Politian Act 1 Scene 1 Edgar Allan Poe

An apartment in the Palazzo of Di Broglio. Traces of a protracted revel. On a wine-table some candles burnt to the socket. Masks, a lute, a lady’s slipper, cards and broken bottles are strewn about the floor and on the table. Enter BENITO meeting UGO intoxicated.

UGO. Oh! is that you Benito (hiccup) are they gone?

BENITO. Faith that’s a question, Ugo, hard to answer,
But are the bottles empty?—then they’re gone.
As for the Count San Ozzo who knocked me down
Just now on the staircase as I came up hither,
I can with more precision speak of him—
He’s gone, I’m sure of that—pretty far gone.

UGO. Is the bravo gone? (hiccup) where is the buffo-singer?
Did you say his Excellency had departed?
Are all the fiddlers off (hiccup) the devil go with them!
I’m positively stupid for want of sleep!

BENITO (eyeing him.) Oh you are right—quite right—being as you say
Ugo, a most confounded stupid man.

UGO. Sirrah! I said not so, or else I (hiccup) lied.

BENITO. I have no doubt, good Ugo, that you lied
Being, as you observe, a most notorious liar—
(Ugo sits, and helps himself to wine. Enter RUPERT.)
Well, master Rupert what have you done with the count?