’Tis I, Giovanni: all is well: thou’rt safe, Manuel has told me all. Thou dost repent. All is prepared. Ask not my pardon: give me One kiss—I have forgiven thee. Be not sad. 2400 ’Twas like thee as I love thee, nobly done: And being so cruel to thyself ’twas easy Thou shouldst forget what I too now forget, Recovering thee. I saw thee ride away, And guessed before the letter. O, Giovanni, Thank God, thou’rt safe. Look, I have brought the money To serve thee on thy journey till the day We meet again; and more. Thy ship will sail But to Messina: there thou wilt disbark. Nay, take the money; thou wilt need it, love, 2410 ’Tis Manuel’s gift, not mine.
_Pal._ (_taking_). I have no heart, Margaret, for what is done on my behalf. I thank him, but ...
_Mar._ Alas, alas! Giovanni: I looked to find thee glad of heart and happy. Our troubles all are over. Manuel lives, Whom we thought drowned: Constance, who lay in death, Hath risen from her bed: and even our marriage Is furthered by my brother. How can it be Thou art so dismal, and thy kiss as cold As is this prison?
_Pal._ I would not leave this prison. 2420
_Pal._ No: dankness and darkness Are now my friends. I have failed. How can I wish To step in the light of heaven?
_Mar._ O, then I see This death-delivering dungeon hath o’ercome thee. ——There’s news. This morn the ships arrived from Spain. They must bring tidings of the king’s accession. We shall learn all to-day. When he’s proclaimed, There’s nought that thou couldst do if thou wert free. What thou hast done may have determined much.
_Mar._ Love, thou must sail 2430 Quickly and secretly: and canst not hear Until thou come to land. But then if I Should meet thee there with Manuel, oh, what joy, Could I be first to tell thee.
_Pal._ Dost thou think That Manuel hath forgiven me for the wrong I did him, stealing from his house by night?
_Mar._ That was my theft, Giovanni; and he forgives: Cry not thou forfeit.—See, I bring thy dagger.
_Pal._ But, Margaret, I wronged thee too. I fled From thee; canst thou forgive me?
_Mar._ Ask not me 2440 If I have forgiven. Hearken, I will tell thee,— This dagger is the dagger which the woman, Whose name thou didst not know, brought thee in prison: By help of this thou madest thy first escape. ’Tis I that bring it now. These two days past, These days of misery, I have held and worn it But for one purpose; that if thou shouldst die, I might have something which had once been thine To end my life with.