University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

IN THE PALACE. Giovanna, Fiammetta, Maria.
Maria.
And now, Fiammetta, tell me whence that name
Which tickles thee so.

Fiammetta.
Tell indeed! not I.

Maria
(to Giovanna).
Sister! you may command

Giovanna.
Command a sister?
Secrets are to be won, but not commanded.
I never heard the name before. . Fiammetta . .
Is that it?

Maria.
That is it.

Fiammetta.
For shame, Maria!
Never will I entrust you with a secret.

Maria.
I do believe you like this one too well
Ever to let another mingle with it.

Fiammetta
(to herself).
I do indeed, alas!

Giovanna.
Some gallant knight
Has carried off her scarf and bared her heart.
But to this change of name I must withhold
Assent, I like Maria so much better.

Fiammetta
(points to Maria).
There is Maria yet.

Giovanna.
But where twin-roses
Have grown so long together, to snap one
Might make the other droop.

Fiammetta.
Ha! now, Maria!
Maria! you are springed, my little quail!

Giovanna.
Fiammetta! if our father were here with us,
He would suspect some poet friend of his,
Dealer in flames and darts, their only trade,
Enchanted his Sicilian.

Maria.
Ho! ho! ho!
Proserpine never blusht such damask blushes
When she was caught.

Fiammetta.
I am quite cool.

Maria.
The clouds
May be quite cool when they are quite as red;
Girls' faces, I suspect, are somewhat less so.

[Fiammetta runs off.
Giovanna.
Maria! dear Maria! She is flown.
Is the poor girl in love then?

Maria.
Till this hour
I thought it but a fancy, such as all
We children have: we all choose one; but, sure,
To run out of the room at the mere shadow!

Giovanna.
What would you do?

Maria.
Wait till he came himself.

Giovanna.
And then?

Maria.
Think seriously of running off,
Until I were persuaded it was civil.