Aless. Do it! I would have thee drop
Thy riotous company, too — fellows low born
Ill suit the like with old Di Broglio's heir
And Alessandra's husband.

Cas. I will drop them.

Aless. Thou wilt

more

thou must. Attend thou also

To thy dress and equipage — they are over plain
For thy lofty rank and fashion — much depends
Upon appearances.

Cas. I'll see to it.

Aless. Then see to it!

To — pay more carriage

In dignity.

pay more attention, sir,
much thou wantest

Cas. Much, much, oh much I want

In proper dignity.

Aless. {haughtily.) Thou mockest me, sir!

Cas. (abstractedly.) Sweet, gentle Lalage!
Aless. Heard I aright?

I speak to him- he speaks of Lalage!

Sir Count! (places her hand on his shoulder) what art thou dreaming? he 's not well!

What ails thee, sir?

Cas. (starting.) Cousin! fair cousin! — madam!

I crave thy pardon — indeed I am not well

Your hand from off my shoulder, if you please.

This air is most oppressive! — Madam- the Duke!

Enter Di Broglio.

Di Broglio. My son, I've news for thee! — hey? — what's the matter? (observing Alessandra.)

I' the pouts? Kiss her, Castiglione! kiss her,
You dog! and make it up, I say, this minute!

I've news for you both. Politian is expected

Hourly in Rome — Politian, Earl of Leicester!
We'll have him at the wedding. 'T is his first visit
To the imperial city.

Aless. What! Politian

Of Britain, Earl of Leicester?

Di Brog. The same, my love.

We'll have him at the wedding. A man quite young in fame. I have not seen him,

In years, but grey

But Rumour speaks of him as of a prodigy

Pre-eminent in arts and arms, and wealth,

And high descent. We'll have him at the wedding.
Aless. I have heard much of this Politian.
Gay, volatile and giddy is he not?
And little given to thinking.

Di Brog. Far from it, love.

No branch, they say, of all philosophy
So deep abstruse he has not mastered it.
Learned as few are learned.

Aless. 'Tis very strange!

I have known men have seen Politian
And sought his company. They speak of him
As of one who entered madly into life,

Drinking the cup of pleasure to the dregs.

Cas. Ridiculous! Now I have seen Politian
And know him well — nor learned nor mirthful he.
He is a dreamer and a man shut out

From common passions.

Di Brog. Children, we disagree.

Let us go

forth and taste the fragrant air

Of the garden. Did I dream, or did I hear
Politian was a melancholy man?

(exeunt.)

II

A Lady's apartment, with a window open and looking into a garden. Lalage, in deep mourning, reading at a table on which lie some books and a hand mirror. In the back ground Jacinta (a servant maid) leans carelessly upon a chair.

Lalage. Jacinta! is it thou?

Jacinta. (pertly.) Yes, Ma'am, I'm here.

Lal. I did not know, Jacinta, you were in waiting. Sit down! let not my presence trouble you

Sit down!

—

for I am humble, most humble.

Jac. (aside.) 'Tis time.

(Jacinta scats herself in J side-long manner upon

the chair, resting her elbows upon the back, and regarding her mistress with a contemptuous look. Lalage continues to read.)

Lal. "It in another climate, so he said,

"Bore a bright golden flower, but not i' this soil!" (pauses turns over some leaves, and resumes.) "No lingering winters there, nor snow, nor shower"But Ocean ever to refresh mankind

"Breathes the shrill spirit of the western wind."

To what my fevered soul doth dream of Heaven!

O happy land! (pauses.) She died! — the maiden died! O still more happy maiden who couldst die!

Jacinta!

(Jacinta returns no answer, and Lalage presently resumes.)

Told of a beauteous dame beyond the sea!

Thus speaketh one Ferdinand in the words of the play— "She died full young" one Bossola answers him