LANCIOTTO.  Pepe, go hence! [PEPE retires.]
[Aside.] I saw her start and pale,
Turn off with horror; as if she had seen—­
What?—­simply me.  For, am I not enough,
And something over, to make ladies quail,
Start, hide their faces, whisper to their friends,
Point at me—­dare she?—­and perform such tricks
As women will when monsters blast their sight? 
O! saints above me, have I come so low? 
Yon damsel of Ravenna shall bewail
That start and shudder.  I am mad, mad, mad! 
I must be patient.  They have trifled with her: 
Lied to her, lied!  There’s half the misery
Of this broad earth, all crowded in one word. 
Lied, lied!—­Who has not suffered from a lie? 
They’re all aghast—­all looking at me too. 
Francesca’s whiter than the brow of fear: 
Paolo talks.—­Brother, is that well meant? 
What if I draw my sword, and fight my way
Out of this cursed town?  ’Twould be relief. 
Has shame no hiding-place?  I’ve touched the depth
Of human infamy, and there I rest. 
By heaven, I’ll brave this business out!  Shall they
Say at Ravenna that Count Lanciotto,
Who’s driven their shivering squadrons to their homes,
Haggard with terror, turned before their eyes
And slunk away?  They’ll look me from the field,
When we encounter next.  Why should not I
Strut with my shapeless body, as old Guido
Struts with his shapeless heart?  I’ll do it! [Offers, but shrinks back.] ’Sdeath! 
Am I so false as to forswear myself? 
Lady Francesca! [Approaches FRANCESCA.

  FRANCESCA.  Sir—­my lord—­

LANCIOTTO.  Dear lady,
I have a share in your embarrassment,
And know the feelings that possess you now.

  FRANCESCA.  O! you do not.

  PAOLO. [Advancing.] My lady—­

LANCIOTTO.  Gentle brother,
Leave this to me. [PAOLO retires.

  FRANCESCA.  Pray do not send him off.

  LANCIOTTO.  ’Tis fitter so.

  FRANCESCA.  He comforts me.

LANCIOTTO Indeed? 
Do you need comfort?

FRANCESCA.  No, no—­pardon me! 
But then—­he is—­you are—­

  LANCIOTTO.  Take breath, and speak.

FRANCESCA.  I am confused, ’tis true.  But, then, my lord,
You are a stranger to me; and Paolo
I’ve known so long!

  LANCIOTTO.  Since yesterday.

FRANCESCA.  Ah! well: 
But the relationship between us two
Is of so close a nature, while the knowledge,
That each may have of each, so slender is
That the two jar.  Besides, Paolo is
Nothing to me, while you are everything. 
Can I not act? [Aside.

LANCIOTTO.  I scarcely understand. 
You say your knowledge of me, till to-day,
Was incomplete.  Has naught been said of me
By Count Paolo or your father?