Tragedies of Silvio Pellico [pp. 773-779]

SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER.
throws himself at his feet, and is pardoned and restored
to his former privileges. He prays Gismonda to forget
what is past, and be a sister to him, to which she replied
with concealed bitterness.
"Forgetful of the past? To me no harm
Or outrage hast thou done, nor in thy power
Is it to harm me. I could still be happy
Whatever madness and whatever guilt
Drove thee to fight beneath Milan's proud standards,
And to espouse a daughter of Milan.
I hold me, Aribert, not wronged by thee,
But rather bless the day that broke a bond
Imposed in folly, and bestowed my hand
Upon a loyal cavalier. In thee
I hate my house's foe, Caesar's and God's."
Her subsequent maledictions and menaces betray to
Aribert the true cause of her emotion, and teach hinm
to anticipate the vengeance of a jealous and deserted
woman. Herman, his younger brother, in fear of
losing his inheritance, refuses a reconciliation with the
fugitive, even at his father's command, loading him with
reproaches which at length become mutual. They are
interrupted in one of their disputes by the sound of a
trumpet, and discover from the window a band of Suabians who had been invited thither by Herman, and
come under the direction of the Margrave of Auburg,
to demand, in the Emperor's name, the rebel son of the
Count. The old man refuses compliance with this requisition, taking on himself the consequences of disobedience; and Herman afterwards reveals to his wife the
league he had formed with the imperial troops for the
destruction of his brother. The ensuing scenes show
the unfortunate lady under the dominion of conflicting
passions; now fired with rage, now agitated by fear,
now melting with tenderness. Gabriella, leading her
child, supplicates her aid against the dangers that
threaten her husband, but is repulsed with hatred and
anguish. The wretched Gismonda, however, afterwards discovers to the Count in the presence of his
eldest son, the treachery that surrounds them, herself
assuming the blame; informs them that the keys of a
subterranean passage leading from a wood to the castle
were consigned by her to the enemy. Their vehement
reproaches cannot increase her mental agony. Soon
afterwards, the alarm is given, and the news brought
that the subterranean passage is already invaded. The
fifth act introduces us into the midst of the battle, which
takes place within the palace. The Count, disarmed
and wounded, is vainly endeavoring to hold back Herman from the scene of conflict. Gabriella with her son
rushes in, followed by the Margrave, who snatches the
child from her arms.' Gismonda rescues and restores
the infant to his mother, but repels her thanks as insults.
The shouts of victory at length are heard from the
adherents of the Count; Aribert is saved by Gabriella
from the lance of an enemy, and enters triumphant,
finding his brother wounded and sustained by the Count.
Herman acquits his brother of evil design against him,
and confesses himself the traitor who had admitted the
hostile troops, vindicating Gismonda from any share of
the blame. He dies, and his unhappy wife retires into
a convent.
The scene of Leoniero da Dertona is in the twelfth
century. The inhabitants of Dertona, a city which
had joined the celebrated Lombard league against the
Emperor Frederick, are divided into two factions; one,
headed by Arrigo, tribune of the people, taking -part
with the allies; the other adhering to the cause of the
Imperialists. The first party hold a fortress upon the
rock, in those times a post of great strength and impor tance. The consul Enzo, leader of the Imperialists, had
given his sister Eloisa in marriage to Arrigo, to induce
him to desert his cause; that failing, had treacherously
possessed himself of the person of the tribune, threaten ing to kill him if the fortress were not surrendered. At
this crisis, Leoniero, father of Enzo, returns from the
East, where he had gone as a soldier in his youth, and
suffered long imprisonment. A feud has long existed
between his family and that of Auberto, the father of
Arrigo; but Leoniero, being informed of the conduct of
his son, censures highly his breach of faith towards his
brother-in-law, and his treason to his country. Yet he
cannot so far forget his private resentment as to declare
himself the friend of Auberto, though such a course
would have at once subdued the strength of the oppos ing faction, so dear is Leoniero to his countrymen. He
remains neultral for a time, and Enzo meanwhile works
upon the fears of Eloisa, who endeavors to prevail on
her imprisoned husband to write a letter commanding
the surrender of the fortress. Neither entreaties nor
threats can move the stern virtue of the tribune, aind
his father is confirmed in his resolution to maintain his
trust by the arrival of a messenger from Milan, who
discovers the treacherous alliance of Enzo with the
Imperial troops, and promises succor from the Milanese
in a few days. Enzo then attempts to possess himself
by force of the person of his father, who, finally dis missing his long cherished enmity, takes refuge in the
castle with his ancient foe, and is received with open
arms. His son sends hostages to induce him to return;
and Leoniero, hoping that his paternal counsels may
reclaim the traitor, goes, at the advice of Auberto and
others, though distrusting his professions of penitence.
Arrived at his son's palace, he finds himself unexpect edly a prisoner, forbidden to see or speak with any but
his guards. The fifth act opens with an imposing scene.
Upon the walls of the castle are discovered Auberto
and his faithful soldiers, the friends of liberty. The
plain beyond is filled with Suabian troops, mingled
with the Dertonese. In the foreground stands the con sul with other magistrates, and the Count of Spielberg,
who in the Emperor's name declares Enzo governor of
Dertona, and imposes on all its citizens obedience to
him. Enzo kneels to do homage to the vicegerent of
his master for his newly acquired domain, and receives
a sword from the Count. The senators and his troops
swear fealty to him, and he then addresses Auberto in
behalf of Arrigo, who stands bound on'one side, offer ing life to the son on condition of the father's obedience.
We will translate the remainder of the act.
Enzo (to /uberto.) A last and brief delay
I now accord to thee; but ere the bell
Sounds its first stroke to tell the coming hour,
Pronounce his life or death. (to executioner) At the first
stroke,
Mark me, his head must fall!
Reberto. Enzo, a duty
Inviolable as the icy grave,
Binds me this fortress to maintain, until
The standard of Milan shall join our troops.
For that which is not granted to my will,
Oh! punish not the innocent! These prayers
| Are poured, ah, not in coward fear! And wherefore
776