[196] "This prologue, for its passionate earnestness, and for the tragic note of preparation which it sounds, might have preceded one of those tales of Thebes, or Pelops' line, which Milton has so highly commended, as free from the common errors in his days, 'of intermixing comic stuff with tragic sadness and gravity, brought in without discretion corruptly to gratify the people.' It is as solemn a preparative as the 'warning voice which he who saw th' Apocalypse heard cry.'"--_Charles Lamb._ _DRAMATIS PERSONÆ._[197] PIERO SFORZA, _Duke of Venice_. ANTONIO, _son to the murdered_ ANDRUGIO, _affianced to_ MELLIDA. PANDULFO, _father to the murdered_ FELICHE. ALBERTO, _a Venetian gentleman_. BALURDO, _a rich gull_. MATZAGENTE, _a modern braggadoch_. GALEATZO, _son to the Duke of Milan_. FOROBOSCO, _a Parasite_. CASTILIO BALTHAZAR, _a spruce courtier_. LUCIO, _an old nobleman, attendant to_ MARIA. STROTZO, _a creature of_ PIERO. JULIO, _son to_ PIERO. MARIA, ANDRUGIO'S _widow, mother to_ ANTONIO. MELLIDA, _daughter to_ PIERO, _affianced to_ ANTONIO. NUTRICHE, _attendant to_ MARIA. _Two Senators, Herald, Waiting-women, Page, &c._ _Ghost of_ ANDRUGIO, _Ghost of_ FELICHE. THE SCENE--VENICE. [197] There is no list of characters in the old eds. ANTONIO'S REVENGE. ACT I. SCENE I. _A corridor in the palace of_ PIERO. _Enter_ PIERO, _unbraced, his arms bare, smeared in blood, a poniard in one hand bloody, and a torch in the other_; STROTZO _following him with a cord_. _Pier._ Ho, Gasper Strotzo, bind Feliche's trunk Unto the panting side of Mellida! [_Exit_ STROTZO. 'Tis yet dead night, yet all the earth is clutch'd[198] In the dull leaden hand of snoring sleep; No breath disturbs the quiet of the air, No spirit moves upon the breast of earth, Save howling dogs, night-crows, and screeching owls, Save meagre ghosts, Piero, and black thoughts. One, two! [_Clock strikes._ Lord, in two hours what a topless mount 10 Of unpeer'd mischief have these hands cast up! _Re-enter_ STROTZO. I can scarce coop triumphing vengeance up From bursting forth in braggart passion. _Str._ My lord, 'tis firmly said that---- _Pier._ Andrugio sleeps in peace: this brain hath choked The organ of his breast. Feliche hangs But as a bait upon the line of death, To tice on mischief. I am great in blood, Unequall'd in revenge. You horrid scouts That sentinel swart night, give loud applause 20 From your large palms. First, know, my heart was rais'd Unto Andrugio's life upon this ground--