University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

A Garden.
Jacomo and Flavio enter.
Fla.
I tell you, fellow, 'tis Count Nello's orders.

Jac.
And, fellow! I tell you, I do not care,
Though 'twere ten times his orders. Fellow! Zounds,
If you don't mend your manners, by the mass,
I'll cudgel you into civility.
A pickthank, sneaking knave!

Fla.
(half draws his sword, then puts it back).
Pshaw! Let him rail!
Who heeds the barking of a toothless cur?

Jac.
Oh, you do well to put your rapier up.
The sight of steel might give your valour qualms.
Fellow! Go to! Many's the bloody crown
I've given your betters for a less affront.

Fla.
Most valiant ancientry, the time may come,
And welcome, too, to put your threats to proof,
When, if I don't avenge these bloody crowns,
I'll give you leave to call me jackanapes.
But meanwhile you have heard my lord's commands,—
My lord's and yours—and look they be obeyed!

(Exit Flavio.)
Jac.
My lord, indeed! I serve Count Nello? I?
'Tis not to do his bidding I am here.
“On such condition doomsday should have come,
“Ere I had set a foot within his gates.
“The Lady Pia, at her wish I came,
“And her and only her will I obey.”
His orders, quotha? Save with his consent
I must not seek my lady's presence, eh?
And so 'tis come to this! But they shall find
I have an eye upon them. His commands!
I'll seek her when I will and where I may,
And never ask his leave. I fear him not.
Although he be her lord,—woe worth the hour!
He is no lord of mine. Till she forbid,
I'll come and go as freely as before,
And see who shall prevent me. Sunset, hey,
And not a flower cut yet! Whom have we here?
(Enter Cosimo.)
Now, as I live, 'tis Cosimo! Why, man,
I scarcely knew you in this brave attire.
Who ever would have thought to see you here?

Cos.
'Faith, friend, I've risen somewhat in the world
Since last we met. I've travelled, Jacomo;
The rolling stone for once has gathered moss,
A comfortable moss, the bounteous growth
Of right good living and of right good wages.
Service is no inheritance, they say;
But I protest, to serve Count Guido is.

Jac.
Count Guido? You went with him, so you did.
And is the Count come back?

Cos.
Am I come back?
His page, his equerry, his man-at-arms,
Chief conservator of his lordship's person,
The very shadow of his presence, I.
You see me here. Then judge, if he's come back.

Jac.
And I not know it? Times are changed, when he
Could be so near, and yet not seek me out.
But I'm a fool! How should he seek me here?

Cos.
Why there it is, friend! times are changed indeed.
“To echo people's words is scarce polite—
“Oh, trust me, we that travel know what's what—
“But if I were to die for't, I must say,”
Who ever would have thought to see you here?

Jac.
Ay, who indeed?

Cos.
How came it all about?

Jac.
That's more than I can tell, or any man.
The foul fiend had some hand in it, I think,
To turn the Lady Pia's thoughts away
From her own kin to this Count Nello here!

Cos.
Who could have thought it, and so sudden too?

Jac.
Oh, ne'er sped wooing quicker. “At the first
“She shrank before him like a fluttered dove,
“But day by day he came, and day by day,—
“There must have been some witchcraft in his eye—
“She trembled closer to the falconer's lure,
“Until he held her fast within his toils.”

Cos.
And the Count Tolommei?

Jac.
Why, it seemed
As though he'd set his heart upon the match.
It was to solder up old feuds, he said,
To join their lands in one broad seignory,
And Lord knows what beside. Enough, he gave
His frank consent, and there's the story told.

Cos.
Marry in haste, repent at leisure, eh?
The saw holds good, I fancy?

Jac.
Who says so?
Count Nello dotes on her, and she on him,
As fondly as the day they plighted hands.
Who dares to say, then, they repent the bond?

Cos.
Oh, nobody says so; but I can tell
As well as most folks, when the wind's at east.
Whate'er the lady and her lord may be,
Count Tolommei has grown cold, I'll swear.
“Were all things as they should be, why should he
“Be grown so choleric, so sharp and sour?

Jac.
“An old man's failing! Nothing strange in that.

Cos.
“Ay, but” he visits not the Count, nor comes
The Count to visit him. That's strange, you'll own.
Not quite like new-made sire and son-in-law?

Jac.
A chance, a chance! (Aside.)
Confound this curious fool!
(Aloud.)
Count Nello has had business on his hands.

Cos.
Indeed! Well, well, it's no affair of mine.
(Aside.)
A close old dog. I'll try another tack.
(Aloud.)
This letter (Showing letter)
, eh? Now what may this portend?

Jac.
(coming close up to him, and looking anxiously round).
A letter, and for whom?

Cos.
Why, look and see.

Jac.
“For whom, I say? Speak low!”

Cos.
The Lady Pia.

Jac.
And from whom?

Cos.
From my master, the Count Guido.

Jac.
Count Guido? (Snatches the letter, and hides it hastily in his breast.)
Hush!

Cos.
Well, now, this is passing strange.
Count Guido gives me charge to find you out,
To give this letter to no hand but yours,
First making sure that nobody is by.
“‘Be wary, close, and secret!’ was his charge.
“Well, I do find you, nobody is by.
“I show the letter,—up you smother it,
“As it would spread infection on the air,
“And whisper, and cry hush, as though each shrub
“Contained an eavesdropper. 'Tis very odd.”
Some secret embassy,—so secret, zounds,
They keep it from the ambassador himself!

Jac.
You had no other message?

Cos.
None.

Jac.
That's well.
Now, if you'll profit by a friend's advice,
You'll quit this place as fast as you can post;
“For should they find you in his lordship's grounds,
“I will not answer for your squireship's ears.

Cos.
“How?”

Jac.
The order's strict to keep intruders out.
'Tis growing dusk, and these Pietri churls
Might fairly fail to recognise a friend
In an old foe of such long standing—hey?
So, friend, good even!

Cos.
But—

Jac.
You'd best be gone.
Yonder goes Messer Flavio. Let him see you,
And he'll not leave a whole bone in your skin.

Cos.
Now, by my valour, I'll not stir a foot.
My rapier lacks an airing. Flavio!
Who's he, that I should strike my flag to him?

Jac.
(aside).
Oh, I must humour this hot fool, I see.
(Aloud.)
Suppose yours were a secret embassy,—
As 'tis no less—is this the way to do
Your master's will? He charged you to be close,
Wary, and secret. You would court a brawl—
Peril Count Guido's secret? Tush! Your brains
Will serve him better here, man, than your sword.
He's on the rack to know his letter's safe,
And will not stint his ducats for your news.
Away!

Cos.
Thou put'st the matter cogently.
I'll go—but not for fear of Flavio.
No, by my valour; no, nor fifty such!

(Exit.)
Jac.
Thank heaven, he's gone! A letter for my lady,
And from Count Guido! They that should have wed!
My dear young master! Better 'twere, perchance,
She saw it not. But can I say him nay?
No, she shall have it. Wherefore not? I was
To see her only by Count Nello's leave!
That was the word! The letter she shall have.
Jealous, my lord? You shall have reason, then.
It could not well have come at fitter time.

(Exit.)