And yet, were you to live at the price at which life is offered you, would your life be endurable?
Tell me the truth, Lazzaro; swear it to me.

For if life is the dearer thing to you, why then, you shall have your life." "Need you ask me, Paola ?" questioned I."Does not your heart tell you how much easier is death than would be such life as I must lead hereafter, even if we could trust Ramiro, which we cannot.

Be brave, Madonna, and help me to be brave and to bear thyself with a becoming fortitude.

Now listen to what I have to tell you.

Ramiro del' Orca is a traitor who is plotting the death of his overlord.