Chapter 39

BASILIUS, CLOTALDO, ASTOLFO, flying. -- CLARIN concealed.

BASILIUS. Hapless king! disastrous reign! Outraged father! guilty son!

CLOTALDO. See thy vanquished forces run In a panic o'er the plain!

ASTOLFO. And the rebel conqueror's stay, Proud, defiant.

BASILIUS. 'Tis decreed Those are loyal who succeed, Rebels those who lose the day. Let us then, Clotaldo, flee, Since the victory he hath won, From a proud and cruel son.

[Shots are fired within, and CLARIN falls wounded from his hiding-place.

CLARIN. Heaven protect me!

ASTOLFO. Who can be This last victim of the fight, Who is struck down in the retreat, Falls here bleeding at our feet?

CLARIN. I am an unlucky wight, Who to shun Death's fearful face Found the thing I would forget: Flying from him, him I've met. For there is no secret place Hid from death; and therefore I This conclusion hold as clear, He 'scapes best who goes more near, He dies first who first doth fly. Then return, return and be In the bloody conflict lost; Where the battle rages most, There is more security Than in hills how desolate, Since no safety can there be 'Gainst the force of destiny, And the inclemency of fate; Therefore 'tis in vain thou flyest From the death thou draw'st more nigh, Oh, take heed for thou must die If it is God's will thou diest! [Falls within.

BASILIUS. Oh, take heed for thou must die If it is God's will thou diest!-- With what eloquence, O heaven! Does this body that here lieth, Through the red mouth of a wound To profoundest thoughts entice us From our ignorance and our error! The red current as it glideth Is a bloody tongue that teaches All man's diligence is idle, When against a greater power, And a higher cause it striveth. Thus with me, 'gainst strife and murder When I thought I had provided, I but brought upon my country All the ills I would have hindered.

CLOTALDO. Though, my lord, fate knoweth well Every path, and quickly findeth Whom it seeks; yet still it strikes me 'Tis not christian-like to say 'Gainst its rage that nought suffices. That is wrong, a prudent man Even o'er fate victorious rises; And if thou art not preserved From the ills that have surprised thee, From worse ills thyself preserve.

ASTOLFO. Sire, Clotaldo doth address thee As a cautious, prudent man, Whose experience time hath ripened. I as a bold youth would speak: Yonder, having lost its rider, I behold a noble steed Wandering reinless and unbridled, Mount and fly with him while I Guard the open path behind thee.

BASILIUS. If it is God's will I die, Or if Death for me here lieth As in ambush, face to face I will meet it and defy it.

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