GIU. (to Marco). The old birds have gone away and left the young chickens together. That's called tact. MAR. It's very awkward. We really ought to tell her how we are situated. It's not fair to the girl. GIU. Then why don't you do it? MAR. I'd rather not—you. GIU. I don't know how to begin. (To Casilda.) Er—Madam—I—we, that is, several of us— CAS. Gentlemen, I am bound to listen to you; but it is right to tell you that, not knowing I was married in infancy, I am over head and ears in love with somebody else. GIU. Our case exactly! We are over head and ears in love with somebody else! (Enter Gianetta and Tessa.) In point of fact, with our wives! CAS. Your wives! Then you are married? TESS. It's not our fault. GIA. We knew nothing about it. BOTH. We are sisters in misfortune. CAS. My good girls, I don't blame you. Only before we go any further we must really arrive at some satisfactory arrangement, or we shall get hopelessly complicated. QUINTET AND FINALE. MARCO, GIUSEPPE, CASILDA, GIANETTA, TESSA. ALL. Here is a case unprecedented! Here are a King and Queen ill-starred! Ever since marriage was first invented Never was known a case so hard! MAR. and I may be said to have been bisected, GIU. By a profound catastrophe! CAS., GIA., Through a calamity unexpected TESS. I am divisible into three! ALL. O moralists all, How can you call Marriage a state of unitee, When excellent husbands are bisected, And wives divisible into three? O moralists all, How can you call Marriage a state of union true? CAS., GIA., One-third of myself is married to half of ye TESS. or you, MAR. and When half of myself has married one-third of ye GIU. or you? (Enter Don Alhambra, followed by Duke, Duchess, and all the Chorus.) FINALE. RECITATIVE—DON ALHAMBRA. Now let the loyal lieges gather round— The Prince's foster-mother has been found! She will declare, to silver clarion's sound, The rightful King—let him forthwith be crowned! CHORUS. She will declare, etc. (Don Alhambra brings forward Inez, the Prince's foster-mother.) TESS. Speak, woman, speak— DUKE. We're all attention! GIA. The news we seek- DUCH. This moment mention. CAS. To us they bring— DON AL. His foster-mother. MAR. Is he the King? GIU. Or this my brother? ALL. Speak, woman, speak, etc. RECITATIVE—INEZ.