PEPE. [Laughing.] Ha! ha!  I laid my hand upon his hump! 
Heavens, how he squirmed!  And what a wish I had
To cry, Ho! camel! leap upon his back,
And ride him to the devil!  So, we’ve had
A pleasant flitting round philosophy! 
The Count and Fool bumped heads, and struck ideas
Out by the contact!  Quite a pleasant talk—­
A friendly conversation, nothing more—­
’Twixt nobleman and jester.  Ho! my bird,
I can toss lures as high as any man. 
So, I amuse you with my harmless wit? 
Pepe’s your friend now—­you can trust in him—­
An honest, simple fool!  Just try it once,
You ugly, misbegotten clod of dirt! 
Ay, but the hump—­the touch upon the hump—­
The start and wriggle—­that was rare!  Ha! ha!

[Exit, laughing.

SCENE II.

The Same.  The Grand Square before the Castle.  SOLDIERS on guard, with banners, etc. CITIZENS, in holiday dresses, cross the scene.  The houses are hung with trophies, banners, garlands, etc.  Enter MALATESTA, with GUARDS, ATTENDANTS, etc.

MALATESTA.  Captain, take care the streets be not choked up
By the rude rabble.  Send to Caesar’s bridge
A strong detachment of your men, and clear
The way before them.  See that nothing check
The bride’s first entrance into Rimini. 
Station your veterans in the front.  Count Guido
Comes with his daughter, and his eyes are sharp. 
Keep up a show of strength before him, sir;
And set some labourers to work upon
The broken bastion.  Make all things look bright;
As if we stood in eager readiness,
And high condition, to begin a war.

  CAPTAIN.  I will, my lord.

MALATESTA.  Keep Guido in your eye;
And if you see him looking over-long
On any weakness of our walls, just file
Your bulkiest fellows round him; or get up
A scuffle with the people; anything—­
Even if you break a head or two—­to draw
His vision off.  But where our strength is great,
Take heed to make him see it.  You conceive?

  CAPTAIN.  Trust me, my lord. [Exit with GUARDS.

    Enter PEPE.

PEPE.  Room, room!  A hall; a hall! 
I pray you, good man, has the funeral passed?

  MALATESTA.  Who is it asks?

PEPE.  Pepe of Padua,
A learned doctor of uncivil law.

  MALATESTA.  But how a funeral?

PEPE.  You are weak of wit. 
Francesca of Ravenna’s borne to church,
And never issues thence.

  MALATESTA.  How, doctor, pray?

PEPE.  Now, for a citizen of Rimini,
You’re sadly dull.  Does she not issue thence
Fanny of Rimini?  A glorious change,—­
kind of resurrection in the flesh!

MALATESTA. [Laughing.] Ha! ha! thou cunning villain!  I was caught. 
I own it, doctor.