know her well.
I know her love for him, but well I know
She is so proud of her Athenian blood
And of this old republic, she would banish
Her love for less than this. Once separated,
The Prince safe over seas in Bosphorus,
His former love turned to injurious pride,
I might prevail! I would!

_Re-enter_ CHILD.

Nay, little one,
We will spin no more to-day. I prithee go
And seek the Lady Gycia. Say to her,
By all the memory of our former love
I pray that she will come to me at once.
Lose not a moment.

[_Exit_ Child.

Hark! the tramp again;
Again the ring of mail. I wonder much
If she shall hear it first, or first the eye
Shall slay her love within her.

_Enter_ GYCIA.

_Gycia._ Thou dost ask
My presence; wherefore is it?

_Ire._ Gycia,
Thou dost not love me, yet would I requite
Thy wrong with kindness. That thy love was false
To thee, thou knowest, but it may be still
There is a deeper falsehood than to thee,
And thou shalt know it. Dost thou hear that sound?
[The tramp of men again heard.
What means it, think you?

_Gycia._ Nay, I cannot tell.
'Tis like the tramp of armed men.

_Ire._ It is;
And who are they?

_Gycia._ Young citizens of Cherson,
Maybe, rehearsing for to-morrow's pageant
And the procession.

[_Going._

_Ire._ Stay, thou stubborn woman,
Canst bear to see, though the sight blight thy life?

_Gycia._ I know not what thou wouldst, but I can bear it.

_Ire._ Though it prove thy love a traitor?

_Gycia._ That it will not!

_Ire._ Then, make no sound, but see what I will show thee.
Look now! Behold thy love!

[_Draws back panel, and discovers_ ASANDER _with the
soldiers of Bosphorus marching._ ASANDER'S _voice heard._

_Asan._ At stroke of midnight
To-morrow night be ready.

_Soldiers._ Ay, my lord.

[GYCIA _tottering back._ IRENE _slides back the panel,
and_ GYCIA _sets her back against it, half fainting_;
IRENE _regarding her with triumph._

_Gycia._ Was that my husband? and those men around him
Soldiers of Bosphorus, to whom he gave
Some swift command? What means it all, ye saints?
What means it? This the husband of my