In earlier days!

BALDAZZAR.

I myself hear it now.

Be still the voice, if I mistake not greatly,
Proceeds from yonder lattice-which you may see
Very plainly through the window-it belongs,
Does it not? unto this palace of the Duke.

The singer is undoubtedly beneath

The roof of his Excellency-and perhaps
Is even that Alessandra of whom he spoke
As the betrothed of Castiglione,

His son and heir.

POLITIAN.

Be still it comes again!

Voice [very faintly].

"And is thy heart so strong
As for to leave me thus,
Who hath loved thee so long,
In wealth and woe among?
And is thy heart so strong

As for to leave me thus ?

Say nay--say nay!"

BALDAZZAR. The song is English, and I oft have heard it In merry England-never so plaintively

Hist! hist! it comes again!

Voice [more loudly].

"Is it so strong

As for to leave me thus,

Who hath loved thee so long,

In wealth and woe among

And is thy heart so strong
As for to leave me thus?

?

Say nay-say nay!"

BALDAZZAR. The hour is growing late-the Duke awaits us,

Thy presence is expected in the hall

Below. What ails thee, Earl Politian?

Voice [distinctly].

"Who hath loved thee so long,

In wealth and woe among,

And is thy heart so strong?

Say nay-say nay!

BALDAZZAR. Let us descend!-'tis time. Politian, give

These fancies to the wind. Remember, pray,

Your bearing lately savoured much of rudeness

Unto the Duke. Arouse thee! and remember!

POLITIAN.

Let us descend.

Remember? I do. Lead on! I do remember.

[Going.

Believe me, I would give,

Freely would give, the broad lands of my earldom

To look upon the face hidden by yon lattice

"To gaze upon that veiled face, and hear

Once more that silent tongue."

BALDAZZAR.

Let me beg you, Sir,

Descend with me-the Duke may be offended.

Let us go down, I pray you.

POLITIAN [aside]. 'Tis strange !-'tis very strange-methought the

voice

Chimed in with my desires and bade me stay!

[Approaching the window.

Sweet voice! I heed thee, and will surely stay. Now be this Fancy, by Heaven, or be it Fate, Still will I not descend. Baldazzar, make Apology unto the Duke for me;

I

go not down to-night.

BALDAZZAR.

Your lordship's pleasure

Shall be attended to. Good night, Politian.

POLITIAN. Good night, my friend, good night.

The Gardens of a Palace-Moonlight. LALAGE and POLITIAN.

LALAGE. And dost thou speak of love

To me, Politian ?-dost thou speak of love

To Lalage?ah woe-ah woe is me!

This mockery is most cruel-most cruel indeed!

POLITIAN. Weep not! oh, sob not thus !-thy bitter tears Will madden me. Oh mourn not, Lalage

Be comforted! I know-I know it all,

And still I speak of love.

Look at me, brightest,

And beautiful Lalage !—turn here thine eyes!
Thou askest me if I could speak of love,

Knowing what I know, and seeing what I have seen.

Thou askest me that—and thus I answer thee-

Thus on my bended knee I answer thee.

[Kweling.

Sweet Lalage, I love thee-love thee-love thee;

Thro' good and ill-thro' weal and woe I love thee.

Not mother, with her first-born on her knee,

Thrills with intenser love than I for thee.
Not on God's altar, in any time or clime,
Burned there a holier fire than burneth now
Within my spirit for thee.
And do I love?

Even for thy woes I love thee-even for thy woes
Thy beauty and thy woes.

LALAGE.

Alas, proud Earl,

Thou dost forget thyself, remembering me!

How, in thy father's halls, among the maidens

Pure and reproachless of thy princely line,
Could the dishonoured Lalage abide ?

Thy wife, and with a tainted memory—

My seared and blighted name, how would it tally
With the ancestral honours of thy house,

And with thy glory?

POLITIAN.

Speak not to me of glory!

I hate-I loathe the name; I do abhor

The unsatisfactory and ideal thing.

Art thou not Lalage, and I Politian?

[Arising.