The Works of Walter Savage Landor

Of grand farm-house; and while nighthawk and grillo

Fought for it which should sing them first to sleep; And while aside them, in brass pot unfathom'd, The rich goat-whey was ripening for next breakfast,

I thought of my far sheep and my near friend; My near friend first; and so, by luck, here am I. Marimin. But how didst dream that thou shouldst find me here?

Stephen. Who, in the Virgin's name, should first step up,

After I bade the mendicants good-bye,

Who but Augustin! Much about our country, Mops, wakes, fairs, may-poles, gipsy-girls, and fortunes,

When suddenly, as one that knew them all,
He whisper'd thou wert at this Muro here,
Some twenty miles, or near upon it, off.

I must fain see thee. After three hours' walk
I ask the distance: twenty-five miles scant.
At night I supt and slept with an old shepherd:
His dog soon crope betwixt us, so genteely,
I should have never known it, but his nose
Was cold against my ear, and, when I turn'd,
A snag or two was at it.. without harm.
Morning blew sharp upon us from the hills.
"How far are we from Muro, my good man?"
Said I, and dipt my olive in the salt.
"Scant thirty miles." Let never man believe
In luck! I overturned the salt, alert
To hurry on; yet here thou seest me, rich..
Sleeping six hours in winter, five in summer.
Maximin, (pondering.) Augustin told thee I was
here! Augustin !

How should he know? One only knew beside
The friar he never would have told: she told
him.
[Walks about impatiently.
Augustin has smooth locks and fresh complexion,
And heels for dance and voice for dulcimer,
Rare articles at finding secrets out:

SCENE III. MONASTERY GARDENS. Rupert (alone). I must have peace: I can not live without it:

Only few years (who knows) may yet remain.
They shall not hurt the queen: in part the harm
He too.. yet why not let him die in battle?
Would be my doing. But then Maximin ..
Battles there will be: kings are all tenacious
Of their king-life: Italians are astute,
Hungarians valiant: two stout swords must clash
Before one break.

That Agatha, that Agatha Troubles me most of all! Suppose she comes Into my very palace at Nocera,

And tells the people what the bishop did!
Never was blow cruel like this since Herod.
Giovanna must then live, if for her sake
Alone; for such her tenderness, her truth,
She 'll not abandon her while life remains.

Chancellor. No? This changes the whole aspect.

But, with thy slanting face, and arm curl'd round Once bearing that high dignity, once throned..

The inside canework of a padded chair,
And leg oblique slid negligently under,
If thou wouldst keep them nicely in repair
Ferret no more my secrets out, Augustin!

Officer (returned). Ready? my dapple grey ! ready for Naples?

Stephen. Not without Maximin. By his advice I call'd you in to help us: he shall have

His share.

Durazzo. I like no thrones that narrow mine too much,

[them.

And wonder wherefore clergymen should mount Chancellor. However, sir, since such hath been the custom

From barbarous times..
Durazzo.

Till times herein as barbarous.. Chancellor... We must observe the usage of the realm,

Marimin. When our blythe king sniffs up the And keep our hands from touching things held wind,

And sees the clouds roll mainly from the north,

And finds Giovanna's enemies advance,

He may be kinder to her: so, commander,

If you believe I did my duty now,

Let me confirm the letter you convey.
Officer. Canst thou add aught?

Maximin. Much, were there much required.
Officer. Come then along: we will drink gold

to-morrow.

VOL. II.

sacred.

Appeal so manifest to foreign force,

And strip him to the skin to wash him clean. Fifth Counsellor. And there are civil laws which tread on velvet

And leave no scandal when they pass the door;
Modest and mild and beautifully drest,
And void of all loquacity, all pomp;

They, should you ask them what they are, reply "We are not laws; we are prerogatives."

Carlo. Paoluccio! wit may give the best advice. Far be from me all violence. If the criminal

Be strong and boisterous, the ecclesiastical
Craving and crafty, swift or slow at pleasure,
At least our civil laws are excellent,
And what you call prerogatives are civil.
Paoluccio. I class them so.
Many at once.

Margarita.

She played with you the most; Perhaps because she thought you like her child. She did show pleasure when she fondled me; They are the best of all. But 'twas not to make me the happier,

Carlo. I will pursue this counsel.

SCENE I.

ACT V.

Although it did so, but herself.. herself.
You may rise. Yet, Carlo, would you think it! there are times
When I am ready to desire of you

CASTLE OF MURO.

That you would let her out of such a den
At Muro.

