Act I

       Table of Contents

Scene I

       Table of Contents

      An Apartment in the Castle.

      Enter CONRAD.

      Conrad.

       So, I am safe emerged from these broils!

       Amid the wreck of thousands I am whole;

       For every crime I have a laurel-wreath,

       For every lie a lordship. Nor yet has

       My ship of fortune furl’d her silken sails,

       Let her glide on! This danger’d neck is saved,

       By dexterous policy, from the rebel’s axe;

       And of my ducal palace not one stone

       Is bruised by the Hungarian petards.

       Toil hard, ye slaves, and from the miser-earth

       Bring forth once more my bullion, treasured deep,

       With ah my jewell’d salvers, silver and gold,

       And precious goblets that make rich the wine.

       But why do I stand babbling to myself?

       Where is Auranthe? I have news for her

       Shall-

      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.

      Auranthe.

       So serious?

      Conrad.

       Yes, so serious, that before

       I utter even the shadow of a hint

       Concerning what will make that sin-worn cheek

       Blush joyous blood through every lineament,

       You must make here a solemn vow to me.

      Auranthe.

       I prythee, Conrad, do not overact

       The hypocrite what vow would you impose?

      Conrad.

       Trust me for once, that you may be assured

       ’Tis not confiding to a broken reed,

       A poor Court-bankrupt, outwitted and lost,

       Revolve these facts in your acutest mood,

       In such a mood as now you listen to me:

       A few days since, I was an open rebel

       Against the Emperor, had suborn’d his son,

       Drawn off his nobles to revolt, and shown

       Contented fools causes for discontent

       Fresh hatch’d in my ambition’s eagle nest

       So thrived I as a rebel, and behold

       Now I am Otho’s favourite, his dear friend,

       His right hand, his brave Conrad.

      Auranthe.

       I confess

       You have intrigued with these unsteady times

       To admiration; but to be a favourite

      Conrad.

       I saw my moment. The Hungarians,

       Collected silently in holes and corners,

       Appeared, a sudden host, in the open day.

       I should have perish’d in our empire’s wreck,

       But, calling interest loyalty, swore faith

       To most believing Otho; and so helped

       His blood-stained ensigns to the victory

       In yesterday’s hard fight, that it has turn’d

       The edge of his sharp wrath to eager kindness.

      Auranthe.

       So far yourself. But what is this to me

       More than that I am glad? I gratulate you.

      Conrad.

       Yes, sister, but it does regard you greatly,

       Nearly, momentously, aye, painfully!

       Make me this vow

      Auranthe.

       Concerning whom or what?

      Conrad.

       Albert!

      Auranthe.

       I would inquire somewhat of him:

       You had a letter from me touching him?

       No treason ‘gainst his head in deed or word!

       Surely you spar’d him at my earnest prayer?

       Give me the letter it should not exist!

      Conrad.

       At one pernicious charge of the enemy,