Scene V.
The Prince, Marinelli, Odoardo.
PRINCE.
My dear worthy Galotti.--Was such an accident necessary to bring you to your Prince? Nothing less would have sufficed--but I do not mean to reproach you.
ODOARDO.
Your Highness, I have ever thought it unbecoming to press into the presence of my Prince. He will send for those whom he wants. Even now I ask your pardon----
PRINCE.
Would that many, whom I know, possessed this modest pride!--But to the subject. You are, doubtless, anxious to see your daughter. She is again alarmed on account of her dear mother's sudden departure. And why should she have departed? I only waited till the terrors of the lovely Emilia were completely removed, and then I should have conveyed both the ladies in triumph to town. Your arrival has diminished by half the pleasure of this triumph; but I will not entirely resign it.
ODOARDO.
Your Highness honours me too much. Allow me to spare my unfortunate child the various mortifications, which friendship and enmity, compassion and malicious pleasure, prepare for her in town.
PRINCE.
Of the sweet comforts, which the friendly and compassionate bestow, it would be cruelty to deprive her; but against all the mortifications of enmity and malice, believe me, I will guard her, dear Galotti.
ODOARDO.
Prince, paternal love is jealous of its duties. I think I know what alone suits my daughter in her present situation. Retirement from the world--a cloister as soon as possible.
PRINCE.
A cloister?
ODOARDO.
Till then, let her weep under the protection of her father.
PRINCE.
Shall so much beauty wither in a cloister?----Should one disappointed hope embitter one against the world?--But as you please. No one has a right to dictate to a parent. Take your daughter wherever you think proper, Galotti.
ODOARDO (to Marinelli).
Do you hear, my lord?
MARINELLI.
Nay, if you call upon me to speak----
ODOARDO.
By no means, by no means.
PRINCE.
What has happened between you two?
ODOARDO.
Nothing, your Highness, nothing. We were only settling which of us had been deceived in your Highness.
PRINCE.
How so?--Speak, Marinelli.
MARINELLI.
I am sorry to interfere with the condescension of my Prince, but friendship commands that I should make an appeal to him as judge.
PRINCE.
What friendship?
MARINELLI.
Your Highness knows how sincerely I was attached to Count Appiani--how our souls were interwoven----
ODOARDO.
Does his Highness know that? Then you are indeed the only one who does know it.
MARINELLI.
Appointed his avenger by himself----
ODOARDO.
You?
MARINELLI.
Ask your wife. The name of Marinelli was the last word of the dying Count, and was uttered in such a tone----Oh may that dreadful tone sound in my ears for ever, if I do not strain every nerve to discover and to punish his murderers!
PRINCE.
Rely upon my utmost aid.
ODOARDO.
And upon my most fervent wishes. All this is well. But what further?
PRINCE.
That I, too, want to know, Marinelli.
MARINELLI.
It is suspected that the Count was not attacked by robbers----
ODOARDO (with a sneer).
Indeed!
MARINELLI.
But that a rival hired assassins to despatch him.
ODOARDO (bitterly).
Indeed! A rival?
MARINELLI.
Exactly.
ODOARDO.
Well then--May damnation overtake the vile assassin!
MARINELLI.
A rival--a favoured rival too.
ODOARDO.
How? Favoured? What say you?
MARINELLI.
Nothing but what fame reports.
ODOARDO.
Favoured? favoured by my daughter?
MARINELLI.
Certainly not. That cannot be. Were you to say it I would contradict it. But, on this account, your Highness, though no prejudice, however well-grounded, can be of any weight in the scale of justice, it will, nevertheless, be absolutely necessary that the unfortunate lady should be examined.
PRINCE.
True--undoubtedly.
MARINELLI.
And where can this be done but in Guastalla?
PRINCE.
There you are right, Marinelli, there you are right.--This alters the affair, dear Galotti. Is it not so. You yourself must see----
ODOARDO.
Yes! I see----what I see. O God! O God!
PRINCE.
What now? What is the matter?
ODOARDO.
I am only angry with myself for not having foreseen what I now perceive. Well, then--she shall return to Guastalla. I will take her to her mother, and till she has been acquitted, after the most rigid examination, I myself will not leave Guastalla. For who knows--(with a bitter smile of irony)--who knows whether the court of justice may not think it necessary to examine me?
