A Gentleman True

Act 3

III, I

Scene: A masquerade in a courtyard and the gardens of the palace. Many courtiers are present in various costumes. Enter Luca and Adelaide.

LUCA:

I know who thou art, o, fair Venus,

Most beautiful of Olympians.

ADELAIDE:

Thou must with caution tread, then, for many

A suitor of Venus has been brought to

Ruin.

LUCA:

I shall give thee no trouble, good goddess.

ADELAIDE:

You would be wise to not, Signior Luca.

Yes, I know who thou art; thy disguise fails

To hide thy identity.

LUCA:

As does yours, princess. But aside from this,

I see no trace of merriment in thine

Eyes in such a blithe celebration. Would

Joining the dance yonder return thy smile?

ADELAIDE: Art thou skilled in dancing?

LUCA: I am told so, Your Highness.

ADELAIDE:

Very well, then. I would not wish that these

Courtiers persist in thinking me churlish.

They dance.

LUCA:

You dance with all the grace of the Charites.

O, the tales I shall tell to my dear

Companions on my return, of how I

Danced with a goddess on Mount Olympus.

ADELAIDE:

‘Tis too much flattery, Signior. Mortal

Am I, naught remarkable in the slight.

LUCA:

I know that of which I speak. Honest

I have been, honest I shall stay hereon.

If I had in mine hands the holy book

I would swear upon it that my speech

To you is true. I know you were once wronged;

I’ll not speak of it tonight, but you needs

Know I shall not harm thee. You can have faith

In me.

ADELAIDE: Time shall be the judge of that.

Enter Silvestro.

SILVESTRO: (aside)

Not even at a masquerade does my

Daughter fade into the faces. Not just

I, but the entire company here

Watches as she dances with a

Young man strange to our eyes. Could this be a

Gentleman true? His manner is good and

His form as well, in all aspects pleasing