Mortadello

102 MORTADELLO First I’ll send the cursèd Legate there ! Come on ! [He has seized his sword from an attendant, and rushes out. 1ST MASK. We’ll follow ! ALESSANDRO. Touch him not ; the play’s half played. 2ND MASK. We are his shadows ! ALESSANDRO. Night shall fall. [The men follow MORTADELLO at full speed ZELINA. [Rising.] We are betrayed. Oh, but I’ll save him yet ! I see the pretty plot. I’ll find a finer fantasy ! LUCREZIA. [Rising and unveiling.] No, you shall not ! Here, for the dagger-stroke you struck—this to your heart ! And this across your face for luck—and this for art ! [She stabs her thrice. ZELINA. O devil ! We have slept and waked and played together. LUCREZIA. And now my lust of you is slaked ! Now snaps the tether. Curst whore ! [ZELINA dies. Fair ladies, drink ! move hence at your own peril ! This night is trembling on the brink of stark and sterile Dooms that roar loud ! O laugh ! O sing ! O dance ! I’ll play Strike the guitar with this red steel ! Advance ! Array ! Array yourselves as brides ; these bloody robes are mine. Blood on my breasts ! Storm rides at last the Apennine ! Bend yourselves ! Swing you with the blast ! The raging revel Bring all of us, yea, all, at last, to dare the devil !