Gülistane.
What sheer and fragile lace! [Lifts it up.]
Shalnass.
Dead, lifeless stuff. I'll bring to thee a dwarf,
Hath twenty tongues of beasts and men within him.
Instead of apes and parrots I will give thee
Most curious men, abortions of the trees
That marry with the air. They sing by night.
Gülistane.
Thou shalt have kisses.
[The baying of the dogs grows stronger,
seems nearer.]
Shalnass.
Say, do young lovers
Give better gifts?
Gülistane.
What wretched blunderers
In this great art, but what a master thou!
[The Armenian slave comes, plucks Shalnassar
by the sleeve, and whispers.]
Shalnass.
A maiden sayst thou? Doubtless 'tis a woman,
But young? I do not understand.
Gülistane.
What maiden meanest thou. Beloved?
Shalnass.
None, none. I merely bade this slave "remain,"
And thou misheardest. (To the slave.) Hither
come, speak softly.