Читать книгу Borgia - Michael Field E. - Страница 16

She has not seen him, blond and beautiful.

A churchman! You may look with candlelight

To find his tonsure. Even my dear Giovanni

Is only half a prince, his brother by,

Although a rare one in his splendid right.

And as for mode and elegance all know

Our youthful Cardinal is just a gallant

Most Frenchified in form.

Well, well, well! I am dreaming:

Poetry, you call my dreams....

This pleasant marriage

Of Don Alfonso and my Donna Lucrece

Will make us jaunty in the Vatican.

My pearls!—

You watch them through my fingers—lucent lumps;

This pear-shaped ovule heavy with its light;

The pearls and pearlets dropping

With patters loud and soft together—listen!

My daughter will have more and lovelier pearls

Than any woman in the greedy world.

Would you have sight of one large coffer filled,

This emulates?

[Rising]. There is the treasury door, There the Lord Casanova, full of winks At voices from the cave.

Enter Monsignore Gaspare Poto.