Mortadello

88 MORTADELLO ALESSANDRO. I sometimes think we are dead, not knowing it at all ; This solid earth we tread hell’s hated littoral ! Damned beyond hope long since ! MORTADELLO. And how does love support your Fine theory ? ALESSANDRO. Why, prince, the girls inflict the torture. MORTADELLO. Prince ! Then your jest is sharp. You make me out the devil ! ALESSANDRO. No ! Orpheus with his harp to lure us to the level ! Enter LUCREZIA and MONICA. MORTADELLO. Thus far I am with you, the summer rivals Hades. ALESSANDRO. The Church is wiser, too, to leave alone the ladies. LUCREZIA. What, will you hear it said, the husband of a moon ? MORTADELLO. But he has lost his head already. ALESSANDRO. Late in June It went to seek my heart that I had lost in May. LUCREZIA. I wish I had the art to find them both to-day. ALESSANDRO. What would you do with them ? LUCREZIA. Why, throw them to the fish. MONICA, And I’ve got a stratagem to win the wench her wish. ALESSANDRO. You jest ? MONICA. Not I ! MORTADELLO. Indeed, the Princess never smiles. MONICA. You wrong yourself. I need the City of the Isles.