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THE

CASTLE OF ANDALUSIA.

ACT THE FIRST.

SCENE I.

A Cavern with winding Stairs, and Recesses cut in the Rock; a large Lamp hanging in the Centre; a Table, Wine, Fruits, &c. in disorder.-At the Head DoN CASAR; on each Side SPADO, SANGUINO, RAPINO, and others of the Banditti.

AIR I. AND CHORUS.

Don Cæsar. Here we sons of freedom dwell,
In our friendly, rock-hewn cell;
Pleasure's dictates we obey,
Nature points us out the way,
Ever social, great, and free,
Valour guards our liberty.

AIR.

Don Cæsar. Of severe and partial laws,
Venal judges, Alguazils;

Dreary dungeons' iron jaws,
Oar and gibbet-Whips or wheels,

Let's never think

While thus we drink

Sweet Muscadine!

O life divine!

Chorus. Here we sons of freedom dwell, &c.

Don Casar. Come, cavaliers, our carbines are loaded, our hearts are light; charge your glasses; Bacchus gives the word, and a volley makes us immortal as the rosy god.-Fire!

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Spado. Ay, captain, this is noble firing.-Oh, love a volley of grape shot.-Are we to have any skylight in our cave? [Looking at SANGUINO'S Glass. Don Cæsar. Oh, no! a brimmer round.-Come, a good booty to us to-night.

[All drink. Spado. Booty! Oh, I love to rob a fat priest.Stand, says, and then I knock him down.

Sang. My nose bleeds. [Looks at his Handkerchief.]

I wonder what colour is a coward's blood?

Spado. Don't you see it's red?

Sang. Ha! call me coward, [Rises in fury.] sirrah? Captain! cavaliers!-But this scar on my forehead contradicts the miscreant.

Spado. Scar on your forehead!--Ay, you will look behind you, when you run away.

Sang. I'll stab the villain-[Draws Stilletto.]-I will, by Heaven.

Don Cæsar. Poh, Sanguino! you know when a jest offers, Spado regards neither time, place, nor person.

All. [Interposing.] Don't hurt little Spado

Spado. [Hiding behind.] No, don't hurt little Spado. Sang. Run away! Armies have confessed my valour: the time has been-but no matter. [Sits.

Don Cæsar. Come, away with reflection on the past, or care for the future; the present is the golden moment of possession.-Let us enjoy it.

All. Ay, ay, let us enjoy it.

Don Cæsar. You know, cavaliers, when I entered into this noble fraternity, I boasted only of a little courage sharpened by necessity, the result of my youthful follies, a father's severity, and the malice of a goodnatured dame.

Spado. Captain, here's a speedy walk-off to old

women.

All. [Drink.] Ha! ha! ha!

Don Casar. When you did me the honour to elect me your captain, two conditions I stipulated ;Though at war with the world abroad, unity and social mirth should preside over our little commonwealth at home.

Spado. Yes, but Sanguino's for no head-he'll have ours a commonwealth of fists and elbows.

Don Casar. The other, unless to preserve your own lives, never commit a murder.

Spado. I murdered since that—a bishop's coachhorse.

All. Ha! ha! ha!

Don Cæsar. Hand me that red wine.

AIR II-DON CESAR.

Flow, thou regal purple stream,
Tinctur'd by the solar beam,
In my goblet sparkling rise,
Cheer my heart and glad my eyes.
My brain ascend on fancy's wing,
'Noint me, wine, a jovial king.

While I live, I'll lave

my clay,

When I'm dead and gone away,

Let my thirsty subjects say,

A month he reign'd, but that was May.

[Thunder.]

Don Cæsar. Hark, how distinct we hear the thun

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