Enter Jolenta, and Angiolella, great-bellied.
Jolenta:
How dost thou friend? Welcome, thou and I
Were playfellows together, little children,
So small a while ago, that I presume
We are neither of us wise yet.
Angiolella:
A most sad truth
On my part.
Jolenta:
Why do you pluck your veil
Over your face?
Angiolella:
If you will believe truth,
There's nought more terrible to a guilty heart
Than the eye of a respected friend.
Jolenta:
Say friend, are you quick with child?
Angiolella:
Too sure.
Jolenta:
How could you know [first of your] child
When you quick'ned?
Angiolella:
How could you know friend?
'Tis reponed you are in the same taking.
Jolenta:
Ha, ha, ha, so 'tis given out:
But Ercole's coming to life again has shrunk,
And made invisible my great belly; yes faith,
My being with child was merely in supposition,
Not practice.
Angiolella:
You are happy; what would I give,
To be a maid again!
Jolenta:
Would you? To what purpose?
I would never give great purchase for that thing
Is in danger every hour to be lost:
Pray thee laugh. A boy or a girl for a wager?
Angiolella:
What heaven please.
Jolenta:
Nay, nay, will you venture
A chain of pearl with me whether?
Angiolella:
I'll lay nothing,
I have ventur'd too much for't already; my fame.
I make no question sister, you have heard
Of the intended combat.
Jolenta:
O what else?
I have a sweetheart in't, against a brother.
Angiolella:
And I a dead friend, I fear; what good
counsel
Can you minister unto me?
Jolenta:
Faith only this
Since there's no means i'th' world to hinder it,
Let thou and I, wench, get as far as we can
From the noise of it.
Angiolella:
Whither?
Jolenta:
No matter,
Any whither.
Angiolella:
Any whither, so you go not
By sea: I cannot abide rough water.
Jolenta:
Not endure to be tumbled? Say no more then,
We'll be land-soldiers for that trick: take heart,
Thy boy shall be bom a brave Roman.
Angiolella:
O you mean
To go to Rome then.
Jolenta:
Within there!
Enter a servant.
Bear this letter
To the Lord Ercole. Now wench, I am for thee
All the world over.
Angiolella:
I like your shade pursue you.
Exeunt.