Thus all my life, beloved,
Do those four words contain:
All blessings that men envy,
All blessings without pain.
All that the heart seduces
And chases care away—
To sing and laugh, beloved,
To sleep, to love alway!
Oh! I love you, Madame, more than I can say. But that Simon Renard! that Simon Renard! he is more powerful even than yourself, and I hate him!
The Queen.Well you know that I can do nought, my lord. He is the legate of the Prince of Spain, my future husband.
Fabiani.Your future husband!
The Queen.Go to, my lord; let us say no more of that. I love you—what more need you ask? But 'tis time for you to go.
Fabiani.It is my will that the woman keep the Queen waiting at the door.
The Queen.Your will! your will!—Look at me, my lord. You have a youthful and charming face, Fabiano!
Fabiani.It is you who are charming, Madame! You would need nothing more than your beauty to be omnipotent. There is upon your head something that says that you are the Queen, but it is writ on your brow even more plainly than on your crown.
The Queen.You flatter me!
Fabiani.I love you.
The Queen.You do love me, do you not? You love none but me? Tell it me again, so, with those eyes. Alas! we poor women, we never know just
