Or the last sunset cry of wounded kings.

I have wept but on the pages of a book,
And I have longed for sorrow of my own.

PAO. Come nothing nearer than such far-off

tears

Or peril from the pages of a book;

And, therefore, sister, am I glad that you

Are wedded unto one so full of shelter.

Constant is he, and steel-true till the grave.

For me-to-night I must be gone.

FRANC.

Ah, Paolo, go not away so soon!

To-night!

You brought me hither-leave me not at once,

Not now

PAO. Francesca !

FRANC.

I am still a child.

I feel that to my husband I could go

Kiss him good-night, or sing him to his sleep,

And there an end.

PAO.

Sister, I would that I

FRANC. Can we not play together a brief

while?

Stay, then, a little! Soon I shall be used

To my grave place and duty-but not yet.

GIO. Stand either side of me-you whom I

love.

I'd have you two as dear now to each other

As both of you to me. We are, Francesca,

A something more than brothers-fiercest friends;
Concordia was our mother named, and ours

Is but one heart, one honour, and one death.

Any that came between us I would kill.

FRANC. Sir, I will love him: is he not my

brother?

[NITA advances, with attendant LADIES.

NITA. My lady, it draws late.

My office ends. I'll say farewell to-night.

Gro. This very night!

PAO.

I'll go with you to church;

But from the after-feast I ask excuse.

GIO. [Taking his hand.] Come, Paolo, we two have

never held

A mystery between us-tell me out!
Harsh am I, but to you was ever gentle.
What is the special reason of your going?

GIO. What sudden face hath made this hall so

dark ?

Come, then, 'tis natural-walk to and fro

And tell me―ah! some lady you beheld

There at Ravenna in Francesca's train !

Was it not so ?

PAO.

Urge me no more to words.

GIO. What woman draws you thus away from

me ?

PAO. No woman, brother, draws me from this

house.

GIO. You like not then my marriage!—but in

deed,

No marriage can dissolve the bond between us.

Here you are free as ever in the house

Once more, what is the reason of your going?

PAO. Brother, 'tis nothing that hath chanced, but

rather

That which may chance if here I am detained.

GIO. Darker and yet more dark. Now speak it

out.

PAO. I cannot.

GIO.

Paolo, this is an ill

Beginning of my marriage, and I loathe

That you should put me off. We three, I

thought

We three together-tempt me not to rage!

And as your elder I command your stay,

Your presence both at church and at the feast.
You would affront Francesca publicly ?

PAO. Giovanni, 'tis enough, I stay. Forgive me.

GIO. Brother, this is our first and last dispute. Now leave me to these papers. [PAOLO is going.]

Paolo,