The Prologue
(Enter the Announcer)
Announcer: Two households of equal rank dwell in beautiful Veranda, where our drama is set. Ancient grudges have given way to new fighting, with fresh blood staining both their hands. From these families are born star-crossed lovers, whose misadventures lead to their tragic deaths, and the end of their families' feud.
The story of their doomed love, and the escalation of their parents' quarrel, which could only end with their deaths, is the subject of our drama.
Part One: The First Bit
Enter Stanza and Georgie, two Van Saar gang fighters. In accordance with the laws of Veranda, they are armed only with "ornamental" swords, and wear the colors of the Catalene family.
Stanza: I swear, Georgie, we won't do their dirty work.
Georgie: No, or we may as well be slag miners.
Stanza: I mean, if they start something, we'll fight.
Georgie: Right, but let's not go looking for trouble.
Stanza: I'll strike quickly, if they deserve it.
Georgie: At least you are not easily provoked.
Stanza: Those Murgata dogs always get me going.
Georgie: Going means moving, and being valiant means standing firm. If you are going, then you are moving away.
Stanza: A dog of that family will move me to stand my ground. I'll not move from the wall for any man or woman from that house!
Georgie: That just proves how weak you are, for the weakest always hug the walls for support.
Stanza: That is true. Women allow themselves to be backed against walls. I'll show them a real man! I'll shove the Murgata men into the streets, and force their women to the walls.
Georgie: But this quarrel is only between the Guilders themselves and us, their fighters.
Stanza: It's all the same. I'll make a name for myself! Once I've killed all their men, I'll take all their maids. Well, their heads anyway.
Georgie: The heads of the maids?
Stanza: Yeah, the heads of the maids. Or their maidenheads. Take it how you will.
Georgie: They must take it how they feel it.
Stanza: They will feel me for as long as I am able! And I'm well known for my endurance.
Georgie: Only among us Van Saar. Draw your sword! Here come two of Murgata's Orlocks.
(Altaran and Belthar enter)
Stanza: My naked blade is out. Pick a fight, and I'll back you up.
Georgie: How? By turning your back and running?
Stanza: Don't worry about me!
Georgie: It's me I'm worried about!
Stanza: Make sure we have the law on our side. Let them start things.
Georgie: I'll glare at them as we pass. They can take it however they want.
Stanza: No, as they dare. I'll thumb my nose at them. They'll lose face if they put up with that.
Altaran: Did you thumb your nose at us...sir?
Stanza: I did thumb my nose...sir.
Altaran: Did you thumb your nose at us...sir?
Stanza: Is the law on our side if I say yes?
Georgie: No.
Stanza: No...sir. I didn't thumb my nose at you...sir. But I did thumb my nose.
Georgie: Are you looking for trouble? Sir?
Altaran: Trouble, sir? No, sir.
Stanza: Because if you are...sir...I'm ready for you. I serve a master as good as you.
Altaran: No better?
Stanza: Wait a sec...
(Enter Benedan)
Georgie: Say "better". Here comes one of our master's relatives.
Stanza: Right. Better...sir!
Altaran: You liar!
Stanza: Then draw your weapons, if you consider yourself real men. Georgie, remember your slashing attack.
(They fight)
Benedan: Break it up! You fools don't know what you're doing!
(Tybelle enters)
Tybelle: What? Are you fighting with our hired guns? Turn, Benedan, and face your death!
Benedan: I'm only trying to keep the peace! Sheath your sword, or use it to help me separate these idiots!
Tybelle: What? You talk about peace with a drawn sword? I hate the word as much as I hate Hell, all Murgatas, and you! Take this, coward!
(They fight.)
(A group of Citizens and a Judge armed with clubs enter.)
Judge: Use your clubs! Get them! Beat them down!
Citizens: Down with the Catalenes! Down with the Murgatas!
(Guilder Catalene and Lady Catalene enter)
Catalene: What's going on here? You, get me my power sword!
Lady Catalene: What you need is a crutch! A crutch! Why do you ask for a sword?
Catalene: Get me my sword! Murgata is here, provoking me with his drawn sword!
(Murgata and Lady Murgata enter)
Murgata: You bastard, Catalene! Don't restrain me! Let me go!
Lady Murgata: You won't take one step towards an enemy!
