[While she turns the pages, Gamba the Fool creeps

in and hoists himself on the balustrade. He

tries his viol, and sings

.

SONG: Gamba.

 Bird of the South, my Rondinello— 

Bird of the South, my Rondinello—

Regent. Hey? That Song!

Gamba. Hie to me, fly to me, steel-blue mate! Under my breast-knot flutters thy fellow; Here can I rest not, and thou so late. Home, to me, home! 'Love, love, I come!' —Dear one, I wait! Quanno nacesti tu, nacqui pur io: La lundananza tua, 'l desiderio mio! You know the song, madonna?

Under my breast-knot flutters thy fellow;

Here can I rest not, and thou so late.

Home, to me, home!

'Love, love, I come!'

—Dear one, I wait!

Regent. Ay, fool. Sit Here at my feet, sing on. 

Here at my feet, sing on.

Gamba (sings).

 Bird of the South, my Rondinello Under thy wing my heart hath lain Till the rain falling on last leaves yellow Drumm'd to thee, calling southward again. Home, to me, home! 'Love, love, I come!' Ah, love, the pain! Addio, addio! ed un' altra volt' addio! La lundananza tua, 'l desiderio mio! (Pause). A foolish rustic thing the shepherd wives In our Abruzzi croon by winter fires, Of their husbands in the plains. 

Bird of the South, my Rondinello

Under thy wing my 

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