LADY GIOVANNA (_with dignity_).

I did not say, my lord, that it was so; I said you might imagine it was so.

_Enter_ FILIPPO _with bowl of salad, which he places on table_.

FILIPPO.

Here's a fine salad for my lady, for tho' we have been a soldier, and ridden by his lordship's side, and seen the red of the battle-field, yet are we now drill-sergeant to his lordship's lettuces, and profess to be great in green things and in garden-stuff.

LADY GIOVANNA.

I thank thee, good Filippo. [_Exit_ FILIPPO.

_Enter_ ELISABETTA _with bird on a dish which she places on table_.

ELISABETTA (close to table).

Here's a fine fowl for my lady; I had scant time to do him in. I hope he be not underdone, for we be undone in the doing of him.

LADY GIOVANNA.

I thank you, my good nurse.

FILIPPO (_re-entering with plate of prunes_).

And here are fine fruits for my lady--prunes, my lady, from the tree that my lord himself planted here in the blossom of his boyhood--and so I, Filippo, being, with your ladyship's pardon, and as your ladyship knows, his lordship's own foster-brother, would commend them to your ladyship's most peculiar appreciation.

[_Puts plate on table_.

ELISABETTA.

Filippo!

LADY GIOVANNA (COUNT _leads her to table_).

Will you not eat with me, my lord?

COUNT.

I cannot, Not a morsel, not one morsel. I have broken My fast already. I will pledge you. Wine!

Filippo, wine!

[_Sits near table_; FILIPPO _brings flask, fills the_ COUNT'S _goblet, then_ LADY GIOVANNA'S; ELISABETTA _stands at the back of_ LADY GIOVANNA'S _chair_.

COUNT.

It is but thin and cold, Not like the vintage blowing round your castle.

We lie too deep down in the shadow here.

Your ladyship lives higher in the sun.

[_They pledge each other and drink_.

LADY GIOVANNA.

If I might send you down a flask or two Of that same vintage? There is iron in it.

It has been much commended as a medicine.

I give it my sick son, and if you be Not quite recover'd of your wound, the wine Might help you. None has ever told me yet The story of your battle and your wound.

FILIPPO (_coming forward_).

I can tell you, my lady, I can tell you.

ELISABETTA.

Filippo! will you take the word out of your master's own mouth?

FILIPPO.

Was it there to take? Put it there, my lord.

COUNT.

Giovanna, my dear lady, in this same battle We had been beaten--they were ten to one.

The trumpets of the fight had echo'd down, I and Filippo here had done our best, And, having pa.s.sed unwounded from the field, Were seated sadly at a fountain side, Our horses grazing by us, when a troop, Laden with booty and with a flag of ours Ta'en in the fight----

FILIPPO.

Ay, but we fought for it back, And kill'd----

ELISABETTA.

Filippo!

COUNT.

A troop of horse----

FILIPPO.

Five hundred!

COUNT.

Say fifty!

FILIPPO.

And we kill'd 'em by the score!

ELISABETTA.

Filippo!

FILIPPO.

Well, well, well! I bite my tongue.

COUNT.

We may have left their fifty less by five.

However, staying not to count how many, But anger'd at their flaunting of our flag, We mounted, and we dash'd into the heart of 'em.

I wore the lady's chaplet round my neck; It served me for a blessed rosary.

I am sure that more than one brave fellow owed His death to the charm in it.

ELISABETTA.

Hear that, my lady!

COUNT.

I cannot tell how long we strove before Our horses fell beneath us; down we went Crush'd, hack'd at, trampled underfoot. The night, As some cold-manner'd friend may strangely do us The truest service, had a touch of frost That help'd to check the flowing of the blood.

My last sight ere I swoon'd was one sweet face Crown'd with the wreath. _That_ seem'd to come and go.

They left us there for dead!

ELISABETTA.