Part 2 (1/2)

GUIDO Marvels. I think--yes, I am afraid that you will like them.

GRACIOSA And Duke Alessandro--shall I like him?

GUIDO Few courtiers have expressed dislike of him in my presence.

GRACIOSA Do you like him? Does he too buy lavishly?

GUIDO Eh, madonna! some day, when you have seen his jewels--

GRACIOSA Oh! I shall see them when I go to court?

GUIDO Yes, he will show them to you, I think, without fail, for the Duke loves beauty in all its forms. So he will take pleasure in confronting the brightness of your eyes with the brightness of the four kinds of sapphires, of the twelve kinds of rubies, and of many extraordinary pearls--

GRACIOSA (_With eyes s.h.i.+ning, and lips parted._) Oh!

GUIDO And you will see his famous emerald necklace, and all his diamonds, and his huge turquoises, which will make you ashamed of your poor talisman--

GRACIOSA He will show all these jewels to me!

GUIDO (_Looking at her, and still smiling thoughtfully._) He will show you the very finest of his gems, a.s.suredly. And then, worse still, he will be making verses in your honor.

GRACIOSA It would be droll to have a great duke making songs about me!

GUIDO It is a preposterous feature of Duke Alessandro's character that he is always making songs about some beautiful thing or another.

GRACIOSA Such strange songs, Guido! I was singing over one of them just before you came,--

Let me have dames and damsels richly clad To feed and tend my mirth, Singing by day and night to make me glad--

But I could not quite understand it. Are his songs thought good?

GUIDO The songs of a reigning duke are always good.

GRACIOSA And is he as handsome as people report?

GUIDO Tastes differ, of course--

GRACIOSA And is he--?

GUIDO I have a portrait of the Duke. It does not, I think, unduly flatter him.

Will you look at it?

GRACIOSA Yes, yes!

GUIDO (_Drawing out a miniature on a chain._) Here is the likeness.

GRACIOSA But how should you--?

GUIDO (_Seeing her surprise._) Oh, it was a gift to me from his highness for a special service I did him, and as such must be treasured.