ike one
petrified._)

_Pri._ (_triumphant_) Ah, listen to that bell! twas at this very hour,
that Josepha's eye-lids closed for ever! twas at this very hour, that--
(_the bell ceases to strike; Venoni recovers animation_)

_Venoni._ Josepha! oh, my Josepha! (_he rushes towards the grate, sinks
on his knees, and extends his arms through the bars towards the tomb._)

_Venoni._ (_after a short pause starts up, comes forward, and embraces
the viceroy in a hurried manner_) Farewell! I am grateful for your zeal;
but my fate is irrevocable!

_Vice._ Cruel youth! yet hear----

_Venoni._ No more, no more! I am dead to the world! yet forget not, that
while I lived, I lived to love you. Farewell, Benvolio-- farewell for
ever!

[Breaks from him, and exit.

(The viceroy remains in an attitude of profound grief; the prior
surveys him in silence with a look of malignant joy; at length
he advances towards him)

_Pri._ (_in a hypocritical tone_) May I without offence represent to
your excellence, that night approaches? it must be near the time, when
our rules require, that the monastery gates should be closed.

_Vice._ I read your soul, and your inhuman joy bursts out in spite of
your hypocrisy. Exult; but your triumph will be short. I have eyes--
they are fixed upon you!-- tremble!

[Exit.

_Pri._ (_fiercely_) And you who talk so loudly and so high-- tremble for
yourself! vain man, you little dream to what heights I can extend my
vengeance!

(Father _Jeronymo_ enters with a dark lantern.)

(_During the following scene, night comes on, and the moon rises_)

_Jer._ Even now I encountered Venoni, his eyes wild, his lips pale, his
whole frame trembling with agitation. I almost dread to inquire the
issue of this interview. Say, what result----

_Pri._ Jeronymo, there was one dreadful moment, when I gave up all for
lost-- Venoni was on the point of escaping from my power.

_Jer._ What! the viceroy's arguments----

_Pri._ Spoke but too forcibly to Venoni's heart. He talked to him of his
duties; he painted the world as a spacious field for the exercise of
virtue, and Venoni no longer looked upon the world with disgust.

_Jer._ But surely his love-- his despair-- the shock which his
understanding has received--

_Pri._ Right: tis to them that we are indebted for retaining our captive
in his chains. His resolution was shaken; the viceroy already triumphed;
but I pronounced Josepha's name, and