human
You have assembled here, my children, to listen to the words of one who has propagated our holy religion even in the far corners of the world, but who now, through the wickedness and impiety of the rulers of this hapless country, is compelled, like a fox, to burrow beneath the earth, and to hide his head from the bright light of heaven. Will you--can you--allow sin to be thus triumphant? Will you stand calmly by, and see our holy religion trampled in the dust, your altars profaned, your priests degraded?
gpt
No! no! we will die to protect them,
human
Will you allow all you have considered sacred to be despised, and yourselves to be insulted by the tyrant and his Minister?
gpt
We will not! we will not!
human
Hear me, then. Even now a decree is about to come forth to banish all the true priests of the order of Jesus from the land. A few days, and the impious command will be executed, if our rulers are not stopped in their heaven-accursed career of crime. What say the sacred writings? `The judges of the earth stand up, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed.' Such do our rulers, and they will not listen to the words of warning. Thrice has the King been warned, and he has turned a deaf ear to our words; still does he persist in his wickedness. We have, then, but one course to pursue--to avenge our wrongs, and right our grievances. Boldly I speak it, for I speak what is just, what Heaven demands at our hands--the King must die! and blessed is the man by whose hands the deed is done!
gpt
I have been the most grievously wronged, and I will undertake to avenge the cause of all. I will lead a chosen band of followers into the very heart of the palace, while others surround the building; and, while the King deems himself most secure, I will accuse him of the foul injury he has done me, and slay him on the spot. I will teach a lesson to all his successors, and sovereigns shall learn to tremble, who, presuming on their power and station, dare to insult the dearest rights and honour of their subjects.
human
Alas! my son, he said,
gpt
they reasoned,
human
Why came not the Marquis of Tavora with his lady?
gpt
He knows not of our designs, was the answer.
human
It is supposed he would not approve of them, and his sons fear to confide them to him.
gpt
The Duke of Aveiro ought to have been here long ago, said another noble.
human
He told me that he purposed coming, and no common cause would, I am sure, detain him.
gpt
On the former night we met he seemed eager in our enterprise, responded a fourth.
human
Can he have been suspected and apprehended? I always fear that vigilant-eyed plebeian--nothing escapes him.
gpt
Can the Duke, fearing detection, have repented of his intentions, and, perhaps, informed the Minister of our designs? observed one who was cynically inclined, and had ever hated the Duke.
human
It would be a certain way of securing his own pardon, though at the expense of a few of us.
gpt
In mercy, do not put such dreadful thoughts into our heads--you quite unnerve me, said the person he spoke to.
human
I wish I had refused to join the enterprise.
gpt
That is a pity, seeing you will probably share the fate of all, if it miscarries, answered his friend.
human
Do, my dear Count, _pretend_ to be brave, or you will frighten the rest. You will not feel comfortable, I fear, till it has succeeded.
gpt
You offer rather doubtful consolation. I wish some one would propose himself to kill our tyrant quietly--it would save much discussion.
human
Likely enough. What, and if he happens to have a secret enemy among us, who might be tempted to turn traitor, how completely he would be within his power without risking the safety of the rest? No, no; we have, doubtless, a good many fools among us, but not quite so great a one as you suppose.
gpt
You are in a severe humour this evening, my friend.
human
Have I not cause for it, when I have heard so much nonsense spoken, and our enterprise not advanced since the first day it was proposed? It provokes me: I shall lose my South American property before anything is accomplished, I very clearly perceive, so I think of embarking for France to await the result.