(Guilder Prince Engardus enters with a guard of Adeptus Arbites)
Engardus: Rebels! Peace-breakers! Proven guilty by your neighbor's blood upon your weapons! What, are they deaf? You there! You animals! Are you trying to quench your anger with the blood pouring from your own veins? On pain of torture, open your bloody hands and drop those weapons! Listen to my judgment! Three times the peace of our streets has been broken by brawls caused by comments made by either Catalene or Murgata! Even our eldest citizens have taken up weapons as old as they are to take sides in your ancient feud. If you ever disturb these streets again, it will cost you your lives. For now, everyone just go home. You, Catalene, will come with me. You, Murgata, must come to my Guildhall this afternoon to hear my judgment. For the last time, on pain of death, you must disperse!
(Everyone leaves except Murgata, Lady Murgata, and Benedan)
Murgata: Who started this old quarrel up again? Tell me, nephew, where you here when it began?
Benedan: Your enemy's Van Saar were fighting hand-to-hand with our Orlocks before I got here. I drew my weapon to split them up, but at that exact moment, that hothead Tybelle showed up with her weapon already drawn. She swung her sword around, shouting curses at me. Her blade only cut the air, which made fun of her since she couldn't hurt it. While we were fighting, others kept joining in until the prince came and separated everyone.
Lady Murgata: Where is Rovero? Have you seen him today? I am glad he was not involved in this altercation.
Benedan: Madam, an hour before sunrise, I took a walk to ease my troubled mind. In the gardens on the west side of the dome I saw your son. I walked towards him, but he spotted me and disappeared into the greenery. I figured that he felt as I did, and wanted to be alone. Since I felt that my own company was one person too many, I decided to indulge my own desires by not pursuing him. I gladly ignored him since he ignored me.
Murgata: He's been seen there often, watering the gardens with his tears and thickening the air with his heavy sighs. But once the sun rises, he avoids the light by hiding at home. He locks himself in his room, turning out all the lights and creating an artificial night for himself. His mood is black and may lead to disaster, unless some good advice can fix him.
Benedan: Noble uncle, do you know the reason for his behavior?
Murgata: I don't know, and he will not confide it to me.
Benedan: Have you asked him directly about it?
Murgata: I have, and so have many others. But he is so withdrawn that he talks with no one but himself. I'm afraid he may wither before he has a chance to truly grow. If only we could figure out why he is so gloomy, I would gladly fix him.
(Enter Rovero)
Benedan: Look, here he comes. If you would step aside, I'll find out what's the matter no matter how much he tries to hide it.
Murgata: I hope your efforts reward you with the truth. Come, my lady, let's go home.
(Murgata and Lady Murgata leave)
Benedan: Good morning, cousin.
Rovero: Is the day so new?
Benedan: Newly turned nine.
Rovero: Oh. Sad hours last even longer. Was that my father who just hurried off?
Benedan: It was. But what is this sadness that makes your hours seem so long?
Rovero: I don't have the one thing which would make the hours seem too short.
Benedan: Are you in love?
Rovero: Out...
Benedan: Of love?
Rovero: Out of favor with the one I love.
Benedan: It's too bad that love looks so gentle, but is really just a source of heartache.
Rovero: Even though love is blind, it can still see how to work it's mischief. Now where shall we have dinner? What is this? Was there a fight here? Don't tell me, for I'm sure I've heard it all. This has a lot to do with hate, but more with love. Oh fighting love, and loving hate! Something created out of nothing! Like somber joy and serious fun, the perversion of perfection! Feathers of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health, and wakeful sleep that isn't what it is! This love I feel that doesn't feel love! Can you do anything but laugh?
Benedan: No cousin, I weep.
Rovero: What for, my friend?
Benedan: For your heartache.
Rovero: It is what love does to us. My own grief weighs on my heart, but now you have added yours to it as well. This love you've shown me adds more grief to what is already overflowing in me. Love is a smoke made from the gathering of sighs. When it's purged, it's a twinkle in lovers' eyes. When it's angry, it's a sea made of lovers' tears. What else is it? A hidden madness, a choking bitterness, a preserving sweet. Farewell, cousin.
Benedan: Just a moment, I'll go with you. It's wrong for you to just leave me like this.
Rovero: Huh. I'm not myself. I'm not here. This isn't Rovero, he's somewhere else.
Benedan: Tell me in sadness who you love.
Rovero: What, do you want me to moan it to you?
Benedan: Moan it? Well, no, but sadly tell me her name.
Rovero: Would you ask a dying man to make his will in despair? Bad advice to someone who is so ill. In sadness, cousin, I'm in love with a woman.
Benedan: I sort of spotted that when you said you were in love.
Rovero: A good eye, then! And the one I love is beautiful.
Benedan: An eye-catching target is soonest hit.
Rovero: Well, you missed that time. She's not such an easy mark. She's wise beyond reason, and so protected by her virtue that no one can scratch her armor. She's immune to sweet talk, invulnerable to loving looks, and incorruptible by the mounds of gold it would take to seduce a saint. She is rich in beauty, and only poor because when she dies, her beauty will die with her.
Benedan: She has sworn to never get married?
Rovero: She has, and by saving herself like that she makes a huge waste. By starving herself of love, she cuts her beauty off from further generations. She is too fair, too wise, and it's unfair for her to achieve bliss by making me despair. She has forsworn love, and because of that I live like the dead, existing only to tell the story.
Benedan: Listen to me, forget to think about her.
Rovero: Can you teach me how to forget to think about her?
Benedan: Let your eyes wander. Look at all the other beautiful girls.
Rovero: That would only make her more beautiful. The veils the noble ladies wear make us dream of the beauty that hides underneath. A blinded man can never forget the value of his lost vision. Go ahead, show me a beautiful lady. What good is her beauty, except to remind me of the one who is loveliest of all? Goodbye. You cannot teach me to forget.
Benedan: I will, or I'll die trying!
(They both leave)
Part One – The Second Bit
(A street in Veranda. Catalene, Count Spira, and one of Catalene's servants enter)
Catalene: But Murgata's hands are tied as well as mine, and with the same penalties. It shouldn't be hard, I think, for two men as old as us to keep the peace.
Spira: You both have honorable reputations, and it's a pity you have hated each other for so long. But I would rather discuss my request to marry your daughter.
Catalene: I'm just going to repeat myself. My child is too young. She's not even fourteen. Give her two more years, and she'll be ready for marriage.
Spira: Girls younger than her have been turned into happy mothers.
Catalene: There are no happy marriages that are made so early. She is the last of my children, and all my hopes for the future rest with her. You may pursue her, gentle man, and win her heart. Her feelings are more important than my consent. If she agrees, her choice will give my consent. Tonight I'm holding a party in the old traditions. I have invited many of my closest friends, and you would be a welcome addition. At my humble home, you will see heavenly beauties that dim the very stars. It is the start of the festive season, and after such a long dry spell, all the fresh young beauties will be out in force. Look at them, listen to them, and find the one who has the most to offer. It may be that after seeing so many, my daughter may still be your number one. Let us continue on.
(Catalene hands the Servant a dataslate)
Search through Veranda and find the persons listed on this. Tell them I and my house await the pleasure of their company.
(Catalene and Spira leave)
Servant: Find the people who's names are written on here? It's written that the gunsmith should forge swords, the weapon smith should align sights, the musician uses his paintbrush, and the artist tunes his strings. And so I am sent to find the persons listed on this, but I cannot read the names the lister has listed! I'll have to ask someone who knows how to read. Good timing!
(Benedan and Rovero enter)
Benedan: Oh, come on! One fire can burn out another. If your hand hurts, dropping a weight on your foot will make it stop. If you spin until you're dizzy, spin backwards to stop it. One grief is lessened by adding a new sorrow. Discover a new beauty, and the torment of the old one will vanish.
Rovero: A plantain leaf is good for that.
Benedan: Good for what?
Rovero: For your broken shin.
Benedan: What? Have you gone mad, Rovero?
Rovero: I'm not mad, but I'm restrained more than a madman is; locked in a prison, deprived of food, whipped and tormented and...Good evening good sir.
Servant: Good evening to you. May I ask, can you read?
Rovero: Yes, my future in my misery.
Servant: Maybe you learned that by listening to your heart. But, please, can you read what is written?
Rovero: Yes, as long as I know the letters and the language.
Servant: You speak truly. Have a good day.
Rovero: Hold on, I can read. (He reads the list)
Guilder Marzino and his wife and daughters;
Councilman Anshelm and his beautiful sisters;
Widow Utruphio;
Guilder Plagenshio and his lovely nieces;
Mercatian and his brother Volentein;
My Aunt Catalene, her husband and daughters;
My fair niece Rosalene and Vivica;
Lady Venaltia and her cousin Tybelle;
Lucielle and the lovely Havana.
