6
UGOLINO.
Too heavily upon a falling gentleman,
His late behavior hath been such, as all
Who know him will avouch, that pity, which
His losses might have awaken'd, now will sleep,
And those whom he hath used so cavalierly,
But hold them as a judgment on his pride.
Cali. 'Tis true, indeed, sir, not an hour ago,
I spoke to one to whom he lost this morning,
Four thousand ducats. Even since the death
Of old Bertoldi, which was follow'd by
The breaking off of the long rumor'd match
Between the fair Olympia and this Count,
He has play'd deeply, and with constant loss.
First Mer. Know you the reason of that sudden change,
In the fair lady's fancy?
Cali. Sir, I hear,
That she did never much affect the Count,
And waited but an opportunity,
The which her father's death first furnish'd her,
And secondly the story which hath spread:
So widely of Count Ugolino's cruelty
To an unhappy lady he seduced,
And then deserted for Bertoldi's daughter.
'Twas a base act, and one which gave Olympia
The best of reasons for refusing him.
First Mer. 'Tis said the Marquis de Serassi woos
The lady you last nam'd, pray heaven he wins her,
She is a prize worth throwing for, and he,
The very flower of our nobility.
Cali. He is, indeed, a noble gentleman,
And she a matchless lady. Fare you well. sir,
My road lies this way—
First Mer. I am bound to you
For your kind counsel. Farewell, worthy signior.
[Exeunt Caliari, r.; First Merchant, l.
His late behavior hath been such, as all
Who know him will avouch, that pity, which
His losses might have awaken'd, now will sleep,
And those whom he hath used so cavalierly,
But hold them as a judgment on his pride.
Cali. 'Tis true, indeed, sir, not an hour ago,
I spoke to one to whom he lost this morning,
Four thousand ducats. Even since the death
Of old Bertoldi, which was follow'd by
The breaking off of the long rumor'd match
Between the fair Olympia and this Count,
He has play'd deeply, and with constant loss.
First Mer. Know you the reason of that sudden change,
In the fair lady's fancy?
Cali. Sir, I hear,
That she did never much affect the Count,
And waited but an opportunity,
The which her father's death first furnish'd her,
And secondly the story which hath spread:
So widely of Count Ugolino's cruelty
To an unhappy lady he seduced,
And then deserted for Bertoldi's daughter.
'Twas a base act, and one which gave Olympia
The best of reasons for refusing him.
First Mer. 'Tis said the Marquis de Serassi woos
The lady you last nam'd, pray heaven he wins her,
She is a prize worth throwing for, and he,
The very flower of our nobility.
Cali. He is, indeed, a noble gentleman,
And she a matchless lady. Fare you well. sir,
My road lies this way—
First Mer. I am bound to you
For your kind counsel. Farewell, worthy signior.
[Exeunt Caliari, r.; First Merchant, l.
Enter Ugolino, u. e. r.
Ugo. Lost ! lost! all lost! Well, well, what matters it!
Let it go all, and curse the possessors,
As it has me. Gaming! Destructive fiend!
Whose very bounty is thy vot'ry's bane,
Hear Ugolino's prayer! let him not be
Thy latest victim,—in the hearts of those,
Who revel now in his unfaithful fortunes,
Sow thy fast springing seeds; let them still feel
The burning and insatiable thirst
Of grasping avarice, the sick’ning pang
Of baffled hope, the rack of expectation;
And when like him, all desolate they stand,
The butt of insult, and the mock of pity.
Ugo. Lost ! lost! all lost! Well, well, what matters it!
Let it go all, and curse the possessors,
As it has me. Gaming! Destructive fiend!
Whose very bounty is thy vot'ry's bane,
Hear Ugolino's prayer! let him not be
Thy latest victim,—in the hearts of those,
Who revel now in his unfaithful fortunes,
Sow thy fast springing seeds; let them still feel
The burning and insatiable thirst
Of grasping avarice, the sick’ning pang
Of baffled hope, the rack of expectation;
And when like him, all desolate they stand,
The butt of insult, and the mock of pity.
