Mortadello

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 !