Did you PIGNA inform his Grace that Signor Pigna Waits with state papers for his signature? MALPIGLIO The Lady Leonora cannot know That I have written a sonnet to her fame, In which I Venus and Adonis. You should not take my gold and serve me not. ALBANO In truth I told her, and she smiled and said, "If I am Venus, thou, coy Poesy, Art the Adonis whom I love, and he The Erymanthian boar that wounded him." O trust to me, Signor Malpiglio, Those nods and smiles were favours worth the zechin. MALPIGLIO The words are twisted in some double sense That I reach not: the smiles fell not on me. PIGNA How are the Duke and Duchess occupied? ALBANO Buried in some strange talk. The Duke was leaning, His finger on his brow, his lips unclosed. The Princess sate within the window-seat, And so her face was hid; but on her knee snow, And quivering-young Tasso, too, was there. MADDALO Thou seest on whom from thine own worshipped heaven Thou drawest down smiles they did not rain on thee. MALPIGLIO Would they were parching lightnings for his sake On whom they fell! And for your own take the inclement air; And are like gods who give them all they have, Fragment: "What Men Gain Fairly” HAT men gain fairly- that they should possess, And children may inherit idleness, From him who earns it - This is understood; Private injustice may be general good. But he who gains by base and armèd wrong, Is stript from a convicted thief, and he 'Perhaps connected with that immediately preceding. — ED. O |