, be it our care to restore Venoni to himself: his
fortune is not yet in our possession. (_he kneels and supports Venoni in
his arms_) My son! Venoni! look up, Venoni.

_Venoni._ (_reviving_) Who names me? who speaks to me?

_Pri._ One whom your situation cuts to the very heart. What has produced
this new distress? tell me, my son?

_Venoni._ (_whom the prior has assisted to rise, casts round him a wild
unconscious look, and unable to support himself reclines his head on the
prior's bosom_) What has happened? where am I?

_Pri._ In the arms of that tender friend whose sympathy--

_Venoni._ (_struck by the voice, and recollecting himself, raises his
head, fixes his eyes on the prior, and repulses him with a look of
extreme horror_) Thou? thou? oh, eternal justice!

_Pri._ (_astonished_) How is this? you drive me from you; and does then
the sight of me inspire you with disgust?

_Venoni._ (_shuddering_) Disgust?

_Pri._ In what have I offended? what is my crime?

_Venoni._ (_exasperated beyond bounds_) And still dare you ask? inhuman!
still dare you ask-- what is your crime? oh, monstrous hypocrisy! oh,
guilt beyond belief! she is dead! and still dare you ask-- in what have
you offended?

Enter father _Anastasio_ and father _Nicolo_.

_Ana._ Tis in vain that--

_Pri._ Silence! (_with calm dignity_) hear me, Venoni! tis plain that
your senses are disordered, and I therefore listen to these insults
without resentment: these insults which I have so little deserved from
you. But I know well that your injustice proceeds not from your heart;
and when this paroxysm of delirium is past--

_Venoni._ Delirium? no, no! do not hope it! excess of misery-- desire of
vengeance have restored my reason: I feel but too well, both for myself
and you, that my senses are right again, and tremble thou to hear they
are so! I see you now in your true colours, in all the horrors of your
atrocious guilt! your hour is arrived; your cup is full; and the abyss
already yawns beneath your feet, which within an hour shall bury you in
its womb for ever! farewell! (_going_)

_Pri._ Yet stay, Venoni! you must not-- you shall not leave me thus.
What means this talk of guilt, of vengeance? declare at once what
troubles you! I boldly challenge an immediate explanation.

_Venoni._ (_furious_) What? you brave me? ha! read! read, then, monster!
(_gives him the letter, which he received from father Michael: but
immediately afterwards, becomi