BEA. Fidelio, Were you ever in love?

FID. I was never out of it.

BEA. But truly?

FID. Well. I was only out of it What time it takes a man to right himself And once again lose balance. Ah, indeed, 'Tis good to be in love, I have often noticed, The moment I fall out of love, that moment I catch a cold.

BEA. Are you in love, then, now?

FID. Ay, to be sure.

BEA. Oh! Oh! With whom, Fidelio?

Tell me with whom!

FID. Why, marry, with yourself,-- That are the nearest to me,--and by the same troth, The farthest away.

BEA. Go to, Fidelio!

I am in earnest, and you trifle with me As if I were a child.

FID. Are you not a child, then?

BEA. Not any more.

FID, How so?

BEA. I am in love.

FID. Oh--oh--oh, misery, misery, misery, misery!

BEA. Why do you say that?

FID. Say what?

BEA. "Misery, misery."

FID. It is a song.

BEA. A song?

FID. Ay, 'tis a love-song.

Oh, misery, misery, misery, misery, oh!

BEA. Nay, sweet Fidelio, be not so unkind!

I tell you, for the first time in my life I am in love! Do you be mannerly now, And cease to mock me,

FID. What would you have me do?

BEA. I would have you shake your head, and pat my shoulder, And smile and say, "G.o.dspeed."

FID. [Doing so very tenderly.] G.o.dspeed.

BEA. [Bursting into tears.] I do not know if I am happy or sad.

But I am greatly moved. I would Bianca Were here. I never lacked her near so much As tonight I do, although I lack her always.

She is a long time gone.--If I tell you something, Will you promise not to tell.

FID. Nay, I'll not promise, But I'll not tell.

BEA. Fidelio, I do love so The King from Lagoverde! I do so love him!

FID. G.o.dspeed, G.o.dspeed.

BEA. Ay, it is pa.s.sing strange; Last week I was a child, but now I am not.

And I begin my womanhood with weeping; I know not why.--La, what a fool I am!

'Tis over. Sing, Fidelio.

FID. Would you a gay song, My Princess?

BEA. Ay.--And yet--nay, not so gay.

A simple song, such as a country-boy Might sing his country-sweetheart.--Is it the moon Hath struck me, do you think? I swear by the moon I am most melancholy soft, and most Outrageous sentimental! Sing, dear fool.

FID. [Singing.]

"b.u.t.terflies are white and blue In this field we wander through.

Suffer me to take your hand.

Death comes in a day or two.

All the things we ever knew Will be ashes in that hour.

Mark the transient b.u.t.terfly, How he hangs upon the flower.

Suffer me to take your hand.

Suffer me to cherish you Till the dawn is in the sky.

Whether I be false or true, Death comes in a day or two."

CURTAIN

ACT III

Scene 1--The following summer,

[A field or meadow near Fiori. As the curtain rises voices are heard off-stage singing a bridal song.]

SONG: Strew we flowers on their pathway!

Bride and bride-groom, go you sweetly.

There are roses on your pathway.

Bride and bride-groom, go you sweetly.

Sweetly live together.

[Enter Viola, Lilina, Lela, Arianna and Claudia, laden with garlands, flowering boughs and baskets of flowers. They met Anselmo coming from another direction, also bearing flowers.]