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 CÆSAR; 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 Cæsar. 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!

Spado. Ay, captain, this is noble firing.—Oh, I love a volley of grape-shot.-Are we to have any skylight in our cave? [Looking at SANGUINO's Glass. Don Casar. 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 I, 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 good-natured dame.

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

women.

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

Don Cæsar. 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 Cæsar. 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 11.-DON CESAR.

Flow, thou regal purple stream,
Tinctured 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 Cear. Hark, how distinct we hear the thun

der through this vast body of earth and rock.-Rapino, is Calvette above, upon his post?

Rap. Yes.

Don Cæsar. Spado, 'tis your business to relieve the centinel.

Spado. Relieve! what's the matter with him? Don Cæsar. Come, come, no jesting with duty'tis your watch.

Spado. Let the wolves watch for me my duty is to get supper ready.-[Thunder.]--Go up! Od's fire, you think I am a Salamander ?—D'ye hear! Sang. No sport, I fear.

do

Don Cæsar. Then call Calvette, lock down the trap-door, and get us some more wine from the cis

tern.

Spad. Wine! Ay, captain: and this being a night of peace, we'll have a dish of olives.

Sang. No peace! we'll up and scour the forest presently. But well thought on; a rich old fellow, one Don Scipio, has lately come to reside in the castle on the skirts of the forest-what say you to plunder there?

Don Cæsar. Not to-night-I know my time-I have my reasons-1 shall give command on that business. But where's the stranger we brought in at our last excursion?

Rap. He reposes in yonder recess.

Spado. Ay, egad, there he lies, with a face as innocent-[Aside.]-If my fellow rooks would but fly off, I'd have the pigeon here within all to myself. Cal. [Appears at the top of the winding stairs, with a lantern.] A booty!

Sang. Good news, cavaliers; here comes Calvette. Cal. A booty!

Sang. What! where?

Cal. Soft-but one man!

Sang. But one man! Is he alone?

Cal. Quite,

Spado. One man, and alone-that's odd!

Cal. He seems in years, but his habit, as well as I could distinguish, speaks him noble. [Descends.

Don Casar. Then he'll fight.-My arms! Spado. Oh, he'll fight-get my arms; no, my legs will do for me.

Sang. Come, my carbine-quick!

[Aside.

Don Cæsar. To the attack of one man-paltry! Only you, Calvette, Sanguino, Rapino, and Spado, go; the rest prepare for our general excursion.

Spado. Captain, don't send me; indeed I'm too rash!

Don Cæsar. Come, come, leave buffoonery, and to your duty.

[CALVETTE and RAPINO ascend; the rest go in at several Recesses; SPADO, the last, asscends up slowly.

Enter DON ALPHONSO.

Don Alph. I find myself somewhat refreshed by my slumber; at such a time to fall into the hands of these ruffians, how unlucky! I'm pent up here; my rival Fernando, once my friend, reaches Don Scipio's castle, weds my charming Victoria, and I lose her for ever; but if I could secure an interview, love should plead my causé.

AIR III-DON ALPHONSO.

The hardy sailor braves the ocean,
Fearless of the roaring wind;
Yet his heart, with soft emotion,
Throbs to leave his love behind,