Page 71 of 172 SCENES FROM "POLITIAN." - Complete Poetical Works

_Duke_. Why do you laugh?

_Castiglione_. Indeed.

I hardly know myself. Stay! Was it not

On yesterday we were speaking of the Earl?

Of the Earl Politian? Yes! it was yesterday.

Alessandra, you and I, you must remember!

We were walking in the garden.

_Duke_. Perfectly.

I do remember it--what of it--what then?

_Cas_. O nothing--nothing at all.

_Duke_. Nothing at all!

It is most singular that you should laugh

At nothing at all!

_Cas_. Most singular--singular!

_Duke_. Look yon, Castiglione, be so kind

As tell me, sir, at once what 'tis you mean.

What are you talking of?

_Cas_. Was it not so?

We differed in opinion touching him.

_Duke_. Him!--Whom?

_Cas_. Why, sir, the Earl Politian.

_Duke_. The Earl of Leicester! Yes!--is it he you mean?
We differed, indeed. If I now recollect

The words you used were that the Earl you knew

Was neither learned nor mirthful.

_Cas_. Ha! ha!--now did I?

_Duke_. That did you, sir, and well I knew at the time
You were wrong, it being not the character

Of the Earl--whom all the world allows to be

A most hilarious man. Be not, my son,

Too positive again.

_Cas_. 'Tis singular!

Most singular! I could not think it possible

So little time could so much alter one!

To say the truth about an hour ago,

As I was walking with the Count San Ozzo,

All arm in arm, we met this very man

The Earl--he, with his friend Baldazzar,

Having just arrived in Rome. Ha! ha! he _is_ altered!

Such an account he gave me of his journey!

'Twould have made you die with laughter--such tales he

told

Of his caprices and his merry freaks

Along the road--such oddity--such humor--

Such wit--such whim--such flashes of wild merriment

Set off too in such full relief by the grave

Demeanor of his friend--who, to speak the truth

Was gravity itself--

_Duke_. Did I not tell you?

_Cas_. You did--and yet 'tis strange! but true, as strange,
How much I was mistaken! I always thought