Part 12 (1/2)

BEATRICE.

By all the holy saints!

Brave not his wrath! oh quit this place--avoid him-- Meet not thy brother here!

DON MANUEL.

My soul! thy fears Confound; thou hear'st me not; our strife is o'er.

Yes! we are reconciled.

BEATRICE.

Protect me, heaven, In this dread hour!

DON MANUEL.

A sudden dire presage Starts in my breast--I shudder at the thought: If it be true! Oh, horror! Could she know That voice! Wert thou--my tongue denies to utter The words of fearful import--Beatrice!

Say, wert thou present at the funeral rites Of my dead sire?

BEATRICE.

Alas!

DON MANUEL.

Thou wert!

BEATRICE.

Forgive me!

DON MANUEL.

Unhappy woman!

BEATRICE.

I was present!

DON MANUEL.

Horror!

BEATRICE.

Some mighty impulse urged me to the scene-- Oh, be not angry--to thyself I owned The ardent fond desire; with darkening brow Thou listened'st to my prayer, and I was silent, But what misguiding inauspicious star Allured, I know not; from my inmost soul The wish, the dear emotion spoke; and vain Aught else:--Diego gave consent--oh, pardon me!

I disobeyed thee.

[She advances towards him imploringly; at the same moment DON CAESAR enters, accompanied by the whole Chorus.

BOTH BROTHERS, BOTH CHORUSES, BEATRICE.

Second Chorus (BOHEMUND) to DON CAESAR.

Thou heliev'st us not-- Believe thine eyes!

DON CAESAR (rushes forward furiously, and at the sight of his brother starts back with horror).

Some h.e.l.l-born magic cheats My senses; in her arms! Envenomed snake!

Is this thy love? For this thy treacherous heart Could lure with guise of friends.h.i.+p! Oh, from heaven Breathed my immortal hate! Down, down to h.e.l.l, Thou soul of falsehood!

[He stabs him, DON MANUEL falls.

DON MANUEL.