 | The Wife |  |
SCENE II.
—A Room in the Palace.Enter Cosmo and Courier.
Cos.
The duke? which duke? I know now not which; we
have had two within the last ten minutes; I know not which
duke it is thou wantest.
Cour.
I tell thee, the duke of Mantua.
Cos.
Is thy business public or private?
Cour.
Dost thou not see I come from Rome? There are
great matters on foot, which it behoves the duke to know;
and herein, if I mistake not, he is apprised of them,
Cos.
Nay, then, thy business is public, and of course concerns
the reigning duke.
Cour.
Of course it does.
Cos.
I'll bring thee to him.
Cour.
Lead on!
Enter Bartolo, Bernardo, and Marco, meeting them.
Bar.
Signor Cosmo!
Cos.
Don't stop me, Signor Bartolo. I'm in haste.
Bar.
Nay, a word—only a word. Who is that?
Cos.
A courier from Rome.
Bar.
I was right, Bernardo. Save you, signor. You come,
I hear, from Rome. How are they all at Rome?
Cour.
Well, signor—all that I am acquainted with.
Bar.
They have a great deal of news in Rome.
Cour.
Sufficient, signor.
Bar.
One likes to hear the news.
Cour.
I trouble myself little about it.
Bar.
That is because 'tis your vocation to hear it. Nobody
is in love with his vocation. Now 'tis the reverse with me.
I mind the news as much as I mind my meals. Pray you,
signor, have mercy upon a hungry man, and tell me the news
from Rome.
Cour.
Great news, signor,—there is going to be a war.
Bar.
A war! A war, Bernardo—Cosmo—and pray you,
signor, with what power are they going to war?
With the French.
Bar.
The devil!
Cour.
You will have a fine opportunity for showing your
valour, signor.
Bar.
I thank you, signor. I was never an ostentatious man,
I am content to be a man of valour—I don't care to show it;
but I thank you for the news. Come along, Bernardo—Carlo.
A war, signors, a war! What a glorious thing is a war!
Here's news!
[They go out severally.
| The Wife | |