This text comes from The Poetical Works of John Keats, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.
Conrad. Well, well, I know what ugly jeopardy
We are caged in; you need not pester that
Into my ears. Prythee, let me be spared
A foolish tongue, that I may bethink me
Of remedies with some deliberation.
You cannot doubt but ’tis in Albert’s power
To crush or save us?
Auranthe. No, I cannot doubt.
He has, assure yourself, by some strange means,
My secret; which I ever hid from him,
Knowing his mawkish honesty.
Conrad.Cursed slave!
Auranthe. Ay, I could almost curse him now myself.
Wretched impediment! evil genius!
A glue upon my wings, that cannot spread,
When they should span the provinces! A snake,
A scorpion, sprawling on the first gold step,
Conducting to the throne high canopied.
Conrad. You would not hear my counsel, when his life
Might have been trodden out, all sure and hush’d;
Now the dull animal forsooth must be
Intreated, managed! When can you contrive
The interview he demands?
Auranthe.As speedily
It must be done as my bribed woman can
Unseen conduct him to me; but I fear
'Twill be impossible, while the broad day
Comes through the panes with persecuting glare.
Methinks, if't now were night I could intrigue
With darkness, bring the stars to second me,
And settle all this trouble.
Conrad.Nonsense! Child!
See him immediately; why not now?
Auranthe. Do you forget that even the senseless door-posts
Are on the watch and gape through all the house;
How many whisperers there are about,
Hungry for evidence to ruin me
Men I have spurn'd, and women I have taunted.
Besides, the foolish Prince sends, minute whiles,
His pages—so they tell me—to inquire
After my health, entreating, if I please,
To see me.
Conrad. Well, suppose this Albert here;
What is your power with him?
Auranthe. He should be
My echo, my taught parrot! but I fear
He will be cur enough to bark at me;
Have his own say; read me some silly creed
'Bout shame and pity.
Conrad. What will you do then?
Auranthe. What I shall do, I know not; what I would,
Cannot be done; for see, this chamber-floor
Will not yield to the pick-axe and the spade,—
Here is no quiet depth of hollow ground.
Conrad. Sister, you have grown sensible and wise,
Seconding, ere I speak it, what is now,
I hope, resolv'd between us.
Auranthe. Say, what is't?
Conrad. You need not be his sexton too: a man
May carry that with him shall make him die
Elsewhere,—give that to him; pretend the while
You will to-morrow succumb to his wishes,
Be what they may, and send him from the castle
On some fool's errand; let his latest groan
Frighten the wolves!
Auranthe. Alas! he must not die!
Conrad. Would you were both hearsed up in stifling lead!
Detested—
Auranthe. Conrad, hold! I would not bear
The little thunder of your fretful tongue,
Tho' I alone were taken in these toils,
And you could free me; but remember, sir,
You live alone in my security
So keep your wits at work, for your own sake,
Not mine, and be more mannerly.
Conrad.Thou wasp!
If my domains were emptied of these folk,
And I had thee to starve—
Auranthe.O, marvellous!
But Conrad, now be gone; the host is look'd for;
Cringe to the Emperor, entertain the Lords,
And, do ye mind, above all things, proclaim
My sickness, with a brother's sadden'd eye,
Condoling with Prince Ludolph. In fit time
Return to me.
[Exit. Conrad. I leave you to your thoughts.
Auranthe (sola). Down, down, proud temper! down, Auranthe's pride!
Why do I anger him when I should kneel?
Conrad! Albert! help! help! What can I do?
O wretched woman! lost, wreck'd, swallow'd up,
Accursed, blasted! O, thou golden Crown,
Orbing along the serene firmament
Of a wide empire, like a glowing moon;
And thou, bright sceptre! lustrous in my eyes,—
There—as the fabled fair Hesperian tree,
Bearing a fruit more precious! graceful thing,
Delicate, godlike, magic! must I leave
Thee to melt in the visionary air,
Ere, by one grasp, this common hand is made
Imperial? I do not know the time
When I have wept for sorrow; but methinks
I could now sit upon the ground, and shed
Tears, tears of misery. O, the heavy day!
How shall I bear my life till Albert comes?
Ludolph! Erminia! Proofs! O heavy day!
Bring me some mourning weeds, that I may 'tire
Myself, as fits one wailing her own death:
And throw these jewels from my loathing sight,—
Fetch me a missal, and a string of beads,—
A cup of bitter'd water, and a crust,—
I will confess, O holy Abbot!—How!
