Pietrino.--Mercy on me, how my teeth chatter.
Baluzzo.--Prithee, Abellino, be composed for a moment or two, your
gaiety at a time like this is quite horrible.
Cinthia.--Oh, me! oh, me! Poor murdered Matteo.
Abellino.--Hey-day. Why, what is all this! Cinthia, my life, are
you not ashamed of being such a child? Come, let you and I renew
that conversation which my sending you to wake these gentlemen
interrupted. Sit down by me, sweetheart, and give me a kiss.
Cinthia.--Out upon you, monster.
Abellino.--What, have you altered your mind, my pretty dear? Well,
well, with all my heart, when YOU are in the humour, perhaps I may
not have the inclination.
Baluzzo.--Death and the devil, Abellino, is this a time for talking
nonsense? Prithee keep such trash for a fitter occasion, and let us
consider what we are to do just now.
Pietrino.--Nay, this is no season for trifling.
Struzza.--Tell us, Abellino; you are a clever fellow; what course is
it best for us to take?
Abellino (after a pause).--Nothing must be done, or a great deal.
One of two things we must choose. Either we must remain WHERE we
are, and WHAT we are, murder honest men to please any rascal who
will give us gold and fair words, and make up our minds to be hung,
broken on the wheel, condemned to the galleys, burnt alive,
crucified, or beheaded, at the long run, just as it may seem best to
the supreme authority; or else Thomaso.--Or else? Well?
Abellino.--Or else we must divide the spoils which are already in
our possession, quit the Republic, begin a new and better life, and
endeavour to make our peace with Heaven. We have already wealth
enough to make it unnecessary for us to ask how shall we get our
bread? You may either buy an estate in some foreign country, or
keep Osteria, or engage in commerce, or set up some trade, or, in
short, do whatever you like best, so that you do but abandon the
profession of an assassin. Then we may look out for a wife among
the pretty girls of our own rank in life, become the happy fathers
of sons and daughters may eat and drink in peace and security, and
make amends by the honesty of our future lives for the offences of
our past.
Thomaso.--Ha! ha! ha!
Abellino.--What YOU do, that will I do too; I will either hang or
be broken on the wheel along with you, or become an honest man, just
as you please. Now, then, what is your decision?