The scene is laid in the middle ages, when the principality of Salerno was ruled by a dynasty of Norman princes, deriving their family from the celebrated Robert de Guiscard. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 212: He flourished in the reign of Henry VII.; and his work, entitled, "The Stately Tragedy of Guiscard and Sigismond," is printed in 1597, probably from an earlier edition.] [Footnote 213: It was published by Wilmot, in 1592, under the title of "The Tragedy of Tancred and Gismund," and occurs in the 2d volume of Dodsley's old plays.] SIGISMONDA AND GUISCARDO. While Norman Tancred in Salerno reigned, The title of a gracious prince he gained; Till turned a tyrant in his latter days, He lost the lustre of his former praise, And, from the bright meridian where he stood Descending, dipped his hands in lovers' blood. This prince, of fortune's favour long possessed, Yet was with one fair daughter only blessed; And blessed he might have been with her alone, But oh! how much more happy had he none! She was his care, his hope, and his delight, Most in his thought, and ever in his sight: Next, nay beyond his life, he held her dear; She lived by him, and now he lived in her. For this, when ripe for marriage, he delayed Her nuptial bands, and kept her long a maid, As envying any else should share a part Of what was his, and claiming all her heart. At length, as public decency required, And all his vassals eagerly desired, With mind averse, he rather underwent His people's will, than gave his own consent. So was she torn as from a lover's side, And made, almost in his despite, a bride. Short were her marriage-joys; for in the prime Of youth, her lord expired before his time; And to her father's court in little space } Restored anew, she held a higher place; } More loved, and more exalted into grace. } This princess, fresh and young, and fair and wise, The worshipped idol of her father's eyes, Did all her sex in every grace exceed, And had more wit beside than women need. Youth, health, and ease, and most an amorous mind, } To second nuptials had her thoughts inclined, } And former joys had left a secret sting behind. } But, prodigal in every other grant, Her sire left unsupplied her only want; And she, betwixt her modesty and pride, Her wishes, which she could not help, would hide. Resolved at last to lose no longer time, And yet to please herself without a crime, She cast her eyes around the court, to find A worthy subject suiting to her mind, To him in holy nuptials to be tied, A seeming widow, and a secret bride. Among the train of courtiers, one she found With all the gifts of bounteous nature crowned; Of gentle blood, but one whose niggard fate Had set him far below her high estate: Guiscard his name was called, of blooming age, Now squire to Tancred, and before his page: