 | Cosmo De' Medici |  |
SCENE II.
Public Gardens.—Enter Berta and Christina.Chris.
Was't not a festival of all rare beauty and
brilliance, notwithstanding the Duke's ill temper?
Would it were all to come again with the morrow?
Bert.
What could have made the Duke so gloomy
and sad?
Chris.
Bad news from some foreign court, it is said:
from the Emperor of Germany perhaps.
Bert.
I did not think the Duke ill-tempered: he is
never ill-tempered, though sometimes he seems very
stern and severe. But on that night, Christina, I saw
him several times turn his head aside, with such a look,
just as though he would burst into tears,—ay, become
all tears; and even at the height of the merriment
the recollection of it once or twice quite made my
heart ache.
Chris.
And did the Duke shed tears, Berta?
Bert.
No, I didn't see one: for just when I thought
they where coming in a flood, he shut his eyes very, very
close, and when he opened them again the tears seemed
all to have gone inward.
Chris.
I noticed him once or twice looking over the
hall where we all were, as if it were a shocking dream;
but I ran away whenever I saw him coming, and forgot
it as soon as I could.
[They retire.
Enter Zacheo and two Pirates, disguised also as friars.
Zach.
As to the dead body that lies in the forest, we
cause for thinking our doing so might be dangerous;
and burying it can be of no use to our future designs,
as some folks about the court have already seen it.
Two of the hunting party went back, and very soon
found it; albeit, for some private motives, I suppose,
it remains there, hard and fast. What we have
to do is merely to seize the young man who comes to
meet us; gag him, and carry him off to the coast.
1st Pi.
We understand.
2nd Pi.
If he resists, I suppose we are not to give
him the point, but only notch him here and there, not
very deep, with the edge?
1st Pi.
Or just break one leg, a little—poor boy!
Zach.
Neither, neither! he must not be injured.
I want to use him.
1st and 2nd Pi.
O!—oho!
Berta and Christina, advancing.
Chris.
Our lover with the coal-black eyes and beard,
'tis certain! But the other two?
Bert.
Doubtless his conversation with them differs
vastly from the strain wherein the naughty hypocrite
chaunted that strange song to us. Could we but over-hear
them!
Chris.
They perceive us!
Zach.
A whirlwind catch these women!
1st Pi.
Why?
2nd Pi.
I approve the build of them much.
Zach.
Well, well.
(Aloud.)
Our blessings on the
gentlewomen!
1st Pi.
Yes, our very best bless—
Zach.
Be silent!
(to Bert.)
They are grim, rough men; but
do not seem of an ill nature.
Zach.
Lovely and devout daughters of Florence! I must
now bid you farewell, as we have some sacred business
to settle. Let me salute your hands, whiter i' the pearly
palm, I swear by our Prophet's beard, than the inside
of any oyster-shell!
[Offers to kiss Berta's hand.
Bert.
You must not do so!
1st Pi.
(to Chris.)
Daughter, your hand! By that
same oyster's—I mean Mahomet's—pearly beard—
Chris.
(Snatching her hand away).
I like not such
language—shame on thy shaven crown!
Enter Macchietti and Chiostro, from behind.
Mac.
My wife! she hath just given her fingers to be
pinched and fondled by that ill-favoured friar!
Chios.
Mine also, if my eyes see aright!
Bert.
Christina! our husbands!
Chris.
And seeing us, plainly!
Zach.
Your husbands!—we'll go.
Bert.
You must not—you must not! they have
observed your most unfatherly salutations.
Chris.
We shall introduce you! Nay, 'an you stir,
we are all dishonoured.
Bert.
We must at once devise somewhat that shall
give them a respect for you! I shall say you are a very
learned friar indeed!
Zach.
Me! no, no! sweet lady, I beseech you!
Chris.
(to 1st Pi. )
And I shall say you are the celebrated
friar who paints altar-pieces!
1st Pi.
With all my heart.
2nd Pi.
And I—what shall I be?
Bert.
Dumb!
Macc.
I fear we interrupt some pious homily?
2nd Pi.
(to 1st.)
What's homily?
1st Pi.
(aside).
'Tis a paste of pigeons' eggs.
Bert.
Interrupt!—we were but now most anxious
for your presence. This is a very learned friar, just
arrived in Florence, from All-saints' Monastery, in the
north of Spain—God bless us!
Chios.
Oh, indeed!—Father, you are welcome
among us.
Zach.
Many thanks, worthy sir.
Chris.
This is the celebrated Friar Innocent, who is
so famous in Spain for painting altar-pieces!
Macc.
Eh?—ah!—I shall rejoice in his acquaintance!
1st Pi.
A shoal of thanks, worthy sir.
Macc.
(aside).
I never heard his name before, as a
painter!
2nd Pi.
(aside to 1st).
The Innocent of All-saints,
ha! ha! ha!
Chios.
(to Zach.)
