Scene V
THE MAN (alone).
The matter is well arranged now. I needed some one young and strong to help me if it was necessary. This Gilbert is just the man I want. I think I hear the sound of oars and a guitar on the water. Yes.
[He goes to the parapet. A guitar and distant singing are heard.
When you sing soft at night, love,
Clasped in my arms so fond,
Can you not hear the tender thoughts
Which to your voice respond?
Your song brings back unto my heart
The happy days of yore;
Then sing, my beauty, sing, my love,
Sing on for evermore!
THE MAN.
That is my man!
[The voice draws nearer with each verse.
When you laugh, on your lips, dear,
Love’s sweetest shadows play;
And doubt and cruel unbelief
Are sudden chased away.
For laughter proves we’re loyal
And faithful to the core;
Then laugh, my beauty, laugh, my love,
Laugh on for evermore!
When you sleep, calm and pure, love,
In shadow, ’neath my eyes,
And your soft breathing gives my heart
Its tenderest replies,
On your sweet form my eyes can feast,
Oh, beauty’s priceless store!
Then sleep, my beauty, sleep, my love,
Sleep on for evermore!
And when you say, “I love you,”
In truth it seems to be
As if God’s heaven were opening
Especially for me.
I see dreams hidden in your eyes
That we’ve not dreamed before;
Then love me, oh, my beauty,
Love me for evermore!
You see, the whole of life, dear,
Lies in those words, just four—
All things that people envy,
All things that men adore,
All things that are seductive,
On which our heart sets store.
To sing, to laugh, my beauty,
To sleep, to love, no more!
THE MAN.
He lands! Good! He sends off the boatmen. Excellent!
[Comes back to the front of the stage.
Here he comes.
[Fabiano Fabiani enters, enveloped in a cloak; he goes toward the door of the house.