ULA. He steps aside and watches the
approaching forms._)

'Tis Haemon!
My father!

_Enter CHARLES friendly, with HAEMON._

CHARLES: So, no farther? you'll stop here?

HAEMON: Sir, if you grant it. I----

CHARLES (_twittingly_): Some rendezvous?
Who is she? Ah, young blood and Spring and night!

HAEMON: No rendezvous, my lord.

CHARLES: Some lay then you
Would muse on?

HAEMON: Yes, a lay.

CHARLES: And one of love?
The word, you see, founts easy to my lips.
(_With confidential archness._) 'Tis recent in my thought--as
you will learn.

HAEMON: How, sir, and when?

CHARLES: O, when? Be not surprised!--
Well, to the lay!
(_He goes._

HAEMON: Cruel! His soldiers waste
The bread of honesty, the hope of age!
Are drunken, bloody, indolent, and lust
To tear all innocence away and robe
Our loveliest in shame!--Yet me, a Greek,
He suddenly befriends!

ANTONIO (_coming forward_): Haemon----

HAEMON: Ah, you?

ANTONIO: There's room between your tone and courtesy.

HAEMON: And shall be while I'm readier to bend
Over a beggar's pain than prince's fingers.

ANTONIO: And yet you know me better----

HAEMON: Than to believe
You're not Antonio, son of Charles di Tocca?

ANTONIO: I'd be your friend.

HAEMON: So would he: and he smiles.

ANTONIO: There are deep reasons for it.

HAEMON: With him too!
Against a miracle, you are his heir!

ANTONIO: I think it would be well for you to listen.
My confidence once curbed----

HAEMON: May bite and paw?
Let it! for fools are threats, and cowards. Were
You Tamerlane and mine the skull should cap
A bloody pyramid of enemies,
I'd----!

ANTONIO: Hear me. Will you be so blind?

HAEMON: To your
Fair graces? No, my lord--not so. Your sword
And doublet are sublimely worn! sublimely!
Your curls would tempt an empress' fingers, and----

ANTONIO: Why is my anger silent?

HAEMON: Let it speak
And not this subtle pride! You would be friend,
A friend to me--a friend!--Did not your father
Into a