"No bliss, and no ambition but itself.

"But in the world's full light, those charming

dreams,

"Those fond illusions vanish. Awful duties! "The tyranny of men, even your own heart, "Where lurks a sense your passion stifles now, "And proud imperious honour call you from me.” 'Tis all in vain-you cannot hush a voice

That murmurs here—I must not be persuaded! Tan. [Kneeling.] Hear me, thou soul of all my hopes and wishes!

And witness Heaven, prime source of love and joy! Not a whole warring world combin'd against me; "Its pride, its splendor, its imposing forms, "Nor interest, nor ambition, nor the face "Of solemn state, not even thy father's wisdom," Shall ever shake my faith to Sigismunda!

[Trumpets and acclamations heard. But, hark! the public voice to duties call me, Which with unwearied zeal I will discharge; And thou, yes, thou, shalt be my bright rewardYet-ere I go-to hush thy lovely fears,

Thy delicate objections—[Writes his name.] Take this blank,

Sign'd with my name, and give it to thy father:
Tell him, 'tis my command, it be fill'd up
With a most strict and solemn marriage-contract.
How dear each tie! how charming to my soul !
That more unites me to my Sigismunda.

For thee, and for my people's good to live,

Is all the bliss which sovereign power can give.

[Exeunt.

ACT II. SCENE I.

A grand Saloon. Enter SIFFREDI.

Siffredi.

So far 'tis well-The late king's will proceeds
Upon the plan I counsel'd; that Prince Tancred
Shall make Constantia partner of his throne.
Oh, great, oh, wish'd event! "whence the dire seeds
"Of dark intestine broils, of civil war,

"And all its dreadful miseries and crimes,

"Shall be for ever rooted from the land.
"May these dim eyes, long blasted by the rage
"Of cruel faction and my country's woes,

"Tir'd with the toils and vanities of life,
"Behold this period, then be clos'd in peace!"
But how this mighty obstacle surmount,

Which love has thrown betwixt? "Love, that disturbs

"The schemes of wisdom still; that, wing'd with passion,

"Blind and impetuous in its fond pursuits,
"Leaves the grey-headed reason far behind.
"Alas, how frail the state of human bliss!
"When even our honest passions oft destroy it.

"I was to blame, in solitude and shades, "Infectious scenes! to trust their youthful hearts. "Would I had mark'd the rising flame, that now "Burns out with dangerous force!"—My daughter

owns

Her passion for the king; she trembling own'd it, With prayers, and tears, and tender supplications, That almost shook my firmness-And this blank, Which his rash fondness gave her, shews how much, To what a wild extravagance he loves

I see no means-it foils my deepest thought—
How to controul this madness of the king,
That wears the face of virtue, and will thence
Disdain restraint, "will, from his generous heart,
"Borrow new rage, even speciously oppose
"To reason reason"- -But it must be done.
"My own advice, of which I more and more
"Approve, the strict conditions of the will,
"Highly demand his marriage with Constantia ;
"Or else her party has a fair pretence-
"And all at once is horror and confusion-
"How issue from this maze?"-The crowding
barons

Here summon'd to the palace, meet already,
To pay their homage, and confirm the will.
On a few moments hang the public fate,
On a few hasty moments- -Ha! there shone
A gleam of hope-Yes, with this very paper
I yet will save him" Necessary means,
"For good and noble ends, can ne'er be wrong,

"In that resistless, that peculiar case,
"Deceit is truth and virtue- -But how hold
"This lion in the toil?-Oh, I will form it
"Of such a fatal thread, twist it so strong
"With all the ties of honour and of duty,
"That his most desperate fury shall not break
"The honest snare."Here is the royal hand-
I will beneath it write a perfect, full,
And absolute agreement to the will;

Which read before the nobles of the realm
Assembled, in the sacred face of Sicily,

Constantia present, every heart and eye

Fix'd on their monarch, every tongue applauding,
He must submit, his dream of love must vanish-
It shall be done To me, I know, 'tis ruin;
But safety to the public, to the king.

I will not reason more, "I will not listen
"Even to the voice of honour."-No-'tis fix'd!
I here devote me for my prince and country;
Let them be safe, and let me nobly perish!
Behold, Earl Osmond comes, without whose aid
My schemes are all in vain.

Enter OSMOND.

Osm. My Lord Siffredi,

I from the council hasten'd to Constantia,
And have accomplish'd what we there propos'd.
The princess to the will submits her claims.
She with her presence means to grace the senate,
And of your royal charge, young Tancred's hand,

32

Accept. "At first, indeed, it shock'd her hopes "Of reigning sole, this new, surprising scene "Of Manfred's son, appointed by the king, “With her joint heir—But I so fully shew'd "The justice of the case, the public good, "And sure establish'd peace which thence would rise, "Join'd to the strong necessity that urg'd her, "If on Sicilia's throne she meant to sit, "As to the wise disposal of the will

"Her high ambition tam'd." Methought, besides, I could discern, that not from prudence merely She to this choice submitted.

Sif. Noble Osmond,

You have in this done to the public great And signal service. Yes, I must avow it; This frank and ready instance of your zeal, In such a trying crisis of the state, "When interest and ambition might have warp'd "Your views, I own this truly generous virtue" Upbraids the rashness of my former judgment.

Osm. Siffredi, no. To you belongs the praise; "The glorious work is yours. Had I not seiz❜d, "Improv'd the wish'd occasion to root out

"Division from the land, and sav'd my country, "I had been base and infamous for ever.” 'Tis you, my lord, to whom the many thousands, That by the barbarous sword of civil war Had fallen inglorious, owe their lives; "to you "The sons of this fair isle, from her first peers "Down to the swain who tills her golden plains,