_One of the Hostages_. Have pity! say what crime toward thee Have we committed, that to such a fate We are betrayed! Ubaldo, Berengario Had written to thee—yes! _Enzo_. Who are my friends, Who traitors, I discern not. This, Corrado, Is this thy faith? Thus hath thy kinsman opened The gates?—Hear me, Auberto—hope yet lives. Cæsar’s decree, which gives me the dominion Of this Dertona, consecrates my power In Leoniero’s eyes. Hither he comes. Him ye shall hear, and if with him the oath Of stern resistance binds you, be that oath By him absolved. _Auberto_. Unworthy calumny! Leoniero—Ha! he comes. Can it be so? His face, so wan indeed, and mien deject Bespeak him changed. _Ghielmo_. Auberto, no! High thoughts He sure revolves! SCENE IV. _To them enter Leoniero and Eloisa_. _Auberto_. O ancient hero! Where Where is thy courage? Why do I behold thee Thus moved? Hast thou forgot our late embrace, The embrace of noble love? _Eloisa_. Beloved husband, Our father promised safety. _Arrigo_. Leoniero! Is this the virtue, armed in which, but now Thou talked’st to me of death, and didst inspire me With thoughts sublime? Behold me, still the same In these last moments. Be, old man, like me! By one unworthy act, oh! cancel not The blameless deeds of a long life! _Leoniero_. Enzo! Dost thou not homage to such minds? My son, Pity thy sire! I long once more to bless thee. A sorrowful hate is that which toward a son A father bears in such an hour! This weight I can endure no longer. I would love thee, But cannot love thee, if thou wilt not turn From wickedness like this. _Enzo_. Sire, to Auberto Address thy speech. _Leoniero_. Pity thyself: my soul Prophetic in the future reads for thee A fearful fate; nor is that future distant. Now deprecate the wrath of Heaven. Its mandate Is, “let Arrigo live!”—For this thy God Shall pardon many crimes; thou in the arms Of friends and of thy children, in old age Consoled shalt die; nor shall the daily sun Look on thy bones exhumed by the revenge Of a wronged people. History shall say How knelt a father at thy feet, and prayed For power once more to bless thee! _Enzo_. Cease. Auberto, Open those gates to me, or the first sound Of the approaching hour—— (_bell sounds_) _Voices_. Ha! _Enzo_. Sounds his knell! _Leoniero_. Enzo! Have pity! ’Tis in vain! Oh Heaven, This fearful strait! Lo! ’twixt opposing duties The chief I am constrained to choose. The just I cannot save without it. Hear, Auberto, Arrigo, hear, and all ye who refuse To the new lord obedience! _Auberto and others_. Obedience Unto the laws, the church, our honor!