The Lamp and the Bell | Page 6

not know at all Why one remembers them. There was a
blackbird With a broken foot somebody found and tamed And named
Euripides!--I can see it now.
CAR. Some of the silly rhymes we used to write In the margins of our
books, I still remember!
LAU. And eating sweets behind the covers of them!
FRA. And faces--faces--faces--and a little game We used to play, all
marching in a row And singing!--I wish I were a child again.
BEA. You are not old, Francesca. You are very young. And very
beautiful!
FRA. I have been beautiful Too many years to be so very young.
CAR. How now, Francesca! Would you have it said You are
enamoured of some beardless youth, That so you see the wrinkles

suddenly? Have done! Have done!
BIA. Where shall we study, Bice?
BEA. Indoors. I cannot study out of doors.
[Exeunt Beatrice and Bianca.]
LAU. I vow I never knew a pair of lovers More constant than those
two.
CAR. A pair of lovers? Marry, I find your figure lacking force! Since
when were lovers true?
FRA. Oh, peace, Carlotta! You bear too sharp a weapon against the
world,-- A split tongue full of poison, in a head That darts at every
heel!--I'm going in. [Exit Francesca.]
LAU. You should not say such things when she is with us, Carlotto.
CAR. Is the woman in love?
LAU. In love! She is so far gone she does not know which way To
sail,--all shores are equally out of sight.
[Exeunt Laura and Carlotta.]
[Music off stage. Enter Fidelio, singing.]
FID. "What was I doing when the moon stood above? What did I do?
What did I do? I lied to a lady that had given me her love,-- I swore to
be true! I swore to be true!"
[He picks up from the grass a white scarf which Beatrice was wearing,
and which slipped from her shoulders unnoticed as she went out.]
FID. My mistress!
[He thrusts the scarf under his cloak and continues his song, just as

Guido enters from another direction.]
FID. "And what was I doing when the sun stood above? What did I do?
What did I do?--"
GUI. By my sacred word, Fidelio, I do not like your song.
FID. Faith, and small wonder!--It is a song that sets the evil eye To
staring in upon itself.
GUI. [Stopping in his walk.] What mean you by that, my throaty
friend?
FID. I mean to say That, taking it all in all and by and large, You do not
care for music.
GUI. I do not care For yours, but it is possible Apollo Had a better
tenor. I never heard him sing.
FID. Nay, and how could you?--He died when you were born!
GUI. He died, that is, in giving birth to me?
FID. Aye, if you like,--you bear as much resemblance To him as to
your mother's husband, surely.
GUI. Take care, Fidelio!
FID. [Lightly] So! Then it angers you Apollo should be deemed your
sire! I told you [Sadly.] You did not care for music!
GUI. You are a sly fool, My merry friend. What hide you under the
cloak?
FID. Why, 'tis a little patch of snow the sun Would lay too hot a hand
on.
GUI. By my life,-- And what are you that you can keep the sun From
shining where it will?

FID. Why, by your life,-- And a foul oath it is!--why, by your life, I am
a cloud,--that is an easy riddle.

Scene 2
[Scene: A garden with a fountain, at Fiori. Beatrice and Bianca sitting
side by side on a low step. Evening.]
BEA. How beautiful it is to sit like this, Snow-White,--to think of much,
and to say little.
BIA. Ay, it is beautiful. I shall remember All my life long these
evenings that we spent Sitting just here, thinking together. [Pause.]
Rose-Red, It is four years today since first we met. Did you know that?
BEA. Nay, is it?
BIA. Four years today. I liked you from the moment that I saw you,
Beatrice!
BEA. I you, Bianca. From the very moment! I thought you were the
prettiest little girl That I had ever seen.
BIA. I was afraid Of you, a little, at first,--you were a Princess, You see.
But you explained that being a Princess Was much the same as
anything else. 'Twas nice, You said, when people were nice, and when
they were not nice 'Twas hateful, just the same as everything else. And
then I saw your dolls, and they had noses All scratched, and wigs all
matted, just like mine, Which reassured me even more!--I still, though,
Think of you as a Princess; the way you do things Is much more
wonderful than the way I do