A promising guest list! Where are they going?
Servant: Up.
Rovero: Where? For supper?
Servant: To our house.
Rovero: Whose house?
Servant: My master's.
Rovero: I guess I should have asked you that in the first place.
Servant: I'll tell you without asking. My master is the great, rich Guilder Catalene, and so long as you are not sided with Guilder Murgata, please come and enjoy some drinks. Good bye now!
(Servant leaves)
Benedan: This Rosalene that you love so much will be at this party, along with all the beauties of Veranda. You should go, and, with an unprejudiced eye, compare her to the others I'll introduce you to. I'll prove your beauty is actually no more than a scavvy!
Rovero: If my eyes should prove so unfaithful, let me cry tears of fire. Like the wytches who pass the test of water and are then burnt as heretics. Someone more beautiful than my love! The sun has never shone upon her equal since this world was founded.
Benedan: Bah! You thought she was beautiful because you had no one to compare her too. She was only competing against herself in your eyes. But use those eyes to compare this lady love against the other beautiful girls that will be at this party, and you'll see she is clearly not the best.
Rovero: I'll go, but not to see what you would show me. I'll enjoy the sight of my own vision.
(They leave)
Part One – The Third Bit
(Inside Guilder Catalene's house. Lady Catalene and Nurse enter.)
Lady Catalene: Nurse, where's my daughter? Bring her to me.
Nurse: By the virginity I lost at twelve years old, I told her to be here. Hey, little one! Hey, chicky! Emperor forbid something has happened to her. Where is she? Joliette!
(Joliette enters)
Joliette: What's the matter? Who's calling me?
Nurse: Your mother.
Joliette: I'm here, mother. What do you want?
Lady Catalene: Just this. Nurse, leave us a moment. I want to talk to her in private. No, wait Nurse. I've changed my mind, you should hear this. You know my daughter is of an attractive age.
Nurse: Of course. I can tell her age to the very hour.
Lady Catalene: She's not yet fourteen...
Nurse: I'd bet fourteen of my teeth, but unfortunately I only have four left. She's not fourteen yet. How long until Celestine Day?
Lady Catalene: Two weeks and a few odd days.
Nurse: Even or odd doesn't matter. On Celestine Day she'll turn fourteen. She and Suzanne, Emperor keep her, were the same age. Well, Suzanne was too good for me, and sits with the Emperor now. But like I said, on Celestine Day she'll turn fourteen. Yes she will. Oh, I remember it well. It's been eleven years since that big hive-quake and she was weaned. I shall never forget it, it was such a coincidence that it happened on that very day. I'd just put some bitterpaste on my nipples as I sat by the birdhouse wall. The guilder and yourself were in Downtwo-A Towers at the time, what a good memory I have! But like I was saying, when she got a taste of that bitterpaste, the pretty little thing, she got so angry she wanted nothing to do with my breast. And the whole birdhouse started to shake, like it was sharing her anger with me! That was eleven years ago. She was able to stand by herself then. Actually, she could run and toddle around. The day before that, she had cut her head and my husband; Emperor keep him, for he was a happy man; he lifted her up and asked her "Did you fall on your face? When you've grown up, you'll land on your back instead, won't you Jolly?" And by all that's holy, the pretty girl stopped crying at once and said "Yes." It's funny how a joke should turn out true! I swear if I live a thousand years, I'll never forget it. "Won't you, Jolly?" he said, and she just stopped crying and said "Yes."
Lady Catalene: That's enough of that. Be quiet, now.
Nurse: Of course. But I can't stop laughing when I remember how she stopped crying and said "Yes". I swear, she had a huge bump popping out of her forehead, it looked very nasty, and she cried quite a bit. "Did you fall on your face?" he asked. "When you've grown up, you'll land on your back instead, won't you, Jolly?" And she stopped crying and said "Yes".
Joliette: I wish you'd stop too, Nurse. Please!
Nurse: Right, I'm done now. Emperor watch over you, you were the prettiest child that I ever nursed. If I could just see you married, I'd have my wish.
Lady Catalene: And that is the very thing I came to talk to you about. Tell me, my daughter, how do you feel about getting married?
Joliette: It's an honor I don't dream about.
Nurse: An honor! If I wasn't your only nurse, I'd say you drank wisdom from the breast.
