118 



V Ape llaliana. — No. XIX, 



[March 1, 



use of (0 defend Iierself, and to soften 

 the imiJetuons ciiaracter of the terrible 

 (iuelfo. Still he reproaches her for 

 lier love to Guido, and threatens her 

 ■with his rengeance if slie \vill not re- 

 nounce and discover liini. In the 

 second act, the simplicty and beauty 

 of Ricciarda's conduct is finely pre- 

 served, and exquisitely developed 

 througlioiit. Her nnceasinfr tenderness 

 and attachment to her barbarous father, 

 even move him to tears ; but his evil 

 genius too soon again prevails. Goaded 

 by fears for his only sou, Averardo dis- 

 guises himself as an ambassador, and 

 pleads in vain, before his revengeful 

 kinsman, the principles of humanity 

 and truth. x\verardo discovers himself 

 to his son, and a scene of admirable 

 strength and pathos follows. He can- 

 not be prevailed ujion to leave Ric- 

 ciarda, who is then brouglit forwards 

 to renounce with a sohunn vow, and as 

 a proof of filial obetlience, all her love 

 and all her hopes for Guido. The am- 

 bassador is aftenvards dismissed, and 

 they prepare on Iwth sides to decide the 

 fatal quarrel with the sword. Before 

 they meet, however, we are presented 

 w ifli the parting scene between Guido 

 and Ricciarda, in which tliepoet seems 

 to have called forth all the force and 

 beauty of his art — exhibiting a tender- 

 ness and stirring jwwer of passion, 

 which, as in Alfieri, must have drawn 

 " sweet and bitter tears " from the poet 

 a<! he wrote. She says her father had 

 made her swear never to be his, but 

 could not prevail upon her to hate him. 

 Guido would persuade her to fly, lest 

 her father, in rage or disappointment, 

 should be tempte<l to murder her ; or, 

 if not, he will never be induced to le;ive 

 her. On this Ricciarda requests from 



him a dagger 



I dread his troubled heart — I dre.id my own — 

 Thy love yel more 1 dread. 



Guelfo again approaches — she drops 

 the danger, and he upbraids her \\\t\\ 

 ingratitude-, and iutendcil patricide. — 

 He then hastens to battle, and. in the 

 fifth act, appeiirs returning from the 

 field, repulsed, and in despair: — 



Guei. Short is ray reign — yet I have time 

 to die 

 Unconquered. Off— otT, soldiers, to the 

 victor — 



. . Here I reign alone — 



The tombs, a daiisjhter, and a sword are left; 

 Eaough for Guelfo. Now begone, I say. 



SCENE III. 



GueJ. Dost thou hear me speak, 

 Didst thou not suy that o'er my iiead did 

 hang 



A sword ? — 



Ric. I said it I — 



Gutl. And that Guido gave it 



E'en to thy hand 



Think where you spenk-^ 

 Hark, from the tomb, you- words are heard 

 in heaven. 

 But Ricciarda will not betray her 

 lorer — .and, in his rage, (iuclfo rushes 

 along the vaults, calling upon Guido 

 to appear — but he again returns, and, 

 seizing her by the hair, with a 

 naked dagger, calls on Guido once 

 more — 



Here me, thou coward, 'ere Rieciardn die — 

 Come forth to save — the thunder of my voice 



Is followed by the lightning stroke -he 



hears 



Gaido. I hear. 



[Ricciarda screams to 'ner father. 

 Ric. Ah ! now I will embrace you strong 

 as death. 



Yea, dead, will cling unto you fatlier 



—oh 

 Fly, Guido, fly for mercy^ 



Giiel. Ah I thou durst not. 

 No struggle ; no defiauee — prepare thy 



breast, 

 And calmly, for my dagger, or thou shoU 



see it 

 Deep in the bosom that thou feign'stto love. 

 Gnido ofl'ers his breast, in spite of 

 Ricciarda's cries, and her father stabs 

 him, just at the moment when Ave- 

 rardo and his victorious friends enter. 

 To him (iuelfo then addresses himself 

 in the following lines: — 

 Thou shalt be vriiuess to thy son's despair. 

 Thy nge most sorrowful — Yea, to the tomb 

 My throne shall follow thee, when here 



awhile 

 Deserted in my violated halls 

 Thou Last watched our name, our blood, and 



all decaj' — 

 I am one more swift to do than imprecate 

 Unhappy things — Now Guido mark me well. 

 Watch if I dare to die — Trembles my hand 

 To do this deed of swift but terrible death 

 To us — and lingering and sure to thee. 



[Guel/o Uere stabs Ricciarda. 

 Ric. Take me, O mother, take thy daugh- 

 ter home. 

 Guido. O, merciless blow — it was m>j 

 father's baud. 

 Not thiue. Ho would not let me save thee, 



love- 

 Farewell, farewell ; 'ere long I will be with 

 thee. 

 Ric. Heed it not ; live — but let nie see 

 thee, Guido, 

 Say we shall meet again — I die thine own — 



And pardon for my father. 



[She dies. 



Gntl. Lo, I follow ! 



[GutJfo kills himself. 



And thus concludes a drama of no 



common genius and powers. In 



strength 



