'Twas a
mistake?
Edgar Allen Poe
--at the Vatican.
Pol. At the Vatican. (exit
Bal. )
Enter Castigilone.
Cas. The Earl of Leicester here!
Pol. I am the Earl of Leicester, and thou seest,
Dost thou not? that I am here.
Cas. My lord, some strange,
Some singular mistake--misunderstanding--
Hath without doubt arisen: thou hast been urged
Thereby, in heat of anger, to address
Some words most unaccountable, in writing,
To me, Castiglione; the bearer being
Baldazzar, Duke of Surrey. I am aware
Of nothing which might warrant thee in this thing,
Having given thee no offence. Ha! --am I right?
'Twas a mistake? --undoubtedly--we all
Do err at times.
Pol. Draw, villain, and prate no more!
Cas. Ha! --draw? --and villain? have at thee then at once,
Proud Earl! (draws. )
Pol. (drawing. ) Thus to the expiatory tomb,
Untimely sepulchre, I do devote thee
In the name of Lalage!
Cas. (letting fall his sword and recoiling to the extremity of the
stage)
Of Lalage!
Hold off--thy sacred hand!
Pol. At the Vatican. (exit
Bal. )
Enter Castigilone.
Cas. The Earl of Leicester here!
Pol. I am the Earl of Leicester, and thou seest,
Dost thou not? that I am here.
Cas. My lord, some strange,
Some singular mistake--misunderstanding--
Hath without doubt arisen: thou hast been urged
Thereby, in heat of anger, to address
Some words most unaccountable, in writing,
To me, Castiglione; the bearer being
Baldazzar, Duke of Surrey. I am aware
Of nothing which might warrant thee in this thing,
Having given thee no offence. Ha! --am I right?
'Twas a mistake? --undoubtedly--we all
Do err at times.
Pol. Draw, villain, and prate no more!
Cas. Ha! --draw? --and villain? have at thee then at once,
Proud Earl! (draws. )
Pol. (drawing. ) Thus to the expiatory tomb,
Untimely sepulchre, I do devote thee
In the name of Lalage!
Cas. (letting fall his sword and recoiling to the extremity of the
stage)
Of Lalage!
Hold off--thy sacred hand!
