I ask you at whose urgence this is done!

This deed of churchly duty!... Yes, in justice I seek; for there has been Some traitor and perhaps a liar.--Osio?

Bianca? (_fiercely_) half, half I believe 't was you!

[_All are appalled._

_Porzia._ No, no, Rizzio!... no!... what are you saying!

[_Restrainingly._

Will you requite injustice with a worse?

[_To Querio, who is unmoved._

Monsignor, this in truth is hunting haste, To search him out Upon his wedding-day, And bind him with the very wreaths of it!

Could you not wait an eve, a night, until To-morrow when his nuptials would be o'er!

_Querio._ Who weds two brides is bigamist, Signora.

When he divorces heresy accuse me.

But now say your farewells, And with a moment's privacy: that can I grant, that and no more: the rest's with Rome.

[_Retires to rear--as do all but the two._

_Porzia_ (_whom dread now begins to overwhelm_).

My Rizzio! my own! I cannot bear it!

O why did you not go, delaying till This fate has fallen Now like a pall upon us!

I fear! I fear!...

To be so wedded, ere I am a wife, Here in this city of dark lawless pa.s.sions!

[_Unrestrainedly._

Ah, can you not recant?

Deny at once and so--

_Rizzio._ Porzia!

_Porzia._ Nay!

And yet to have you leave me-- Ere any nuptial night has hung our couch, Ere I have lain beside you in the dark And like Madonna dreamed of motherhood!

Ah, ah, I cannot!...

_Rizzio_ (_with a thought_). Then--listen to me.

[_Osio starts, watching him._

I will return to you!

_Porzia._ Return?

_Rizzio._ Perchance.

It may be. For with florins to the guard-- With friendly gold-- May he not be persuaded To bring me hither to you, for an hour At midnight--tho it be but for an hour?

[_They look at each other._

_Querio_ (_suspiciously, coming down_). Enough, Signor; the hour is running late.

And there are here, may be,

[_Sinisterly._

Some who are avid now to be at vespers.

_Porzia_ (_embracing Rizzio_). Then go, my lord; farewell, and fear not for me, Since I shall toil only for your release.

[_He goes, with Querio and guard. Porzia quails, then lets Marina lead her into the house. All follow but Bianca, Osio, and Matteo at gate._

_Bianca_ (_as the twilight begins, to Osio_).

Now that you have achieved so much, what more?

[_He does not answer; she also turns into house._

_Osio_ (_whom a turmoil of pa.s.sions is tearing_).

What more?... G.o.d in His Heaven shall decide!...

Doubts have I had--like swine of h.e.l.l within me-- But now He shall decide-- If she's to be the mother of heretics ...

Or if I, who acclaim the Creed, shall have her!

[_Calls._

Matteo!

_Matteo._ Signor--(_advancing_) here.

_Osio._ You have done well.

And from to-night I take you to my service, With wages that shall gild you from a want, And with the benediction of the Church.

But there is one thing more: Follow Monsignor Querio to the prison, Then to Signora Porzia return-- And say her husband sent you To bid her be in the bower there at midnight.

_Matteo_ (_staring_). But Signor, will she come?

_Osio._ Say that she is To speak no word--but keep to silence: go.

[_With fixed face, when the latch clicks behind him._

G.o.d shall decide, ...

For if she does not know My arms from _his_, then, it shall be a sign That to them and my bed ... she was predestined.

[_The dark grows. He turns soon to go, and the curtain falls....

But rises again at once and it is midnight; with only dim lights from the silent, sleeping city. As it does so Porzia with Marina comes out of the house. They pause and listen, Marina half-anxiously._

_Porzia_ (_drawing free_). Return and have no fear, he soon will come, And bade me be alone there in the bower.

The night is like a spell to draw him to me.