ROSAURA [aside]. Love befriend me; Give me wit enough my portrait To regain: -- If thou would'st learn then [To ESTRELLA.] What the matter is, my lady, I will tell thee. ASTOLFO [aside to ROSAURA.] Would'st o'erwhelm me? ROSAURA. You commanded me to wait here For the Prince, and representing You, to get from him a portrait. I remained alone, expecting, And, as often by one thought Is some other thought suggested, Seeing that you spoke of portraits, I, reminded thus, remembered That I had one of myself In my sleeve: I wished to inspect it, For a person quite alone Even by trifles is diverted. From my hand I let it fall On the ground; the Prince, who entered With the other lady's portrait, Raised up mine, but so rebellious Was he to what you had asked him That, instead of his presenting One, he wished to keep the other. Since he mine will not surrender To my prayers and my entreaties: Angry at this ill-timed jesting I endeavoured to regain it, That which in his hand is held there Is my portrait, if you see it; You can judge of the resemblance. ESTRELLA. Duke, at once, give up the portrait. [She takes it from his hand.] ASTOLFO. Princess . . . . ESTRELLA. Well, the tints were blended By no cruel hand, methinks. ROSAURA. Is it like me? ESTRELLA. Like! 'Tis perfect. ROSAURA. Now demand from him the other. ESTRELLA. Take your own, and leave our presence. ROSAURA [aside]. I have got my portrait back; Come what may I am contented. [Exit.] * * * * * SCENE XV. ESTRELLA and ASTOLFO. ESTRELLA. Give me now the other portrait; For -- although perhaps I never May again address or see you -- I desire not, no, to let it In your hands remain, if only For my folly in requesting You to give it. ASTOLFO [aside]. How escape From this singular dilemma?-- Though I wish, most beauteous Princess, To obey thee and to serve thee, Still I cannot give the portrait Thou dost ask for, since . . . . ESTRELLA. A wretched And false-hearted lover art thou. Now I wish it not presented, So to give thee no pretext For reminding me that ever I had asked it at thy hands. [Exit. ASTOLFO. Hear me! listen! wait! I remember! -- God, what has thou done, Rosaura? Why, or wherefore, on what errand, To destroy thyself and me Hast thou Poland rashly entered? [Exit. * * * * * SCENE XVI. PRISON OF THE PRINCE IN THE TOWER. SIGISMUND, as at the commencement, clothed in skins, chained, and lying on the ground; CLOTALDO, Two Servants, and CLARIN. CLOTALDO. Leave him here on the ground, Where his day,-- its pride being o'er,-- Finds its end too. A SERVANT. As before With the chain his feet are bound. CLARIN. Never from that sleep profound Wake, O Sigismund, or rise, To behold with wondering eyes All thy glorious life o'erthrown, Like a shadow that hath flown, Like a bright brief flame that dies!