Here stands the throne, and there the block-I say
To one of these must the Comneni come :
Suspicion thus draws down the thing it fears
And emperors leave no refuge save in empire.
'This thou shalt tell my brother is my mind.
Say further thus:

If having duly weighed the double venture
He hold forbearance for the lighter risk,
Let him lead back his forces (for myself
I'd put the issue on a throw of the dice
As lief as on aught else); but so he view
These matters as I view them, let him on
With all the speed his lightest horse can make
To the Propontis on the hither shore,

And, barring accidents, I'll meet him there;
And you, Sir, too, I hope.

Officer.

I'll use all speed.

Comnenus. When past the city gates;

Till then go leisurely and unobserved.

I've noted when I send young gallants forth

In things of trust and moment, straight they'll lash
Their horses in a gallop through the street,
That Mother Gape may ope her casement wide
And Father Quidnunc stare. Take heed of this.
Use all despatch, not as to boast great things
Are staked upon thy speed, but so to join
Despatch with privacy as the stake's on both.
Deem that this trust is for the empire's weal

And not to do thee credit. Fare thee well.

He's a young envoy in a cause like this.
Alexius has the gifts that quicken zeal

[Exit Officer.

In them that serve him, but he hardly knows
What harness it should wear or whither speed.

SCENE IV.-An Apartment in a Convent near St. Conon's Shrine.

EUDOCIA and ANNA COMNENA.

Eudocia. I never knew but all of us were brave.

In tears! I'll not believe you of our race.

Anna. Oh! were I not I were not weeping now. Heaven knows it is not for myself.

Eudocia.

Why there !

That were the least unreasonable cause.

Is it my brother that you weep for? He
Is nothing new to dangers nor to life.
His thirty years on him have nigh told double,
Being doubly laden with the unlightsome stuff
That life is made of. I have often thought
How Nature cheats this world in keeping count:
Some men shall pass for old who never lived;
These monks, to wit; they count the time, not spend it;
They reckon moments by the tick of beads

And ring the hours with psalmody-clocks, clocks;
If one of these had gone a century

I would not say he'd lived. My brother's age
Hath spanned the matter of too many lives;

He's full of years, though young: ne'er weep for him.
Anna. He looks not tired of life.

Eudocia.

Not when with you.

There is a sort of youth comes back on men
By sight of childhood. It is so with him;
At least by sight of you.

Anna.

Call him a cheerful man.

Eudocia.

But others, too,

They know him not.

You knew him not in earlier youth; and I
Can scarce believe that it was he I knew.
The false vivacity of fevered blood
Under the press and spur of times like these
Deceives not me; nor yet the power he hath
Of holding off the burthen of his mind

Till the time come that leaves him to himself.
Disquieting thought hath wasted him within.
Weep for Alexius, if weep you must;

His seems a life worth saving; he is now
Much what some ten years past his brother was,
Yet may be what he is. Let Fate alone;
There's many a man is best cut off betimes.
Date not their destinies.

Anna.

You love them not,

Though you're their sister, as their cousin loves them. Eudocia. I would not have them walk in the dusk like

thieves,

Nor crouch like chidden slaves, nor dig them holes

And hide like Troglodytes. I'd have them live
Even as their sires of old, linked each with each;
Careless of kingdoms so they might live free;
If not, I'd have them Kings.

Anna.

Alas! and I

Would count it no mischance that sent us back

To our Propontic island, where we all

Were born and bred in peace, who now are strewn

Like a wrecked convoy on a savage coast.

Eudocia. Hush! Prophetess of woe; the ships sail well,

Though they be deep in the water.

Enter COMNENUS.

Here are we,

Obedient to your summons; both in doubt,
And one in dread, of what may be the cause.

Why have you sent us hither?

Comnenus.

Need I say,

Eudocia, that it never was my wont

To clip and pare ill tidings for your ear.

The city is no longer safe for you :

Therefore I sent you hither.

Anna.

And yourself?

Comnenus. My safety will be cared for in due course. Anna. And stay you with us, then?

Eudocia.

That question I can answer.

No! by my faith;

We seek here,

If I misjudge not, the good neighbourhood

Of Mother Church's sanctuary.

Anna.

And he?

Eudocia. Think you the sanctuary's a place for him?

Comnenus. I have a safer refuge.

Mother Church

Hath no such holy precinct that my blood

Would not redeem all sin and sacrilege

Of slaughter therewithin.

But there's a spot

Within the circle my good sword describes

Which by God's grace is sanctified for me.

Eudocia. Yet do not be so rash to walk the streets Without a guard.

Anna.

Are not the riots quelled?

Comnenus. They are not they increase and will in

crease

Until the cause be quelled.

Anna.

What is the cause?

Comnenus. There are, if truth were known, some three

or four;

But one is named.

Eudocia.

And what may be its name?

Comnenus. Truly they call it by my name, Comnenus. Eudocia. Then they miscall it.

Comnenus.

No, not altogether.