Leon. Torrento! Is it possible? [In surprise. Tor. Leonora, by what wonder has this happened? I am delighted beyond expression. I have a thousand questions to ask. Count and Countess, excuse me a moment.

Leon. And is this a time to ask? I am overwhelmed with surprise, with sorrow, with shame. I thought that you had fled from Palermo. I lived only in the hope of your return. But to find you here, my sister's bridegroom-you the Prince !Traitor, I will unmask you.

Tor. Hush! one word. I will satisfy all your doubts; I expected to meet you; I have been as much deceived as yourself. I'll marry none but you. I swear, by the brightness of your eyes, by every star

Leon. Ah! yours, I fear, are wandering stars. [He leads her up the stage.

Coun. A mighty handsome reception, indeed! The Prince's affability is charming. 'Tis all the way in high life. Friendships are as quickly made there as

Ven. They are unmade. He's prodigiously affable. Why, it's absolute love-making. (Calls.) Your Highness, the bride is coming. By St. Agnes, he forgets her, as much as if they had been married a month.

VICTORIA, attended by Bridemaids, enters.
LORENZO enters from an opposite door.

Lor. Victoria !

Vic. Lorenzo!

[Irresolutely.

[She is overwhelmed.

(To the COUNT.) There's a dimness on my eyes! Save me, my father. I would rather look

Upon the pale and hollow front of death,

Than meet that glance.

Lor. (Advancing.

Victoria! if your heart

Coun. Stand back, plebeian! Marry with your

like.

There lies the door. Begone!

Ven. (Calling to TORRENTO.)-Prince! take

bride.

(Those wives and daughters!)

Lor. Scorn'd, aspers'd, disdain'd,

your

[Aside.

[Indignantly.

Can birth bequeath

For blood, that flows as hotly in my veins

As in an emperor's.

Mind to the mindless; spirit to the vile;
Valour to dastards; virtue to the knave?-
'Tis nobler to stand forth the architect

Of our own fame, than lodge i' the dusty halls
Of ancestry!-To shine before the world,
Like sunrise from the dusk, than twinkle on
In far and feeble starlight!

Here we part;

One kiss, fair traitress! (He kisses her.) Death-like

cold and sweet.

And now the world's before me.

This be all,

Early or late, Lorenzo's epitaph :

That he had deem'd it nobler, to go forth,
Steering his sad and solitary prow
Across the ocean of adventurous deeds,
Than creep the lazy track of ancestry.
They be the last of theirs, I first of mine.
Vic. Lorenzo, hear me.

TORRENTO and LEONORA re-appear.

Coun. Will she kneel to him? Can she endure this insult? Prince, take your bride.

[TO TORRENTO.

Tor. Who dares insult her? That rioter come again! Sir, the man who offends this lady must not live. [LORENZO turns.

Lor. I had forgot!-Vagabond,-Ho-Jailor! Fling this impostor into the dungeon from which I took him. [VENTOSO and the Females in surprise.

Tor. Draw, and defend yourself! (The JAILOR, LAZARO, and Assistants, rush in behind TORRento, and pinion him. The Hussars return.) Stiletto ! "Tis the jail-completely tricked, trapped, trepanned. What 's all this for? (To the JAILOR.) -Handcuffs-'tis against prison rules-I have not broke bounds-I'll give bail to any amount -a thousand sequins-ten-twenty thousand. The Count will go security. (Aside.) Count, I say

[Calling.

Ven. I am deaf. Security! Swindler! How

Leon. Undone undone. Save him, dear father, save him,

Jail. Restive! Ho! on with the handcuffs, Lazaro. The bosom friends!

Lor. Off with that culprit to his dungeon.

Tor. Count and Countess, this is a conspiracy. I will have justice! - vengeance, -scoundrels! high treason!-injur'd prince!-Pindemonté!— [He is carried off.

Ven. Let us escape. Security indeed! Here is security with a vengeance-locks and bars-to find myself in a jail! Open the door! [They knock.

Col. I think the business is tolerably complete, Major. Their pride is like a cast charger-down on the knees. It will carry the mark beyond all

cure.

Maj. Yes; like the scar in a fine woman's reputation, it will be widening for life.

Cor. They will be in no want of our trumpeters, now-They will be blown every step they go. Troopers! Muffs and meerschaums!

Col. (A Bugle sounds.) Officers! the call to parade. Troopers! Pride! ha, ha, ha! Troopers! Birth-Pride! ha, ha! [He urges the MAJOR and CORNET out, laughing.

Lor. Count and Ladies, farewell. We have met for the last time. You, Victoria, have suffered

for the crime of inconstancy; you, Count, for the folly of being a slave to the will of women; you, Countess, for the violence of your temper; and all for your common crime, Pride! Farewell for ever. [Exit.

Vic. If sorrow-shame-penitence! Oh, Lorenzo!-He's gone.

Leon. If I can climb the walls, or undermine the dungeon, or dry up the moat, or bribe the guards, my true Torrento-my unfortunate Torrento shall not linger another day in prison.

[Aside. Coun. Undone-insulted-laughed at -I shall never be able to hold up my head again. We must fly the country. Our pride has had a fall.

Ven. Aye: now boast-now triumph. A fall!— and so hard a one, that may I be in the Gazette, if I ever try a fall again. Here, Victoria; Leonora, help to bear up your mother's griefs. Hers is a heavy case, a very weighty concern, indeed. She see through a rogue! She might as well see to the end of a suit in Chancery. Pride-ruin-madness!

[Exeunt.