Gelsomina seized the bonds of Jacopo, and endeavored frantically to
release his arms.
"I had hoped thou would'st have been spared this sight, poor Gessina!"
said the condemned.
"Be not alarmed!" she answered, gasping for breath. "They do it in
mockery; 't is one of their wiles to mislead--but they cannot--no, they
dare not harm a hair of thy head, Carlo!"
"Dearest Gelsomina!"
"Nay, do not hold me; I will speak to the citizens, and tell them all.
They are angry now, but when they know the truth they will love thee,
Carlo, as I do."
"Bless thee--bless thee!--I would thou hadst not come."
"Fear not for me! I am little used to such a crowd, but thou wilt see
that I shall dare to speak them fair, and to make known the truth
boldly. I want but breath."
"Dearest! Thou hast a mother--a father to share thy tenderness. Duty to
them will make thee happy!"
"Now I can speak, and thou shalt see how I will vindicate thy name."
She arose from the arms of her lover, who, notwithstanding his bonds,
released his hold of her slight form with a reluctance greater than that
with which he parted with life. The struggle in the mind of Jacopo
seemed over. He bowed his head passively to the block, before which he
was kneeling; and it is probable, by the manner in which his hands were
clasped, that he prayed for her who left him. Not so Gelsomina. Parting
her hair over her spotless forehead with both hands, she advanced
towards the fishermen, who were familiar to her eye by their red caps
and bare limbs.
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