100 
MORTADELLO 
 
My passion’s lime in love and crime ;  I hiss, the snake 
Of the mad earth, I writhe in mirth, I fix my fangs 
In the red eye of the Most High, the orb that hangs 
So high, so fierce—my poisons pierce, my cold gray lips 
Climb, cling, and close, devour the rose in black eclipse. 
MORTADELLO.  Ah !  what a dance and what a song ! 
ALESSANDRO. 
 
These desert girls 
Show all their hideously hot hearts in the whirls 
That make us drunk. 
MORTADELLO. 
Oh !  let us drink ! 
ZELINA. 
 
Pass round the wine ! 
I have a fear, a fret. 
MORTADELLO. 
O damnably divine ! 
MONICA.  Will my lord taste the desert drug ?  One grain’s 
enough 
For all unchaste perverse fantastic dreams of love. 
All the black bliss that crime contains, subtly obscene, 
Lurks in its kiss.  O bowers of bronze !  O glades of 
green ! 
O Gods and Jinn that hide within the honied bead ! 
All pride and prize of all life lies within one seed. 
Take it and wish !  I swear the word shall be fulfilled ! 
 
 
 
[She offers the hashish potion. 
MORTADELLO.  Then this dog’s life of man and wife—— 
1ST MASK. 
 
Oh, strife be stilled ! 
2ND MASK.  My lord, consider. 
MORTADELLO. 
What ?  Who beards me, balks me ? 
ALESSANDRO. 
 
I 
Beseech your Highness. 
MORTADELLO. 
Well ! 
MONICA. 
Oh let me prophesy !