_Venoni._ Josepha! oh, my Josepha! (_he rushes towards the grate, sinks on his knees, and extends his arms through the bars towards the tomb._) _Venoni._ (_after a short pause starts up, comes forward, and embraces the viceroy in a hurried manner_) Farewell! I am grateful for your zeal; but my fate is irrevocable! _Vice._ Cruel youth! yet hear---- _Venoni._ No more, no more! I am dead to the world! yet forget not, that while I lived, I lived to love you. Farewell, Benvolio-- farewell for ever! [Breaks from him, and exit. (The viceroy remains in an attitude of profound grief; the prior surveys him in silence with a look of malignant joy; at length he advances towards him) _Pri._ (_in a hypocritical tone_) May I without offence represent to your excellence, that night approaches? it must be near the time, when our rules require, that the monastery gates should be closed. _Vice._ I read your soul, and your inhuman joy bursts out in spite of your hypocrisy. Exult; but your triumph will be short. I have eyes-- they are fixed upon you!-- tremble! [Exit. _Pri._ (_fiercely_) And you who talk so loudly and so high-- tremble for yourself! vain man, you little dream to what heights I can extend my vengeance! (Father _Jeronymo_ enters with a dark lantern.) (_During the following scene, night comes on, and the moon rises_) _Jer._ Even now I encountered Venoni, his eyes wild, his lips pale, his whole frame trembling with agitation. I almost dread to inquire the issue of this interview. Say, what result---- _Pri._ Jeronymo, there was one dreadful moment, when I gave up all for lost-- Venoni was on the point of escaping from my power. _Jer._ What! the viceroy’s arguments---- _Pri._ Spoke but too forcibly to Venoni’s heart. He talked to him of his duties; he painted the world as a spacious field for the exercise of virtue, and Venoni no longer looked upon the world with disgust. _Jer._ But surely his love-- his despair-- the shock which his understanding has received-- _Pri._ Right: tis to them that we are indebted for retaining our captive in his chains. His resolution was shaken; the viceroy already triumphed; but I pronounced Josepha’s name, and instantly he forgot all but her. He is ours once more; tomorrow will see him resign his wealth and liberty in my hands; and much time shall not elapse, ere that first sacrifice is followed by a second. _Jer._ And does then this count Benvolio inspire you with no apprehensions? As viceroy of Messina his power is great; and how to escape the vigilance of his suspicious eye--