Sprung from his eldest son, who died untimely,
Before his father.

Tan. Ha! the prince you mean,

Is he not Manfred's son? The generous, brave,
Unhappy Manfred! whom the tyrant William,
You just now mention'd, not content to spoil
Of his paternal crown, threw into fetters,
And infamously murder'd?

Sif. Yes, the same.

Tan." By heavens, I joy to find our Norman reign, "The world's sole light amidst these barbarous ages, "Yet rears its head; and shall not, from the lance, "Pass to the feeble distaff."-But this prince, Where has he lain conceal'd?

Sif. The late good king,

By noble pity mov'd, contriv'd to save him
From his dire father's unrelenting rage,

And had him rear'd in private, as became

His birth and hopes, with high and princely nurture,
Till now, too young to rule a troubled state,
By civil broils most miserably torn,

He in his safe retreat has lain conceal'd,
His birth and fortune to himself unknown;
But when the dying king to me intrusted,
As to the chancellor of the realm, his will,
His successor he nam'd him.

Tan. Happy youth!

He then will triumph o'er his father's foes,
O'er haughty Osmond, and the tyrant's daughter.
Sif. Ay, that is what I dread-the heat of youth;

There lurks, I fear, perdition to the state,
I dread the horrors of rekindled war :
Though dead, the tyrant still is to be fear'd;
His daughter's party still is strong and numerous :
Her friend, Earl Osmond, Constable of Sicily,
Experienc'd, brave, high-born, of mighty interest.
Better the prince and princess should by marriage
Unite their friends, their interest, and their claims!
Then will the peace and welfare of the land
On a firm basis rise.

Tan. My Lord Siffredi,

If by myself I of this prince may judge,

That scheme will scarce succeed-Your prudent age In vain will counsel, if the heart forbid itBut wherefore fear? The right is clearly his; "And, under your direction, with each man "Of worth, and stedfast loyalty, to back

"At once the king's appointment and his birthright, "There is no ground for fear. They have great odds, "Against th' astonished sons of violence,

"Who fight with awful justice on their side." All Sicily will rouse, all faithful hearts,

Will range themselves around Prince Manfred's son. For me, I here devote me to the service

Of this young prince; I every drop of blood Will lose with joy, with transport in his cause"Pardon my warmth-but that, my lord, will never "To this decision come"-Then find the prince; Lose not a moment to awaken in him

The royal soul. Perhaps he, now desponding,

2

Pines in a corner, and laments his fortune;

That in the narrower bounds of private life
He must confine his aims, those swelling virtues
Which from his noble father he inherits.

Sif. Perhaps, regardless, in the common bane
Of youth he melts, in vanity and love.
But if the seeds of virtue glow within him,
I will awake a higher sense, a love

That grasps the loves and happiness of millions.

Tan. Why that surmise? Or should he love, Siffredi, I doubt not, it is nobly, which will raise And animate his virtues-Oh, permit me To plead the cause of youth-Their virtue oft, In pleasure's soft enchantment lull'd a while, Forgets itself; it sleeps and gayly dreams, Till great occasion rouse it; then, all flame, It walks abroad, with heighten'd soul and vigour, And by the change astonishes the world. "Even with a kind of sympathy, I feel

"The joy that waits this prince; when all the powers, "Th' expanding heart can wish, of doing good; "Whatever swells ambition, or exalts

"The human soul into divine emotions, "All crowd at once upon him.

"Sif. Ah, my Tancred,

"Nothing so easy as in speculation,

"And at a distance seen, the course of honour, "A fair delightful champaign strew'd with flowers. "But when the practice comes; when our fond passions,

"Pleasure and pride, and self-indulgence, throw “Their magic dust around, the prospect roughens; "Then dreadful passes, craggy mountains rise, "Cliffs to be scal'd, and torrents to be stem'd; "Then toil ensues, and perseverance stern; "And endless combats with our grosser sense, "Oft lost, and oft renew'd; and generous pain "For others felt; and, harder lesson still! "Our honest bliss for others sacrific'd; "And all the rugged task of virtue quells "The stoutest heart of common resolution. "Few get above this turbid scene of strife. "Few gain the summit, breathe that purest air, "That heavenly ether, which untroubled sees "The storm of vice and passion rage below. "Tan. Most true, my lord. But why thus augur ill?

"You seem to doubt this prince. I know him not. "Yet, oh, methinks, my heart could answer for him! "The juncture is so high, so strong the gale

"That blows from Heaven, as through the deadest soul

Might breathe the godlike energy of virtue."

Sif. Hear him, immortal shades of his great fa

thers!

Forgive me, Sir, this trial of your heart.

Thou! thou, art he!

Tan. Siffredi !

Sif. Tancred, thou!

Thou art the man of all the many thousands

That toil upon the bosom of this isle,

By Heaven elected to command the rest,

To rule, protect them, and to make them happy!
Tan. Manfred my father! I the last support

Of the fam'd Norman line, that awes the world!
I, who this morning wander'd forth an orphan,
Outcast of all but thee, my second father!
Thus call'd to glory! to the first great lot
Of human kind!—Oh, wonder-working hand,
That, in majestic silence, sways at will

The mighty movements of unbounded nature;
Oh, grant me, Heaven, the virtues to sustain
This awful burden of so many heroes!
Let me not be exalted into shame,

Set
up the worthless pageant of vain grandeur.
Meantime I thank the justice of the king,
Who has my right bequeath'd me.

Thee Siffredi,

I thank thee-Oh, I ne'er enough can thank thee! Yes, thou hast been-thou art-shalt be my father! Thou shalt direct my unexperienc'd years,

Shalt be the ruling head, and I the hand.

Sif. It is enough for me-to see my sovereign Assert his virtues, and maintain his honour.

Το

Tan. I think, my lord, you said the king committed

you his will. I hope it is not clogg'd
With any base conditions, any clause,
To tyrannize my heart, and to Constantia
Enslave my hand devoted to another.

The hint you just now gave of that alliance,