IPPOLITO.
Fairest, and most devout!
ALEXANDER.
The floors are clear; and I have my petition.
Cesare, grant us joy! Dance with your sister.
My stars, my Gemini! Lead forth the Duchess....
Delay? My prayer!
[Cesare bends close to Lucrezia and whispers in her ear. She turns white, then rose-red, with her eyes on the ground.
My prayer!
[Lucrezia lays her hand in Cesare’s.
CESARE.
[Laughing and bowing to the Pope.] The tambourines!
[They dance a slow Spanish dance: as they begin Lucrezia lifts her eyes to Cesare’s face, and, looking into each other’s eyes, they tread the measure.