Mortadello

70 MORTADELLO I want to bathe—I want to doff my flesh and skin, And soak my sultry bones in water to the chin. And here I’m tied by the leg ! Where have you been to-day ? ALESSANDRO. I wasted half an hour, I am ashamed to say, With an astrologer—who by his art infers A most unlucky day for the prison governors ! GOVERNOR. Oh God, yes ! Hear that noise ? ALESSANDRO. No. What ? that murmuring ? GOVERNOR. That’s a crowd somewhere. ALESSANDRO. Yes ? GOVERNOR. There’ll be more rioting. I wonder what about. ALESSANDRO. I really can’t conceive Why, in this weather, too, folks aren’t content to leave Things quiet. GOVERNOR. Well, they won’t. Look, here’s a lunatic ! Christ ! with a lamb smeared red to wave on a long stick ! Enter on canal a gondola, with a man on its bow waving a flag. THE GONDOLIER. The martyred maiden ! Men of Venice, mark me well ! The Angel of the City’s murdered in her cell ! [The gondola hastens onward. GOVERNOR. What next ? The fools ! I wish I knew why it’s allowed. I’d string the devils up in a row ! ALESSANDRO. Here comes the crowd ! GOVERNOR. So much for bathing ! Off, my Sandro, or they’ll skin you ! I must give orders. [He retires hastily from the window.