In my mad antics I might spurn the board,
And spill the flagons as I did e'en now;
But here I'm helpless. Oh, Beelzebub!
Inspire them with desire to see a father
Make laughter of the undoing of his child!
Ha, some one comes! They'll let me in!
[C. door opens.
TORELLI (at the door).
The Duke
Will none of thy ape's tricks.
[He retires, closing the door. Bertuccio wrings his hands and screams.
DELL' AQUILA (rushing forward).
What ho! Torelli!
And you within, you, my lord duke, 'fore all!
I do proclaim you cowards, ruffians, beasts.
Come out, if you be men, and drive my challenge
Back in my throat, if you've one heart among you!
BERTUCCIO.
You speak to men; they 're fiends.
DELL' AQUILA.
No hope! no hope!
Yes! here's the Duchess; she 's a woman still—
[Enter Francesca and Ginevra, L.
BERTUCCIO.
Madame, and you, too [To Ginevra.], plotting your undoing,
I've compassed the destruction of my child,—
The daughter that I loved more than my life.
'T was she they seized last night, and she 's in there.
[Pointing to C. door.
