Cas. (starting). Cousin fair cousin!

I crave thy pardon — indeed I am not well-
Your hand from off my shoulder, if you please.
This air is most oppressive! — Madam — the Duke !
Enter Di Broglio.

Di Broglio. My son, I've news for thee! - hey? what's the matter? (observing Alessandra.) I' the pouts? Kiss her, Castiglione ! kiss her, You dog! and make it up, I say, this minute! I've news for you both. Politian is expected Hourly in Rome - Politian, Earl of Leicester ! We'll have him at the wedding. To the imperial city.

'T is his first visit

A man quite young

In years, but gray in fame. I have not seen him,
But Rumor speaks of him as of a prodigy
Pre-eminent in arts and arms, and wealth,
And high descent. We'll have him at the wedding.
Aless. I have heard much of this Politian.

Gay, volatile, and giddy is he not?

-

And little given to thinking.

Di Brog. Far from it, love.

No branch, they say, of all philosophy
So deep, abstruse he has not mastered it.
Learned as few are learned.

Aless. 'Tis very strange!

I have known men have seen Politian

And sought his company. They speak of him
As of one who entered madly into life,
Drinking the cup of pleasure to the dregs.

Cas. Ridiculous! Now I have seen Politian
And know him well — nor learned nor mirthful he.
He is a dreamer and a man shut out

From common passions.

Di Brog. Children, we disagree.

Let us go forth and taste the fragrant air
Of the garden. Did I dream, or did I hear
Politian was a melancholy man?

(Exeunt.)

II.

ROME.

A Lady's apartment, with a window open and looking into a garden. Lalage, in deep mourning, reading at a table on which lie some books and a hand mirror. In the background Jacinta (a servant-maid) leans carelessly upon a chair.

Lal. Jacinta! is it thou?

Fac. (pertiy). Yes, ma'am, I'm here.

Lal. I did not know, Jacinta, you were in waiting.

Sit down! - let not my presence trouble you
Sit down! - for I am humble, most humble.
Fac. (aside). 'Tis time.

(Facinta seats herself in a sidelong manner upon
the chair, resting her clbows upon the back, and
regarding her mistress with a contemptuous
look. Lalage continues to read )

Lal. "It in another climate, so he said,

Bore a bright golden flower, but not i' this soil!" turns over some leaves, and resumes.)

(Pauses

-

"No lingering winters there, nor snow, nor shower But Ocean ever to refresh mankind

Breathes the shrill spirit of the western wind.”

Oh, beautiful!— most beautiful! - how like

To what my fevered soul doth dream of Heaven!

O happy land! (pauses). She died!- the maiden. died!

O still more happy maiden who couldst die!

Jacinta !

(Facinta returns no answer, and Lalage presently resumes.)

Again! a similar tale.

Told of a beauteous dame beyond the sea!

Thus speaketh one Ferdinand in the words of the play,

"She died full young

one Bossola answers him

Seemed to have years too many" — Ah, luckless lady! Jacinta! (Still no answer.)

Here's a far sterner story

But like-oh, very like in its despair

Of that Egyptian queen, winning so easily
A thousand hearts - losing at length her own.

She died. Thus endeth the history — and her maids
Lean over her and weep- two gentle maids

With gentle names

Rainbow and dove!

Eiros and Charmion!

Jacinta!

Fac. (pettishly). Madam, what is it?

Lal. Wilt thou, my good Jacinta, be so kind As go down in the library and bring me

The Holy Evangelists?

Fac. Pshaw! (Exit.)

Lal. If there be balm

For the wounded spirit in Gilead, it is there!

Dew in the night-time of my bitter trouble

Will there be found

"dew sweeter far than that

Which hangs like chains of pearl on Hermon hill." (Re-enter Facinta, and throws a volume on the table.)

There, ma'am, 's the book. (Aside.) Indeed she is very troublesome.

Lal. (astonished). What didst thou say, Jacinta?
Have done aught

To grieve thee or to vex thee?—I am sorry.

For thou hast served me long and ever been
Trustworthy and respectful. (Resumes her reading.)
Fac. (aside). I can't believe

She has any more jewels

no -no- she gave me all.

Lal. What didst thou say, Jacinta? Now I bethink

me

Thou hast not spoken lately of thy wedding.

How fares good Ugo?-and when is it to be?

Can I do aught!—is there no further aid
Thou needest, Jacinta?

Fac. (aside). Is there no further aid!

That's meant for me.

- I'm sure, madam, you need not

Be always throwing those jewels in my teeth.

Lal. Jewels! Jacinta, now indeed, Jacinta,

I thought not of the jewels.

Fac. Oh! perhaps not!

But then I might have sworn it. After all
There's Ugo says the ring is only paste,
For he's sure the Count Castiglione never
Would have given a real diamond to such as you ;
And at the best I'm certain, madam, you cannot
Have use for jewels now. But I might have sworn it.
(Exit.)

(Lalage bursts into tears and leans her head upon

the table. after a short pause raises it.)

Lal. Poor Lalage! - and is it to come to this?
Thy servant-maid !— but courage! — 't is but a viper
Who thou hast cherished to sting thee to the soul!
(Taking up the mirror.)

Ha! here at least's a friend - too much a friend
In earlier days a friend will not deceive thee.
Fair mirror and true! now tell me (for thou canst)
A tale a pretty tale and heed thou not
Though it be rife with woe. It answers me.
It speaks of sunken eyes, and wasted cheeks,