_Venoni._ Oh, talk not to me of resistance! what force can oppose the efforts of a lover, a frantic desperate lover! father, there was a maiden-- how fair she was, nothing but thought can imagine-- how I adored her, nothing but this heart can feel! father, this maiden-- they tore her from me, they murdered her-- murdered her barbarously-- tis for her sake that I wish for liberty! tis to avenge her murder that I go to labour; and can you doubt my success? no, no! that thought will turn my blood into consuming fire, will harden every nerve into iron, will endow every limb, every joint, every muscle with vigour and strength and powers herculean-- come, father, come. _Lod._ Oh! that I could! but age-- but infirmity-- go, go, my son, I will remain, and pray for you. _Venoni._ What? go, and leave you still in the power of your foe! never, never! _Lod._ Dear generous youth, you must! I should but impede your flight; I should but mar your exertions. Away then! effect your own escape-- then return, and rescue me, if possible-- but should you find me dead, oh! believe, that it will have sweetened the bitter hour to think, that my existence lasted long enough to preserve yours. _Venoni._ Thou good old man-- _Lod._ Yet one word! should you force the portal, and reach the interior of the Ursuline convent in safety, shape your course towards the garden: the wall is low-- to scale it is easy and-- _Venoni._ Enough! and now-- (_going_) _Lod._ And when you are free-- when smiling, friends surround you-- when all for you is liberty, and peace and happiness, do not-- oh! do not quite forget, that a poor captive, languishing in his solitary cell-- _Venoni._ Forget you? never! by that life which you now give me, never; I swear it! once at liberty, my first care shall be to effect your rescue, my second to secure your happiness. Oh! surely if aught in life is sweet it is when the heart overflows with gratitude, and the hand has the power to perform what that grateful heart dictates and desires: oh! surely if there is aught which gives mortals a foretaste of the bliss of angels, it is when affection brings a smile upon the furrowed cheeks of those to whom we are indebted for our existence. Tis to you that I owe that gift; and while I have life, never will I forget that it is to you I owe it. Now then away! one embrace: one blessing: then pray for me, father, pray for me, and farewell! [Exit with the lamp. _Lod._ (_alone_) Spirits who favour virtue oh! strengthen his arms! aid him! support him! hark he is at the door! I hear him! again, and again! repeat the blow! hark, hark, it breaks, it shivers! and see-- _Venoni_, appearing above with the lamp. _Venoni._ Freedom, freedom, freedom, friend, farewell! I speed to rescue you. [Exit. _Lod._ Fly, fly! you bear with you my blessing! (_kneeling_) Heaven, I adore and thank you! I have preserved a fellow creature’s life. [The scene closes.