Mortadello

OR, THE ANGEL OF VENICE 73 3RD VOICE. If your gargoyle spout Truth, show us the Princess ! 1ST VOICE. Ay, bring her out ! ALL. Bring her out ! ALESSANDRO. Hush, friends. That’s not so mad. Come, Governor, these folk Are not so bad at heart—but they can’t see a joke ! 1ST VOICE. Devil a joke ! The angel murdered in her cell ! 2ND VOICE. The martyred maiden ! 3RD VOICE. Angel of Venice ! ALESSANDRO. Ding, dong, bell ! Shut up the rattle-shop, it’s Mass-time ! Now—you will ? There—he’s a fine old boy ! GOVERNOR. Oh, keep the people still ! I’ll bring her to the window. [He goes. ALESSANDRO. Ho ! three cheers for her And three more for the good old Governor ! [The crowd cheer lustily. Now, friends, we look to see our virgin lily-bloom From its shy nook expend its infinite perfume. We are like birds that wait the whisper of the wind Whose April words are earnest of the May behind. We are like choirs of angels that wait seven by seven What time aspires and assumes the Virgin to his Heaven God ! We are—oh ! I feel her presence permeate The air like snow, far snow, far snow from heaven’s gate That falls on distant mountains, carried as the breeze Fans faintly through the fountains, married to all ease. O saintly and haloes head ! O source of ecstasy. Hope of inherited heaven and bliss to be ! She comes ! I feel it in my soul ! I flush, I faint—