COUNT. I cannot tell how long we strove before Our horses fell beneath us; down we went Crush’d, hack’d at, trampled underfoot. The night, As some cold-manner’d friend may strangely do us The truest service, had a touch of frost That help’d to check the flowing of the blood. My last sight ere I swoon’d was one sweet face Crown’d with the wreath. _That_ seem’d to come and go. They left us there for dead! ELISABETTA. Hear that, my lady! FILIPPO. Ay, and I left two fingers there for dead. See, my lady! (_Showing his hand_). LADY GIOVANNA. I see, Filippo! FILIPPO. And I have small hope of the gentleman gout in my great toe. LADY GIOVANNA. And why, Filippo? [_Smiling absently._ FILIPPO. I left him there for dead too! ELISABETTA. She smiles at him—how hard the woman is! My lady, if your ladyship were not Too proud to look upon the garland, you Would find it stain’d—— COUNT (_rising_). Silence, Elisabetta! ELISABETTA. Stain’d with the blood of the best heart that ever Beat for one woman. [_Points to wreath on chair._ LADY GIOVANNA (_rising slowly_). I can eat no more! COUNT. You have but trifled with our homely salad, But dallied with a single lettuce-leaf; Not eaten anything. LADY GIOVANNA. Nay, nay, I cannot. You know, my lord, I told you I was troubled. My one child Florio lying still so sick, I bound myself, and by a solemn vow, That I would touch no flesh till he were well Here, or else well in Heaven, where all is well. [_ELISABETTA clears table of bird and salad: FILIPPO snatches up the plate of prunes and holds them to LADY GIOVANNA._ FILIPPO. But the prunes, my lady, from the tree that his lordship—— LADY GIOVANNA. Not now, Filippo. My lord Federigo, Can I not speak with you once more alone? COUNT. You hear, Filippo? My good fellow, go! FILIPPO. But the prunes that your lordship—— ELISABETTA. Filippo! COUNT. Ay, prune our company of thine own and go! ELISABETTA. Filippo! FILIPPO (_turning_). Well, well! the women! [_Exit._ COUNT. And thou too leave us, my dear nurse, alone. ELISABETTA (_folding up cloth and going_). And me too! Ay, the dear nurse will leave you alone; but, for all that, she that has eaten the yolk is scarce like to swallow the shell.