SECOND NOBLEMAN. You'd bear them stoutly.
FIRST NOBLEMAN. It were vain to give
Drops to god Neptune. You're the sea of love
That swallows all things.
SECOND NOBLEMAN. We the little fish
That meanly scull about within your depths.
PAOLO. Goon, goon! Talk yourselves fairly out.
[PEPE laughs without.
But, hark! here comes the fool! Fit company
For this most noble company of wits!
[Enter PEPE, laughing violently.]
Why do you laugh?
PEPE. I'm laughing at the world.
It has laughed long enough at me; and so
I'll turn the tables. Ho! ho! ho! I've heard
A better joke of Uncle Malatesta's
Than any I e'er uttered. [Laughing.
ALL. Tell it, fool.
PEPE. Why, do you know—upon my life, the best
And most original idea on earth:
A joke to put in practice, too. By Jove!
I'll bet my wit 'gainst the stupidity
Of the best gentleman among you all,
You cannot guess it.
ALL. Tell us, tell us, fool.