Emilia Galotti. Odoardo _and_ \ > _parents of_ Emilia. Claudia Galotti, / Hettore Gonzaga, _Prince of Guastalla_. Marinelli, _the Prince's Chamberlain_. Camillo Rota, _one of the Prince's Councillors_. Conti, _an artist_. Count Appiani. Angelo, _a bandit_. Pirro _and sundry servants_. EMILIA GALOTTI. ACT I. Scene I.--_The Prince's Cabinet_. _The_ Prince, _seated at a desk, which is covered with papers_. PRINCE. Complaints; nothing but complaints! Petitions; nothing but petitions! Wretched employment! And yet we are envied! To be sure, if we could relieve every one, we might indeed be envied. Emilia? (_opening a petition, and looking at the signature_.) An Emilia? Yes--but an Emilia Bruneschi--not Galotti. Not Emilia Galotti. What does she want, this Emilia Bruneschi? (_Reads_) She asks much--too much. But her name is Emilia. It is granted (_signs the paper, and rings_). _Enter a_ Servant. PRINCE. Are any of the Councillors in the antechamber? SERVANT. No, your Highness. PRINCE. I have begun the day too early. The morning is so beautiful, I will take a drive. The Marquis Marinelli shall accompany me. Let him be called. (_Exit_ Servant.) I can attend to nothing more. I was so happy--delightful thought! so happy--when all at once this wretched Bruneschi must be named Emilia. Now all my peace is fled. _Re-enter the_ Servant, _bringing a note_. SERVANT. The Marquis has been sent for; and here is a letter from the Countess Orsina. PRINCE. The Countess Orsina? Put it down. SERVANT. Her courier waits. PRINCE. I will send an answer if necessary. Where is she, in town, or at her villa? SERVANT. She arrived in town yesterday. PRINCE. So much the worse--the better, I mean. There is less reason for the messenger to wait. (_Exit_ Servant.) My dear Countess! (_with sarcasm, as he takes up the letter_) as good as read (_throwing it down again_). Well, well, I fancied I loved her--one may fancy anything. It may be that I really did love her. But--I did. _Re-enter_ Servant. SERVANT. The painter Conti requests the honour---- PRINCE. Conti? Good! admit him. That will change the current of my thoughts (_rising_). Scene II. Conti, _The_ Prince. PRINCE. Good morning, Conti. How goes it with you? How does art thrive?