_On the terrace, in front of the house. Enter DIANA and RICARDO. FLORA
attending Diana._
_DIANA._
What time is’t, sir?
_RICARDO._
I heard the bells of the town
Strike ten but now.
_D._ Ah! you can hear the bells,
Because they are strange to you. I note them most
The days they miss.... And so ’tis only ten....
I hope you are comfortable here, Ricardo:
Gregory took care of you? The clocks for example
Did not disturb your rest?
_R._ Your ladyship
Means to reproach me with late hours: but if
I had thought my singing could be heard.... 1200
_D._ Your singing?
How musical the world is now-a-days—
Yet I heard not your singing.
_R._ I am very glad:
I feared I had offended. For myself
I can assure you that though some things here
Remind me of Milan, where the Duke....
_D._ Remember,
Speak not to me of Milan.
_R._ A thousand pardons,
I am schooled to hide my thoughts, and shall obey:
Tho’in your sight they wander to the duke,
Who for that grace in such sad sickness pines.
A lord so loving, and so fair a lady, 1210
Would she be also kind,—would make their courtiers
As envied as themselves.
_D._ Enough, forget him.
But say you that he is really sick, Ricardo?
_R._ Hopelessly he languishes. I do not think
He is long for this world.
_D._ So consumed with folly!
_R._ I too thought that his love was folly, lady,
Till I came here: but now I know he is wise.
_D._ I half suspect he sent you here to try me
With soft insinuations.
_R._ ’Twere his wish
I do not doubt: although he spake no word 1220
That I could wrest to such instruction, madam.
_D._ You serve him well.
_R._ May all your servants ever
Love you as I do him. Yet that’s too much.
_D._ ’Tis all too much. But I can truly boast
I have very faithful servants. There’s Sir Gregory:
I think you could not better him at Milan.
What say you?
_R._ Sir Gregory is the very mirror
Of knightly reverence.
_D._ He is sadly deaf.
Then there’s my secretary.
_R._ Your secretary?
_D._ Frederick.
_R._ Ah, Frederick: on so short acquaintance
How can I judge?
_D._ You have a faculty 1231
Of observation, which I am pleased to prove:
Besides, since you are a stranger,—as you note
Our clocks,—your eyes, no doubt, while yet they are fresh,
Will pounce upon a thousand little things,
Which we are blind to, seeing every day.
Tell me your first impression.
_R._ Your ladyship
Would never task me thus, but in security
Of finding perfect praise. I’ll rather think
You ask me my opinion, as do poets, 1240
To judge of my capacity.
_D._ Nay, nay.
Nor will I force your flattery. Speak your mind.
I hold him not in wondrous estimation.
What of his person?
_R._ He has a good deportment,
Yet stoops a little.
_D._ You have a soldier’s eye.
He is tall, and hath the scholar’s negligence.
A martial stiffness were much out of place.
_R._ True: and his open grace seems less a manner
Than very nature; being itself unlinked
With any distant bearing.
_D._ Now you teach me. 1250
You might have known him long to hit him so.
Have you talked with him much?
_R._ Enough to prove him
A most ingenious gentleman.
_D._ Ah!—ingenious!
Ingenious;—that is a doubtful word.
You do not mean contriving?
_Enter F. and T. in their travelling costume as before._
_R._ See, madam: ’tis he that comes.
(_Aside._) Her love is but a fancy; else would she never
Provoke discussion on him, and seek to praise him.—
_D._ Frederick: returned so soon!—miraculous.
Such expedition. Thou canst scarce have rested.
’Tis two hours ere thy time.
_FREDERICK._
’Twas my good fortune 1260
To meet no hindrance.
_D._ But thy health, good servant;
Thy sickness?
_F._ Madam, let my quick despatch
Bury my late reluctance. I confess
I was unreasonable. Indeed, the journey
Hath quite restored my spirits.
_D._ Yes, so it seems.
I hoped that it might be so. Hast thou my answer?
_F._ ’Tis here. (_Handing letter._)
_D._ Thou must have roused the Duke from sleep.
_F._ ’Twas such an hour as one might look to find
A duke a-bed.
_D._ And he was not? Pray, tell us
Exactly how he was employed.
_F._ I chanced 1270
To find him banqueting in merry company;
Such as make war on night, and march their force
Across the frontier, for a long campaign
In the enemy’s country.
_D._ (_to R._). Banqueting, you hear.
And at that hour.
_F._ All night they kept it up.
_D._ (_to R._). Hark you.
_R._ I hear and wonder. (_To F._) Say you, sir,
The Duke was merry, that he held a feast
Within the palace?
_F._ (_aside_). Heavens!—how I have blundered!
Nay, sir, I said not so: I said expressly,
Or should have said, he was another’s guest. 1280
_R._ And yet I have never known him....
_F._ Indeed ’tis true:
He said to me himself those very words.
I have never known myself do this, he said.
_TRISTRAM_ (_aside_).
Now, they are at their fooling again, and not a single
word of any sense. ’Tis enough to drive a man mad
with bewilderment.
_R._ (_to D._). To plunge into distraction so unwonted
Argues despair. Grave men use dissipation
To drown their misery.
_D._ No doubt: and yet
Answer not for him.
_F._ True it is, my lady,
He did confess as much to me a stranger. 1290
Despair;—that was his word. He seemed, withal,
Wondrously put out at all I chanced to say:
And very sick he looked.
_T._ (_aside_). Madness and lies! I’ll hear no more of
this. (_Goes aside to Flora._)
_D._ It seems that dissipation
Agrees not with grave men.
_R._ Heaven smite me dead
If I protest not ’gainst the wrong you do him.
_D._ So hot!—Well, thrash this out between yourselves:
’Tis nought to me. And, Frederick, when you have dressed,
Rested, and breakfasted, attend me here. 1300
I thank you for your service.
_F._ You are welcome, madam,
To all such offices. (_Going._)
_D._ Please leave your servant.
I have some papers ready indoors to send you.
_F._ I thank you. [_Exit._
_R._ I crave permission: I would follow
To ask of my particular affairs;
How they are spoke of whence he comes.
_D._ (_bowing permission_). I hope
You will hear good.
_R._ (_aside, going_). My Frederick needs fresh prompting.
He is so preoccupied in his own love,
That I am forgotten. [_Exit._
_Diana opens the letter._
_T._ (_to Fl., shewing and shaking purse_). Look here! Listen here!
_FLORA._