Politian Act 1 Scene 1

An apartment in the Palazzo of Di Broglio. Traces of a protracted revel. On a wine-table some candles burnt to the socket. Masks, a lute, a lady’s slipper, cards and broken bottles are strewn about the floor and on the table. Enter BENITO meeting UGO intoxicated.

UGO. Oh! is that you Benito (hiccup) are they gone?

BENITO. Faith that’s a question, Ugo, hard to answer,
But are the bottles empty?—then they’re gone.
As for the Count San Ozzo who knocked me down
Just now on the staircase as I came up hither,
I can with more precision speak of him—
He’s gone, I’m sure of that—pretty far gone.

UGO. Is the bravo gone? (hiccup) where is the buffo-singer?
Did you say his Excellency had departed?
Are all the fiddlers off (hiccup) the devil go with them!
I’m positively stupid for want of sleep!

BENITO (eyeing him.) Oh you are right—quite right—being as you say
Ugo, a most confounded stupid man.

UGO. Sirrah! I said not so, or else I (hiccup) lied.

BENITO. I have no doubt, good Ugo, that you lied
Being, as you observe, a most notorious liar—
(Ugo sits, and helps himself to wine. Enter RUPERT.)
Well, master Rupert what have you done with the count?

RUPERT. What should I do with any drunken man?
I pulled him from under the table where he lay
And tumbled him into bed.

BENITO. I say, good Rupert!
Can it be the Duke di Broglio is acquainted
With these untimely revels of his son?
It is a pity in so proper a man
Is’t not a pity in so young a man
And of so gentle blood? Here is a change
I had not look’d to see—he is sadly altered!

UGO. He is drunk, Benito, — did you not say so, Rupert?
Most men are sadly altered when they’re drunk
Oh, I am sadly altered when I’m (hiccup) drunk.

RUPERT (to BENITO.) You think the Count Castiglione altered—
I think so too. He was, not long ago,
Barring some trivial improprieties,
A very nobleman in heart and deed.

BENITO. Now I’ve no faith in him, poor Lady Lalage!
So beautiful and kind.

RUPERT. Truly Benito
His conduct there has damned him in my eyes.
O villain! villain! she his plighted wife
And his own father’s ward. I have noticed well
That we may date his ruin—so I call it—
His low debaucheries—his gambling habits
And all his numerous vices from the time
Of that most base seduction and abandonment.

BENITO. We may: the sin sits heavy on his soul
And goads him to these courses. They say the Duke
Pardons his son, but is most wroth with her
And treats her with such marked severity
As humbles her to the dust.

RUPERT. She sits alone
Continually in her chamber with clasped hands
(Jacinta tells me this).

BENITO. Ah Noble lady!
I saw her yester eve thro’ the lattice-work
Of her chamber-window sobbing upon her knees
And ever and anon amid her sobs
She murmured forth Castiglione’s name
Rupert, she loves him still!

RUPERT. How will she bear
Think you, the consummation of these nuptials?
Tomorrow week are they not?

BENITO. Most true! they are.
Tomorrow week Castiglione weds
His cousin Alessandra. She was the friend
The bosom friend of the fair lady Lalage
Ere this mischance. I cannot bear to think
On the despair of the young lady Lalage.

UGO. This wine’s not bad! gentlemen why d’ye blame
My master in this matter? very good (hiccup) wine!
Who is my lady Lalage? God knows!
I don’t, a super(hiccup)ciliary somebody
Who play’d on the guitar! most excellent wine!
And pride should have a fall. The count’s a rake
Or was, that very sure, but he’s reforming
And drinks none but the very (hiccup!) best of wine.

RUPERT. Let us to bed! the man is steeped in liquor.
(to BENITO.) Come let us to bed (Exeunt RUPERT and BENITO.)

UGO (arousing.) What did they say? to bed!
Is it so late? is it all gone? very well!
I will to bed anon (Enter JACINTA) ah! bless my eyes!
Jacinta! is it you?

JACINTA. Why, yes it is
And yet it isn’t, Ugo, there’s a riddle!
I was Jacinta yesternight, but now
Madam Jacinta if you please, Sir Ugo!

UGO. Sweetheart, I fear me (hiccup!) very much (hiccup!) that you
Have been at the bottle—a pretty madam truly!

JACINTA. You may well say that Sir Ugo—very pretty!
At all events the Count Castiglione
Tells me I’m pretty—drunken dolt look here! (Showing some jewels)

UGO. (Hiccup!) where?

JACINTA. Here!—look here!

UGO. Jacinta! (hiccup!) why, Jacinta!
You do not mean to say the count my master
Gave you those jewels!

JACINTA. What if he did friend Ugo?
What if he did?

UGO. Look here!—I’ll take my oath
I saw that very ring upon the finger
The middle—the fore—no on the little finger
Of the Count. I’m (hiccup!) done with You Jacinta!
O you vile wretch! I’ll (hiccup!) not have you Jacinta!
I’m in despair! I’ll (hiccup!) do some desperate deed!
I’m desperate!

JACINTA. You’re drunk!

UGO. I’m going to cut—

JACINTA. Your throat! O Heaven!

UGO. To cut you altogether!
I’m gone Jacinta. (going.)

JACINTA (pulling him back.) Stop! you snivelling fool!
Will you not see the jewels—look you here!
This broach—these pearls—these rubies—don’t you see?

UGO (sulkily.) I see.

JACINTA. These emeralds and this topaz!—won’t you see?

UGO. I see.

JACINTA. You see! you see! can I get nothing more
Out of your ugly mouth but “I see, I see”?—
Dolt I’m not sure you see—or if you see
You certainly see double. Here’s a cross
A cross of rubies, you oaf! a cross of rubies!
D’ye hear—a cross which never cost a zecchin
Less than five thousand crowns!

UGO. I see, oh I (hiccup!) see it all. (looking knowing.)

JACINTA. You see it all!
You do not see it all. Heaven grant me patience!
You do not see it all (mocking him) you do not see
That I’m the richest waiting maid in Rome
The richest vintner’s daughter owning these jewels!
You do not see, I say, that my mistress Lalage
Who gave them to me, d’ye hear? who gave them to me
As a free gift, and for a marriage present
(All of her jewels!—every one of them!)
Is certainly gone mad!

UGO. The lady Lalage
Gave you the jewels! How (hiccup!) came you by the ring?

UGO. The lady Lalage
Gave you the jewels! How (hiccup!) came you by the ring?

JACINTA. The count Castiglione, your sweet master
Gave it her as a token of his love
Last year—she gave it to me—d’ye see?

UGO. Jacinta! (with a leer.)

JACINTA! Ugo! (returning it.)

UGO. What dear Jacinta?

JACINTA. Do you see?

UGO. Oh, nonsense, sweet Jacinta, let me look
Again (hiccup!) at the jewels!

JACINTA. D’ye see?

UGO. Pshaw!—let me look!

JACINTA. D’ye see? (going and holding up the jewels.)

UGO. Sweet, dear, Jacinta! madame Jacinta.

JACINTA. Oh I see. (Puts them up and exit followed by UGO staggering.)