_Paolo_. Can’st thou? _Francesca_. I cannot! _Paolo_. O, repeat that word! Lady—thou hat’st me not! _Francesca_. Too much I said. Cruel! is’t not enough? Go—leave me! _Paolo_. Nay— I leave thee not till thou hast told me all. _Francesca_. Have I not said—I love thee! Ah! the words Escaped my impious lips! I love thee—die For love of thee! I would die innocent; Have pity! _Paolo_. Love me?—thou? My terrible Anguish thou seest. I am a desperate man; But the deep joy which thrills me in the midst Of my despair, is such great happiness I cannot utter it. Is it then true Thou lov’st me—and I lost thee? _Francesca_. Thou thyself, Paolo, did’st forsake me; I could ne’er Think myself loved of thee. Go! be this hour The last—— _Paolo_. It is impossible. I cannot Leave thee. Let me behold at least thy face Each day. _Francesca_. And thus betray us both; enkindle Injurious thoughts in Lanciotto’s breast! And stain my name!—Paolo, if thou lov’st me, Away! _Paolo_. Alas! irreparable fate! To stain thy name! No—thou’rt another’s wife; Paolo must die! Tear from thy breast remembrance Of me—and live in peace. I have disturbed Thy peace; forgive me. No—no—do not weep; Love me no more. Alas! what do I ask? Love me! yes—weep o’er my untimely fate. _Act III, Scene 2._ [Footnote 1: It is conjectured that Arnaut Daniel, a Troubadour, was the author of the romance of Lancillotto.] This play has been long before the public; we will now examine some of Pellico’s later pieces, which have never been translated into English, and but recently printed in Italy.