Francesca da Rimini
Translated by Arthur Symons
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The opening
ACT I.
A Court in the House of the Polentani, adjacent to a garden that shines brightly through a marble screen, pierced in the form of a transept. A loggia runs round it above, leading on the right to the women’s apartments, and in front, supported on small pillars, affords a double view. On the left is a flight of steps leading down to the threshold of the enclosed garden. At the back is a large door, and a low, barred window, through which can be seen a range of arches surrounding another larger court. Near the steps is a Byzantine sarcophagus, without a lid, filled with earth, like a flower pot, in which grows a crimson rosebush.
The WOMEN are seen, leaning over the loggia, and coming down the stairs, gazing curiously at the JESTER, who carries his viol hanging by his side, and in his hand an old jerkin.
ALDA. Jester, hey, Jester!
GARSENDA. Adonella, Adonella, here is the Jester In the court! O Biancofiore, The Jester! he has come!
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About this edition
- The words
- Arthur Symons's English translation, copied word for word.
- Left out
- Page numbers and running heads from the printed pages, in 10 places
- Notes and pages added by translators, editors or publishers, in 2 places
- The title page and opening pages before chapter 1, in 2 places
- A preface, foreword or afterword
- Other material that isn't the author's
- The half-title “FRANCESCA DA RIMINI”
- The printer's line (“Printed by BALLANTVNE, HANSON & CO. London & Edinburgh”)
- The library's pocket notice, stamp and catalogue card (University of Toronto Library) (6 blocks)