Ab. (with suppressed indignation.) Murderer!
Bern. The worst of murderers! False to the man who raised him from low fortune—false to his patron, the brave prince Palatine!
Ab. To him!
Bern. To him! Who on his brother's, the late prince's death, anxious to see and guard that brother's child, then some leagues distant from the court, despatched Manfredi, as his trustiest friend to be the princess's escort; when, on the way, most artfully dismissing all her train, and mov'd not by the smile of infant innocence, mixing ingratitude with traitorous cruelty, this foe to virtue, but Bellarmin's friend, plung'd his fell poniard in Theresa's heart, and fled, and died the victim of despair.
Ab. Wert thou a winged messenger from Heaven, my father's spirit, nay, e'en fate itself! I'd tell you, vile detractor, it is false! false as thy friend, the brave prince palatine! who fired by daring and ambitious views, besought Manfredi to remove the bar 'twixt him and sovereignty. Manfredi yielded to protect his charge, and artfully dismissed the princess's train to bear her to a friendly foreign court; when galling, dire reverse! in a dark covert on the Danube's banks, outlaws affected what her foes desired—Theresa fell—(speaking rapidly)—A prey to grief and disappointed hope, Manfredi fled—Yon fell usurper gained the wish'd-for seat!
Bern. Usurper!
Ab. Fiend! coward! traitor! Who, to destroy Manfredi's evidence, sought his destruction;—who, by false statement and concurring circumstance, secur'd his triumph—who still comes forth to immolate more innocence! and Corbey's abbot is to share in the new sacrifice! No, though our order teaches resignation—yet teaching fortitude and love of virtue, my founder's spirit shall inspire my soul, and once more Charlemagne shall vanquish here!
Bern. Audacious, impious slanderer! Compare ennobled and established worth with such confirm'd disgrace—(flourish of drums and trumpets, and noise of walls falling)—They force the outworks! Instant aid their entrance! and hail the downfall of such perjured arrogance!
St. Clair. Come!
Ab. (getting between them and the gates.) St. Clair! Bernardo! who once call'd me friend! and who, on sudden impulse, have drawn forth what I so long and anxiously kept secret, will you desert me at this awful moment? or, to the last contending for our abbey's rights, implore these warriors from the holy land, not to take arms against a sacred cause! She's wrong'd, she's innocent.