ever--I am sure you feel for me--I see you do--pardon these tears!”--The knights gazed on each other, wondering where this would end. Manfred continued:--“The death of my son betiding while my soul was under this anxiety, I thought of nothing but resigning my dominions, and retiring for ever from the sight of mankind. My only difficulty was to fix on a successor, who would be tender of my people, and to dispose of the Lady Isabella, who is dear to me as my own blood. I was willing to restore the line of Alfonso, even in his most distant kindred; and though, pardon me, I am satisfied it was his will that Ricardo’s lineage should take place of his own relations, yet where was I to search for those relations? I knew of none but Frederic, your lord: he was a captive to the infidels, or dead; and were he living, and at home, would he quit the flourishing state of Vicenza for the inconsiderable principality of Otranto? If he would not, could I bear the thought of seeing a hard unfeeling viceroy set over my poor faithful people?--for, sirs, I love my people, and, thank Heaven, am beloved by them. But ye will ask, whither tends this long discourse? briefly, then, thus, sirs. Heaven in your arrival seems to point out a remedy for these difficulties and my misfortunes. The Lady Isabella is at liberty; I shall soon be so--I would submit to anything for the good of my people--were it not the best, the only way to extinguish the feuds between our families if I was to take the Lady Isabella to wife--you start--but though Hippolita’s virtues will ever be dear to me, a prince must not consider himself; he is born for his people.”--A servant at that instant entering the chamber, apprised Manfred that Jerome and several of his brethren demanded immediate access to him.