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Out of my own—that is, above my power
Seemed other, greater potencies to stretch-
Val. For you?

The D. It was not I moved there, I think But one I could-though constantly beside, And aye approaching-still keep distant from, And so adore. 'Twas a man moved there. Val.

Who?

The D. I felt the spirit, never saw the face. Val. See it! 'Tis Berthold's. He enables you To realize your vision.

The D.

Val.

Berthold?

Duke

Emperor to be: he proffers you his hand.
The D. Generous and princely!
Val.

He is all of this

The D. Thanks, Berthold, for my father's sake-no

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Had that been-love might so incline the Prince To the world's good, the world that's at his foot,—

I do not know, this moment, I should dare

Desire that you refused the world-and Cleves--
The sacrifice he asks.

The D.

Val. He scarce affirmed it.

The D.

Not love me, sir?

May not deeds affirm?

Val. What does he? . . . Yes-yes-very much

he does!

All the shame saved, he thinks, and sorrow saved

Immitigable sorrow, so he thinks—

Sorrow that's deeper than we dream, perchance.

The D. Is not this love?

Val.

So very much he does!

For look, you can descend now gracefully;

All doubts are banished, that the world might have,
Or worst, the doubts yourself, in after-time,
May call up of your heart's sincereness now:
To such, reply, "I could have kept my rule,
Increased it to the utmost of my dreams,
Yet I abjured it!"
It is munificently much!

The D.

This, he does for you:

But why is it not love, sir?

Still "much!"

Answer me !

Val. Because not one of Berthold's words and looks

Had gone with love's presentment of a flower

To the beloved: because bold confidence,

Open superiority, free pride

Love owns not, yet were all that Berthold owned :
Because where reason, even, finds no flaw,

Unerringly a lover's instinct may.

The D. You reason, then, and doubt?

Val.

I love, and know.

The D. You love?-How strange ! I never cast a thought

On that. Just see our selfishness! you seemed

So much my own . . . I had no ground—and yet, I never dreamed another might divide

My power with you, much less exceed it.

Val.

I am yours wholly.

The D.

Lady,

Oh, no, no, not mine!

'Tis not the same now, never more can be!

-Your first love, doubtless! Well, what's gone from

me?

What have I lost in you?

Val.

My heart replies

No loss there! . . So to Berthold back again!

This offer of his hand, he bids me make

Its obvious magnitude is well to weigh.

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The D. She's . yes, she must be very fair for you!

Val. I am a simple Advocate of Cleves.

The D. You! with the heart and brain that so

helped me,

I fancied them exclusively my own,

Yet find are subject to a stronger sway!

She must be . . . tell me, is she very fair?

Val. Most fair, beyond conception or belief!

The D. Black eyes?-no matter! Colombe, the

world leads

Its life without you, whom your friends professed
The only woman-see how true they spoke!

One lived this while, who never saw your face,

Nor heard your voice-unless ... Is she from Cleves? Val. Cleves knows her well.

The D.

Ah-just a fancy, now! When you poured forth the wrongs of Cleves,-I said,

-Thought, that is, afterward.

Val.

You thought of me?

The D. Of whom else? Only such great cause, I

thought,

For such effect-see what true love can do!

Cleves is his love!-I almost fear to ask

. . Nor will not! This is idling: to our work!

...

Admit before the Prince, without reserve,

My claims misgrounded; then may follow better When you poured out Cleves' wrongs impetuously Was she in your mind?

...

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No, sir! You counselled me,-I counsel you

In the one point I—any woman—can !

Your worth, the first thing; let her own come nextSay what you did through her, and she through youThe praises of her beauty afterward!

Will you?

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away!

Suspects not such a love in me.

Val. The lady is above me and

Not only the brave form and the bright mind,

And the great heart, combine to press me low-
But all the world calls rank divides us.

Rank?

The D.
Now grant me patience! Here's a man declares
Oracularly in another's case,

Sees the true value and the false, for them,
Nay, bids them see it, and they straight do see!
You called my court's love worthless-so it turned :
I threw away as dross my heap of wealth,

And here you stickle for a piece or two!
First-has she seen you?

Val.

The D.

Yes.

She loves you, then.

Val. One flash of hope burst; then succeeded night: And all's at darkest now. Impossible !

FROM LURIA.

BRACCIO, COMMISSARY OF THE REPUBLIC, SPEAKS OF FLORENCE AND HER GENERALS.

Lapo, there's one thing plain and positive;

Man seeks his own good at the whole world's cost.
What? If to lead our troops, stand forth our chiefs,
And hold our fate, and see us at their beck,
Yet render up the charge when peace returned,
Have ever proved too much for Florentines,
Even for the best and bravest of ourselves-
If in the struggle when the soldier's sword
Should sink its point before the statist's pen,
And the calm head replace the violent hand,
Virtue on virtue still have fallen away
Before ambition with unvarying fate,
Till Florence' self at last in bitterness
Be forced to own such falls the natural end,
And, sparing further to expose her sons
To a vain strife and profitless disgrace,
Declare "The Foreigner, one not my child,

Shall henceforth lead my troops, reach, height by

height,

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