Lady Catalene: Well, think about it now. Things are different here in Veranda, and many high born ladies younger than you are already married and mothers. I had you at a very similar age. But I'll be brief: Count Spira seeks you as his bride.
Nurse: You know, as men go, he's a pretty good catch. Worlds better than most of the ones back home.
Lady Catalene: There's no one like him here in Veranda.
Nurse: In faith, he seems to be a right fine catch.
Lady Catalene: What do you think? Can you love this gentleman? You'll see him tonight at our party. Scan his face like it was a book, and see if you like the way he was written. Examine every part and see how they come together. If something looks amiss, check his eyes for an explanation. This great love story, this loose romance, only lacks a cover to bind it all together. The stars burn in the heavens, and so a beautiful woman contains a worthy man. When this book is shared, it's worth grows by the number of eyes that read it. And so by marrying him, you will contain all that he possesses, and your own attributes will be no less.
Nurse: No less? They'll be bigger! Women grow when pregnant!
Lady Catalene: A brief answer then, do you like the idea of Spira's love?
Joliette: I'll look to see if I like, if looking can lead to liking. But I cannot commit to any more than that.
(A Servant enters)
Servant: Madam, the guests have arrived. Dinner has been served, and the guests are looking for you and the young lady. The kitchen is cursing the Nurse, and everything is in confusion! I must return to help serve the guests. Please come quickly!
(The Servant leaves)
Lady Catalene: I guess we should go down. Joliette, the Count is waiting for you.
Nurse: Go, girl, and seek happy nights to make happy days.
(They all leave)
Part One – The Fourth Bit
A street near Guilder Catalene's home. Rovero, Mercatian, Benedan and several other men enter. All are carrying elaborate party masks and some are bearing ornate lanterns. Rovero is reading a printout.
Rovero: Is this the speech we will use to introduce ourselves, or will we just join in without an apology?
Benedan: Introductions like that are so old fashioned. Lets skip the blind escort waving around a fake sword. That just scares the ladies. And no poorly memorized speeches delivered with a soft voice and help from a prompter as we make our entrance. Let them take us as they will. We'll just have us a dance and then go.
Rovero: Let me carry one of the lanterns. I'm not in the mood for this. I'll carry the light, since my heart is so heavy.
Mercatian: Oh no, Rovero. You need to dance.
Rovero: Not I, believe me. You have dancing shoes with light soles. My soul is heavy as lead, and pins me to the ground so that I can barely move.
Mercatian: You are a lover! You should have wings of love and rise above the ground!
Rovero: I have been too wounded by love to fly with those flimsy wings. I've sunk so low, I can't jump higher than the depths of despair. Love's weight has crushed me down.
Mercatian: It crushes you because you carry it like a burden. It's too great a weight for someone as sensitive as you.
Rovero: Is love sensitive? It's too rough, too cruel, too aggressive. It cuts like a knife.
Mercatian: If love is too rough with you, you need to be rough back. If it cuts you, cut it back, and it'll soon give in! You, trade masks with me. I need an ugly mask to cover my ugly face. I don't care if anyone notices my real face. Ah, these red cheeks will do my blushing for me!
Benedan: Masks on. Let's knock and head on in. Once we're inside, everyone start dancing right away.
Rovero: I'll just carry a lantern. I'll leave the dancing to those with lighter hearts. I'm like the old saying "He who watches sees the most." The party is at it's height, but I'm already done.
Mercatian: Pah! Dun's the color of a mouse. If you are done, we'll pull you from the mire of -now don't object- love, because you're stick in it up to your ears. Let's go, we're burning daylight.
Rovero: No, that's not right!
Mercatian: I only mean that we're wasting the power in our lanterns, as if we had lit them during the day. Don't hunt for hidden meanings. Most often the obvious one is the right one.
Rovero: I mean well in coming here, but I don't think it's wise to go in.
Mercatian: Why not, if I may ask?
Rovero: I had a dream last night.
Mercatian: And so did I.
Rovero: Well, what was yours?
Mercatian: That dreamers often lie.
Rovero: Asleep in beds, where they dream things that are true.
