Act 3 - Scene 4

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_ ACT III - SCENE IV

[The ball-room of the palace at Fiori, raised place in back, surmounted by two big chairs, for Lorenzo and Octavia to sit while the dance goes on. Dais on one side, well down stage, in full sight of the audience, for Mario and Bianca. As the curtain rises the stage is empty except for Fidelio, who sits forlornly on the bottom steps of the raised place in the back of the stage, his lute across his knees, his head bowed upon it. Sound of laughter and conversation, possibly rattling of dishes, off stage, evidently a feast going on.]

LAU.
[Off stage.]

Be still, or I will heave a plate at you!

LUIGI.
[Off stage.]

Nay, gentle Laura, heave not the wedding-crockery,
At the wedding-guest! Behold me on my knees
To tell the world I love you like a fool!

LAU.
Get up, you oaf! Or here's a platter of gravy
Will add the motley to your folly!

LUIGI.
Hold her,
Some piteous fop, that liketh not to see
Fine linen smeared with goose! Oh, gracious Laura,
I never have seen a child sucking an orange
But I wished an orange, too. This wedding irks me
Because 'tis not mine own. Shall we be married
Tuesday or Wednesday?

LAU.
Are you in earnest, Luigi?

LUIGI.
Ay, that I am, if never I was before.

LAU.
La, I am lost! I am a married woman!
Water!--Nay, wine will do! On Wednesday, then.
I'll have it as far off as possible.

[Enter from banquet-room Guido, Giovanni and Raffaele.]

GIO.
Well met, Fidelio! Give us a song!

FID.
Not I!

GUI.
Why, is this? You, that are dripping with song
Weekdays, are dry of music for a wedding?

FID.
I have a headache. Go and sit in a tree,
And make your own songs.

RAF.
Nay, Fidelio.
String the sweet strings, man!

GIO.
Strike the pretty strings!

GUI.
Give us the silver strings!

FID.
Nay then, I will that!

[He tears the strings off the lute and throws them in Guido's face.]

Here be the strings, my merry gentlemen!
Do you amuse yourselves with tying knots in them
And hanging one another!--I have a headache.

[He runs off, sobbing.]

RAF.
What ails him, think you?

GIO.
Troth, I have no notion.

[Enter Nurse.]

GUI.
What ho, good Grazia! I hear my uncle
Is ill again!

GRA.
Where heard you that, you raven?

GUI.
Marry, I forget. Is't true?

GRA.
It is as false
As that you have forgotten where you heard it.
Were you the heir to his power, which I bless God
You're not!--he'd live to hide the throne from you
Full many a long day yet!--Nay, pretty Guido,
Your cousin is not yet Queen,--and when she is--Faith,
She weareth a wide petticoat,--there'll be
Scant room for you beside her! [Exit Nurse across stage]

GUI.
[To his companions.]

None the less
I do believe the king is ill.

RAF.
Who told you?

GUI.
His wife. She is much exercised about him.

GIO.
'Tis like enough. This woman would rather lie
Than have her breakfast served to her in bed.

[Exeunt Guido, Giovanni and Raffaele.]

[Music. Enter Musicians and take place on stage. Enter four pages and take places on either side the door as from the banquet-hall and on either side the throne in the back. Enter King and Queen, that is to say Lorenzo and Octavia, Lorenzo apparently quite well, and seat themselves on throne in back. Enter courtiers and ladies, Carlotta with Anselmo, Laura with Luigi, etc., and stand in little groups about the stage, laughing and talking together. Enter Beatrice alone, her train held by two pages in black. Enter twelve little Cupids, running, and do a short dance in the center of the room, then rush to the empty dais which is awaiting Mario and Bianca, and cluster about it. Enter Bianca and Mario, she in white and silver, with a deep sky blue velvet train six yards long, held up by six silver pages [or Cupids]; he in black and gold, with a purple velvet train of the same length held by six gold pages [or Cupids]. His arm is about her waist, she is leaning back her head against him and looking up into his face. They come in slowly, talking softly together, as utterly oblivious of the court, the pages, the music, everything, as if they were a shepherd and a shepherdess walking through a meadow. They walk slowly across the stage and seat themselves on the dais. The music changes, strikes up a gay pavane, or the equivalent of the period of the costumes, the ladies and courtiers dance. Guido, Giovanni and Raffaele re-enter just as the music starts and go up to the ladies; Guido goes to Beatrice, and she dances with him. In the midst of the dance Lorenzo slips a little sidewise in his chair, his head drops forward on his chest; he does not move again. Nobody notices for some time. The dance continues, all who are not dancing watching the dancers, save Octavia, who watches with great pride and affection Bianca and Mario, who in turn are looking at one another. Octavia turns finally to speak to Lorenzo, stares at him, touches him, then screams. Beatrice should then be in a conspicuous place in the dance. Music stops in confusion on a dischord, dance breaks up wildly, everybody rushes to throne.] _

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