Don Juan. Call my son a rascal! Don Scipio. Zounds, man! who's thinking of your son? But this fellow to marry the girl, and disgrace my family. Don Juan. Disgrace! He has honoured your family, you crack-brained old fool! Don Scipio. A footman honour my family, you superannuated, deaf old idiot! Enter DAME ISABELLA. Oh, Dame, fine doings! Pedrillo here has married. my daughter. Don Juan. But why this disguise-what is all this about? tell me, Fernando. Isab. What, is this really Don Fernando? Don Juan. To be sure. Don Scipio. Hey! then, Dame, your daughter is left to the valet-no fault of mine, though. Isab. What a vile contrivance! Don Fer. No, madam, yours was the contrivance, which love and accident have counteracted, in justice to this injured lady. Isab. Oh, that villain Spado! Don Juan. Spado, why that's the villain told me you were deaf, Don Scipio. Why, he made me believe you could not hear a word. Isab. And led me into this unlucky error. [Exit ISABELLA. Don Juan. Oh, what a lying scoundrel! Enter SPADO, behind. Spado. I wonder how my work goes on here![Roars in DON JUAN's Ear.] I give you joy, sir. Don Juan. I'll give you sorrow, you rascal! [Beats him. me. Don Scipio. I'll have you hanged, you villain! Spado. Hanged! dear sir, 'twould be the death of Pedrillo. [Without.] Come along, my cara sposa -tol-de-rol Enter PEDRILLO. How do you do, boys and girls-Zounds! my old master! Don Juan. Pedrillo! heyday! here's finery! Ped, I must brazen it out.-Ah, Don Juan, my worthy dad! Don Juan. Why, what in the name of-but I'll beat you to a mummy, sirrah! Ped. Don't do that-I'm going to be married to an heiress, so mustn't be beat to a mummy.-Stand before me, spouse. [Gets behind Lorenza, Don Juan. Let me come at him. Spado. Stay where you are, he don't want you. Don Scipio. Patience, Don Juan; your son has got my daughter-so our contract's fulfilled. Don Juan. Yes, sir; but who's to satisfy me for your intended affront, hey? Don Scipio. How shall I get out of this-I'll revenge all upon you, you little rascal! to prison you go. Here, a brace of alguazils, and a pair of handcuffs. -- Spado. For me! the best friend you have in the world! Don Scipio. Friend, you villain! that shan't save your neck. Spado. Why, I've saved your throat. Don Scipio. How, sirrah? Spado. Only two of the banditti here in the castle, this morning, Don Scipio. Oh, dear me! Spado. I told them they should come and murder you this evening. Don Scipio. Much obliged to you.-Oh, lord! [A Crash and tumultuous Noise without; BANDITTI rush in, armed; DoN CESAR at their Head.-FERNANDO draws, and stands before VICTORIA. Band. This way! Don Scipio. Oh, ruin! I'm a miserable old man! Where's now my son, Don Cæsar?-If I had'nt banished him, I should now have a protector in my child. Don Caesar. Then you shall.-Hold! [To BANDITTI. My father! [Kneels to DON SCIPIO. Don Scipio. How! My son, Don Cæsar! Don Caesar. Yes, sir; drove to desperation bymy follies were my own-but my vices Don Scipio. Were the consequence of my rigour.My child let these tears wash away the remembrance, Don Cæsar. My father! I am unworthy of this goodness. I confess even now I entered this castle with an impious determination to extort by force. Sang. Captain, we did'nt come here to talk.Give the word for plunder. Band. Aye, plunder! Don Cæsar. Hold! [Very tumultuous. Spado. Aye, captain, let's have a choice rumaging. [Cocks his Pistol. Ped. Oh, Lord! there's the barrel-organ! Don Cæsar. Stop! hold! I command you. Don Scipio. Oh, heavens! then is Ramirez the terrible captain of the cut-throats-the grand tiger of the cave-But all my fault! the unnatural parent should be punished in a rebellious child. My life is yours. Don Casar. And I'll preserve it as my own.-Retire, and wait your orders. [Exeunt all BANDITTI but SPADO. Don Scipio. What then, you won't let me be murdered. My dear boy! my darling! Forgive me !— I-I-I pardon all. Don Cæsar. Then, sir, I shall first beg it for my companions; if reclaimed, by the example of their leader, their future lives show them worthy of mercy; if not, with mine let them be forfeit to the hand of justice. Don Scipio. Some, I believe, may go up-Eh! little Spado, could you dance upon nothing? Spado. Yes, sir; but our captain, your son, must lead up the ball. [Bows low. Don Scipio. Ha! ha! ha! Well, you know, though ill bestowed, I must try my interest at Madrid.— Children, I ask your pardon; forgive me, Victoria, and take my blessing in return. Vict. And do you, sir, acknowledge me for your child? Don Scipio. I do, I do; and my future kindness shall make amends for my past cruelty. Ped. Ha, here comes my sposa.-Eh! got a beau already? Enter ALPHONSO and LoRenza. } Embrace. Don Caesar. My beloved Lorenza! Lor. My dearest. Don Alph. My good captain! as I knew this lady only by the name of Victoria, you little imagined, in your friendly promises to me, you were giving away your Lorenza; but, had I then known we both loved the same mistress, I should, ere now, have relinquished my pretensions. Lor. My goodnatured Alphonso! Accept my gratitude, my esteem; but my love is, and ever was, in the possession of Don Cæsar. Dear father, this is the individual lady whose beauty, grace, and angelic voice, captivated my soul at Florence; if she can abase her spotless mind, to think upon a wretch stained with crimes, accompany her pardon with your approbation. Don Scipio. Isabel has been too good, and I too bad a parent!-Ha! ha! ha! then fate has decreed you are to be my daughter, some way or other. Ped. Yes; but has fate decreed that my sposa is to be another man's wife? Spado. And, sir, [To SCIPIO.] if fate has decreed that your son is not to be hanged, let the indulgence extend to the humblest of his followers. [Boas low. Don Scipio. Ha! ha! ha! Well, though I believe you a great, little rogue, yet it seems you have been the instrument of bringing about things just as they should be. Don Juan. They are not as they should be, and I tell you again, Don Scipio, I will have Don Scipio. Well, and shall have a bottle of the best wine in Andalusia, sparkling Muscadel, bright as Victoria's eye, and sweet as Lorenza's lip: hey, now for our brace of weddings-where are the violins, lutes, and cymbals ? I say, let us be merry in future; and past faults, our goodhumoured friends will forget and forgive. GLEE. FINALE. Social powers at pleasure's call |