That here comes crowding!

Lucetta. Joy, my lady! Joy!

All. Joy! Joy, my lady!

[They press flowers on her. A pause, while they

watch. On the canal the galleys come into

sight. They near: and as the oars rise and

fall, the rowers' chorus is borne from the distance.

It is the Rondinello song

Chorus in Distance. La lundananza tua, 'l desiderio mio!

Regent. Thanks, my good, good friends! And deem it not discourteous if alone I'd tune my heart to bliss. My glass, Lucetta! [Takes mirror.] Some thoughts there are—some thoughts---- 

And deem it not discourteous if alone

My glass, Lucetta!

[Takes mirror.]

Some thoughts there are—some thoughts----

Courtiers. God save you, madam!

[They go out, leaving the Regent alone.]

Regent (she loosens the clasp of her robe). Some thoughts —some thoughts— Fall from me, envious robe! Rest there, my crown—thou more than leaden ache! Ah!— God! What a mountain drops! I float—I am lifted Like thistledown on nothing. Back, my crown— Weight me to earth! Nay, nay, thy rim shall bite No more upon this forehead ... Where's my glass? O mirror, mirror, hath it bit so deep? My love is coming, hark! O, say not grey, Sweet mirror! Tell, what time to cure it now? And he so near, so near! How shall I meet him? Why how but as the river leaps to sea, Steel to its magnet, child to mother's arms? [She 

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