Mortadello

6 MORTADELLO But as mills give no flour unless we put some grist in, I ask you what her power and eminence consist in. LUCREZIA. Oh ! she has all the love that common folk can give her. ALESSANDRO. It’s rain from heaven above that goes to make a river. LUCREZIA. Springs swell it. ALESSANDRO. True. LUCREZIA. Beside she has wealth and rank. ALESSANDRO. Mere foam. LUCREZIA. But foam upon the tide of her prestige at Rome. Niece of a pope, adored already as a saint. ALESSANDRO. That’s something like a sword ! LORENZO. And yet her followers faint. LUCREZIA. Ah ! there’s a fear abroad, a bilboes of con- straint The irons are not rusted that hold our folk in fee ; And Mortadello’s trusted—the trusted of the Three. ALESSANDRO. Well, I am freedom’s friend : my sword is idle long. When I am wanted, send. LUCREZIA. God keep your purpose strong. But what a blistering night ! ZELINA. I stifle. LORENZO. Is there wind, Should we row seaward ? LUCREZIA. Light. ALESSANDRO. We’ll try it. Can you find A gondola ? LUCREZIA. There’s one in the shadow. ALESSANDRO. Gondolier !