OR, THE ANGEL OF VENICE 
101 
 
I see the bond that clogs, the fetter link that galls, 
Dissolved in the sharp drink—it rusts, and rots, and falls. 
 
 
 [MORTADELLO drinks the hashish potion. 
MORTADELLO.  Thanks girl !  Here, take this pearl ! 
MONICA. 
 
A pearl !  A pearl of price ! 
MORTADELLO.  In my wife’s ear it hung ! 
MONICA. 
 
O stately sacrifice ! 
This will make history.  Now drink my lord, I’ll show 
By desert gramayre the thing that you would know. 
 
 
 
[MORTADELLO drinks again. 
Shut but your eyes :  and where she is, and what she 
does 
Your very eyes, I swear, shall see. 
MORTADELLO. 
Calamitous ! 
My brain turns. 
MONICA. 
It shall clear.  By Fatima’s holy hand. 
O Monica, appear !  I, it is I, command ! 
 
 
 
[She drops the veil from her face. 
Stare, murderer, stare your eyes out !  Let them start 
From your pale face, despair through all your dastard 
heart. 
Yes, I have won, I have won !  Black bastardy of fear ! 
My auguries are done, my vengeance drawing near 
Is at your throat.  I will be gone.  ’Tis here !  ’Tis here ! 
 
 
 
[She disappears. 
MORTADELLO.  God !  God !  I’m poisoned.  Stop the fiend ! 
Arrest her, friends ! 
All my wealth for a leech !  So Mortadello ends ! 
No !  Jesus !  up and out !  By God !  I’ll kill her first, 
Though all my blood is boiling and my bowels burst ! 
Give me my sword !  If I must go to hell, I swear