Baluzzo.--Confound the fellow, who would have thought of anything
happening so unlucky?

Abellino.--Why, how now? You seem to be overcome.

Struzza.--I cannot recover myself; surprise and terror have almost
stupefied me.

Abellino.--Indeed! By my life, when I heard the news I burst into
laughter. "Signor Matteo," said I, "I wish your worship joy of your
safe arrival."

Thomaso.--What?

Struzza.--You laughed? Hang me if I can see what there is to laugh
at.

Abellino.--Why, surely you are not afraid of receiving what you are
so ready to bestow on others? What is your object? What can we
expect as our reward at the end of our labours except the gibbet or
the rock? What memorials of our actions shall we leave behind us,
except our skeletons dancing in the air, and the chains which rattle
round them? He who chooses to play the bravo's part on the great
theatre of the world must not be afraid of death, whether it comes
at the hands of the physician or the executioner. Come, come, pluck
up your spirits, comrades.

Thomaso.--That's easy to say, but quite out of my power.

Pietrino.--Mercy on me, how my teeth chatter.