Page:Victor Hugo's Works (Guernsey Edition) v14.djvu/83

BERTUCCIO.

O cats that long
For fish, yet fear to wet your feet! I'll shame you.
Let me mount first; give me your cloak, Galeotto!

MANFREDI.

By your leave, fool, I'll net my own bird. Back!
Hold thou the ladder; that is lackeys' work,
And fits thee best. Ascolti and Torelli,
Guard the approaches! I and Ordelaffi
Will be enough to mount, and snare the game.

[The light is extinguished; the Servants set a ladder to the balcony.

BERTUCCIO (holds it).

All's dark now,—up!

MANFREDI.

Why, rogue, how thy hand shakes!
Is 't fear ?

BERTUCCIO.

'T is inward laughter, Galeotto.
To think how blank Guido will look to-morrow
To find the nest cold, and his mate borne off.

[Manfredi mounts the ladder, followed by Ordelaffi. They enter the balcony.

BERTUCCIO (eagerly listening).

Ha! they are in by this time!
Cautious fools!
I had done 't myself in half the space! So, Guido,
You love your young wife well, they say; that's brave.

[Manfredi and Ordelaffi appear on the balcony, bearing Fiordelisa in their arms, muffled in Manfredi's cloak. She struggles, but cannot scream. Ordelaffi descends first, Manfredi hands Fiordelisa to him. They come down the ladder.