FRANCESCA.  How can I be?

  PAOLO.  How, lady?

FRANCESCA.  Ay, sir, how? 
Your brother—­my good lord that is to be—­
Stings me with his neglect; and in the place
He should have filled, he sends a go-between,
A common carrier of others’ love;
How can the sender, or the person sent,
Please overmuch?  Now, were I such as you,
I’d be too proud to travel round the land
With other people’s feelings in my heart;
Even to fill the void which you confess
By such employment.

PAOLO.  Lady, ’tis your wish
To nettle me, to break my breeding down,
And see what natural passions I have hidden
Behind the outworks of my etiquette. 
I neither own nor feel the want of heart
With which you charge me.  You are more than cruel;
You rouse my nerves until they ache with life,
And then pour fire upon them.  For myself
I would not speak, unless you had compelled. 
My task is odious to me.  Since I came,
Heaven bear me witness how my traitor heart
Has fought against my duty; and how oft
I wished myself in Lanciotto’s place. 
Or him in mine.

  FRANCESCA.  You riddle.

PAOLO.  Do I?  Well,
Let it remain unguessed.

FRANCESCA.  You wished yourself
At Rimini, or Lanciotto here? 
You may have reasons.

PAOLO.  Well interpreted! 
The Sphinx were simple in your skilful hands!

  FRANCESCA.  It has become your turn to sneer.

PAOLO.  But I
Have gall to feed my bitterness, while you
Jest in the wanton ease of happiness. 
Stop! there is peril in our talk.

  FRANCESCA.  As how?

PAOLO.  ’Tis dangerous to talk about one’s self;
It panders selfishness.  My duty waits.

FRANCESCA.  My future lord’s affairs?  I quite forgot
Count Lanciotto.

  PAOLO.  I, too, shame upon me. [Aside.

  FRANCESCA.  Does he resemble you?

  PAOLO.  Pray drop me, lady.

  FRANCESCA.  Nay, answer me.

  PAOLO.  Somewhat—­in feature.

FRANCESCA.  Ha! 
Is he so fair?

PAOLO.  No, darker.  He was tanned
In long campaigns, and battles hotly fought,
While I lounged idly with the troubadours,
Under the shadow of his watchful sword.

  FRANCESCA.  In person?

PAOLO.  He is shorter, I believe,
But broader, stronger, more compactly knit.

  FRANCESCA.  What of his mind?