Down! [Throws him headlong. Fitzurse (advances with drawn sword). I told thee that I should remember thee ! Becket. Profligate pander! Fitzurse. Do you hear that? strike, strike. [Strikes off the Archbishop's mitre, and wounds him in the forehead. Becket (covers his eyes with his hand). I do commend my cause to God, the Virgin, Saint Denis of France and Saint Alphege of England, And all the tutelar Saints of Canterbury. [Grim wraps his arms about the Arch. bishop. Spare this defence, dear brother. [Tracy has arisen, and approaches, hesitatingly, with his sword raised. Fitzurse. Strike him, Tracy! Rosamund (rushing down steps from the choir). No, no, no, no! Fitzurse. This wanton here. De Morville, Hold her away. De Morville. I hold her. Rosamund (held back by De Morville, and stretching out her arms). Mercy, mercy, Strike, I say! As you would hope for mercy ! Fitzurse. This play was produced by Mr. and Mrs. Kendal at the St. James Theatre in December, 1879, and had a run of sixty-seven nights. It was published with 'The Cup' in 1884. The story, which the poet took from Boccaccio (Decameron,' 5th Day, 9th tale), has been traced to the Sanskrit Panchatantra.' La Fontaine gives it in his Contes et Nouvelles' (Le Faucon '), and Longfellow in his Tales of a Wayside Inn' ('The Falcon of Ser Federigo '). It was also dramatized by Delisle de la Drévetière as a three-act comedy. Elisabetta. Darning, your lordship. We cannot flaunt it in new feathers now. Nay, if we will buy diamond necklaces To please our lady, we must darn, my lord. This old thing here (points to necklace round her neck), they are but blue beads my Piero, God rest his honest soul, he bought 'em for me, Ay, but he knew I meant to marry him. 30 How couldst thou do it, my son? How couldst thou do it? Count. She saw it at a dance, upon a 41 Filippo. A supper for twelve mites. Count. Eggs? Filippo. One, but addled. And sold thine own To buy it for her. She not know? She knows There's none such other Count. Madman anywhere. Speak freely, tho' to call a madman mad Will hardly help to make him sane again. Enter FILIPPO. Filippo. Ah, the women, the women! Ah, Monna Giovanna, you here again! you that have the face of an angel and the heart of a that 's too positive! You that have a score of lovers and have not a heart for any of them - that's positive-negative: you that have not the head of a toad, and not a heart like the jewel in it that's too negative; you that have a cheek like a peach and a heart like the stone in it. that 's positive again that 's better! Elisabetta. Sh sh Filippo (turns half round). Here has our master been a-glorifying and a-velveting - Filippo! 58 Count. No bird? 90 To-day, my beauty, thou must dash us down 110 Our dinner from the skies. Away, Filippo! [Exit, followed by Filippo. Elisabetta. I knew it would come to this. She has beggared him. I always knew it would come to this! (Goes up to table as if to resume darning, and looks out of window.) Why, as I live, there is Monna Giovanna coming down the hill from the castle. Stops and stares at our cottage. Ay, ay! stare at it: it's all you have left us. Shame on you! She beautiful! sleek as a miller's mouse! Meal enough, meat enough, well fed; but beautiful —bah! Nay, see, why she turns down the path through our little vineyard, and I sneezed three times this morning. Coming to visit my lord, for the first time in her life too! Why, bless the saints! I'll be bound to confess her love to him at last. I forgive her, I forgive her! I knew it would come to this -I always knew it must come to this! (Goes up to door during latter part of speech, and opens it.) Come in, madonna, come in. (Retires to front of table and curtseys as the LADY GIOVANNA enters, then moves chair towards the hearth.) Nay, let me place this chair for your ladyship. [Lady Giovanna moves slowly down stage, then crosses to chair, looking about her, bows as she sees the Madonna over fireplace, then sits in chair. Lady Giovanna. Can I speak with the Count? 138 Elisabetta. Ay, my lady, but won't you speak with the old woman first, and tell her all about it and make her happy? for I've been on my Lnees every day for these half-dozen years in hope that the saints would send us this blessed morning; and he always took you so kindly, he always took the world so kindly. When he was a little one, and I put the bitters on my breast to wean him, he made a wry mouth at it, but he took it so kindly, and your ladyship has given him bitters enough in this world, and he never made a wry mouth at you, he always took you so kindly which is more than I did, my lady, more than I did and he so handsome- and bless your sweet face, you look as beautiful this morning as the very Madonna her own self and better late than never- but come when they will - then or now - it's Count. How charm'd he was! what wonder? A gallant boy, A noble bird, cach perfect of the breed. Lady Giovanna (sinks in chair). What do you rate her at? Count. My bird? a hundred Gold pieces once were offer'd by the Duke. I had no heart to part with her for money. Lady Giovanna. No, not for money. [Count turns away and sighs. Wherefore do you sigh? Count. I have lost a friend of late. Lady Giovanna. I could sigh with you For fear of losing more than friend, a |