c complaint attacks the sisterhood, and Josepha, abandoned to
the care of strangers, sinks into an untimely grave, the victim of her
mother's neglect and imprudence.

_Ben._ But the dangers of the voyage-- Her confessor had so often
assured her that Josepha would be more safe in the convent--

_Teresa._ More safe? more safe indeed: where can a daughter be more safe
than in the arms of her mother? and then as to her confessor--

_Pietro._ What, the prior of St. Mark's? he with that humble
hypocritical air-- who speaks so softly and bows so low--

_Teresa._ Ay, ay; the same-- oh, I can't bear the sight of him!

_Pietro._ Nor I.

_Giovanni._ Nor I.

_Ben._ Stop, stop! not so violent, my good friends, not so violent; for
as to the prior, you must permit me to tell you that for my part,
I can't say I like him any better than yourself. And yet, signor Venoni,
who is a man of great sense, believes that since the world was a world,
there never was such a saint as this father Coelestino!

_Teresa._ Ah! poor signor Venoni! where is he now, Benedetto?

_Ben._ Still in St. Mark's monastery, whither he fled in despair on
losing his destined bride, the lady Josepha.

_Pietro._ And his senses-- are they right again?

_Ben._ Why, as he believes father Coelestino to be a saint, I should
rather suppose, that they must still be very wrong indeed.

_Pietro._ Perhaps that friar, who twice this morning has inquired at the
palace whether the viceroy was arrived, is the bearer of some message
from Venoni?

_Ben._ Very likely, very likely! and therefore, Pietro, should that
friar call again----

_Carlo._ (_appearing at the balcony of the palace_) Benedetto,
Benedetto! the gallies, the gallies!

_Ben._ Indeed! are you sure? yes, yes, yes, I hear the music! (_shouting
without_) and hark, Teresa! hark! the mob are huzzaing like---- bless my
heart, I shall certainly expire at his feet for joy! they come! oh!
look, look, look!

[A marine procession arrives-- the _viceroy_ lands from the
state-galley, accompanied by the grandees of _Messina_, who
conduct him to the palace gate, and take their leaves of him
respectfully. While the grandees, &c. retire, _Benedetto_ and the
servants pay their homage to the viceroy, who receives them
graciously. _Teresa_ and the rest then busy themselves in taking
charge of the baggage, and retire into the palace. The viceroy
motions to _Benedetto_ to remain.]

_Vicer