_Pol_. Now's Death and Hell! Am I not--am I not sorely--grievously tempted To take thee at thy word? But mark me, sir: Think not to fly me thus. Do thou prepare For public insult in the streets--before The eyes of the citizens. I'll follow thee-- Like an avenging spirit I'll follow thee Even unto death. Before those whom thou lovest-- Before all Rome I'll taunt thee, villain,--I'll taunt thee, Dost hear? with _cowardice_--thou _wilt not_ fight me? Thou liest! thou _shalt_! (_Exit_.) _Cas_. Now this indeed is just! Most righteous, and most just, avenging Heaven! [Footnote 1: By Sir Thomas Wyatt.--Ed.] * * * * * NOTE ON POLITIAN 20. Such portions of "Politian" as are known to the public first saw the light of publicity in the 'Southern Literary Messenger' for December 1835 and January 1836, being styled "Scenes from Politian; an unpublished drama." These scenes were included, unaltered, in the 1845 collection of Poems by Poe. The larger portion of the original draft subsequently became the property of the present editor, but it is not considered just to the poet's memory to publish it. The work is a hasty and unrevised production of its author's earlier days of literary labor; and, beyond the scenes already known, scarcely calculated to enhance his reputation. As a specimen, however, of the parts unpublished, the following fragment from the first scene of Act II. may be offered. The Duke, it should be premised, is uncle to Alessandra, and father of Castiglione her betrothed. _Duke_. Why do you laugh? _Castiglione_. Indeed. I hardly know myself. Stay! Was it not On yesterday we were speaking of the Earl? Of the Earl Politian? Yes! it was yesterday. Alessandra, you and I, you must remember! We were walking in the garden. _Duke_. Perfectly. I do remember it--what of it--what then? _Cas_. O nothing--nothing at all. _Duke_. Nothing at all! It is most singular that you should laugh At nothing at all! _Cas_. Most singular--singular! _Duke_. Look yon, Castiglione, be so kind As tell me, sir, at once what 'tis you mean. What are you talking of? _Cas_. Was it not so? We differed in opinion touching him. _Duke_. Him!--Whom? _Cas_. Why, sir, the Earl Politian.