Pol. And he shall die! (Exit.) Lal. (after a pause). And-he-shall-die--alas ! I knew thou wouldst not, couldst not, durst not go. Gone-gone. Where am I? -He is gone, he is gone-'tis well-'tis very well! So that the blade be keen-the blow be sure, 'Tis well, 'tis very well-alas! alas! V. The suburbs. POLITIAN alone. I am faint, Politian. This weakness grows upon me. Enter Baldazzar. Baldazzar. That, knowing no cause of quarrel or of feud Between the Earl Politian and himself, He doth decline your cartel. VOL. III. E Pol. What didst thou say? What answer was it you brought me, good Baldazzar? No mortal eyes have seen!--what said the Count? Of any feud existing, or any cause Of quarrel between your lordship and himself, Pol. It is most true All this is very true. When saw you, sir, When saw you now, Baldazzar, in the frigid Pol. Now this is true All very true. Thou art my friend, Baldazzar, He should have cause for quarrel. Bal. My lord!-—my friend! Pol. (aside). 'Tis he-he comes himself! (aloud). Thou reasonest well. I know what thou wouldst say-not send the message— Now prythee, leave me hither doth come a person I would adjust. Bal. I go-to morrow we meet, Do we not at the Vatican. Pol. At the Vatican. (Exit Bal.) Enter Castiglione. Cas. The Earl of Leicester here! Pol. I am the Earl of Leicester, and thou seest, Dost thou not, that I am here? Cas. My Lord, some strange, Some singular mistake-misunderstanding— Some words most unaccountable, in writing, Of nothing which might warrant thee in this thing, Do err at times. Pol. Draw, villain, and prate no more! Cas. Ha!-draw-and villain? have at thee then at Pol. (drawing). Thus to the expiatory tomb, Untimely sepulchre, I do devote thee In the name of Lalage! Cas. (letting fall his sword and recoiling to the extremity of the stage.) Of Lalage! Hold off-thy sacred hand!—avaunt I say! Avaunt I will not fight thee-indeed I dare not. Pol. Thou wilt not fight with me didst say, Sir Count? Shall I be baffled thus ?-now this is well; Cas. I dare not-dare not Hold off thy hand-with that beloved name Pol. Now by my halidom I do believe thee !-coward, I do believe thee! Cas. Ha!-coward!-this may not be ! (clutches his sword and staggers towards Politian, but his purpose is changed before reaching him, and he falls upon his knee at the feet of the Earl.) It is it is-most true. I am the veriest coward. Alas! my lord, In such a cause O pity me! Alas!-I do-indeed I pity thee. Pol. Scoundrel!—arise and die! Cas. It needeth not be-thus-thus-O let me die Thus on my bended knee. It were most fitting For in the fight I will not raise a hand Against thee, Earl of Leicester. Strike thou home (baring his bosom). Here is no let or hindrance to thy weapon- Pol. Now 's Death and Hell! Am I not-am I not sorely-grievously tempted For public insult in the streets-before The eyes of the citizens. I'll follow thee Like an avenging spirit I'll follow thee Even unto death. Before those whom thou lovest Before all Rome I'll taunt thee, villain,-I'll taunt thee, Cas. Now this indeed is just! Most righteous, and most just, avenging Heaven! (Exit.) POEMS WRITTEN IN YOUTH.* SONNET-TO SCIENCE. SCIENCE! true daughter of Old Time thou art! How should he love thee or how deem thee wise, Albeit he soared with an undaunted wing? Hast thou not torn the Naiad from her flood, The Elfin from the green grass, and from me The summer dream beneath the tamarind tree? * Private reasons-some of which have reference to the sin of plagiarism, and others to the date of Tennyson's first poemst-have induced me, after some hesitation, to re-publish these, the crude compositions of my earliest boyhood. They are printed verbatim-without alteration from the original edition-the date of which is too remote to be judiciously acknowledged. E. A. P. This refers to the accusation brought against Poe that he was a copyist of Tennyson.-Ed. |