and such courage, as at the head of an army would enable him to conquer half the world! Would I could once see this Rugantino! Rug. Who during this speech has come softly from the alcove, and now claps the DUKE on the shoulder.] Look up, then! [The DUKE starts from his chair; RUGANTINO Duke. Man-who art thou? Rug. Thou seest me; and can'st doubt? Well then, I am the Bravo Rugantino; Foscari's murderer, and the republic's most devoted slave. Duke. Rugantino, thou art a fearful, a detestable znan! Rug. Aye! Well, perhaps I am so; but at least tis certain, Andreas, that you and I stand on the same line; for at this moment are we the two greatest men in Venice, you in your way, I in mine. [The DUKE moves towards the door, RUGANTINO bars his passage.] Hold, friend! not so fast! we must first have some conversation. Duke. Indeed! then be this the subject. Mark me, miscreant! Instantly confess who bribed you to murder Foscari, abjure your bloody trade, quit the republic, or I swear Rug. Quit it? abjure-and why should I do all this? through fear of thee? Ho, ho! [Laughing.] through fear of Venice? Ha! Rugautino fears not Venice; 'tis Venice that fears Rugantino! Quit the republic? Well; on one condition Duke. Name it. Rug. 'Tis a mere trifle. Give me your daughter for my bride. Duke. Insolent! My daughter is already a prince's bride. Within this hour my written pro mise sent to the Prince of Milan Rug. Aye? Well, well; within another hour this dagger in the prince's heart shall make your written promise void. Duke. Has heaven no lightnings? [Goes to his seat. Rug. Hear yet more: I've sold for ten thousand ducats the lives of your friends Lomelino and Manfrone; now give me Rosabella, and I'll break the bargain. Duke. (Snatches up the light, and hastens to the door.] Monster! Guards, guards! Rug. Say you so? Thus then. [Takes off his hat, and strikes out the light with it; then steps back to the mirror, which he pushes away, and passes through the aperture. Duke. Ha! miscreant. Lights! lights, I say! [The door opens. Rug. [Putting his head out.] Au revoir, good father that is to be. [Closes the mirror. Enter BERTOLDO and Guards, with torches. Duke. Seize him. Ber. Whom, my lord? We see no one. [The Guards search the room. Duke. Traitors! Have you let him pass? Ber. Pass? No one has past us. Duke. Not pass'd you? Ber. Nor is any one here. “Huzzas” are heard without, and shouts of "Flodoardo! Flodoardo !" Enter ROSABELLA from the palace. Ros. He is returned! Flodoardo is returned! Oh! joy past utterance. But he returned against my positive orders; I must be angry with him, very angry. But alas the day! how shall I manage to conceal my pleasure. See, see, he comes! Enter RUGANTINO, clad in glittering armour, from the palace. Every trace of deformity is gone. Rug. [Aside.] She's here; and oh! so lovely! Alas! sweet maid! how would the roses of thy cheek grow pale, knew'st thou, that the man now Duke. My brain turns round! 'Tis a fiend in approaching is the dreaded Rugantino. [He ad human shape. Enter ROSABELLA. Ros. Dear father, what means- Duke. Oh! my child-Rugantino-even now he was here. Ros. Good heavens! vances, bowing.] Lady! Ros. Aside. Cavalier-I-you-you have been very long absent-that is-I mean-did you receive much pleasure from your travels? Rug. Much; for everywhere I heard the praise of Rosabella. Ros. Flodoardo! will you again offend me? 806 Rug. After this hour I shall never offend you more. Lady, I come to say farewell-for ever? Ko For ever! Ah! Flodoardo, and can you then leave me? Can you leave my father, I meant to Rag. Your father? H. His friendship for you is so warmR-g. I value it highly," but it cannot make me happy. He Does then your happiness require so much? Hay. It does, it does! But one boon can make me happy; I have begged for it on my knees! [Press her hand to his lips.] I have begged for it, Rosabella, and my sait has been rejected. Hoa. į Trying gently to disengage her hand.] En thusiast' Hug. ↑ Drawing her nearer to him.] Rosabella! Rag. Your heart! my happiness! Hu Flodoardo! [Forces her hand from him.] Leave me! I command you-leave me this instant. [He bows, and retires. At the palace-gate he stopa, and wares his hand. Rug. Lady, farewell! We meet-no more! Ro. Thine, and for ever! and as soon as all those are arrived, her sun- Duke. You shall be obeyed. But howRug. No questions. I must away; Bus Res. [Weeping, and embracing him.] Q. Fr. ardo-perhaps Rugantino's dagger-But & no: Heaven is just, heaven is merciful, and we meet again. Away then! Come, father, come SCENE IL-4 ruined Vestry. Enter FALIERI, MEMMO, and Gestal Fal. Our associates not arrived? Yet Rugy charged us to master our forces here, and engag to meet us at sunset. Gon. 