_ and _Nicolo_, with _Venoni_, whom they throw
upon the floor.

_Pri._ Object of everlasting hate! object of never to be sated
vengeance, lie thou there! live to feel the pangs of dying with every
moment of the day, that day whose light thou never shalt behold again.
Follow me!

[Exeunt prior, &c.

_Lodovico_ appears at the private door.

_Lod._ They are gone; their victim remains-- oh, let but his escape be
effected through my aid, and then how soon this old weak frame ceases to
feel, I care not! (_he descends_)

_Venoni._ Where am I? have they left me? the mist which obscures my
sight allows me to distinguish nothing; the objects which surround me
seem all confused; a thousand wild distorted images distract my brain--
I must give way.

_Lod._ Alas, poor youth! on the ground? I'll hasten to pour upon his
wounded heart the balm of consolation-- yet hold! may they not return!
yet a few moments--

_Venoni._ (_rising_) The clouds disperse. I am alone-- they are
gone-- doubtless are gone for ever! what? and shall then the barbarian
triumph? shall then Josepha die unavenged? she must, she must! then
farewell, liberty; farewell hope! despair, despair! ha, what glitters--
a dagger? a tomb? doubtless designed for me-- tis there that all sorrows
terminate! tis there, that I shall dread no more the treachery and
crimes of man, his perfidious friendship, his dissembled spite, his
infernal thirst for vengeance! ha, and if all this indeed be so-- why
not this instant seize a blessing within my grasp? why not at once
defeat the malice of my jailors? it shall be so, and thus-- (_going to
stab himself, when Lodovico arrests his arm_)

_Lod._ Hold, hold! ungrateful!

_Venoni._ Ha! a stranger?

_Lod._ Short-sighted mortal! blush to have attempted that impious act!
you despaired of succour; you doubted the goodness of Providence; and at
that very moment heaven had commissioned me to comfort and preserve you.

_Venoni._ What are you? what mean you? speak, oh, speak!

_Lod._ Like yourself, I am the object of Coelestino's hatred; like
yourself was I condemned to descend alive into the tomb. Mark me, young
man. I knew well, that between these vaults and those belonging to the
adjoining convent there existed various private communications-- the
faint hope of discovering one of them formed the only amusement of my
solitary hours: I sought it-- I persevered-- youth, I have found it--

_Venoni._ Have found it? go on,