cy!

_Venoni._ (_furious_) Mercy? had you mercy upon me?

_Pri._ Venoni! follow me this instant! I command you!

_Venoni._ (_violently but firmly_) Tomorrow I will obey you; today I am
still free! (_to Hortensia_) Answer, or-- (_turning suddenly to the
marquis, while he releases Hortensia, who throws herself on a couch, and
weeps_) You know it well, my father, she was inexorable! you, you pitied
me; but your wife saw my anguish, and her eye was still dry, and her
heart was still marble! she opposed your granting me permission to see
Josepha; she even insisted on your resuming that permission; but I
rushed from her presence-- I hastened to Messina-- to the Ursuline
convent-- as I approached it, the death-bell tolled! the sound echoed to
the very bottom of my soul, every stroke seemed to fall upon my heart!
I trembled, my blood ran cold-- (_in a faltering voice_) "who is dead?"
(_with a loud burst of agony_) She, she! your daughter; my betrothed! my
brain whirled round and round-- I rushed into the chapel-- a bier-- a
coffin-- it inclosed your daughter! my betrothed, my happiness, my life!
I sprang towards it-- I extended my arms to clasp it, what followed I
know not; I was at peace, I was happy, I had ceased to feel: but oh! the
barbarians, they restored me to sense, and twas only to the sense of
misery! (_he falls weeping upon the viceroy's neck_)

_Hor._ Every word he utters-- seems a dagger to my heart!

_Pri._ (_aside_) Ah! how I repent!

_Venoni._ (_recovering, and looking round_) Twas here-- in this very
room-- that I have passed so many happy, happy hours? twas here that I
received your sanction to our union; twas in yon alcove, that I
endeavoured to transmit to canvas Josepha's features-- features
impressed upon my heart indelibly! love guided my pencil-- that
portrait-- tis there! tis she! tis Josepha! (_he suddenly draws away the
curtain, and discovers a picture of Josepha at full length-- the prior
stands forward on the scene, his hands tremble with passion, and his
countenance expresses extreme vexation and stifled rage-- on the
picture's being discovered, Hortensia springs forward, sinks on her
knees, and extends her arms towards, it-- the marquis turns away from
the picture, towards which his left hand points, while he hides his face
on the viceroy's bosom; the viceroy stands in an attitude of grief with
his arms extended towards the picture; he and the marquis are rather
behind the other persons-- Ve