Mercatian: I guess one of those Ratskin "hive spirits" has been visiting you! One who brings men's fantasies to life. She's a tiny little thing, no bigger than a gemstone worn by a councilman. A group of tiny creatures pulls her wagon across the noses of men as they sleep. Her coach is made from an empty ammo clip converted by skilled rats – as everyone knows, they make all the hive spirits' stuff. The spokes of the wheels are made of spider legs, the canopy of dustbat wings, and the harnesses of the finest spider's web. The creatures wear collars of ash-cloud, and she bears a whip made of plastic bones and optic fiber. Her driver is a tiny black fly no bigger than the eye of a needle. And in this coach she travels, night after night, through the dreams of men. If she passes through a lover's brain, they dream of love. Over the knees of nobles, and they immediately dream of respectful bows. Passing over the fingers of lawyers, they dream straightway of fees. Over ladies lips, and they dream of kisses. Although the angry little spirit will often curse them with blisters because their breath is tainted with sweets. Sometimes she'll pass over an explorer's nose, and he will immediately believe he can smell out lost archeotech. Sometimes she takes a credit given in tithe to the clergy, and uses it to tickle a minister's nose, causing him to dream of larger cathedrals. Sometimes she passes over the throat of a guardsman, causing him to dream of cutting enemies' throats, and victories, and ambushes, and drinking bouts, and clashing swords. Then she drums in his ear and scares him awake, so that he must say a prayer or two before going back to sleep. This is the same creature who ties beards in knots and mats the hair of gutter children. This is the monster, who teaches women to lie on their backs and then turns them into mothers, making them "women of good carriage." This is the same...
Rovero: Enough already Mercatian! You are spouting a bunch of nonsense.
Mercatian: True. I'm only talking about dreams, which are created by lazy minds. They're made of nothing but fantasy, are as insubstantial as air, and completely unpredictable. One second they're pleasant, and the next a nightmare.
Benedan: Well your fantasy has screwed up our plans. Dinner will be over soon, and we'll be too late.
Rovero: I'm afraid we'll be too early. I feel like something terrible will happen at tonight's party, which will ultimately lead me to an early grave. But the Emperor will guide me. Let's go, rowdy friends.
Benedan: Strike the drum!
(They all leave together)
Part One – The Fifth Bit
The party inside Catalene's house. Rovero and the others join in. Two Servants enter carrying napkins.
First Servant: Where's Panpan? He should be clearing this all away! Like you'll ever actually see him moving a dish or scraping a plate!
Second Servant: It's a sad thing when good manners are only found in the unwashed hands of one or two men.
First Servant: Clear the stools. Remove that side-board. Careful with the plates! Please make sure to save me a slice of the desert. Do me a favor, and ask the doorman to let in Suha Grindstone and Gnell.
(The Second Servant leaves. Artnie and Panpan enter.)
Artnie and Panpan!
Artnie: Here lad! Ready!
First Servant: They're looking for and calling for you, asking for and searching for you in the great chamber!
Panpan: We can't be here and there at the same time! Cheer up, lads! Enjoy yourself, and he who lives longest wins!
(The Servants leave)
(Guilder Catalene, Lady Catalene, Joliette, Tybelle, and Nurse enter with their invited guests.)
Catalene: Welcome, Maskers! Any ladies not suffering from corns will join you in a dance! Come now, ladies! Which of you will refuse to dance? Whoever looks shy, I'll announce she has corns! Am I near the truth? Welcome, gentleman! There was once a time when I wore a mask, and would whisper tales into the ears of beautiful girls. But that time is over..all over... But you are welcome, gentlemen. Musicians, play us something! This is a big hall, make some room! Dance, ladies!
(The music and dancing begins)
More lights, clods! Get rid of those tables! Turn up the conditioners, the room is getting too hot. Ah, it's a proper party now that Maskers have arrived. No no, have a seat cousin Catalene. You and I are past our dancing days. How long has it been since we last wore Masks?
Cousin: By the Throne, it's been at least thirty years.
Catalene: Are you sure? It can't have been that long. It was at Lucrenza's wedding. Only twenty-five years ago. We masked then.
Cousin: It's more. It's more. His son is older than that. His son is thirty.
Catalene: Do you expect me to believe that? His son was still a child just two years ago.
Rovero: Excuse me, but who is the lady dancing with that man over there?
Servant: I don't know, sir.
Rovero: This lantern looks dim beside her. It seems like she glitters in the night like a jewel laid on black velvet. Beauty too precious to use, too good for this world. She shines brighter than the other ladies, like a beacon among candles. Once this dance is finished, I'll see where she stands and make my rough hands blessed by touching hers. Did my heart know love until now? Deny all other visions, for I have never seen true beauty until this night.
