 | The Count Arezzi |  |
SCENE II.
A Chamber in the Palace.Prince of Andria and Arezzi.
PRINCE ANDRIA.
I cannot ask it of the duke, Arezzi.
AREZZI.
Your highness judges best.
PRINCE ANDRIA.
I have good reasons.
AREZZI.
No doubt you have.
PRINCE ANDRIA.
No doubt!—then why require it?
AREZZI.
I knew not that you had till now.
PRINCE ANDRIA.
But still
You scarce believe me.
AREZZI.
I will press my suit
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Was not to serve myself.
PRINCE ANDRIA.
Savelli sent you?
AREZZI.
I would not injure where I cannot help:
This is not much to crave. I pray your highness
Forget that it was I who named the friar,
And then his suit may prosper.
PRINCE ANDRIA.
How, Arezzi?
Why so, why so?
AREZZI.
My task is irksome to me.
PRINCE ANDRIA.
What task?
AREZZI.
To seek a kindness here. I lose
All credit, and with all. Who sent me to you
And saw how tardily I came, have blamed
My coldness toward my friends—your highness blames me
Because I sued too warmly—I blame myself
That I could sue at all.
PRINCE ANDRIA.
Come back, Arezzi—
What dreams are these? I tell thee twice I cannot,
And more, I will not ask it.
AREZZI.
Nay, my lord,
I learnt so much at first.
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So much? how now?
AREZZI.
I give offence; your highness will excuse me—
PRINCE ANDRIA.
Come back, I say—beware of this Savelli—
Mark what you hear, young man.
AREZZI.
Savelli once
Was valued by your highness, you have praised
His learning loudly—for myself, I gained
The little that I have through him—in all
I lack, I blame myself.
PRINCE ANDRIA.
I know not which,
But one forgot his business, he to teach—
Or you to learn—obedience.
AREZZI.
Both perhaps,
Thought that the task were needless, since your Grace
Taught it so oft yourself.
PRINCE ANDRIA.
Well, Heaven be praised!
Old men may yet find leisure to grow wise!
Our children will instruct us. Bacchus' smooth lip
Shall chide Olympus with its bearded gods,
Scatter blessed wisdom in the ears of Jove,
And school the bald Silenus!—Babes can tell
How best to rule the state, what each man merits,
Whose heads should wear our mitres, who should share
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To guide us in our counsels!
[Enter the Duke and Duchess.
DUKE.
Chiding, cousin?
I thought to chide myself. Arezzi here,
The last to bid us welcome!
AREZZI.
But your Grace
Sees that I come too early as it is.
DUKE.
I hope not so—we will make peace between you.
What was it that his highness said?
AREZZI.
He said
That fools intrude, and children meddle rashly;
That babes would rule the state, and nurslings, men;
That scalps with hair, and chins without—like ours—
Wag at grey beards and baldness. Then the prince
Compared himself to Jove, and us to Bacchus.—
Your Grace's subjects, when your Grace is king,
Must pray that Jove will grant your Grace a beard,
And govern till it come—I say, Amen.
[Exit.
DUKE.
What children meddle? Andria call him back.
PRINCE ANDRIA.
Come back, Arezzi.
DUCHESS.
Better let him go.
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Your Grace shall hear—O, this would sweat a flint—
A saint in marble!—Blockhead! he came here
To plead for that Savelli—I refused,
Said that I would not name it to your Grace—
DUCHESS.
Well, well, we will forget him now, it seems
Your arrow pierced the bush, and grazed them both,
But least the bird you aimed at. Tell us next
What more of this Savelli?
PRINCE ANDRIA.
Plagues go with him!
I lay the whole to him. I do believe
That he perverts this coxcomb. He has shown
His teeth before the time—he will not hurt us!
Eyes, nearer than he dreams of, watch the friar,
And let me once lay hold, that plausible tongue
May fail to beg its head.
[Exeunt.
| The Count Arezzi | |