[The rival partisans of Chiari and Goldoni, who were present in the theatre, and saw that a strong stroke of satire was about to fall, did their best to excite the indignation of the audience, and to stir up a commotion. They did not succeed, however. I have already said that Celio represented Goldoni, and Morgana Chiari. The former of these gentlemen had served his apprenticeship at the Venetian bar, and his style smacked of forensic idioms. Chiari plumed himself upon his sublime pindaric flights of poetry; but I may submit, with all respect, that there never was a tumid and irrational author of the seventeenth century who surpassed him in extravagant conceits and bombast.
Well, Celio and Morgana, animated by mutual hostility, met together in this scene, which I will transcribe literally, just as the dialogue was spoken. I must first remind my readers that parodies miss their mark unless they are surcharged; and, keeping this in view, I beg them to look with indulgence upon a caprice, which was begotten by jesting humour, without any animosity against two worthy individuals.]
Celio (entering with vehemence, to Morgana). "Wicked enchantress! I have discovered all your base deceits. But Pluto will assist me. Infamous beldame, accursed witch!"
Morgana. "What do you mean, you charlatan of a wizard? Do not provoke me. I will give you a rebuff in Martellian verses, which shall make you die foaming."
C. "To me, rash witch? You shall get tit for tat from me. I defy you in Martellian verse. Here's at you![80]
| "It shall be always held a vain injurious assault, |
| Fraudulent, without proper grounds, in justice real at fault; |
| To wit these, and whatever else, malignant, fury-fraught |
| Spells by Morgana cast, with all etceteras basely wrought: |
| And as these premises declare, what bane may hence ensue |
| Is cancelled, quashed, estopped, made void, condemned by order due." |
M. "Oh, the bad verses! Come on, you twopenny-halfpenny magician!
| "First shall the glorious rays of gold which beam from Phœbus' breast |
| Be turned to lumps of vulgar lead, and East become the West; |
| First shall the darkling moon on high, her silver beams so bright |
| Change with the glimmering stars, and lose the empire of the night; |
| The murmuring streams that purling roll along their crystal bed, |
| With Pegasus aloft shall fly, and on the clouds be spread; |
| But thou, base slave of Pluto's power, shall never have the force |
| To scorn the sails and rudder of my pinnace in her course." |
C. "O fustian fairy, blown out like a bladder!