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Dialogue Following Song No. 16
- MINESTRA.
- Why, take heart, little one! What ails thee? Come, tell me thy sorrow. I'm an old
body now, but time was when I was as young as thou art - and not so long since,
either!
- TERESA.
- Oh, mother, mother, I think I am bewitched!
- MINESTRA (aside).
- Here's another!
- TERESA.
- I am as though in a dream! Shall I tell thee? Yes, for thou hast a kindly old face.
To serve an unworthy end I must needs feign to be going mad for the love of
Alfredo, and so feigning, I fell at his feet. He, thinking I had swooned, in good
sooth, placed a wine-cup to my lips, and I drank, and oh, mother, it must have
been some love-philtre, for, behold, a wondrous change came over me, and he
who was naught to me before became as the very breath of my life!
- MINESTRA.
- Well, the potion has done thee a good service, for he's a good lad, and will make
thee a strapping husband.
- TERESA.
- Nay, herein is the mischief of it - it was too late, for he had already given his
heart to another, and would none of me, and I, whose very soul is possessed by
my love of him, have retained the village fiddler to compose crazy love-songs for
me to sing when the occasion ariseth, for I am going mad - mad - mad - and
be a girl never so crazy, her songs should be in accordance with the rules of
thorough-bass.
- MINESTRA.
- Ha! Now, mark me - that mountebanking fellow is at the bottom of this. Why,
he hath also bewitched me!
- TERESA.
- Thou? Thou lovest not Alfredo?
- MINESTRA.
- A fig for Alfredo! Why, look at me, child; I am Minestra!
- TERESA (looking at her).
- Thou Minestra, who was married this morning? Nay, I am mad; but
not so mad as that! Minestra is young and rather pretty - not so pretty as I, but
still pretty - whereas thou art - oh! I ask pardon - my brain wanders -
wanders -wanders!
- MINESTRA.
- I am Minestra, I tell thee. For a purpose - also an unworthy one - I feigned to
be an old dame, and so feigning, I drank - and, hang the knave, I am seventy!
- TERESA.
- Thou Minestra? Why, let me look! As I live, it is true! Oh, poor, poor Risotto!
- MINESTRA.
- Even so; thy pity is for him - not for me. No matter. But if I can find this jack-
pudding, trust me, I'll make him set matters straight again. Oh, I have as much to
regain as thou!
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