BEATRICE
See! kneeling at thy feet
The guilty one!
ISABELLA
I hold thee in my arms!
Enough – forgotten all!
DIEGO
Look in my face,
Canst thou remember me?
BEATRICE
The reverend brows
Of honest old Diego!
ISABELLA
Faithful guardian
Of thy young years.
BEATRICE
And am I once again
With kindred?
ISABELLA
Naught but death shall part us more!
BEATRICE
Will thou ne'er send me to the stranger?
ISABELLA
Never!
Fate is appeased.
BEATRICE
And am I next thy heart?
And was it all a dream – a hideous dream?
My mother! at my feet he fell! I know not
What brought me hither – yet 'tis well. Oh, bliss!
That I am safe in thy protecting arms;
They would have ta'en me to the princess, mother —
Sooner to death!
ISABELLA
My daughter, calm thy fears;
Messina's princess —
BEATRICE
Name her not again!
At that ill-omened sound the chill of death
Creeps through my trembling frame.
ISABELLA
My child! but hear me —
BEATRICE
She has two sons by mortal hate dissevered,
Don Manuel and Don Caesar —
ISABELLA
'Tis myself!
Behold thy mother!
BEATRICE
Have I heard thee? Speak!
ISABELLA
I am thy mother, and Messina's princess!
BEATRICE
Art thou Don Manuel's and Don Caesar's mother?
ISABELLA
And thine! They are thy brethren whom thou namest.
BEATRICE
Oh, gleam of horrid light!
ISABELLA