Lod. They are gone; their victim remains—oh, let but his escape be effected through my aid, and then how soon this old weak frame ceases to feel, I care not! (he descends)
Venoni. Where am I? have they left me? the mist which obscures my sight allows me to distinguish nothing; the objects which surround me seem all confused; a thousand wild distorted images distract my brain—I must give way.
Lod. Alas, poor youth! on the ground? I’ll hasten to pour upon his wounded heart the balm of consolation—yet hold! may they not return! yet a few moments—
Venoni. (rising) The clouds disperse. I am alone—they are gone—doubtless are gone for ever! what? and shall then the barbarian triumph? shall then Josepha die unavenged? she must, she must! then farewell, liberty; farewell hope! despair, despair! ha, what glitters—a dagger? a tomb? doubtless designed for me—tis there that all sorrows terminate! tis there, that I shall dread no more the treachery and crimes of man, his perfidious friendship, his dissembled spite, his infernal thirst for vengeance! ha, and if all this indeed be so—why not this instant seize a blessing within my grasp? why not at once defeat the malice of my jailors? it shall be so, and thus— (going to stab himself, when Lodovico arrests his arm)
Lod. Hold, hold! ungrateful!
Venoni. Ha! a stranger?
Lod. Short-sighted mortal! blush to have attempted that impious act! you despaired of succour; you doubted the goodness of Providence; and at that very moment heaven had commissioned me to comfort and preserve you.
Venoni. What are you? what mean you? speak, oh, speak!
Lod. Like yourself, I am the object of Cœlestino’s hatred; like yourself was I condemned to descend alive into the tomb. Mark me, young man. I knew well, that between these vaults and those belonging to the adjoining convent there existed various private communications—the faint hope of discovering one of them formed the only amusement of my solitary hours: I sought it—I persevered—youth, I have found it—
Venoni. Have found it? go on, for heaven’s sake.