Lutwyche! Who else? But all of them, no doubt,
Hated me: they at Venice--presently
Their turn, however! You I shall not meet: 240
If I dreamed, saying this would wake me.
Keep
What's here, the gold--we cannot meet again,
Consider! and the money was but meant
For two years' travel, which is over now,
All chance or hope or care or need of it. 245
This--and what comes from selling these, my casts
And books and medals, except--let them go
Together, so the produce keeps you safe
Out of Natalia's clutches! If by chance
(For all's chance here) I should survive the gang 250
At Venice, root out all fifteen of them,
We might meet somewhere, since the world is wide.
[_From without is heard the voice of_ PIPPA, _singing_--
_Give her but a least excuse to love me!_
_When--where--_
_How--can this arm establish her above me,_ 255
_If fortune fixed her as my lady there,_
_There already, to eternally reprove me?_
_("Hist!"--said Kate the Queen;_
_But "Oh!" cried the maiden, binding her tresses,_
_"'Tis only a page that carols unseen,_ 260
_Crumbling your hounds their messes!")_
_Is she wronged?--To the rescue of her honor,_
_My heart!_
_Is she poor?--What costs it to be styled a donor?_
_Merely an earth to cleave, a sea to part_. 265
_But that fortune should have thrust all this upon her!_
_("Nay, list!"--bade Kate the Queen;_
_And still cried the maiden, binding her tresses,_
_"'Tis only a page that carols unseen_
_Fitting your hawks their jesses!")_ 270
[PIPPA _passes._