Durazzo. Had you mentioned it before,
As wishing it.. why, then indeed..
Margarita.
So, then,
You would have let her out? How very kind!
Durazzo. If we could have persuaded her to go.
Margarita. Persuaded her? what! out of prison?
Durazzo.
Do not

Term it so harshly: who can bear to hear
Of prisons?

Margarita. Is the tower indeed not lockt
Nor bolted?

Durazzo. People would run into it
And trouble her devotions. At this time
She needs them most particularly.
Margarita.

Why?

Lord High Steward. We want such men's reli- | I want not yours; they come too late, my friends; Farewell, then! You may live and serve your country;

gion, their sound sense,

Coolness, deliberation, ponderous front,
Broad and dark eyebrow. Much of dignity
Reverence and awe, build on these crags alone.
Lord Chamberlain. Ye have them all in one. I
hear his foot:

The king steps lighter: both advance.
Lord High Steward.

Behind? for there are many.

Who come

(DURAZZO, CHANCELLOR, COUNSELLORS, enter.)
Durazzo.
Take your seats.

Gentlemen! ye have heard with indignation
The rash attempt against my peace and yours,
Made by the Suabian, husband of Giovanna.

These walls are mine, and nothing now beyond.

SCENE V. NAPLES.
MAXIMIN. STEPHEN.

Maximin. Among the idle and the fortunate Never drops one but catafalc and canopy

Are ready for him: organ raves above,

And songsters wring their hands and push dull
rhymes

Into dull ears that worse than wax hath stopt,
And cherubs puff their cheeks and cry half-split

Lord Chamberlain. We hear, by Heaven's pro- With striding so across his monument.
tection of your Highness,

It fail'd.

It seems I am required to abdicate

In favor of Duke Carlo of Durazzo.

Chancellor. Even so.

(Reads.)

Name me one honest man for whom such plays
Were ever acted.

They will ne'er lay Otho
With kindred clay! no helm, no boot beside
His hurried bier! no stamp of stately soldier
Angry with grief and swearing hot revenge,
Until even the paid priest turns round and winks.
I will away: sick, weary . .

Gallant prince!

Conqueror of more than men, of more than heroes!
What may that soldier merit who deserts

Giovanna (To the others). To you I turn me, gen- His post, and lets the enemy to the tent?

tlemen!

Durazzo. Death is the sentence.
Maximin.

Sign that sentence then.

SCENE VII. NAPLES. MONASTERY GARDEN.

And through her fingers and her palm could see
That she held something: she had given it

Rupert (Alone.) There are some pleasures serious But it dropt out of them: this crucifix,

men sigh over,

And there are others maniacs hug in chains:
I wonder what they are: I would exchange
All mine for either, all that e'er were mine.
I have been sadly treated my whole life,
Cruelly slighted, shamefully maligned :
And this too will be laid upon my shoulders.
If men are witty, all the wit of others
Bespangles them; if criminal, all crimes
Are shoveled to their doors.

From which the square-set jewels were removed, And this broad golden piece, with its long chain Of soft dark hair, like our late queen Giovanna's. Rupert. Her medal. . anno primo.. All goes right.

Monk. Your blessing! Rupert.

begone.

Take it, pr'ythee, and [Monk goes.

Nothing has hurt me: none have seen me.

None?

God knows how truly Ye saints of heaven! hath ever prayer been miss'd?
Penance, tho' hard, been ever unperform'd?
Why do ye then abandon me? like one
Whom in your wrath ye hurl aside; like one
Scathed by those lightnings which God's sleepless

I wisht her life; not her imprisonment
More truly. Maximin and Agatha
In the queen's life would never have come forth.
Men of late years have handled me so roughly,
I am become less gentle than I was.
Derision, scoffs and scorns, must be rebuft,
Or we can do no good in act or counsel.
Respect is needful, is our air, our day,
"Tis in the sight of men we see ourselves,
Without it we are dark and halt and speechless.
Religion in respect and power hath being,
And perishes without them. Power I hold:
Why shun men's looks? why my own thoughts?
.. afraid?

No, I am not afraid but phantasies
Long dwelt on let us thro'.

Andrea had not done it: wrong'd, betray'd,
Andrea had not done it.

Have my words
Sorcery in them? do they wake the dead?

Hide thy pale face, dear boy! hide from my sight
Those two dark drops that stain thy scanty beard,
Hide those two eyes that start so! Curse me,
kill me ;

'Twere mercy, 'twere compassion, not revenge;
Justice, the echo of God's voice, cries More!
I can endure all else.

