John Keats

The Complete Works: Poetry, Plays, Letters and Extensive Biographies


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would not hear the end of. At nightfall

      Your lady sister, if I guess aright,

      Will leave this busy castle. You had best

      Take farewell too of worldly vanities.

      Conrad.

      Vassal!

      Albert.

      Tomorrow, when the Emperor sends

      For loving Conrad, see you fawn on him.

      Good even !

      Auranthe.

      You’ll be seen!

      Albert.

      See the coast clear then.

      Auranthe (as he goes). Remorseless Albert! Cruel,

      cruel wretch!

      [She lets him out.

      Conrad.

      So, we must lick the dust?

      Auranthe.

      I follow him.

      Conrad.

      How? Where? The plan of your escape?

      Auranthe.

      He waits

      For me with horses by the forest-side,

      Northward.

      Conrad.

      Good, good! he dies. You go, say you?

      Auranthe.

      Perforce.

      Conrad.

      Be speedy, darkness! Till that comes,

      Fiends keep you company!

      [Exit.

      Auranthe.

      And you! And you!

      And all men! Vanish!

      [Retires to an inner Apartment.

      Scene II

An Apartment in the CastleEnter LUDOLPH and Page

      Page.

      Still very sick, my Lord; but now I went

      Knowing my duty to so good a Prince;

      And there her women in a mournful throng

      Stood in the passage whispering: if any

      Mov’d ’twas with careful steps and hush’d as death;

      They bid me stop.

      Ludolph.

      Good fellow, once again

      Make soft enquiry; prythee be not stay’d

      By any hindrance, but with gentlest force

      Break through her weeping servants, till thou com’st

      E’en to her chamber door, and there, fair boy,

      If with thy mother’s milk thou hast suck’d in

      Any diviner eloquence ; woo her ears

      With plaints for me more tender than the voice

      Of dying Echo, echoed.

      Page.

      Kindest master!

      To know thee sad thus, will unloose my tongue

      In mournful syllables. Let but my words reach

      Her ears and she shall take them coupled with

      Moans from my heart and sighs not counterfeit.

      May I speed better!

      [Exit Page.

      Ludolph.

      Auranthe! My Life!

      Long have I lov’d thee, yet till now not lov’d:

      Remembering, as I do, hard-hearted times

      When I had heard even of thy death perhaps,

      And thoughtless, suffered to pass alone

      Into Elysium! now I follow thee

      A substance or a shadow, wheresoe’er

      Thou leadest me, whether thy white feet press,

      With pleasant weight, the amorous-aching earth,

      Or thro’ the air thou pioneerest me,

      A shade! Yet sadly I predestinate!

      O unbenignest Love, why wilt thou let

      Darkness steal out upon the sleepy world

      So wearily; as if night’s chariot wheels

      Were clog’d in some thick cloud. O, changeful Love,

      Let not her steeds with drowsy-footed pace

      Pass the high stars, before sweet embassage

      Comes from the pillow ‘d beauty of that fair

      Completion of all delicate nature’s wit.

      Pout her faint lips anew with rubious health

      And with thine infant fingers lift the fringe

      Of her sick eyelids ; that those eyes may glow

      With wooing light upon me, ere the Morn

      Peers with disrelish, grey, barren, and cold.

Enter GERSA and Courtiers

      Otho calls me his Lion should I blush

      To be so tam’d, so

      Gersa. Do me the courtesy

      Gentlemen to pass on.

      Courtier.

      We are your servants.

      [Exeunt Courtiers.

      Ludolph.

      It seems then, Sir, you have found out the man

      You would confer with; me?

      Gersa.

      If I break not

      Too much upon your thoughtful mood, I will

      Claim a brief while your patience.

      Ludolph.

      For what cause

      Soe’er I shall be honour ‘d.

      Gersa.

      I not less.

      Ludolph. What may it be? No trifle can take place

      Of such deliberate prologue, serious ‘haviour.

      But be it what it may I cannot fail

      To listen with no common interest

      For though so new your presence is to me,

      I have a soldier’s friendship for your fame

      Please you explain.

      Gersa.

      As thus for, pardon me,

      I cannot in plain terms grossly assault

      A noble nature ; and would faintly sketch

      What your quick apprehension will fill up

      So finely I esteem you.

      Ludolph.

      I