MALATESTA.  I’d eat Ravenna up!

  PEPE.  Lord! what an appetite!

PAOLO.  But Lanciotto
Would be a precious hostage.

MALATESTA.  True; you’re wise;
Guido’s a fox.  Well, have it your own way. 
What is your plan?

  PAOLO.  I go there in his place.

  MALATESTA.  Good!  I will send a letter with the news.

  LANCIOTTO.  I thank you, brother. [Apart to PAOLO.

  PEPE.  Ha! ha! ha!—­O!  O! [Laughing.

  MALATESTA.  Pepe, what now?

  PEPE.  O! lord, O!—­ho! ho! ho! [Laughing.

  PAOLO.  Well, giggler?

  PEPE.  Hear my fable, uncle.

  MALATESTA.  Ay.

PEPE.  Once on a time, Vulcan sent Mercury
To fetch dame Venus from a romp in heaven. 
Well, they were long in coming, as he thought;
And so the god of spits and gridirons
Railed like himself—­the devil.  But—­now mark—­
Here comes the moral.  In a little while,
Vulcan grew proud, because he saw plain signs
That he should be a father; and so he
Strutted through hell, and pushed the devils by,
Like a magnifico of Venice.  Ere long,
His heir was born; but then—­ho! ho!—­the brat
Had wings upon his heels, and thievish ways,
And a vile squint, like errant Mercury’s,
Which honest Vulcan could not understand;—­
Can you?

PAOLO.  ’Sdeath! fool, I’ll have you in the stocks. 
Father, your fool exceeds his privilege.

PEPE. [Apart to PAOLO.] Keep your own bounds, Paolo.  In the stocks
I’d tell more fables than you’d wish to hear. 
And so ride forth.  But, cousin, don’t forget
To take Lanciotto’s picture to the bride. 
Ask her to choose between it and yourself. 
I’ll count the moments, while she hesitates,
And not grow gray at it.

  PAOLO.  Peace, varlet, peace!

PEPE. [Apart to him.] Ah, now I have it.  There’s an elephant
Upon the scutcheon; show her that, and say—­
Here’s Lanciotto in our heraldry!

  PAOLO.  Here’s for your counsel!
                              [Strikes PEPE, who runs behind MALATESTA.

  MALATESTA.  Son, son, have a care! 
We who keep pets must bear their pecks sometimes. 
Poor knave!  Ha! ha! thou’rt growing villainous!
          
                                        [Laughs and pats PEPE.

  PEPE.  Another blow! another life for that! [Aside.

PAOLO.  Farewell, Lanciotto.  You are dull again.

LANCIOTTO.  Nature will rule.

MALATESTA.  Come, come!

LANCIOTTO.  God speed you, brother!  I am too sad; my smiles all turn to sighs.