Page:The Vespers of Palermo.pdf/100
Thou wouldst receive our foes!—but they shall meet
From thy perfidious lips a welcome, cold
As death can make it.—Go, prepare thy soul!
Rai. Father! yet hear me!
Pro. No! thou'rt skill'd to make
E'en shame look fair.—Why should I linger thus?
(Going to leave the prison he turns back for a moment.
If there be aught—if aught—for which thou need'st
Forgiveness—not of me, but that dread power
From whom no heart is veil'd—delay thou not
Thy prayer:—Time hurries on.
Rai. I am prepared.
Pro. 'Tis well. [Exit Procida.
Rai. Men talk of torture!—Can they wreak
Upon the sensitive and shrinking frame,
Half the mind bears, and lives?—My spirit feels
Bewilder'd; on its powers this twilight gloom
Hangs like a weight of earth.—It should be morn;
Why, then, perchance, a beam of heaven's bright sun
Hath pierced, ere now, the grating of my dungeon,
Telling of hope and mercy! [Exit into an inner cell.
Scene II.—A Street of Palermo.
Many Citizens assembled.
1 Citizen. The morning breaks; his time is almost come:
Will he be led this way?