I also hope that, to maintain my credit—
My credit as an artist—you will paint
Another picture for me, some time hence —
The price, however, must be somewhat lower.
'Twas Laura's eyes, more than your pencil's power,
Which gain'd for you your twenty thousand crowns;
You can't expect the like another time.
But Laura—She shall pay for what she cost me!
I'll keep it off her—au revoir, my brother!—(Exit.)
Scene IX.—Salvator, Ravienna. (in the niche.)
Sal. Brother—thy brother! scoundrel and impostor!
(To Ravienna,) Come down. The arbiters are on the point
Of giving their decision. Did you hear
All that Calmari said.
Rav. (comes down from the niche.) I overheard
Each word—he has not given in his note,
And mine is lodged—that makes my triumph safe.
Yet, Heaven protect us! how he'll fret and foam
To find that he himself has help'd his rival
To Laura's hand!
Sal. His punishment must be
More signal still—his infamous imposture
Must be laid bare before the whole assembly.
Rav. Rosa, consider he is Laura's guardian—
'Twill be sufficient punishment, if he
Loses her hand, and loses all the glory
Which he had counted so securely on—
Let us, dear sir, be silent, I entreat you,
Touching the rest—and pay him back his money.
Scene X.—Salvator. Ravienna. Laura enters
Lau. Still here, Bernardo! (beholding Salvator, she starts back.)
Sal. Maiden, why so shy?
Am I so very terrible and strange?
Am I, Ravienna?
Rav. Laura, in this man
Behold my dearest friend—the great preserver
Of all my happiness: you know his name,
The whole world rings with it—Salvator Rosa. (Laura looks bewildered.)
Sal. Fair maid, you seem astonish'd—Is it then
So strange a thing that one poor artist should
Befriend another?
Lau. He! is he an artist?
Sal. Listen, and you shall hear—approach this curtain.
Give me your hand —
(He leads her to the curtain screening the Hall, which he draws aside, so that the interior can be seen. In the Hall is a platform on which a table is placed, and on the table stand two jars. The Arbiters are seated round the table. Calmari is close beside them—at the end of the table stands the Secretary with a sealed note in his hand.)
Sec. (with a loud voice). "Picture of Danäe"
Gains the first prize. (Calmari thrusts forward his note.)
I thank you sir—'tis here.
I have the note already in my hand—(he opens the note)—
'Tis painted by "Bernardo Ravienna."
(Drums and trumpets sound. Calmari recoils from the table in terrible dismay, and, thrusting the note into his breast, conceals himself amongst the mass of spectators. Salvator closes the curtain.)
Lau. Bernardo!
Ber. Laura!
