The Falcon
by Alfred Lord TennysonGenre: Drama
Setting: England
Format of Original Source: Play
Recommended Adaptation Length:
Candidate for Adaptation? Not Likely
EXCERPT:
FILIPPO (turns half round). Here has our master been a-glorifying and a-velveting and a-silking himself, and a-peacocking and a-spreading to catch her eye for a dozen year, till he hasn’t an eye left in his own tail to flourish among the peahens, and all along o’ you, Monna Giovanna, all along o’ you!
ELISABETTA. Sh–sh–Filippo! Can’t you hear that you are saying behind his back what you see you are saying afore his face?
COUNT. Let him–he never spares me to my face!
FILIPPO. No, my lord, I never spare your lordship to your lordship’s face, nor behind your lordship’s back, nor to right, nor to left, nor to round about and back to your lordship’s face again, for I’m honest, your lordship.
COUNT. Come, come, Filippo, what is there in the larder? [ELISABETTA crosses to fireplace and puts on wood.
FILIPPO. Shelves and hooks, shelves and hooks, and when I see the shelves I am like to hang myself on the hooks.
COUNT. No bread?
FILIPPO. Half a breakfast for a rat!
COUNT, Milk?
FILIPPO. Three laps for a cat!
COUNT. Cheese?
FILIPPO. A supper for twelve mites.
COUNT. Eggs?
FILIPPO. One, but addled.
COUNT. No bird?
FILIPPO. Half a tit and a hern’s bill.
COUNT. Let be thy jokes and thy jerks, man! Anything or nothing?
FILIPPO. Well, my lord, if all-but-nothing be anything, and one plate of dried prunes be all-but-nothing, then there is anything in your lordship’s larder at your lordship’s service, if your lordship care to call for it.
COUNT. Good mother, happy was the prodigal son,
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