University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

IN THE PALACE. Andrea and Filippa.
Andrea.
Many the stories you've repeated to me,
Lady Filippa! I have clean forgotten 'em;
But all the bloody giants every girl
Before our bed-time threw into my night-cap,
Lie safe and sound there still.

Filippa.
I quite believe
You've not the heart to drive them out, my prince.

Andrea.
Not I indeed. And then your sage advice!

Filippa.
Is all that too forgotten?

Andrea.
No, not all;
But, dear Filippa, now that I am married,
And sovran (one may say) or next door to it,
You must not give me any more advice . .
Not that I mind it; but to save appearances. [She bends: he goes, but returns suddenly.

Lady Filippa! lady seneschal!

Filippa.
My prince! command me.

Andrea.
Solve me one more question.
How happens it (while old men are so wise)
That any foolish thing, advice or story,
We call it an old woman's?

Filippa.
Prince Andrea!
I know not as for stories and advice;
I only know, when we are disappointed
In any thing, or teazed with it, we scoff
And call it an old man's.

Andrea.
Ah spiteful sex!

Filippa.
Here comes Maria: ask her no such questions.

Andrea.
I wish Fra Rupert heard your words.

Filippa.
To prove them?

Maria.
Give him a nosegay at the door.

Andrea.
He spurns
Such luxury.

Maria.
Since his arrival here,
Perfumes, they tell me, are more general
And tenfold dearer: everybody wears them
In self-defence: men take them with their daggers;
Laundresses sprinkle them on vilest linen,
Lest they be called uncleanly; round the churches
What once were clouds of incense, now are canopies
Of the same benzoin; kites could not fly thro';
The fainting penitents are prone to catch
At the priest's surplice as he passes by,
And cry, above their prayers to heaven for mercy,
Stop! stop! turn back! waft me a little yet.

Andrea.
The father is indeed more fox than civet,
And stinks out sins like sulphur and stale eggs. (To Maria.)

You will not run away with him?

Maria.
Tarantola!
Worse than most venomous tarantola,
He bites, and will not let us dance for it.