_Nicolo._ Lies! lies, your Highness!

_Old Woman._ Having a quarrel, puts the evil eye On Serafina. She's my best of cows, In stall with calf but ten days weaned.

_Nicolo._ Lies! lies!

_Old Woman._ I would your Highness saw her! When that thief Hangs upon Lazarus' bosom, he'll be bidding A ducat for each drop of milk he's cost me, To cool his tongue.

_Regent._ Ay--ay, the cow is sick, I think; and mind me, being country-bred, Of a cure for such: which is, to buy a comb And comb the sufferer's tail at feeding-time.

If Zia Agnese do but this, she'll counter The Evil Eye, and maybe with her own Detect who thieves her Serafina's hay.

_Old Woman._ G.o.d bless your Highness!

_Nicolo._ G.o.d bless your Highness!

_Regent (taking up a fresh suit)._Why, what's here? "_Costanza, Wife of Giuseppe Boni, citeth him And sueth to live separate, for neglect And divers beatings, as to wit----_" H'm, h'm-- _Likewise to keep the child Geronimo, Begotten of his body._ You defend The suit, Giuseppe?

_A Young Peasant (shrugs his shoulders)._ As the woman will!

I'll not deny I beat her.

_Regent._ But neglect!

How came you to neglect her? Look on her-- The handsome, frowsy s.l.u.t, that, by appearance, Hath never washed her body since she wed.

A beating we might pa.s.s. But how neglect To take her by the neck unto the pump And hold her till her wet and furious face Were once again worth kissing? Well--well--well!

Neglect is proven. She shall have deserts: _(To a Clerk)_ But--write, "Defendant keeps his lawful child."

_Young Peasant._ My lady--

_Wife._ Nay, my lady--

_Regent._ Eh? What's this?

_Wife._ The poor _bambino_! Nay, 'twas not the suit!

How should Giuseppe, being a fool, a man--

_Young Peasant._ Aye, aye: that's sense. I love him: still, you see--

_Regent._ An if my judgment suit you not, go home, The pair. _(As they are going she calls the woman back.)_ Costanza! hath your husband erred With other woman?

_Young Peasant_. Never!

_Wife_. I'll not charge him With that.

_Regent_. But, yes, you may. This man hath held Another woman to his breast.

_Wife_. Her name?

That I may tear her eyes!

_Regent_. Her name's Costanza.

The same Costanza that, with body washed, With ribbon in her hair, light in her eyes, Arrayed a cottage to allure his heart.

Go home, poor fools, and find her!...

Heigh! No others? [_Heaves a sigh._ Captain, dismiss the Guard. The watch, aloft-- Set him elsewhere. We would not be o'erlooked.

You only, Lucio--you, Lucetta--stay; You for a while, Cesario.

[_Exeunt Courtiers, Guard, Crowd, etc._

Heigh! that's over-- The last Court of the Regent; and the books Accounts of stewardship, my seven years all, Closed here for audit.

Nay, there's one thing more-- Brother, erewhile I spoke you sisterly, You turned away, and still you bite your lip: Signs that may short my preface. It concerns The Countess Fulvia.

_Lucio_. Ha!

_Regent_. Go, bring her, Captain.

[_Exit Cesario_.

List to me, Lucio: listen, brother dear, First playmate-child, tending whose innocence Myself learned motherhood. Shall I deny Youth to be loved and follow after love?

There is a love breaks like a morning beam On the husht novice kneeling by his arms; And worse there is, whose kisses strangle love, Whose feet take hold of h.e.l.l. My Lucio, Follow not that!

_Lucio_. Why, who--who hath maligned The Countess?

_Regent_ Not maligned. Lucetta, here--

_Lucio_. Lucetta! Curse Lucetta and her tongue!

Am I a child, to be nagged by waiting-maids?

_Regent_. No, but a man, and shall weigh evidence.

_Lucio_. But I'll not hear it! If her viper tongue Can kill, why kill it must. But send me a man, And I will smite his mouth--ay, slit his tongue-- That dares defame the Countess!

_Regent_. Stay: she comes.

[_Enter the Countess Fulvia, Cesario attending._

Madam, the reason wherefore you are summoned No doubt you guess, from a rude earlier call Our Captain paid you. Certain practices, Which you may force me name, are charged upon you On testimony you may force me call And may with freedom question.

_Fulvia_. I'll not question: No, nor I will not answer.

_Lucio_. Then I'll answer!'

For me, for all, she is innocent!

_Regent_. For you?

We'll hope it: but 'for all' 's more wide an oath Than you can swear, sir. I'll not bandy you Words nor debate. Myself the ladder saw; Lucetta, here, the ladder and the man.

_What_ man she will not say. Cesario Has tracked his footprint on her garden plots.

Must we say more?

_Fulvia_. No need. Her fingering mind Is a close cupboard turning all things rancid.

_Lucio_. Yea, for such wry-necks all the world's a lawn To peek and peer and pounce a sinful worm; The fatter, the more luscious.

_Regent. _ Lucio, This woman nought gainsays.