_Fulvia_. No need. Her fingering mind Is a close cupboard turning all things rancid. _Lucio_. Yea, for such wry-necks all the world's a lawn To peek and peer and pounce a sinful worm; The fatter, the more luscious. _Regent. _ Lucio, This woman nought gainsays. _Fulvia (fiercely)._ As why should I? I'll question not, nor answer. 'Neath your brow My sentence hunches, crawls, like cat to spring. Pah! there's no prude will match your virtuous wife You'd banish me? _Regent._ I do. Cesario, See to it the City gate shuts not to-night. And she this side. _Fulvia (laughs recklessly)._ To-night? To-night's your own. Most modest woman! Duchess, there's a well By the road, some seven miles beyond the town. There, 'neath the stars, I'll dip a hand and drink To the good Duke's disport. But have a care! That cup's not yet to lip. _Regent. _ Captain, remove her. Lucio, remain. _[Exeunt the Countess Fulvia, Cesario following]_ _Lucio._ I'll not remain--When ice Sits judge of fire, what justice shall be done? Sister, there be your books--peruse them. There The sea-line--bide you so with back to it. While the cold inward heat of cruelty Warms what was once your heart, now crusted o'er With duty and slimed with poisonous drip of tongues. God help the Duke, if what he left he'd find! _[Exit Lucio]_ _Regent._ Is't so, I wonder? Go, Lucetta, fetch My glass, if haply I may tell. _[Exit Lucetta.]_ Is't so? And have these years enforced, encrusted me To something monstrous, neither woman nor man? My lord, my lord! too heavy was the load You laid! Yet I'll not blame you: for myself Ruled the straight path the long account correct As in these books, my ledgers.... [_While she turns the pages, Gamba the Fool creeps in and hoists himself on the balustrade. He tries his viol, and sings_. SONG: _Gamba_. Bird of the South, my Rondinello-- _Regent_. Hey? That Song! _Gamba_. Hie to me, fly to me, steel-blue mate! Under my breast-knot flutters thy fellow; Here can I rest not, and thou so late. Home, to me, home! 'Love, love, I come!' --Dear one, I wait! _Quanno nacesti tu, nacqui pur io: La lundananza tua, 'l desiderio mio_! You know the song, madonna? _Regent_. Ay, fool. Sit Here at my feet, sing on. _Gamba (sings)._