The game of tender intimacy. THE ARCHDUCHESS. I fear your eyes to-night--! THE DUKE. But I love yours! THE ARCHDUCHESS. Ah, now I see! As all the court is masked, Even friendship wears the domino of love. THE DUKE. Oh friendship--auntie with a cousin's eyes-- Friendship and love are always much too near 'Twixt aunts and nephews, god-sons and god-mothers-- Oh! do but smell the fragrance of the lindens!-- 'Twixt pretty chocolate-girls and officers, And frontier incidents are bound to happen. THE ARCHDUCHESS. Our friendship's lost its bloom. THE DUKE. I dearly love This sentiment one cannot understand, Where all's confused and mingled-- THE ARCHDUCHESS. No, let be. [_She moves away._] THE DUKE. Oh, if you put on airs of an Archduchess--! THE ARCHDUCHESS. Farewell; you've pained me deeply, Franz. [_She goes._] THE DUKE. Ah, bah! Into our friendship I let fall a drop, And friendship turns to troubled love. I'll wait. [_He sees_ THERESA.] Why! What is this? How comes it you are here? So you're not hastening toward the skies of Parma? And all this grass? What are you? THERESA. "Little Brooklet." THE DUKE. Ah, yes, I know. An exile on his rock, My father had a brooklet for his friend To drown the gaoler's voice, and that is why At Schönbrunn, which is my Saint Helena, My soul must not be left deprived of comfort. Having the gaoler I've the brooklet too. THERESA. But you will never stoop to look at me. THE DUKE. Because I dreamed of flying from my rock; But that's all over. THERESA. How? THE DUKE. All hope is gone. I wake from dreams. THERESA. You suffer? THE DUKE. Little Brooklet Must give her murmuring freshness. THERESA. Here it is. THE DUKE. What if I trouble its waters? THERESA. Trouble them. THE DUKE. Come to the little house among the trees-- My hunting lodge--to-night! THERESA. I am to come--! THE DUKE. Say neither yes nor no.--I'll wait-- THERESA. Alas! THE DUKE. Think how unhappy I shall henceforth be! I've lost all hope of playing a great part; I can but weep; I need a heart to weep on. Away! A MASK. [_Seeing a stout lady dressed as a shepherdess._] That shepherdess has eaten her flock! THE BEAR. If you'll but love me-- THE CHINESE WOMAN. You will sell your skin? A DOMINO. [_Passing on_ GENTZ'S _arm_.] The Viscount's here as Doge in grand dalmatic. GENTZ. Then is the Baroness the Adriatic. THE DUKE. [_Who has scribbled a note; to a_ LACKEY.]