# Castruccio Castrucani/Act III

ACT III.
Scene I.—A Banquetting Hall opening into a garden, and hung with pictures.—Servants—Count Arezzi.
ARREZI (Solus).
Dangers and fears encompass me around;
I know the Castrucani doubts my faith,
I know Leoni loathes the coming marriage.
Which never will his fiery spirit see
Without a struggle; and with that must come
All that I thought to shun of strife and blood.
Ah! there are moments, when my thoughts have ask'd
The heart that beats with them—can this be life?
This gulf of troubled waters, where the soul,
Like a vex'd bark, is toss'd upon the waves
Of pain and pleasure, by the warring breath
Of passions, like the winds that drive it on,
And only to distraction.—
[Sees Claricha coming from the garden.
Ah! she comes;
The gentle orphan, whose sweet sight more soothes
My troubled soul, than aught in this wide world.
I love her, for I know she needs my love,
And something in her sadness suits with mine.
Enter CLARICHA.
Are in thine eyes Sweet one, why hast thou wept?
CLARICHA.
ARREZI.
CLARICHA.
'Tis not the old alone who know that life
Has but a weary way.
ARREZI.
For ev'n as a child art thou to me—
Our life has many sorrows: and I think
Most bitterly is sorrow felt in youth.
Age comes and brings indifference: I grieve
Not as I used to grieve—I know the worst
Is but a painful dream that soon must pass.
CLARICHA.
ARREZI.
In every heart, we should recoil to find
What weight of misery has been endured.
CLARICHA.
ARREZI.
The outward life shows not the life within.
I am about to welcome in these walls
The Count Castruccio, and he is received
As the affianced lover of my daughter;
The crowd will only see the pomp and power,
And know not how the irrevocable past
Rises in all its darkness on my soul.
I hate the Castrucani's iron house.
CLARICHA.
ARREZI.
That suits my mood? but in thee, my fair child,
Is that which, winning on my confidence,
Soothes the old sorrow which it seems to share.
Since that first hour, when but a trembling girl
I met thee flying from the Florentines,
My heart warm'd to thee as thou wert my own.
Perhaps it is that in thy face and voice
There is a touch that brings again the face,
The voice, that once made heaven on earth to me.
'Twas but a dream of youth!
CLARICHA.
ARREZI.
Good cause have I to hate the Castrucani!
I loved the loveliest lady of their line,
And wedded her in secret. Brief the space
That fate allow'd our moonlit happiness—
We were surprised together. From that hour
A settled darkness hangs upon her fate.
The drug or dagger did their fatal work
So secretly, that not a trace was left.
A dungeon was my share—for three long years
They held me captive, I escaped the third,
But never could I learn my lady's doom!
CLARICHA.
ARREZI.
Weds with the Castrucani—but in vain
Age seeks to struggle with its destiny;
I'm worn and weary—all I seem to wish
Is but a little rest before I die.
CLARICHA.
Think how affection girdles you around,
How gratitude puts up its prayer to heaven,
Whene'er the orphan names Arrezi's name.
ARREZI.
I've sadden'd where at first we meant to cheer.
We'll talk of grief no more; I pray you cast
Your eye around, and see that all be set
In fair array. I must now seek Leoni—(going.)
I had forgotten what I meant to say—
You and Bianca must be brave to-night.
I bade my pages carry to your chamber
Some toys and gauds I trust will please your fancy.
CLARICHA.
ARREZI.
To give so slight a pleasure.[Exit.
CLARICHA.
On aught but him. Amino, no, Castruccio!
How have I pray'd for years that we might meet—
We meet, and only meet to part for ever.
I know not what I look upon—all things
Repeat his likeness—I can hear his voice,
Or is it but the beating of my heart?
The Count Leoni here? Let me escape,
I could not bear his idle gallantry.—(Looks round.)
This column will conceal me.
Enter the Count Leoni, followed by Arrezi.
ARREZI.
LEONI.
We are the ladders of Castruccio's greatness,
Used, then flung down.
ARREZI.
LEONI.
Ancestral is our hatred, dark with time!
And seal'd on either side with blood. To-day
Cannot undo the work of many years.
ARREZI.
LEONI.
Castruccio's only prison is the grave!
ARREZI.
In my own halls—
LEONI.
The weak take opportunity to strike.
ARREZI.
LEONI.
I'll dare for both. Now listen, uncle mine;
Bianca is my own betrothed bride!
Castruccio shall not wed her; that alone
Were cause enough to float these halls with blood:
He is our house's ancient enemy,
And, but for him, no citizen would dare
Raise hand against the nobles; he must die!
ARREZI.
LEONI.
Defeat and danger wait upon delay.
