[Rushing to her.] Ah, Beatrice!

BEA. Nay, touch me not yet.
I will return. [She laughs like a child.] Why,--'tis a simple matter!
I wonder now that even for a moment
I held myself so dear! When for her sake
All things are little things!--This foolish body,
This body is not I! There is no I,
Saving the need I have to go to her!

Scene 4

[A room at Lagoverde. Bianca lying in bed, ill to death. The children
clinging to the bed, their nurse trying to draw them away, Giulietta
a maid, in the background. Possibly other attendants about.]

LITTLE ROSE-RED. Tell us a story, mother!

NURSE. Come away, now!

LITTLE SNOW-WHITE. Tell us a story!

BIA. Do you go away with nurse
A little while. You will bring them back to me
Later?

NURSE. [Weeping.] Ay, madam.

[She goes out with the children.]

BIA. Later--not much later,
I think.--Hear you no sound of horses yet,
Giulietta, galloping this way?

GIU. Nay, not yet.

BIA. [To herself.] I will not go until she comes. I will not.
Still,--if I should--Giulietta!

GIU. [Coming quickly to the bed.] Ay, my mistress!

BIA. She will come, I tell you!

GIU. Ay, I doubt it not.

BIA. Ay, she will come. But if she should come late,
And I no longer be here to receive her,
Show her all courtesy, I conjure you.
She will be weary, and mightily distraught.
Make her take wine,--and bring the children to her.
And tell her, they are hers now. She is their mother.

[Giulietta starts to go back to the window.]

And say to her--wait!--I have a message for her.
Say to her this, Giulietta: The foot stumbles,
The hand hath its own awkward way; the tongue
Moves foolishly in the mouth; but in the heart
The truth lies,--and all's well 'twixt her and me.
Can you remember that?

GIU. Ay, madam, I think so.
If not the words, at least the gist of it.

BIA. Forget it all, my good child, but forget not:
All's well 'twixt her and me.

GIU. Nay, that I have.

BIA. I will sleep now a little. Do you leave me.
But go not far. [She lies still for a moment, then starts up.]
I hear the sound of hoof-beats!

GIU. Nay, madam.

BIA. Ay, I tell you! I can hear them!
My face upon the pillow brings my ear
Nearer the ground! She is coming! Open the door!

[She kneels up in bed and holds out her arms towards the door,
maintaining this position till