CLOTALDO. If you know that your misfortunes, Sigismund, are unexampled, Since before being born you died By Heaven's mystical enactment; If you know these fetters are Of your furies oft so rampant But the bridle that detains them, But the circle that contracts them. Why these idle boasts? The door [To the Soldiers.] Of this narrow prison fasten; Leave him there secured. SIGISMUND. Ah, heavens, It is wise of you to snatch me Thus from freedom! since my rage 'Gainst you had become Titanic, Since to break the glass and crystal Gold-gates of the sun, my anger On the firm-fixed rocks' foundations Would have mountains piled of marble. CLOTALDO. 'Tis that you should not so pile them That perhaps these ills have happened, [Some of the SOLDIERS lead SIGISMUND into his prison, the doors of which are closed upon him.] * * * * * SCENE IV. ROSAURA, CLOTALDO, CLARIN, Soldiers. ROSAURA. Since I now have seen how pride Can offend thee, I were hardened Sure in folly not here humbly At thy feet for life to ask thee; Then to me extend thy pity, Since it were a special harshness If humility and pride, Both alike were disregarded. CLARIN. If Humility and Pride Those two figures who have acted Many and many a thousand times In the "autos sacramentales", Do not move you, I, who am neither Proud nor humble, but a sandwich Partly mixed of both, entreat you To extend to us your pardon. CLOTALDO. Ho! SOLDIERS. My lord? CLOTALDO. Disarm the two, And their eyes securely bandage, So that they may not be able To see whither they are carried. ROSAURA. This is, sir, my sword; to thee Only would I wish to hand it, Since in fine of all the others Thou art chief, and I could hardly Yield it unto one less noble. CLARIN. Mine I'll give the greatest rascal Of your troop: [To a Soldier.] so take it, you. ROSAURA. And if I must die, to thank thee For thy pity, I would leave thee This as pledge, which has its value From the owner who once wore it; That thou guard it well, I charge thee, For although I do not know What strange secret it may carry, This I know, that some great mystery Lies within this golden scabbard, Since relying but on it I to Poland here have travelled To revenge a wrong. CLOTALDO [aside.] Just heavens! What is this? Still graver, darker, Grow my doubts and my confusion, My anxieties and my anguish.-- Speak, who gave you this? ROSAURA. A woman. CLOTALDO. And her name? ROSAURA. To that my answer Must be silence. CLOTALDO. But from what Do you now infer, or fancy, That this sword involves a secret? ROSAURA. She who gave it said: "Depart hence Into Poland, and by study, Stratagem, and skill so manage That this sword may be inspected By the nobles and the magnates Of that land, for you, I know, Will by one of them be guarded,"-- But his name, lest he was dead, Was not then to me imparted.