Page:Victor Hugo's Works (Guernsey Edition) v14.djvu/24

6

You have Bertuccio.

Men call you faithless, bitter, loving wrong

For wrong's sake, Duke Manfredi's worst counsellor,

Still prompting him to evil.

How folks flatter!

How, then, am I to trust you?

Monna Cecca,

You know the wild beasts that your husband keeps

Down in the castle fosse? There's a she-leopard

I lie and gaze at by the hour together;

So sleek, so graceful, and so dangerous!

I long to see her let loose on a man.

Trust me to draw the bolt, and loose my leopard.

I'll trust your love of mischief—not of me.

That 's safest!

I must know how fares this fancy

Of Duke Manfredi for yon pale Ginevra.

Mark him and her,—their meetings, communings;

I know you 're private with my lord.