What is this? Auranthe! thou fool, dolt,
Whimpering idiot! up! up! act and quell!
I'm safe! Coward! why am I in fear?
Albert! he cannot stickle, chew the cud
In such a fine extreme,—impossible!
[Goes to the door, listens, and opens it. Who knocks?
Enter Albert.
Albert, I have been waiting for you here
With such an aching heart, such swooning throbs
On my poor brain, such cruel—cruel sorrow,
That I should claim your pity! Art not well?
Albert. Yes, lady, well.
Auranthe.You look not so, alas!
But pale, as if you brought some heavy news.
Albert. You know full well what makes me look so pale.
Auranthe. No! Do I? Surely I am still to learn
Some horror; all I know, this present, is
I am near hustled to a dangerous gulph,
Which you can save me from,—and therefore safe,
So trusting in thy love; that should not make
Thee pale, my Albert.
Albert. It doth make me freeze.
Auranthe. Why should it, love?
Albert.You should not ask me that,
But make your own heart monitor, and save
Me the great pain of telling. You must know.
Auranthe. Something has vext you, Albert. There are times
When simplest things put on a sombre cast;
A melancholy mood will haunt a man,
Until most easy matters take the shape
Of unachievable tasks; small rivulets
Then seem impassable.
Albert.Do not cheat yourself
With hope that gloss of words, or suppliant action,
Or tears, or ravings, or self-threaten’d death,
Can alter my resolve.
Auranthe.You make me tremble;
Not so much at your threats, as at your voice,
Untun’d, and harsh, and barren of all love.
Albert. You suffocate me Stop this devil’s parley,
And listen to me; know me once for all.
Auranthe. I thought I did. Alas! I am deceived.
Albert. No, you are not deceived. You took me for
A man detesting all inhuman crime;
And therefore kept from me your demon’s plot
Against Erminia. Silent? Be so still;
For ever! Speak no more; but hear my words,
Thy fate. Your safety I have bought to-day
By blazoning a lie, which in the dawn
I’ll expiate with truth.
Auranthe.O cruel traitor!
For I would not set eyes upon thy shame;
Albert. I would not see thee dragg’d to death by the hair,
Penanced, and taunted on a scaffolding!
To-night, upon the skirts of the blind wood
That blackens northward of these horrid towers,
I wait for you with horses. Choose your fate.
Farewell!
Auranthe. Albert, you jest; I’m sure you must.
You, an ambitious soldier! I, a queen,
One who could say,—here, rule these provinces!
Take tribute from those cities for thyself!
Empty these armouries, these treasuries,
Muster thy warlike thousands at a nod!
Go! conquer Italy!
Albert.Auranthe, you have made
The whole world chaff to me. Your doom is fix’d.
Auranthe. Out, villain! dastard!
Albert.Look there to the door!
Who is it?
Auranthe. Conrad, traitor!
Albert. Let him in.
Enter Conrad.
Do not affect amazement, hypocrite,
At seeing me in this chamber.
Conrad.Auranthe?
Albert. Talk not with eyes, but speak your curses out
Against me, who would sooner crush and grind
A brace of toads, than league with them t’oppress
An innocent lady, gull an Emperor,
More generous to me than autumn-sun
To ripening harvests.
Auranthe. No more insult, sir.
Albert. Ay, clutch your scabbard; but, for prudence sake,
Draw not the sword; ’twould make an uproar, Duke,
You would not hear the end of. At nightfall
Your lady sister, if I guess aright,
Will leave this busy castle. You had best
Take farewell too of worldly vanities.
Conrad. Vassal!
Albert.To-morrow, when the Emperor sends
For loving Conrad, see you fawn on him.
Good even!
Auranthe. You'll be seen!
Albert.See the coast clear then.
Auranthe (as he goes). Remorseless Albert! cruel, cruel wretch!
[She lets him out.
Conrad. So, we must lick the dust?
Auranthe.I follow him.
Conrad. How? Where? The plan of your escape?
Auranthe.He waits
For me with horses by the forest-side,
Northward.
Conrad. Good, good; he dies. You go, say you?
Auranthe. Perforce.
Conrad. Be speedy darkness! Till that comes,
[Exit.Fiends keep you company!
Auranthe.And you! And you!
[Retires to an inner apartment.And all men! Vanish!