'Tis a perilous knave, that Rugantin Mem. Perilous! I protest, I'm glad our yout be executed to-night, if it's only that I mayatt into contact any more with that devil incarne. really believe he deals with the black gentle and that no mischief happens in Venice without s having a finger in the pie! If any one dies, n't be He fails on his knee, and she sinks upon his kills them; if a house is on fire, it's he kindles; Enter the Dess from the palace, Duke. Do my eyes deceive me? Ros. [Shrieking.] My father! Duke. How has my confidence been betrayed. Rug. Excuse! Oh! I need none for loving Ro sabella; 'twere for him to excuse himself, who had seen Rosabella, and not loved her. Andreas, I adore your daughter; I demand her for my bride. Duke. You? A needy stranger, who Ros. [Hastening to the DUKE, throwing her arms round his neck, and hiding her face in his bosom.] Oh! be not incensed with him, dear father. Duke, Rosabella, hast thou given this youth thy heart; given it to him-irrevocably? Rug. Repeats, and presses his hand against his breast.] Irrevocably! Ah! [ROSABELLA raises her head, and extends her hand towards RUGANTINO. Duke. I am answered. Flodoardo, you see this maid; will you deserve her? Rug. Deserve her? Ask what thou wilt, and I nay, I'm morally certain, 'twas he that occasins! the last earthquake. Fal. Yet at least he keeps his word-Lomelins and Manfrose are already no more. Mem. Very true, but yet-Heigho! my poor ten thousand ducats. duke's. Fal. Leave his highness to me: this piard is quite at his service. Gon. The whole council of ten are invited. Mem. Come, don't be so snappish, if paprast Con. The stroke of midnight must be the st for Gonzaga's quitting the saloon, and hastening seize the arsenal. Fal. As soon as he hears the alarm-bell miral Adorno will lead his people to our asiance Con. Oh! our success is sure, and-Ba rades approach. Be alert, friends; hasten to tribute the arms and crimson scarfs, which at 13 distinguish our partisans. Cupid descends; and Minerva on the other. Mem. Well, Pluto's as like Rugan- [Proserpine expresses her envy of the beauty of All the Guests. What was that? Ros. [Aside to CAMILLA.] My heart beats! Mem. [To the DUKE.] Suffer me to inquire what noise [He opens the folding-doors; the Porch appears filled with Guards. Guards. Back! Mem. Guards? doardo. I'll produce the Bravo before you, and- Cam. Oh, heavens! not here, signor! I shall die of a thousand little fears, if you bring him here. Mem. And I shall die of ten thousand little fears. Rug. Fear nothing, good Camilla. Be seated, Andreas. Let the rest arrange themselves behind the duke-Rugantino's coming. [The DUKE seats himself; ROSABELLA on one side leaning on CAMILLA; the Conspirators are on the other. Rug. [Advancing towards the porch.] Rugantino ! [A pause he retires still further back.] Rugantino! Ros. I tremble, lest Rug. [Within the porch, but still in sight, though his back is turned to the spectators.] Rugantino! I say. Ros. [Rushing towards him.] Oh! venture not, Flodoardo. [At the moment she lays her nand on his arm, he throws off his e’sak and helmet, and appears in the habit, and with the countenance of the Brase. Rug. He, bo. ROSABELLA falls at his feet, ANDREAS starts Rug. Now then you wished to see the Bravo Ragantino? Here he stands, and is come to claim his bride. Cm. Without there! guards! Rug. [Presenting a pista.) That word again, and you never speak another! Ro. Restering. Dreadful illusion! Methought -Flodoardo Rug. Illusion? Rosabella, 'twas none; your be loved Flodoardo and the Bravo Rugantino are the same; in me you behold both. Ros. 'Tis false, 'tis false! Flodoardo's actions were good and glorious as a demi-god's. Flodoardo and thou-Wretch, whom many a bleeding ghost has long since accused at the throne of heaven, dare not thou to profane the name of Flodoardo. 'Tis false, 'tis false ! Rug. Then mark, and be convinced. [He turns away, and is a moment appears with FLODOARDO'S countenance and the Brazo's habit Look on me now, Rosabella; you see me changed; but change as I may, of one thing be assured; I am the man whom you loved as Flodoardo. Rosabella, dost thou love me still? Ros. [Throwing herself on CAMILLA's bosom.] Man, man! Now God forgive you for torturing me so cruelly. Duke. Guards, seize him! To the scaffold! Duke. It was given to the virtuous Flodoardo; Mem. Aye, to the scaffold! Rug. Is it so then? and will no one intercede ? Signor Contarino! one word in my favour Con. Away! address not thyself to me. Rug. Good Signor Memmo, plead for me. You know me well, and Mem, I? I know nothing at all about you. I never saw you before-never heard of you-and hope never to see or hear of you again. Rug. What? and does no one pity the wretched Rugantino? No one? Are all silent?