_Politian_. Thou heardst it not!----Baldazzar, speak no more To me, Politian, of thy camps and courts. Oh! I am sick, sick, sick, even unto death, Of the hollow and high sounding vanities Of the populous Earth! Bear with me yet awhile! We have been boys together--school-fellows-- And now are friends--yet shall not be so long. For in the eternal city thou shalt do me A kind and gentle office, and a Power-- A Power august, benignant, and supreme-- Shall then absolve thee of all farther duties Unto thy friend. _Baldazzar_. Thou speakest a fearful riddle I _will_ not understand. _Politian_. Yet now as Fate Approaches, and the hours are breathing low, The sands of Time are changed to golden grains, And dazzle me, Baldazzar. Alas! Alas! I _cannot_ die, having within my heart So keen a relish for the beautiful As hath been kindled within it. Methinks the air Is balmier now than it was wont to be-- Rich melodies are floating in the winds-- A rarer loveliness bedecks the earth-- And with a holier lustre the quiet moon Sitteth in Heaven.--Hist! hist! thou canst not say Thou hearest not _now_, Baldazzar! _Baldazzar_. Indeed I hear not. _Politian_. Not hear it!--listen now,--listen!--the faintest sound And yet the sweetest that ear ever heard! A lady's voice!--and sorrow in the tone! Baldazzar, it oppresses me like a spell! Again!--again!--how solemnly it falls Into my heart of hearts! that voice--that voice I surely never heard--yet it were well Had I but heard it with its thrilling tones In earlier days! _Baldazzar_. I myself hear it now. Be still!--the voice, if I mistake not greatly, Proceeds from yonder lattice--which you may see Very plainly through the window--that lattice belongs, Does it not? unto this palace of the Duke. The singer is undoubtedly beneath The roof of his Excellency--and perhaps Is even that Alessandra of whom he spoke As the betrothed of Castiglione, His son and heir. _Politian_. Be still!--it comes again! _Voice_ (_very faintly_.) And is thy heart so strong As for to leave me thus Who hath loved thee so long In wealth and wo among? And is thy heart so strong As for to leave me thus? Say nay--say nay! _Baldazzar_. The song is English, and I oft have heard it In merry England--never so plaintively-- Hist--hist! it comes again! _Voice_ (_more loudly_.) Is it so strong As for to leave me thus, Who hath loved thee so long In wealth and wo among? And is thy heart so strong As for to leave me thus? Say nay--say nay! _Baldazzar_. 'Tis hush'd and all is still! _Politian_. All is _not_ still. _Baldazzar_. Let us go down. _Politian_. Go down, Baldazzar! go! _Baldazzar_. The hour is growing late--the Duke awaits us,-- Thy presence is expected in the hall Below. What ails thee, Earl Politian?