_Scene._--_The gardens of the castle. Paths meet under a large lime in
the centre, where seats are placed. The wall of the garden crosses the
rear, and has a postern. It is night of the same day, and behind a
convent on a near hill the moon is rising. A nightingale sings._
_Enter GIULIA, CECCO, and NALDO._
GIULIA: That bird! Always so noisy, always vain
Of gushing. Sing, and sing, sing, sing, it must!
As if nobody else would speak or sleep.
CECCO: Let the bird be, my jaunty. 'Tis no lie
The shrew and nightingale were never friends.
GIULIA: No more were shrew and serpent.
CECCO: Well what would
You scratch from me?
GIULIA: If there is anything
To be got from you, then it must be scratched.
CECCO: Yet shrews do not scratch serpents.
GIULIA: If they're caught
Where they can neither coil nor strike?
CECCO: Well, _I_
Begin to coil.
GIULIA: And I'll begin to scotch
You ere 'tis done.--Give me the postern key.
CECCO: Your lady's voice--but you are not your lady.
GIULIA: And were I you not long would be your lord's.
Give me the key.
CECCO: I coil--I coil! will soon
Be ready for a strike, my tender shrew.
GIULIA: Does the duke know you've hidden from his ear
Antonio's passion? does he?--ah?--and shall
I tell him? ah?