Lau. What is't you fear?—You know I love but you,
And that his bolts and bars are all in vain.
Rav. I know it—yet I scarcely dare to hope—
I see before me what appears a star,
And yet it may turn out a will-o'-the-wisp.
My heart is sore beset with anxious fear;
Yet perhaps, Laura, at this very moment
I'm nearer the fulfilment of my wishes
Than e'er I was before—
Lau. Bernardo, how?
Rav. Yes! dearest maiden, what I say is true,
Unless my spirit is a false foreboder,
This is the last time I shall wear these trappings.
I feel that now or never is the time.
Lau. What is't you mean?
Rav. Laura! I cannot now
Be more explicit—for my hopes are still.
Like a soap bubble, which a breath may mar. (A noise is heard at the door.)
Lau. Away! make haste! I hear my guardian coming—
(Ravienna runs towards the niche, leaving his beard lying on the floor.)
Here, take your beard!
(He returns and takes it from her hand, and again makes for the niche—still leaving a piece of the beard behind him. Laura picks it up.)
You have not got it all.
(He as on the point of returning to receive the remaining portion, when the door opens. He immediately draws back into the niche, and closes the curtain upon himself from within.)
Scene II.—Ravienna (in the niche.) Laura., Calmari enters gaily attired.
Cal. (looking suspiciously at Laura, who endeavours to conceal the piece of the beard) What have you there?
Lau. (striving to hide her embarrassment.) Merely a plaything; sir.
When I was left alone, a childish freak.
Urged me to pluck the beard of old Leonardo;
And, as it seems, I tweak'd his chin too roughly,
For this small portion came away.
Cal. The beard.
Of old Leonardo, say you?—Let me see!
(He draws aside the curtain covering the niche in which the statue of Leonardo stands. )
Why, no deficiency of beard is here!
Lau. 'Twas from the other, then.
Cal. From Cimabue?
(He draws aside the curtain covering the niche. Ravienna is revealed standing motionless; part of his beard is torn off.)
Ay! you are right; something is wanting here. Give me the hair, and I will fasten it.
Lau. (in an apparent fit of absence, has torn the hair in pieces, and scattered them on the floor) Ah me! what's this! What have I been about!
I've torn the hair, not thinking what I did.
It cannot now be used.
Cal. (smiling upon her.) Is that the way
In which you treat grey hairs, you naughty gipsy?
Lau. It was quite unintentional, indeed.
Cal. I'm glad you say so, for I now may hope
That mine will meet with kindness at your hands,
And all due reverence, when I'm up in years.
Lau. Methinks, good sir, you have not long to wait.
