[_Hastening to door with the rest crowding closely after._

How? what? you called? what moves you?--Osio?

[_Looks around._

Was some one here? what is it? speak!... Bianca?

What burns you?

_Bianca._ You shall hear! It must be told.

Yes, yes!... (_Struggling to say it_) ...

And with no leavening delay of words.

We ... I ... You must be gone from here at once; At once--for there is peril.

_Rizzio._ Pah-ho! peril?

Now, Scylla and the Sibyl and Charybdis!

What megrim have you had?

_Bianca._ None--for doubting; Or any, it matters not, if you will go, And quickly, trusting reason--as you boast to; For I have heard--

_Rizzio._ Have heard what and from whom?

[_Again looks around._

_Bianca._ There was one here who said Monsignor Querio Knows of your excommunicant delight In books that are forbid-- And ... of your heresies!

_Porzia_ (_in quick dismay_). The Inquisition!

You mean--he may be sought by it and seized, Held in the trammels of it for a truth That...! Do you mean, Bianca, Osio, That now, at any hour--?... Oh, he must go!

[_Hears noise at gate._

And quickly! In, Rizzio, in, for they--!

[_The gate opens and Matteo entering stops amazed and alarmed._

_Rizzio_ (_with laughing relief_). Now, now, do you not see your apprehension!

Is Matteo the Inquisition! Is He then the prison that has come to seize me?

Fie, fie, Bianca, with your fears that mar Again the bridal beauty of this hour, And crowd with quiverings the bliss of it!

No more of them!--(_to dancers_) Hither! and wind your maze!

Again take up the dance!

_Porzia._ No, Rizzio, no!

For now delight would die under our feet, And we but trample on it! No! Dismiss them Back now to Capri!...

More than the woman fear within me warns it.

For you have been o'er bold--not vainly, nay, For truth, I know, must dare--but there may be More in this than you think.

_Rizzio._ And ere it rises I cravenly must quench the altar-fires That I attend--and our half-wedded joys?

No! no! More revels!

Till we shall utterly uncloud our bliss And leave remembrance not a stain upon it!

A song, Ta.s.so, a song!

The taunting one that swept us into laughter!

How runs it? did it not begin with Naples?

(_Recalls it._)

Naples sins and Torre pays, (Torre del Greco!) Who fears the earthquake all her days!

(Torre del Greco!) Who....

[_Forgets._

Who sits beneath Vesuvius And shrives the castaways of us!

Naples sins and Torre pays, (Torre del Greco!)

On, on with it! Come Porzia!--On, on.

_Ta.s.so_ (_who has stood shrinking_). Ah, Signor, no; I fear; I cannot; pray Your pardon. I must go.

_Rizzio._ Go!

_Ta.s.so._ I would not Offend the Church--who is the Bride of Christ.

_Rizzio_ (_unaffected_). Then off with you, unworthy follower Of Virgil, And of fire-veined Ariosto,-- Of singers who have flung their hearts to courage, As yet we shall fling ours! (_Ta.s.so goes._) For even Bianca And Osio Must rue now their alarm, And help us back from it to revelry.

[_As he turns to them, then to all._

What, none of you? no heart of joy about me?

_Porzia_ (_striving for abandon_). Yes, Rizzio!... tho I would have you fly; For bodingly I breathe the breath of evil!

[_With forced lightness._

A dance, then!

Again weave its delight!

[_Dancers show cheer._

For to your want mine is attuned, and what Is music to it shall o'ermaster me!

And not alone my feet shall follow, but The Truth you fly to will I wing to attain!-- Tho stars seem to my simple sight but candles Upon the altar of G.o.d, I'll think them worlds, If to your soul they seem so; and for the rest--

[_A knock brings consternation, this time to all. The dancers fall to crossing themselves, some kneeling. As they do so the gate is thrown open and Querio enters; he is followed by several guards._

_Querio_ (_advancing; amid awe_). In the name of the Vicar of G.o.d who sits at Rome, And of the Holy Office, I arrest The giver of these pagan rites and revels.

[_Guards step to Rizzio's side; he stands speechless._

_Porzia_ (_stunned_). Oh,... Oh!

_Rizzio_ (_hoa.r.s.ely_). And at whose urgence, my lord Prelate,

[_Starts forward._