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He is in safety—safety as assured
As thine own harmless self.

Enter Constantine.

CONSTANTINE (to Rodrigo).

Thou speak'st with an unwonted earnestness;

I've mark'd thy gestures; something moves thee much.

Who are these strangers? (Turning to Petronius and Marthon, who, uncovering their faces, stand confessed before him.)

Ha! Marthon and Petronius! What new treason

Is now on foot, that here——but judge I harshly?
Ye are, perhaps, struck with the circumstances
Of these most solemn times, repentant grown,
And if ye be, in a good hour ye come:
I am myself a wean'd and pardon'd man.
Marthon, thou once wert wont to speak the truth;
What brought ye hither?

MARTHON.

Most gracious prince, with no repentant mind

We hither came; but one of us, at least,
Shall hence depart with a heart deeply smitten.

CONSTANTINE.

Confess then what new treason ye devised.

ELLA.

No treason; none to thee, most royal Constantine.