Atalanta. What shall I play?
Grimana. Can you play? [She sings]:
Go visto una colomba el cielo andare
Che la svolava su per un giardino
In mezzo 'l peto la gavea do ale
E in boca la tegniva un zenzamino!
Atalanta. I do not know the air. But I can play a furlana.
Benvenuta. That will be gay, Atalanta. Play a furlana, I beg you.
Grimana. That will serve, Sister Rosalba, your prince.
[As Atalanta plays, Grimana manipulates the Judith and Rosalba the Prince. They are unskillful and the puppets dance crudely, but Benvenuta looks on in ecstasy, falling slowly back until she stands by the door of the closet. As she does so two or three more nuns and novices come furtively in at the back and stand watching the performance. As the dance of the puppets grows more animated the Abbess enters with the Sister Sacristan. For a moment the others do not see her, and the play continues. Then she speaks coldly and evenly.]
Abbess. Sisters, is this the solemn judgment I bespoke on these trinkets? Sister Grimana!
[Grimana lays down the puppets and comes forward.]
Sister Rosalba!