Minestra.                           Though scarce a score, I’m seventy-four! —

Teresa.                                      And my heart, my heart is breaking, oh!

Minestra.                                 When a woman has come to seventy year

It’s well to be withered and old and blear;

But when she is only a score like me,

It’s better a fair young girl to be!

Teresa.                                ’Tis well to be young when all is well,

And lovers are true to the tales they tell;

Exeunt together.

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Page created 12 September 2001