Tybelle: Judging by his voice, this must be one of Murgata's men. You, girl, get my rapier. How dare this bastard come here, hiding behind a leering mask, to jeer and make fun of our party. Now by my ancestors and the honor of my House, it will be no sin to strike him dead!
Catalene: Hello there, kinswoman. Why do you look so angry?
Tybelle: Uncle, that is a Murgata, one of our enemies. He's obviously come here to mock our celebration tonight!
Catalene: That's young Rovero, isn't it?
Tybelle: That's him! That bastard, Rovero!
Catalene: Calm down, good niece, and leave him alone. He's behaving very politely. And, to tell the truth, most of Veranda speaks well of him as a virtuous and well-spoken young man. I would not, for all the wealth in the city, insult him here in my home. So be patient. Ignore him. This is my decision. If you respect me, behave yourself. Be friendly and stop frowning. That's no way to behave at a party.
Tybelle: It's the only way to behave with such a villain as a guest! I won't tolerate him!
Catalene: He will be tolerated! Who do you think you are? I say he will! Who is the master here? Me or you? "I won't tolerate him!" Emperor take me, you'll start a riot among my guests? You'll show him who's top dog? You're in charge here, are you?
Tybelle: But, uncle, it's shameful!
Catalene: Oh! It is, is it? You're a rude girl! It's shameful, you say? This action will lead to no good, mark my words. You'll have to go against me. Is that the time – Well done, dear friends! - You are a too full of yourself! For shame! Now be quiet, or – More lights! More lights! - or I'll make you be quiet. Oh, well done my friends!
Tybelle: Forcing myself to be patient when I'm so angry sets my nerves on fire. I'll go, but this intrusion, which may seem so sweet and innocent now, will surely turn sour.
(Tybelle leaves)
Rovero: If my unworthy hand should taint this holy shrine, then my lips, like two blushing pilgrims, stand ready with a tender kiss, to smooth away the roughness of my touch.
Joliette: Good pilgrim, you wrong your hand too much. It is only showing it's devotion. Statues of saints have hands that pilgrims touch, so palm to palm is a pious pilgrim's kiss.
Rovero: Don't saints have lips, and pious pilgrims too?
Joliette: Oh yes, pilgrim. Lips that must be used for prayer.
Rovero: Well then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do. Mine are praying. Grant their prayer, so that faith may not turn to despair.
Joliette: Saints do not move, though they do grant prayers.
Rovero: Then stay still, while I have my prayer granted. (Kiss) And so my sins are purged from my lips by yours.
Joliette: Then my lips have the sin they have taken.
Rovero: Taken on my sin? Ah, the sweet lure of sin. Return my sin to me. (Kiss again)
Joliette: You kiss very formally.
Nurse: Madam, your father would like a word with you.
(Joliette moves to a different part of the party)
Rovero: And who is her father?
Nurse: Indeed, young man, her father is the man of the house. He's good, wise, and honorable for a man. I myself nursed the young lady you were just talking to. I can tell you, whoever wins her hand will be set for life.
Rovero: She is a Catalene? Throne above! My life is in debt to my enemy!
Benedan: It's time to go. The best part of this party has past.
Rovero: I fear it has, much to my sorrow.
Catalene: No, good maskers, don't go yet! We're just about to serve some deserts. Oh, you must go? Well then, my thanks to you all. Thank you gentlemen. Good night! More lanterns! I believe it's nearly time for bed. Is that the time? It's getting late. I'm off to bed.
(Everyone begins to leave except Joliette and Nurse)
Joliette: Nurse, come here! Who's that gentleman over there?
Nurse: Tiberio's son and heir.
Joliette: And who's that just leaving?
Nurse: I believe that's young Petruchio.
Joliette: And who's that there, behind the others? The one who wouldn't dance?
Nurse: I don't know.
Joliette: Go ask his name. If he's already married, my grave will be my only wedding bed.
Nurse: He's name is Rovero, and he's a Murgata. The only son of your sworn enemy.
Joliette: The one I love is the son of the one I hate! When I first met him, I didn't recognize him. And now that I know who he is, it's too late! Why should first love for me be with a hated enemy?
Nurse: What's this? What did you say?
Joliette: Just something I heard from someone I danced with.
(Joliette's father calls "Joliette" from off stage)
Nurse: Let's go inside. All the guests have already left.
(They leave)