olly, jolly, they say,
They say--but I never tried.

Nor shall I ever till they dress their girls
In motley suits, and pair us, to increase
The race of fools. 'Twould be a noble thing,
A motley woman, had she wit enough
To bear the bell. But there's the misery:
You may make princes out of any stuff;
Fools come by nature. She'll make fifty kings--
Good, hearty tyrants, sound, cruel governors--
For one fine fool. There is Paolo, now,
A sweet-faced fellow with a wicked heart--
Talk of a flea, and you begin to scratch.
Lo! here he comes. And there's fierce crook-back's bride
Walking beside him--O, how gingerly!
Take care, my love! that is the very pace
We trip to hell with. Hunchback is away--
That was a fair escape for you; but, then,
The devil's ever with us, and that's worse.
See, the Ravenna giglet, Mistress Ritta,
And melancholy as a cow.--How's this?
I'll step aside, and watch you, pretty folks.
[_Hides behind the bushes._

_Enter_ PAOLO _and_ FRANCESCA, _followed by_ RITTA. _He seats himself
in an arbour, and reads._ RITTA _and_ FRANCESCA _advance._

FRANCESCA. Ritta.

RITTA. My lady.

FRANCESCA. You look tired.

RITTA. I'm not.

FRANCESCA. Go to your chamber.

RITTA. I would rather stay.
If it may please you. I require a walk
And the fresh atmosphere of breathing flowers,
To stir my blood. I am not very well.

FRANCESCA. I knew it, child. Go to your chamber, dear.
Paolo has a book to read to me.

RITTA. What, the romance? I should so love to hear!
I dote on poetry; and Count Paolo
Sweetens the Tuscan with his mellow voice.
I'm weary now, quite weary, and would rest.

FRANCESCA. Just now you wished to walk.

RITTA. Ah! did I so?
Walking or resting, I would stay with you.

FRANCESCA. The Count objects. He told me, yesterday,
That you were restless while he read to me;
And stirred your feet amid the grass, and sighed,
And yawned, until he almost paused.

RITTA. Indeed
I will be quiet.

FRANCESCA. But he will not read.

RITTA. Let me go ask him. [_Runs toward_ PAOLO.

FRANCESCA. Stop! Come hither, Ritta.
[_She returns._]
I saw your new embroidery in the hall,--
The need