Page:Miscellaneous Plays 1.pdf/446

VALERIA (raising her head).

There spoke a gentle voice: is Ella near me?

ELLA.

Yes, I am near, and shall be ever near you.

VALERIA.

Wilt thou? I do believe, sweet maid, thou wilt.

Lay thy soft hand on mine,—Yes, it feels kindly.
Had he, thy valiant love, been near his lord—
Ay, they did love each other with that love
Which brave men know—Oh, ev'ry noble stranger,
In admiration of his noble worth,
Did call him lord; whilst they, his native subjects,
They who had seen him grow within their walls,—
Alas! where lightly tripp'd his infant steps;
Where in gay sports his stripling's strength was tried;
Where tower'd in graceful pride his manly bloom;
Even there a lifeless, ghastly form he lies.

Enter another Domestic Officer, and seeing Valeria on the ground steps back.

LUCIA (to the Officer).

What would'st thou here?

OFFICER.

I must, perforce, speak my unwelcome tidings.

The sultan is already in the palace,
And follows hard my steps with a fix'd purpose
To see the empress.