University of Virginia Library

Scene Third.

—Exterior of the Palace of Malatesta, with Street. The flat exhibits the corner of two streets. The Palace of Malatesta is on a set piece, L. U. E.—A window on the first floor, with a balcony, practicable.—Night.
Enter Fiordelisa and Dell'Aquila, followed by Torelli at a distance. Through the Scene between Fiordelisa, Dell'Aquilla, and Malatesta, Torelli watches and listens behind a projecting piece of masonry.
Aquila.
Be of good cheer—this is the house—I'll knock
And summon forth the count. (knocks)


Fiord.
Oh, sir! what thanks
Can e'er repay this kindness?

Aquila.
But remember,
Who 'twas that did it: I am thanked enough.

Fiord.
I'll pray for you, after my father—hark!

Aquila.
They come!
Enter a Servant from house.
Two strangers who crave instant speech
Of the Count Malatesta.

Exit Servant.
Aquila.
And should I see your father?

Fiord.
Then you know him!

Aquila.
Yes.

Fiord.
And his business—occupations? (he bows)

(sadly)
'Tis more than I do, sir, that am his child.
I do not even know his name.

Aquila.
What he
Keeps secret from you 'tis not mine to tell;
'Twere well you should not question him too closely:
He shall learn you are safe.

Fiord.
And tell him, too,
That 'twas you saved me, sir Promise me that.

Enter Malatesta, L.
Mala.
Who is it would have speech of Malatesta?

Aquila.
You know me, count?

Mala.
Dell' Aquila, well met!
But your companion? (aside)
Ha! a petticoat!
So ho, my poet!

Aquila.
Pardon, if I pray
This lady's name may rest a secret, count;
She is in grievous danger,—one from which
Your house can shelter her. She owes already
Your countess much, for good help given at need,
So craves to increase the debt.

Mala.
My house is hers,
But she should know my countess is not here.

Fiord.
Not here!

Mala.
But if she dare trust my grey hairs
She shall have shelter.

Aquila.
Nay, she cannot choose.

Mala.
I'll give her my wife's chamber, if she will;
Her woman to attend her.

Aquila.
All she needs
Is your roof's shelter for the night; to-morrow
Must see her otherwise bestowed.

Mala.
Go in,
Fair lady; my poor house, with all that's in it
Is at your service;—had my wife been here,
You had had gentler tendance; as it is
I'll lead you to her chamber, and there leave you.

Torelli.
(aside)
Now to the hunter: I've marked down the deer.
Exit Torelli, L. U. E.

Mala.
(to Aquila)
You will not stay and crush a cup with me?

Aquila.
No—not to-night. (to Fiordelisa)
Did you not well to trust me?
Farewell; think of me in your prayers!

Fiord.
I cannot
Choose but do that, sir;— (aside)
Oh, the thought of him
Will come, henceforth, betwixt my prayers and heaven!

Exit Malatesta, L., leading in Fiordelisa.
Aquila.
His child!—Since when did grapes grow upon thistles?
And yet I'm glad to know the tie that binds
The two together such a holy one!
Sweet angel—sister angels guard thy sleep!
Now, to seek out Bertuccio, and tell him
The danger she has 'scaped and thank the saints
That made me her preserver.
Exit Dell'Aquila, R.

Enter cautiously, L. U. E,. Bertuccio, Manfredi, Ascolti, Ordlaffi, and Torelli, with Servants carrying ladders.
Man.
Softly, you knaves! with velvet tread, like tigers—

Bert.
Say rather, “cats.”

(a light appears from the window, L. 2 E.)
Torelli.
Which is the balcony?

Bert.
(pointing)
That! I have noted in this summer weather
The window's left unbarred.

Ascolti.
Ha, there's a light!
If she were stirring?

Bert.
What, an' if she were?
A sudden spring—a cloak flung o'er her head:
If she have time to scream, you are but bunglers.

Man.
My cloak will serve. (takes it off)


Ascolti.
If she alarm the house
It might go hard with us.

Bert.
Oh, cats that long
For fish, yet fear to wet your feet! I'll shame you.
Let me mount first: give me your cloak, Galeotto!

Man.
By your leave, fool, I'll net my own bird. Back!
Hold thou the ladder—that is lacqueys' work,
And fits thee best. Ascolti and Torelli,
Guard the approaches! I and Ordelaffi
Will be enough to mount, and snare the game.

(the light is extinguished; the Servants set a ladder to the balcony)
Bert.
(holds it)
All's dark now—Up!

Man.
Why, rogue, how thy hand shakes:
Is't fear?

Bert.
'Tis inward laughter, Galeotto.
To think how blank Guido will look to-morrow
To find the nest cold, and his mate borne off.

(Manfredi mounts the ladder, followed by Ordelaffi —they enter the balcony)
Bert.
(eagerly listening)
Ha! they are in by this time! Cautious fools!
I had done 't myself in half the space! So, Guido,
You love your young wife well, they say: that's brave.

(Manfredi and Ordelaffi appear on the balcony, bearing Fiordelisa in their arms, muffled in Manfredi's cloak—she struggles, but cannot scream—Ordelaffi descends first—Manfredi hands Fiordelisa to him—they come down the ladder)
Bert.
'Tis done!

Man.
Away all—to my garden house,
There to bestow our prize!

Exeunt Manfredi and Ordelaffi, L. U. E.—the Servants carry off the ladder.
Bert.
Now, Malatesta, (shaking his fist at the house)

Learn what it is to wake, and find her gone,
That was the joy and pride of your dim eyes—
The comfort of your age! I welcome you
To the blank hearth—the hunger of the soul—
The long dark days, and miserable nights!
These you gave me—I give them back to you!
I, the despised, deformed, dishonoured jester,
Have reached up to your crown, and pulled it down,
And flung it in the mire, as you flung mine!
Now, murdered innocent, thou art avenged!
But I have private wrongs, too, to repay:
This proud Manfredi—he you spat upon,
He you spurned such a day, set in the stocks,
Whipped—he is even with your mightiness!
Here is Francesca's ring; and here the letter,
To tell her that her vengeance, too, is ripe.
The blow shall come from her; but mine's the hand
That guides the dagger's point straight to his heart!
I cannot sleep! I'll walk the night away:
It is no night for me—my day has come!

Exit, R.