SCENE III.

TASSO, ANTONIO,

Tasso. Be welcome to me as if now first seen.
Thy coming is most happy. Welcome, welcome!
For knowing now thy worth, I long to proffer
A heart and hand which thou must not disdain.
I thank thee for thy gifts, but must beware
Lest I abuse thy generosity, accepting
Where I cannot repay. Pardon my providence ;
'Tis best for both I be not over hasty.

Anto.

Tasso.

Anto.

Tasso.

Anto.

Tasso.

Anto.

No one can blame the prudence which we need
At every step; yet in some precious moments
The heart suffices to direct our way.

Let each for himself decide when these occur,
Since each must bear the weight of his own error.
Well, be it so. I now have asked thy friendship,
Swayed by a wish the princess has expressed,
And she could not expect that I should urge it.
Time and acquaintance may perchance give value
To what thou now almost disdain'st.

Moderation

Is still reproached as coldness by those men

Who give impetuous heat the name of tenderness

Thou blamest what I blame and shun. Though young, I know that constancy and vehemence

Seldom combine,

Act wisely as thou speakest.

Tasso. Thou hast a right to advise and warn me, since

Experience is thy friend and guide. Yet trust me,
The heart soon learns all that she teaches;

Anto.

Tasso.

Anto.

Tasso.

Anto.

Tasso.

In secret, practises what thou dost think

To teach as new.

Pleasant enough it were

To muse about one's self, if but as useful.
No man can know himself from contemplation,
Measure his faculties upon a scale

Made by himself. No; he must read his own
In the hearts of other men, and life alone
Shows forth the living man.

And reverence I listen.

With applause

And yet thou thinkest

Something quite different as I am speaking.

Thus shall we ne'er approach to one another.

It is unkind, it is discourteous,

In thee, thus obstinately to misinterpret

My words and thoughts. Before the princess asked,
I longed to know thee. I was told thou wert
Creative still of good to others; ever

Assisting them, and heedless of thyself.

With firm heart sail'st thou o'er life's changeful sea.

I seek thee, ask but for a little part

Thou❜lt not repent such bounty towards me;

But when thou know'st my heart, will be my friend,
Such as I need. I fear not to avow

My inexperience and unripe judgment,

My future were a fair one did I know

But how to meet and use it. Would'st thou teach me ?
Thou ask'st that I this moment give a pledge
What time and thought should justify.

Yet love

Anto.

Tasso.

Anto.

Tasso.

Anto.

Will in a moment yield what toil would never
Claim as reward. I claim, I do not ask it.
I claim it by two words of strongest might –
Virtue and Leonora send me to thee;

She wishes that we should be friends. O, let us
Haste, hand in hand, unto her heavenly presence;
United offer fealty. Noble Antonio,

Grant me that sweetest pleasure to the good
Frankly to pour the heart out to a better.

Full sailed as usual! Used to conquer, every where

To find ways broad, doors open. Be it so !

I yield to thee thy luck— but truth compels me
To say that natures so unequal poised

Never could bend unto one point.

Unequal

I know we are in years and in tried worth:
In courage and good will, I yield to no one.
From will to deed the road is not so easy
As it may seem to thee. When the goal's reached
The victor claims a crown, which is not always
Given to the worthy. But some crowns there are
Much easier gained —a careless hand may pluck
Such from the trees during an idle stroll.

Some gifts, indeed, immediate from the gods,
Nor labor nor experience could obtain !

Blind Fortune is the deity of such.
Tasso. Justice protects her eyes by bands against
Influences which might distort the truth.

Anto.

The fortunate are right to praise their deity,
Give her discrimination, Argus eyes,

Name her Minerva, proudly wear her trappings
As armor from the fight.

Tasso.

Thou need'st not

Anto.

More plainly speak. It is enough. I look
Into thy deepest heart, and know thee now:
O, did the princess know thee too! Thy tongue,
Thy eyes, will aim their poisonous darts in vain
Against my brows defended by this garland.
The envious have no claim to such; yet bring me
The man who has reached that whereto I strive,
A hero such as history alone

Has given to my knowledge, or a poet

Who may compare with Homer and with Virgil,
(And such a one, deserving far more highly,
Would be far more abashed to win this crown
Than thou hast seen me,) I will humbly kneel,
Happy to place it at his feet.

Till then

Remain worthy possessor of thy garland.

Tasso. I fear not scrutiny, but will not bear

Anto.

Tasso.

Such uncalled-for contumely. The prince decreed me

The crown.

The princess' hand has woven it —

Who has a title to gainsay my right

To wear it!

This fury, this high tone,

Beseems neither this palace, nor is it meet
From thee to me.

Then why from thee to me?
Or is truth banished from the palace; freedom
Cast into chains, oppression to be borne

By noble hearts! Here should the swelling spirit
Find room, if any where, nor fear the greatness
Of earthly powers. With me it shall be so!

Only the high blood of our ancestors

Anto.

Tasso.

Anto.

Tasso.

Gives claim to approach the prince; why not our own?
Why must the large soul put on chains like these?
They are for little minds; fit for the envious

To mark their shame! Yet such should not be here,
Nor spiders' webs deform the marble walls.

Thou justify'st my scorn. Rash boy! dar'st thou
Claim confidence and friendship from a man?
Unmannerly as thou art.

Better unmannerly
Than like to thee, of cold, ignoble temper.
Thou art yet young, and timely chastisement
May moderate this folly.

Not young enough to bow down before idols;
And old enough with scorn to face the scorner.
No doubt thou art a mighty conqueror :
When singing to thy lute thou art so doughty.
Tasso. My hand has not been much acquainted with my

Anto.

Is come the time for combat. I had not
Wished it should be with thee; but thou wilt have it.
Heap coals on coals, and heat my inmost heart,
Till the desire for vengeance boils up foaming.
Draw! if report speaks truly of thy manhood.

Anto.
Tasso. No sanctuary can compel me to suffer

Thou think'st as little who as where thou art.

Such insults in its bounds. Thou dost infringe it,
Not I, who hither came to offer thee

Love, veneration, confidence, my all.