In your loving heart, yes! And, therefore, your father, with loving despotism, opposes your life's happiness by crowding out of your heart that longing for a man which must be awakening in you at your age. Your father's egotistical folly has lost you rank and property, now it deprives you of the highest rights of life--those which the creatures of the wilderness share with mankind and which may make existence in a hut, as well as on a throne, a gift of the gods! What madness made me test my strength against the flood of the San Margherita brook, instead of invading Umbria by war, setting the city on fire at its four corners and snatching the crown with my own hands from the glowing ruins!----But that was only the continuation of past folly!
(_Weeping._) Heaven have mercy on my foolish soul! How was it possible for me so to grieve you!
In misfortune people hurt each other without knowledge or desire, just as truly as in happiness each one brings joy to the other unwittingly. Do not make him who is judged suffer for it. You must go, my child; I hear the workmen shouting and tramping about upstairs.
(_Kissing him._) Tomorrow morning early! (_Exit._)
(_The King takes up his work. Then the three journeymen come in, and, sitting down on separate tables on the other side of the room, prepare for work._)
Gigi, if you get up before cockcrow again I'll break your nose the next night while you sleep. Then go to the women and see if you can succeed with them!
It would please you well to attack a sleeping man. But take care of your own bones at it, or perhaps you might not rise at all the next day!
Well said, Gigi! Tell us quickly more of your war-like deeds, that we may be afraid of you.
I haven't time. If your ears itch for tales of heroic deeds, tell how you stole the parson's geese at Bavagna.
Our patron saint defend us! Usually, you are as tame and sneaking as if your nail had never crushed a louse, and today you would like to spit all three of us at once on your needle.
Let me be in peace, then! A hollow tooth is hurting me. That's the reason I left the sleeping room so early.
Tell the truth, Gigi! Wasn't the page here just now who brings you the glowing love letters from the lady for whom you cut the yellow silk dress?
