________________________________________________
_ ACT III - SCENE II
[Bianca's boudoir in the palace at Fiori. Bianca with
a mirror in her hand, having her hair done by a maid.
Several maids about, holding perfume-flasks, brushes,
and veils, articles of apparel of one sort or another.
Beatrice standing beside her, watching.]
BIA.
Look at me, Rose-Red. Am I pretty enough,
Think you, to marry a King?
BEA.
You are too pretty.
There is no justice in it. Marry a cobbler
And make a king of him. It is unequal,--
Here is one beggarly boy king in his own right,
And king by right of you.
BIA.
Mario is not
A beggarly boy! Nay, tell me truly, Beatrice,
What do you think of him?
BEA.
La, by my soul!
Have I not told you what I think of him
A thousand times? He is graceful enough, I tell you,
And hath a well-shaped head.
BIA.
Nay, is that all?
BEA.
Nay, hands and feet he hath, like any other.
BIA.
Oh, out upon you for a surly baggage!
Why will you tease me so? You do not like him,
I think.
BEA.
Snow-White! Forgive me! La, indeed,
I was but jesting! By my sacred word,
These brides are serious folk.
BIA.
I could not bear
To wed a man that was displeasing to you.
Loving him as I do, I could not choose
But wed him, if he wished it, but 'twould hurt me
To think he did not please you.
BEA.
Let me, then,
Set your sweet heart at rest. You could not find
In Christendom a man would please me more.
BIA.
Then I am happy.
BEA.
Aye, be happy, child.
BIA.
Why do you call me child?
BEA.
Faith, 'tis the season
O' the year when I am older than you. Besides
A bride is always younger than a spinster.
BIA.
A spinster! Do you come here to me, Rose-Red,
Whilst I pinch you smartly! You, Arianna, push me
Her Highness over here, that I may pinch her!
[To Loretta.] Nay, is it finished? Aye, 'tis very well.
Though not so well, Loretta, as many a day
When I was doing nothing!--Nay, my girl,
'Tis well enough. He will take me as I am
Or leave me as I was.--You may come back
In half an hour, if you are grieved about it,
And do it again. But go now,--all of you.
I wish to be alone. [To Beatrice.] Not you.
[Exeunt all but Bea. and Bia.]
Oh, Rose-Red,
I trust 'twill not be long before I see you
As happy as you see me now!
BEA.
Indeed,
I could not well be happier than I am.
You do not know, maybe, how much I love you.
BIA.
Ah, but I do,--I have a measure for it!
BEA.
Ay, for today you have. But not for long.
They say a bride forgets her friends,--she cleaves so
To her new lord. It cannot but be true.
You will be gone from me. There will be much
To drive me from your mind.
BIA.
Shall I forget, then, When I am old, I ever was a child?
I tell you I shall never think of you
Throughout my life, without such tenderness
As breaks the heart,--and I shall think of you
Whenever I am most happy, whenever I am
Most sad, whenever I see a beautiful thing.
You are a burning lamp to me, a flame
The wind cannot blow out, and I shall hold you
High in my hand against whatever darkness.
BEA.
You are to me a silver bell in a tower.
And when it rings I know I am near home. _
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