26 
MORTADELLO 
 
EUPHEMIA.  Duck him, and clean his heart. 
MARGARTIA. 
 
Yes, duck him, the low brute. 
MATTEO.  No !  I’ve got a knife.  Let’s mend the matter at the 
root ! 
[ALESSANDRO interposes, and beats off the crowd with 
scabbarded sword. 
ALESSANDRO.  Here now !  What’s this ?  What’s this ? 
MARCO. 
 
My lord, they’ll murder me. 
ALESSANDRO.  Why, Marco ! 
GIUSEPPE. 
My good lord, he’s earning slander’s fee ! 
ALESSANDRO.  But if it should be true ? 
FILIPPO. 
 
It can’t be true.  As well 
You ask me to believe a Moslem miracle ! 
ALESSANDRO.  Thanks, my good friends.  You have done 
exactly as I hope 
You always will, in all the circumstances and scope 
Of falsehood. 
EUPHEMIA. 
’Twas a jest ? 
ALESSANDRO. 
No jest ;  an earnest trial 
Of how you would meet slander. 
MATTEO. 
Discredit and denial 
And vengeance topping it. 
ALESSANDRO. 
 
Well, Marco, here’s the purse 
I promised.  Earn the next by doing—nothing worse ! 
MARCO.  Thank you, my lord.  Now, girls and my good 
friends, away 
And drink the health of Princess Monica !  I pay. 
[The crowd go off, cheering and comforting MARCO. 
ALESSANDRO.  There is our strength, Lucrece, the folk’s blind 
faith in her. 
LUCREZIA.  So may all end in peace !