Short Plays · The Glimpse of Reality (2/2) (2/2) (3/3)

| Sandro | It is indeed true, sir, that those who come under the special protection of God and the Saints are always a little mad; and this makes us think it very unlucky to kill a madman. And since from what Father Squarcio and I overheard, it is clear that your Excellency, though a very wise and reasonable young gentleman in a general way, is somewhat cracked on the subject of the soul and so forth, we have resolved to see that no harm comes to your Excellency. | | Ferruccio | As you please. My life is only a drop falling from the vanishing clouds to the everlasting sea, from finite to infinite, and itself part of the infinite. | | Sandro | Impressed. Your Excellency speaks like a crazy but very holy book. Heaven forbid that we should raise a hand against you! But your Excellency will notice that this good action will cost us thirty crowns. | | Ferruccio | Is it not worth it? | | Sandro | Doubtless, doubtless. It will in fact save us the price of certain masses which we should otherwise have had said for the souls of certain persons who⁠—ahem! Well, no matter. But we think it dangerous and unbecoming that a nobleman like your Excellency should travel without a retinue, and unarmed; for your dagger is unfortunately broken, Excellency. If you would therefore have the condescension to accept Father Squarcio as your man-at-arms⁠—your servant in all but the name, to save his nobility⁠—he will go with you to any town in which you will feel safe from His Eminence the Cardinal, and will leave it to your Excellency’s graciousness as to whether his magnanimous conduct will not then deserve some trifling present: say a wedding gift for my Giulietta. | | Ferruccio | Good: the man I tried to slay will save me from being slain. Who would have thought Saint Barbara so full of irony! | | Sandro | And if the offer your Excellency was good enough to make in respect of Giulietta still stands⁠— | | Squarcio | Rascal: have you then no soul? | | Sandro | I am a poor man, Excellency: I cannot afford these luxuries of the rich. | | Ferruccio | There is a certain painter will presently make a great picture of St. Barbara; and Giulia will be his model. He will pay her well. Giulia: release the bird. It is time for it to fly. | | | She takes the net from his shoulders. |