MARINELLI.
It is very possible. In such cases justice rather does too much than too little. I therefore even fear----
PRINCE.
What? What do you fear?
MARINELLI.
That the mother and daughter will not, at present, be suffered to confer together.
ODOARDO.
Not confer together?
MARINELLI.
It will be necessary to keep mother and daughter apart.
ODOARDO.
To keep mother and daughter apart?
MARINELLI.
The mother, the daughter, and the father. The forms of the court absolutely enjoin this caution; and I assure your Highness that it pains me that I must enforce the necessity of at least placing Emilia in strict security.
ODOARDO.
In strict security!--Oh, Prince, Prince!--Butyes--right!--of course, of course! In strict security! Is it not so, Prince? Oh! justice! oh justice is a fine thing! Excellent! (Hastily puts his hand into the pocket in which he had concealed the dagger.)
PRINCE (in a soothing tone).
Compose yourself, dear Galotti.
ODOARDO (aside, drawing his hand, without the dagger, from his pocket).
There spoke his guardian angel.
PRINCE.
You are mistaken. You do not understand him. You think, perhaps, by security is meant a prison and a dungeon.
ODOARDO.
Let me think so, and I shall be at ease.
PRINCE.
Not a word of imprisonment, Marinelli. The rigour of the law may easily be combined with the respect due to unblemished virtue. If Emilia must be placed in proper custody, I know the most proper situation for her--my chancellor's house. No opposition, Marinelli. Thither I will myself convey her, and place her under the protection of one of the worthiest of ladies, who shall be answerable for her safety. You go too far, Marinelli, you go too far, if you require more. Of course, Galotti, you know my chancellor Grimaldi and his wife?
ODOARDO.
Undoubtedly I do. I also know the amiable daughters of this noble pair. Who does not know them? (To Marinelli).--No, my lord--do not agree to this. If my daughter must be confined, she ought to be confined in the deepest dungeon. Insist upon it, I beseech you. Fool that I was to make any request. Yes, the good Sybil was right. "They, who under certain circumstances, do not lose their intellect, have none to lose."
PRINCE.
I do not understand you. Dear Galotti, what can I do more? Be satisfied, I beseech you. She shall be conveyed to the chancellor's house. I myself will convey her thither; and if she be not there treated with the utmost respect, my word is of no value. But fear nothing; it is settled. You, Galotti, may do as you think proper. You may follow us to Guastalla, or return to Sabionetta, as you please. It would be ridiculous to dictate any conduct to you. And now, farewell for the present, dear Galotti.--Come, Marinelli. It grows late.
ODOARDO (who has been standing in deep meditation).
--How! May I not even see my daughter, then? May I not even see her here? I submit to everything--I approve of everything. A chancellor's house is, of course, a sanctuary of virtue. Take my daughter thither, I beseech your Highness--nowhere but thither. Yet I would willingly have some previous conversation with her. She is still ignorant of the Count's death, and will be unable to understand why she is separated from her parents. That I may apprise her gently of the one, and console her for this parting----I must see her, Prince, I must see her.
PRINCE.
Come, then, with us.
ODOARDO.
Surely the daughter can come to her father. Let us have a short conversation here, without witnesses. Send her hither, I beg your Highness.
PRINCE.
That, too, shall be done. Oh, Galotti, if you would be my friend, my guide, my father!
(Exeunt Prince and Marinelli).
Scene VI.
Odoardo.
ODOARDO (after a pause, during which his eyes follow the Prince).
Why not? Most willingly. Ha! ha! ha! (Looks wildly around.) Who laughed? By Heaven I believe it was myself. 'Tis well. I will be merry. The game is near an end. Thus must it be, or thus. But--(pauses)--how if she were in league with him? How if this were the usual deception? How if she were not worthy of what I am about to do for her? (Pauses again.) And what am I about to do for her? Have I a heart to name it even to myself? A thought comes to me--a thought which can be but a thought. Horrible!--I will go. I will not wait until she comes. (Raises his eyes towards Heaven.) If she be innocent, let Him who plunged her into this abyss, extricate her from it. He needs not my hand. I will away. (As he is going he espies Emilia.) Ha! 'Tis too late. My hand is required--He requires it.