My ship of fortune furl'd her silken sails,— Toil hard, ye slaves, and from the miser-earth Where is Auranthe? I have news for her Enter AURANTHE. Auranthe. Conrad! what tidings? Good, if I may guess From your alert eyes and high-lifted brows. What tidings of the battle? Albert? Ludolph? Otho? Conrad. You guess aright. And, sister, slurring o'er Our by-gone quarrels, I confess my heart Is beating with a child's anxiety, To make our golden fortune known to you. Conrad. Yes, so serious, that before I utter even the shadow of a hint Concerning what will make that sin-worn cheek Auranthe. I pr'ythee, Conrad, do not overact A poor court-bankrupt, outwitted and lost, Fresh hatch'd in my ambition's eagle-nest; Auranthe. I confess You have intrigued with these unsteady times Conrad. I saw my moment. The Hungarians, Conrad. Yes, sister, but it does regard you greatly, Nearly, momentously,―aye, painfully! Make me this vow Auranthe. Conrad. Albert! Auranthe. Concerning whom or what? I would inquire somewhat of him : You had a letter from me touching him? No treason 'gainst his head in deed or word! Conrad. At one pernicious charge of the enemy, I, for a moment-whiles, was prisoner ta'en And rifled,-stuff! the horses' hoofs have minced it! Conrad. He is! but here make oath And wander past him as through vacancy. Auranthe. I'll not be perjured. Conrad. No, nor great, nor mighty; You would not wear a crown, or rule a kingdom. Το you it is indifferent. Auranthe. What means this? Conrad. You'll not be perjured! Go to Albert then, That camp-mushroom-dishonor of our house. Go, page his dusty heels upon a march, Yet stay, perhaps a charm may call you back, This is to wake in Paradise! Farewell Conrad. I know not: Among the midnight rumors from the camp. Conrad. You give up Albert to me? Harm him not! Auranthe. E'en for his highness Ludolph's sceptry hand, I would not Albert suffer any wrong. See you spare him: Nor be pathetic, my kind benefactor! Conrad. Let not this slave-this villain— Be cause of feud between us. Look, woman, look, your Albert is quite safe! Enter ALBERT. Albert. Fair on your graces fall this early morrow! So it is like to do, without my prayers, For your right noble names, like favorite tunes, Auranthe. Such salutation argues a glad heart In our prosperity. We thank you, sir. Albert. Lady! O, would to Heaven your poor servant This ring as pledge of dearest amity; Conrad. Albert. What pleased your grace to say ? Conrad. To me! What of me, ha? Your message, sir! Sister, this way; Albert. You mean not this to me? Conrad. For there shall be no "gentle Alberts" now, [Aside. [Exeunt CONRAD and AURANTHe. Albert (solus). The duke is out of temper; if he knows More than a brother of a sister ought, I should not quarrel with his peevishness. Is in the heady, proud, ambitious vein ; I bicker not with her,—bid her farewell! But for poor Ludolph, he is food for sorrow: No military swagger of my mind, Can smother from myself the wrong I've done him,— Without design indeed, yet it is so, And opiate for the conscience have I none! SCENE II.-The Court-yard of the Castle. [Exit. Martial Music. Enter, from the outer gate, Отно, Nobles, Knights, and Attendants. sight. The Soldiers halt at the gate, with Banners in Otho. Where is my noble Herald ? [Enter CONRAD, from the Castle, attended by two Knights and Servants. ALBERT following. Auranthe our intent imperial? Well, hast told Lest our rent banners, too o' the sudden shown, Should fright her silken casements, and dismay |