Doubtbless, the learned father is
familiar with all the Hebrew authorities, touching the
early history of the Jewish nation? I am at this time
endeavouring to discover what is become of those of
the ten tribes of Israel whom we have not yet been able
to trace?
Zach.
I wish you every success, I'm sure. I dare
say, worthy dervish, you will find them, if you keep a
sharp look out.
Chios.
(aside).
Dervish!—rather abrupt in speech—
but I make no doubt, a very profound scholar.
Macc.
(to 1st Pi.)
Had I made a journey to the
north of Spain, we should speedily have become
acquainted; but I have never been there.
That's a pity.
Macc.
Nor have I ever seen any of your famous
altar-pieces.
1st Pi.
How should you, unless they had been stolen,
or the walls they're nailed on could walk?
Macc.
Ahem!
Bert.
(to Chris.)
Did'st expect this?
Chios.
(to Zach.)
I have noticed that the figures on
the old Egyptian sarcophagi—many of which figures are
evidently water-men—
Zach.
Yes, I understand all about that.
Chios.
No doubt—I beg your pardon! I have
noticed, I was about to say, a great resemblance
between these figures—in shape, colour, and even in
symbolic accompaniments—and those of the ancient
Mexicans. 'Tis true, indeed, that there is somewhat
universally primitive in their entire appearance. You
observe they are probably traced from the wall-shadows
of men, and are altogether very like the first scrawled
effigy of humanity that childhood loveth to depict.
Nevertheless, I conclude—but may I enquire what
opinion the learned father entertaineth?
Zach.
My opinion is the same as yours; but 'tis not
worth a cockle-shell. We're here, and we're there, and
then we're with God. And where that may be, is no
business of yours.
Chios.
(aside).
A coarse and crabbed man!—the
result of ascetic studies in monastic walls.
(To Zacheo)
You have gone to the bottom, I see.
Zach.
If I had, how should I be here?—but the
watermen you spoke of, they are all gone long ago to
the bottom of the sea.
Chios.
(aside).
Doth he purpose to insult me!—or
wit?
Bert.
(to Chris.)
I would, Christina, all this were
at an end!
Macc.
(to 1st Pi.)
What sort of ground dost love to
use for painting?
1st Pi.
Any ground that first offers. But I work
wonders on a good rich ground—the fat o' the land suits
me best.
Macc.
Prefer you, on all occasions, to lay the colour
on fat?
1st Pi.
Yes, very: an inch thick—and of mutton.
Many's the sheep I ha' used!
Macc.
Hem! you jest. I should have thought you
would prefer distemper—the grand fresco style.
1st Pi.
I like the grand frisking style, too—but good
health is a blessing—that! for your distemper!
Macc.
(aside).
A most singular brute! No painter,
worthy of the calling, ever had such an eye in his head
as this friar; or such a bark-carved and grotesque expression!
Paint an altar-piece!
(To Christina).
And
who is this third friar behind, here?
Chris.
He is a famous painter, also!
[Second Pirate comes forward.
Macc.
(aside).
Impossible!
Zach.
(aside).
Why should a man who can wield a
sword full as easily as these people use a brush or a pen,
stand still to be thus fooled?
(To Macchietti).
Our
brother here, is dumb—quite dumb—'tis waste of wind
to ask him any questions.
Macc.
Dumb!—how dos't make him understand,
then?
Zach.
By signs—he hath a great gift in signs.
Yes; there's none can equal his painting in
that line, for signals and ships' heads!
Macc.
What!
(To 2nd Pirate.)
And you paint
altar-pieces also, I suppose?
[Second Pirate nods and gesticulates.
Berta and Chris.
Ha! ha! ha!
Chios.
Fie! do not mock his infirmity!
Macc.
You—a painter!
(To Zach.)
Interpret what he means?
Zach.
He means that—that—
1st Pi.
That he can paint fishermen in a storm, with
the wind howling—the moon sea-sick—the sails rent all
to shivers—the mast going over the side—the boat capsizing,
and the fish trodden under foot: and moreover,
that he'll paint with thee—thou cold pitch-pot!—for a
hundred crowns, any day and hour thou'lt dare to
name!
[General astonishment and confusion.]
Zach.
(to Pirates).
We'll go.
1st Pi.
(aside).
I ha' settled him!
Zach.
A fool's hell burn thy tongue! 'tis enough to
settle us all! We shall now be suspected—arrested—
and pay our heads for your wager!
1st Pi.
Wilt stay for this?
Zach.
(aloud).
Our blessings on you all!
Both Pirates.
Good day!
[Exeunt Zacheo and Pirates abruptly.
Macc.
And the dumb one, also!
Chios.
Yes; the dumb painter hath exhumed a voice.
[Exeunt Berta and Christina.
Macc.
We now turn, for explanation, to you—stay!—
[Exit Macchietti hastily after them.
Chios.
The understanding is of no avail
Where grounds of argument are shifting sands!
[Exit, at the opposite side.
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