I will arise,
Push off this rack that rends me, rush before him
And ask him why he made me what I am.

(Enter Officers.)

First Officer. Traitor! the king hath traced all thy devices.

Rupert. Without them he had ne'er been what ye style him.

Second Officer. Avowest thou thy perfidy?
Rupert.

Third Officer. Murderer! thou shalt confess.
Rupert.

She said,

And his.

Thine is too.

"Twere royal bounty.

"Saved."

Third Officer. And die. Rupert.

'Twere more than royal.

First Officer.

Come thy way.

Monk. Her mind, observe, was wandering.
Rupert.

Tell me the very word she uttered.
Monk,

Blessings upon her! your uplifted hands

And radiant brow announce her present bliss. Rupert. Said she no more?

Monk.

Rupert. My way? my way?.. I've travell'd it

enough,

"Since he's not here, take these, With or without thee I will take another.

Third Officer.

First Officer (After a pause). Merciful God! end
thus his many crimes?
Third Officer (After a pause). What moans and The wail of thousands.
piteous wailings from the street!

Distinctly; if distinctly may be heard

Second Officer. Can they arise for him so suddenly ?

First Officer. There are too many. None hath told the deed

Beyond this spot, none seen it.

Second Officer.

cry

Now you hear

Their queen's name they

Now, at last,

Third Officer. With blessings.
First Officer.

ye know Giovanna ;

And now will Rupert too be known, tho' late.

THE SIEGE OF ANCONA.

No event in the history of Italy, including the Roman, is at once so tragical and so glorious as the Siege of Ancona ; nor shall we find at any period of it, two contemporary characters so admirable for disinterested valour and prompt humanity, as William degli Adelardi of Marchesella, and the Countess of Bertinoro. The names of those who sustained the siege are, for the most-part, forgotten: but Muratori has inserted in his imperishable work the narratives of contemporary and nearly contemporary authors; and Sismondi has rendered many of the facts more generally known.-Hist. des Repub. Ital., tome xi. ch. i.

On the steps of the cathedral, commanding a view
of the country. Many of all ages are leaving the
church and looking at the approach of the Arch-
bishop, just beyond the walls, descending the hill.
Erminia. Nina! see what our matin prayers
have brought us.

O what a sight! The youth and maidens fly,
Some to the city, others up the hills,
With the fresh tale each for the one loved best.
Nina. They are afraid to meet so many horses;
I would not scud away so, were I there,

Would you?

Erminia. My dress would show the dust; or

else..

I run to tell my father: go, tell yours.

SCENE II. CONSUL'S HOUSE.!
CONSUL and ERMINIA.

Erminia. Father! why are not all the bells
set ringing?

Consul. What should the bells be ringing for to-day?

Erminia. Such a procession comes along the
road

As never was some bishop at the head:
And what a horse is under him! and what
Beautiful boys.. they really are but boys,
Dear father..hold the bridle on each side!
Scarlet and gold about their surplices,
And waving hair; not like church servitors,
But princes' sons. I would give all the world

To see their faces. . not quite all the world..
For who would care about boys' faces, father?
Beside, they are too distant, very far.
Consul. Art thou gone wild, Erminia?
Erminia.
Come and see.

Consul (Listening, and rising). What means this
tumult?

Senators enter.

Consul. How so?
First Senator.

Barbarossa,

Against the city.
Consul.

Consul! we are lost.

The archbishop comes, from

What archbishop comes?
Second Senator. Of Mentz.
Consul. Then close the gates, and man the walls,
And hurl defiance on him. Bring my robe,
Erminia! I will question this proud prelate.
Gasparo, lift my armour from the wall
In readiness.
Officer.

A herald, sir, claims entrance.
Herald enters.

Consul. What would your master with his
perfidy?

Herald. My master is the emperor and king.
Consul. The more perfidious. Binds him not
his oath

To succour Italy? Is slavery succour ?
Tell the false priest thou comest from, that priest
Who took the name of Christian at the font,
"Twere well he held not in such mockery
The blessed one he bears it from. But wealth
And power put Wisdom's eyes out, lest she rule.

Herald. Sir Consul! if the archbishop never

preaches,

Pray why should you? It ill becomes my office
To bandy words: mine is but to repeat
The words of others: and their words are these:
"The people of Ancona must resign
Their lawless independence, and submit
To Frederic, our emperor and king."

Consul. Brief is the speech; and brief is the
reply.

The people of Ancona will maintain

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The Works of Walter Savage Landor, Volume 2