Lucia and Metella

Lūcia and Metella

Lūcia and her mother are in the garden.

Metella: "Lūcia, your father is seeking a husband for you. Therefore, he wrote a letter to Holconius, because Holconius has many friends. Today, Holconius replied, 'I have a wealthy and older friend. His name is Umbricius; his wife is dead, and he has three children. He is looking for a new wife.' Therefore, your father has chosen Umbricius for you and sent a letter to him. Do you like it?"

Lūcia: "Oh no! I do not like it!" (Lūcia is crying.)

Metella: "What are you saying? Why are you crying?"

Lūcia: "I am crying because I love Alexander. He is a clever and good young man."

Metella: "Lūcia, perhaps Alexander is a clever and good young man, but Umbricius is a noble and generous man."

Lūcia: "But I like Alexander!" (Lūcia cries and runs out of the garden.)

The next day, Metella calls Lūcia into the atrium. Lūcia is very sad.

Metella: "Your father is very angry. Umbricius sent a letter."

Lūcia: "What is in the letter? Why is father angry?"

Metella: "Umbricius already has a new wife! He freed a maid and married her. This maid has cared for Umbricius and his children for a long time."

Lūcia: "How happy I am! I give many thanks to the household gods because they have saved me." (Metella exits.)

(Worried)

Lūcia: "But how unfortunate is the freedwoman..."