Signora Fantastici (A Dramatic Proverb)

by Madame de Staël

(Rodolphe dances with Zepherina; Licidas watches them laughing.)

RODOLPHE: Brother, you are laughing. I'm going. (gets wrapped up in the shawl and falls down) Ah, cursed shawl.

(The door opens; Mr. and Mrs. Kriegschenmahl enter with the
Commissioner.)

MADAME DE KRIEGSCHENMAHL:
My son. What a state you are in! Has your brother fought with you?

LICIDAS: No, mother. It's Signora Zepherina who was making him rehearse a lesson in dancing. She was Armida, he was Renaldo.

MADAME DE KRIEGSCHENMAHL:
My son; I never would have believed this of you.

RODOLPHE:
Nor I.

MR. DE KRIEGSCHENMAHL:
Finally, all this is going to finish.

COMMISSIONER:
Yes, yes. Al-All this i-is going to finish.

LICIDAS:
Ah, here's Signora Fantastici