Castruccio will be here to-night, unarm'd,
His surest friends beside him; they will fall,
None to avenge. Our friends are all prepared;
A secret band of Florentines now lie
In ambush by the city's western gate,
Whose keeper I have gain'd. I haste to seek them
Bearing the orders of the Count Gonsalvi,
Who'll meet them at the gate and lead them on.
Castruccio slain—the people overawed,
Henceforth our triumph is secure.
ARREZI.
LEONI.
ARREZI.
LEONI.
Gave you three years of prison in your youth.
ARREZI.
LEONI.
For vengeance at our hands. I will away;
Short time is mine to reach the Florentines,
And yet return to grace the festival:
My entrance at the banquet is the signal!
ARREZI.
Whose heir should be the first to bid him welcome!
LEONI.
Tell him I'm jealous of Bianca's smile.
ARREZI.
LEONI.
We will not have them.
ARREZI.
Will yield without a struggle. How can I
Stand by and see him murder'd?
LEONI.
Go to Castruccio's feet, and tell him all;
Give up your kinsmen and your ancient friends,
And henceforth be his vassal. For ourselves,
We are prepared to die, though not prepared
To perish by your act.
ARREZI.
LEONI.
ARREZI.
Broken and wayworn, and I lack the force
To lead or stem the tide of your fierce spirits;
On either hand is death!
LEONI.
ARREZI.
LEONI.
But now I must away—time hurries on,
One parting word—be calm and resolute.[Exit.
ARREZI.
CLARICHA (Coming forward).
To fly and save him![Exit.
Scene II.—A small Chamber looking to the Street.
Enter Claricha, hastily.
CLARICHA.
They will not let me forth, and he must die!
I must behold him murder'd in my sight!
Can I not watch, when first he comes, and speak
At once my words of warning in his ear?
Too late, the armed traitors will be nigh:
Can I not save him? I, who would lay down
My life to save him? Pitying heaven, look down
And aid me in this hopeless misery.(After a pause.)
These windows look upon the street—a scroll
Might save him yet—it is a desperate chance!
Still, if it reach his hand, he were in safety. (She approaches the table, and writes.)
Be still, thou coward hand! thou shalt not tremble.
(She writes.)
'Tis done—these few brief words suffice
To warn Castruccio of the coming danger.
(She folds the letter.)
Holy Madonna, have it in thy care !
(She attempts to throw it out, the wind blows it back again.)
'Tis too light—'twill never reach the street;
(She looks anxiously round.)
It should be heavy—heavy as my heart!
Oh, nothing!—nothing, if I had but here
One of those daggers soon to drink his blood!
(Suddenly recollecting, she puts her hand to her throat.)
'Tis here, the chain I have from childhood worn!
My only relic of the unknown past.
But let it go—it will weigh down the scroll—
(She makes up the packet.)
Now heav'n speed it that it reach Castruccio !
(She flings it from the window.)
It falls—I see it lying in the street.
Now all depends on who may find it first.
Star of his glorious hour, send thou some friend!
Let but a noble pass, and he is lost!
A common citizen draws near the spot;
He sees the packet—takes it—reads the name,
And hurries to the Castrucani palace.
I know yon street leads straight unto its gates;
Oh God, I thank thee!
(Sinks exhausted by the window ; the scene closes.)
Scene III.—A Hall in one of the Palaces.
Leoni, and several Nobles.
1st noble.
LEONI.
Has yesterday's experience.
1st noble.
To trust the people and the light of day;
Now secret night is round our enterprise,
And we will be as secret.
LEONI.
Upon your own good swords and with yourselves.
2nd noble.
I were content—that were a soldier's part.
Midnight assassins are we now!
LEONI.
To-morrow sees us paramount in Lucca;
The doom to-night dealt on the Castrucani
Will then be rightful justice
1st noble.
And I, for one, care little if my sword
Or if my dagger end an enemy.
LEONI.
Our order has not left one privilege
Beyond the meanest citizen.
2nd noble.
LEONI.
But we must re-assert our ancient rule;
Assert it now or never, for I know
The emperor's envoys are upon their way
To own the Castrucani Lord of Lucca,
But they must find us masters!
1st noble.
LEONI.
Be that which strikes Castruccio!
ALL.
LEONI.
I will commend my uncle: he is old,
And weak, and fearful—see he falter not.
You, Count Rinaldo, have our followers arm'd,
And meet me secret in the cypress-grove;
I'll wait there, coming from the Florentines.
Our forces and their band must join at once;
This fix'd, we'll seek the banquet-room together.
My welcome to Castruccio is my dagger!
1st noble.
LEONI.
(They pour out wine; each takes a goblet.)
Death to the Castrucani!
ALL.
LEONI.
Is on the hour![Exeunt.
END OF THE THIRD ACT.