- his despair-- the shock which his understanding has received--

_Pri._ Right: tis to them that we are indebted for retaining our captive in his chains. His resolution was shaken; the viceroy already triumphed; but I p.r.o.nounced Josepha's name, and instantly he forgot all but her. He is ours once more; tomorrow will see him resign his wealth and liberty in my hands; and much time shall not elapse, ere that first sacrifice is followed by a second.

_Jer._ And does then this count Benvolio inspire you with no apprehensions? As viceroy of Messina his power is great; and how to escape the vigilance of his suspicious eye--

_Pri._ And by what means then have I veiled from every eye the fate of the wretched Lodovico, who for twenty years has expiated in the gloom of our subterraneous cells the crime of having revealed our convent secrets; and yet who on earth suspects, that he has not long since sought the grave, the victim of an accidental malady? Jeronymo, fear nothing; give me but time, and the success of my design is certain.

_Jer._ I would fain believe it so-- yet forget not, that father Michael--

_Pri._ His fate is decided. It's true, I as yet accuse him only on suspicions, but these suspicions are enough. I will not live in fear, and tomorrow-- some one approaches.

_Jer._ As well as the moonlight enables me to discern, tis Venoni-- perhaps he returns. .h.i.ther, hoping that the viceroy may not be yet departed.

_Pri._ Let us retire. I have still much to say to you-- summon our friends to my cell, that our proceedings may be finally arranged.

Afterwards we will rejoin Venoni, and spare no pains to confirm him in that resolution, which secures at once his destruction and my revenge.

Silence! he is here!

[Exeunt.

_Venoni_ enters hastily.

_Venoni._ Benvolio! friend! he is gone! how abruptly did I quit him! how ungratefully have I repaid his kindness! ah, whither is my reason fled!

he said-- I was in danger! in danger? and what then have I left to fear?

what have I still left to lose? my life? oh, I were happy-- too, too happy-- if the moment of parting with it were even now arrived!

Enter father _Michael_, with a dark lantern; which he afterwards just opens to observe Venoni, and having ascertained his person, closes it again looking round cautiously.

_Mi._ (_in a low, hurried voice_) That voice could be none but his.

Venoni! answer! is it thou, Venoni?

_Venoni._ Who speaks? ha! father Michael?

_Mi._ (_closing the lantern_) I sought you-- I must speak with you-- I must save you!

_Venoni._ Save me?

_Mi._ The viceroy has been here: was he admitted?

_Venoni._ He was-- I saw him.

_Mi._ Mentioned he a letter?

_Venoni._ He did.