"Use me, gentlemen," said I, "if I suit you; make me of
service elsewhere than on your scene if I do not. By so doing you will
lighten my load of debt, and make me feel less of a stranger and a
burden. I have won two friends already by the recital of my sorrows"--
here I placed a hand on Belviso's shoulder and gave the other to Il
Nanno--"let me hope that I can gain yet more by some exhibition of my
talents."
This was loudly applauded. "Stand up, Don Francis," said Belviso to me,
"and spout us out whatever bombast you can remember."
I gave them, first, the opening speech of the Orfeo of Politian, where
the sad shepherd accounts his plight, his pursuit of the nymph Euridice,
her abhorrence of him, and the like. All eyes were fixed upon me; I saw
those of La Panormita glisten. The smooth-flowing verses moved her. They
were silent when I had done, which a little disconcerted me; but
presently the dwarf snapped out, "More." Emboldened, I began upon the
Aminta of Tasso, reciting the opening speech of Daphne in the fourth
act. To my delight the part of Silvia, which Virginia in our old days at
Pistoja had been wont to take, was caught up and continued by Belviso.
We fired each other, capped each other, and ended the great scene. The
last six lines of it, to be spoken by the Choragus, were croaked by Il
Nanno in his bull-frog's voice. We stopped amid a storm of bravas, and
La Panormita, with a great gesture, crowned us with flowers.
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