Isaac. Very like a Virginia nightingale! Ma'am, I perceive you're hoarse-I beg you will not distressDuenna. Oh, not in the least distressed. Now, Sir. SONG. When a tender maid By some admiring swain, If she meets his eyes, While he unfolds his pain! If he takes her hand, she trembles quite; Her heart avows her fright. But in time appear Or her bosom clasps, No mantle blush ensues. Then to the church well pleased the lovers move, And a pit-a-pat, &c. Her heart avows her love. Isaac. Charming, ma'am! Enchanting! and, truly, your notes put me in mind of one that's very dear to me; a lady, indeed, whom you greatly resemble! Duenna. How! is there, then, another so dear to you? Isaac. O, no, ma'am,-you mistake; it was my mother I meant. Duenna. Come, Sir, I see you are amazed and confounded at my condescension, and know not what to say. Isaac. It is very true, indeed, ma'am,-but it is a judgment, I look on it as a judgment on me, for delaying to urge the time when you'll permit me to complete my happiness, by acquainting Don Jerome with your condescension. Duenna. Sir, I must frankly own to you, that I can never be yours with my papa's consent. Isaac. Good lack! how so? Duenna. When my father, in his passion, swore he would never see me again till I acquiesced in his will, I also made a vow, that I would never take a husband from his hand: nothing shall make me break that oath: but, if you have spirit and contrivance enough to carry me off, without his knowledge, I'm yours. Isaac. Hum! Duenna. Nay, Sir, if you hesitate―― Isaac. I' faith, no bad whim this. If I take her at her word, 1 shall secure her fortune, and avoid making any settlement in return: thus, I shall not only cheat the lover, but the father too. Oh, cunning rogue, Isaac! Ay, ay, let this little brain alone. Egad I'll take her in the mind. Duenna. Well, Sir, what's your determination? Isaac. Madam, I was dumb only from rapture. I applaud your spirit, and joyfully close with your proposal; for which, thus let me on this lily hand express my gratitude. Duenna. Well, Sir, you must get my father's consent to walk with me in the garden. But by no means inform him of my kindness to you. Isaac. No, to be sure; that would spoil all: but, trust me, when tricking is the word-let me alone for a piece of cunning: this very day you shall be out of his power. Duenna. Well, I leave the management of it all to you. I perceive plainly, Sir, that you are not one that can be easily outwitted. Isaac. Egad, you're right, madam—you're right, i'faith. Enter MAID. Maid. Here's a gentleman at the door, who begs permission to speak with Signior Isaac. Isaac. A friend of mine, ma'am, and a trusty friend -let him come in. [Exit MAID.] He is one to be depended on, ma'am. So, coz. Enter CARLOS. [Aside. Carlos. I have left Donna Clara at your lodgingsbut can no where find Antonio. Isaac. Well, I will search him out myself. Carlos, you rogue, I thrive, 1 prosper. Carlos. Where is your mistress? Isaac. There, you booby, there she stands. Isaac. Hush! [Stops his mouth. Duennu. What is your friend saying, Signior? Isaac. Oh, ma'am, he is expressing his raptures at such charms as he never saw before,-eh, Carlos? Carlos. Ay, such as I never saw before, indeed! Duenna. You are a very obliging gentleman. Well, Signior Isaac, I helieve we had better part for the present. Remember our plan. Isaac. Oh, ma'am, it is written in my heart, fixed as the image of those divine beauties. Adieu, idol of my soul!-yet once more permit me- [Kisses her. Duenna. Sweet', courteous Sir, adieu ! · Isaac. Your slave eternally. Come, Carlos, say something civil at taking leave. Carlos. l'faith, Isaac, she is the hardest woman to compliment I ever saw: however, I'll try something I had studied for the occasion. SONG. Ah! sure a pair was never seen, The youth excelling so in mien, The maid in every grace of feature. Was made for thee, And thou to bless this lovely creature. So mild your looks, your children thence At once such graces and such spirit! May fortune give Each blessing to your merit SCENE III-A Library. JEROME and FERDINAND discovered. [Exeunt. Jerome. Object to Antonio? I have said it: his poverty, can you acquit him of that? Ferd. Sir, I own he is not over rich; but he is of as ancient and honourable a family as any in the king dom. ancient Jerome. Yes, I know the beggars are a very family in most kingdoms; but never in great repute, boy. Ferd. Antonio, Sir, has many amiable qualities. