her!
Her heart will bleed; and can you wound that heart,
Yet swear you love her?

_Caesa._ Dearly, fiercely love her;
But not so fiercely as I loath this king!--
Hatred of him, cherished from youth, is now
My second nature! 'tis the air I breathe,
The stream which fills my veins, my life's chief source,
My food, my drink, my sleep, warmth, health and vigour,
Mixed with my blood, and twisted round my heart-strings!
To cease to hate him, I must cease to breathe!--
Never to know one hour's repose or pleasure
While loathed Alfonso lived,--such was my oath,
Breathed on my broken-hearted mother's lips.
She heard! her eyes flashed with new fire; she kissed me,
Murmured Orsino's name, blessed it and died!--
That oath I'll keep!

_Enter_ Melchior.

_Caesa._ Melchior! why thus alarmed?

_Mel._ I've cause too good! our lives hang by a thread!
Guzman is dying.

_Caesa._ and _Hen._ How?

_Mel._ Remorse already
Hath wrung one secret from him; and I fear,
The next fit brings our plot.

_Caesa._ Speed, speed, Henriquez!
Place spies around his gate! guard every avenue!
Mark every face that comes or goes--Away!

[_Exit_ Henriquez.

_Caesa._ I'll watch the king myself!

_Mel._ As yet he's safe.
Soon as he parted from the troops, Alfonso,
By Inis guided, tow'rds the forest sped,
To seek and sooth his late-found friend Orsino.

_Caesa._ [_Starting_] Whom, whom? Orsino? what Orsino? speak.

_Mel._ The count San Lucar, long thought dead, but saved.
It seems, by Amelrosa's care--Time presses----
I must away: farewell.

_Caesa._ At one, remember--
Beneath the royal tower----

_Mel._ Fear not my failing.

_Caesa._ [_Alone_] He lives! My father lives!
Oh, let but vengeance
Fire him to spurn Alfonso and his friendship.
His martial fame the memory of his virtues,
His talents, rank, and sufferings undeserved----
Oh! what a noble column to support
My new-raised power! [_Going._]

_Enter_ Ottilia. [_Veiled._]

_Otti._ Caesario, stay!

_Caesa._ Forgive me,
Fair lady, if my speech appears ungentle;
Such business calls----

_Otti._ [_Unveiling_] Than mine there's none more urgent.

_Caesa._ Ottilia!

_Otti._ Need I say what brings me hither?

_Caesa._ Those angry eyes too plainly speak, that still Estella.

_Otti._ She? Dissembler! fiend?--Peace, peace;
I come not here to rave, but to command.
You love the Princess, are beloved again----
Speak not! She saw this scarf; her tears, her anguish
Betrayed her