Page:Keats - Poetical Works, DeWolfe, 1884.djvu/353

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 Conrad.⁠I know not:
When, lackeying my counsel at a beck,
The rebel lords, on bended knees, received
The Emperor's pardon, Ludolph kept aloof,
Sole, in a stiff, foolhardy, sulky pride;
Yet, for all this, I never saw a father
In such a sickly longing for his son.
We shall soon see him, for the Emperor
He will be here this morning.

 Auranthe.⁠That I heard
Among the midnight rumors from the camp.

 Conrad. You give up Albert to me?

 Auranthe.⁠Harm him not!
E'en for his highness Ludolph's sceptry hand,
I would not Albert suffer any wrong.

 Conrad. Have I not labor'd, plotted—?

 Auranthe.⁠See you spare him:
Nor be pathetic, my kind benefactor!
On all the many bounties of your hand,—
'Twas for yourself you labored—not for me!
Do you not count, when I am queen, to take
Advantage of your chance discoveries
Of my poor secrets, and so hold a rod
Over my life?

 Conrad.⁠Let not this slave—this villain—
Be cause of feud between us. See! he comes!
Look, woman, look, your Albert is quite safe!
In haste it seems. Now shall I be in the way,
And wish'd with silent curses in my grave,
Or side by side with 'whelmed mariners.