Page:Blackwood's Magazine volume 050.djvu/359

1841.] I also hope that, to maintain my credit—

My credit as an artist—you will paint

Another picture for me, some time hence —

The price, however, must be somewhat lower.

'Twas Laura's eyes, more than your pencil's power,

Which gain'd for you your twenty thousand crowns;

You can't expect the like another time.

But Laura—She shall pay for what she cost me!

I'll keep it off her—au revoir, my brother!—(Exit.)

. Brother—thy brother! scoundrel and impostor!

(To Ravienna,) Come down. The arbiters are on the point

Of giving their decision. Did you hear

All that Calmari said.

(comes down from the niche.) I overheard

Each word—he has not given in his note,

And mine is lodged—that makes my triumph safe.

Yet, Heaven protect us! how he'll fret and foam

To find that he himself has help'd his rival

To Laura's hand!

. His punishment must be

More signal still—his infamous imposture

Must be laid bare before the whole assembly.

Rosa, consider he is Laura's guardian—

'Twill be sufficient punishment, if he

Loses her hand, and loses all the glory

Which he had counted so securely on—

Let us, dear sir, be silent, I entreat you,

Touching the rest—and pay him back his money.

Still here, Bernardo! (beholding Salvator, she starts back.)

Maiden, why so shy?

Am I so very terrible and strange?

Am I, Ravienna?

Laura, in this man

Behold my dearest friend—the great preserver

Of all my happiness: you know his name,

The whole world rings with it—Salvator Rosa. (Laura looks bewildered.)

Fair maid, you seem astonish'd—Is it then

So strange a thing that one poor artist should

Befriend another?

He! is he an artist?

. Listen, and you shall hear—approach this curtain.

Give me your hand —

(with a loud voice). "Picture of Danäe"

Gains the first prize. (Calmari thrusts forward his note.)

I thank you sir—'tis here.

I have the note already in my hand—(he opens the note)—

'Tis painted by "Bernardo Ravienna."

Bernardo!

Laura!