-all? My fate then is decided. To the scaffold! [Going. Ros. Springing forward, and falling at the DUKE'S feet, who is crossing to the Conspirators.] Mercy, mercy! Pardon him-pardon-Rugantino. Rug. Say'st thou so? Ha, an angel pleads for Rugantino in his last moments. Ros. He is a sinner, but leave him to the justice of heaven! He is a sinner, but Rosabella adores him still! Duke. Repulsing her.] Away, unworthy girl!— he dies. Rug. And can you look on with dry eyes, while that innocent dove bleeds at your feet? Go, barbarian, you never loved her as she deserved! [Raising her from the ground.] Now then she is yours no longer; thou art mine, Rosabella-art Rugantino's; thou lov'st me as I would be loved; I am blessed, and now to business. [The DUKE returns to the throne. He places ROSABELLA in CAMILLA's arms.] Within there! [He sounds a whistle; Guards rush in, and surround the Conspirators; the doors are closed after them.] Guard them well. Ya. your orders. | Drake. What means Rug. It means, that this night your constitution of Venice were doomed to sa gether. Com. Noble Andreas, believe not- Mem. Falling at the DUKE Mem. So I will as long as I can. Rug. False? Then hear me, and then trenke The DUKE embraces MANFRONE Å LAS Ros. Joy! joy! Camilla, joy! Rugantavia 25 then a murderer. Alas! and yet Foscar's deat Rug. Fear nothing, my love. Chance et m the cave, where Foscari lay robbed and we by banditti, and before the venerable man expe I swore to revenge his murder: traced out the lains, in whose society I received some hints of the conspiracy. I made my plans for defeating known to Lomelino, who assisted me in my designs, he taught me a private entrance to the D chamber, and persuaded Manfrone to share his cealment, until it became needful that their should be believed. Duke. But the prince of Milan's murderRug. Was imaginary. Stephano was in my cret, and acted by my orders. Duke. And the prince of Milan himselfRug. [Throwing off his Bravo's habit, and copy: ing splendidly dressed with several orders, $1. hold him! Duke. Amazement! Ros. You? you the prince of Milan? Prince. Even so. The perfidy of one ungm woman had made me distrust the whole sex swore never to unite my fate but to her was be constant to me under every circumstanet bella has stood the trial; and I now g as Milan's future mistress the Brave's baaz Ros. Oh, happy, happy Rosabella The folding-doors open-the back CONSTANCE LISETTE Servants. ACT I. ENE I.-An Apartment in the Doctor's House. Lis. Your old guardian, I suppose. Con. Do you think I should look thus pleasant, it were him I meant? Lis. Who, then? our gaoler, who keeps the keys? Con. What, poor Jeffrey? Ha, ha, ha! How you lk! Lis. No, no; I guess who you mean: the young [arquis de Lancy; and he has passed so frequently nder your window, within these few days, that I m amazed your guardian, with all his suspicions, as not observed him. Con. He has walked by above ten times within this hour, and every time with his eye fixed up to the lattice of my window, and I had no heart to remove from it, for every time he saluted me with a most respectful bow. Lis. Was his valet with him? Con. No; but I saw another person in deep conversation with him; a strange-looking man, who appeared like one of the faculty, for his dress very much resembled that of my guardian's. Lis. Who could it be? Con. But what most surprised me, he had a letter in his hand, which he respectfully held up to me, but I could not reach it. Lis. I know who it is: La Fleur, valet to the Marquis, disguised as a doctor; and I have no doubt but, under that disguise, he will find means to introduce himself to your old guardian, and, perhaps, be brought into the very house; and if I can assist his scheme, I will; for is it not a shame, the Doctor should dare, here in Paris, to forbid you and your servant to stir from home; lock us up, and treat us as women are treated in Spain? Con. Never mind, Lisette, don't put yourself in a passion; for we can learn to plot and deceive, and treat him as men are treated in Spain. Lis. Right, madam; and to prove I am not less inclined than yourself to Spanish manners, I am as much in love as you are. Con. Not with the Marquis? Lis. Do you think I don't know better where it is my duty to love? I am in love with his man. Con. I wish I knew the contents of that letter he held out to me. Lis. That you are beloved-admired; I can tell every word in it; I know every sentence as well as |