Aless. Then see to it ! Pay more attention, sir, To a becoming carriage: much thou wantest

In dignity.

Cas. Much, much-O, 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 Brog. 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. 'Tis his first visit
To the imperial city.

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

In

years, but gray

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 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.

ROME. A Lady's Apartment, with a window open, and looking into a garden. LALAGE, in deep mourning, reading at a table, on which lies some books and a hand-mirror. In the background, JACINTA (a servant-maid) leans carelessly upon a

chair.

Lal. Jacinta! is it thou?

Jac. (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 seats herself in a 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."
O, beautiful! most beautiful!-how like

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.

Again!—a similar tale

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

"I think not so; her infelicity

Seemed to have years too many." Ah, luckless lady!-Jacinta! (Still no answer.)

Here's a far sterner story,

But like-O, very like in its despair,

Of that Egyptian queen, winning so easily

A thousand hearts-losing at length her own.
She died. Thus endeth the history, and her maids
Lean over her and weep,-two gentle maids

With gentle names-Eiros and Charmion!

Rainbow and Dove !-Jacinta !

As

Jac. (pettishly)

Madam, what is it ?

Lal. Wilt thou, my good Jacinta, be so kind

go down in the library, and bring me

The holy evangelists ?

Jac.

Lal.

Pshaw!

[Exit.

If there be balm

For the wounded spirit in Gilead, it is there:
Dew in the night-time of my bitter trouble
Will there be found,-" dew sweeter far than that
Which hangs like chains of pearl on Hermon hill."

Re-enter JACINTA, and throws a volume on the table.

Jac. There, ma'am, 's the book.

very troublesome. (Aside.)

Indeed she is

Lal. (astonished) What didst thou say, Jacinta?

Have I done aught

To grieve thee or to vex thee?—I am sorry;

For thou hast served me long, and ever been
Trustworthy and respectful.

Jac.

[Resumes her reading.

I can't believe