Mortadello

OR, THE ANGEL OF VENICE 105 SCENE V. The Palace of the Doge. The Throne-room. MONICA—ALESSANDRO—LUCREZIA. A distant bell, the Great Bell of St. Mark’s, still tolls. MONICA. Embrace me ! Here we stand at the cross-roads of Fate. Enlace me ! hand in, hand what ardours we await ! The merry play is played, the comedy that Pan On very Ida made, the comedy of man ! LUCREZIA. I gave her steel to twist and writhe herself upon. MONICA. One flicker of my wrist, and his black soul was gone. ALESSANDRO. I have done nothing yet. MONICA. Oh, you have laughed ! The key. The secret coronet of all the comedy ! ALESSANDRO. Yes : it is only now when I am sure we win, Wreathing each beaming brow with the reward of sin, That in my heart there seems the echo of a sigh. Delight dissolves the dreams desire had set on high ! MONICA. Oh, we shall find fresh food. True wit is never stale. Trust me, my merry mood. LUCREZIA. Provided we prevail. Can Venice be deceived ? ALESSANDRO. Could all the angel choirs Make any truth believed ? MONICA. Man thinks as he desires. And all men being blind and deaf—— ALESSANDRO. It follows then That women will not find much trouble from the men.