In the event of the girl intimating that she is disposed to listen to her _Moroso_ if all goes well, he turns to her parents and formally asks permission to pay his addresses to their daughter. That permission is, of course, not always granted. If the parents have thoughts of a wealthier match, the poor serenader finds himself unceremoniously sent about his business. A sad state of things ensues. Marieta steals many a sorrowful glance at the despised Nane, who, on his side, vents his indignation on the authors of her being in terms much wanting in respect. "When I behold thee so impassioned," he cries, "I curse those who have caused this grief; I curse thy papa and thy mamma, who will not let us make love." No idea is here implied of dispensing with the parental fiat; the same cannot be said of the following observations: "When I pass this house, my heart aches. The girl wills me well, her people will me ill; her people will not hear of it, nor, indeed, will mine. So we have to make love secretly. But that cannot really be done. He who wishes for a girl, goes and asks for her--out of politeness. He who wants to have her, carries her off." It would seem that the maiden has been known to be the first to incite rebellion: Do, my beloved, as other lovers do, Go to my father, and ask leave to woo; And if my father to reply is loth, Come back to me, for thou hast got my troth. When the parents have no _prima facie_ objection to the youth, they set about inquiring whether he bears a good character, and whether the girl has a real liking for him. These two points cleared up satisfactorily, they still defer their final answer for some weeks or months, to make a trial of the suitor and to let the young people get better acquainted. The lover, borne up by hope, but not yet sure of his prize, calls to his aid the most effective songs in his repertory. The last thing at night Marieta hears:-- Sleep thou, most fair, in all security, For I have made me guardian of thy gate, Safe shalt thou be, for I will watch and wait; Sleep thou, most fair, in all security. The first thing in the morning she is greeted thus: Art thou awake, O fairest, dearest, best? Raise thy blond head and bid thy slumbers fly; This is the hour thy lover passes by, Throw him a kiss, and then return to rest. If she has any lurking doubts of Nane's constancy she receives the assurance, "One of these days I will surely make thee my bride--be not so pensive, fairest angel!" If, on the other hand, Nane lacks complete confidence in her affection, he appeals to her in words resembling I know not what Eastern love-song: "Oh, how many steps I have taken to have thee, and how many more I would take to gain thee! I have taken so many, many steps that I think thou wilt not forsake me."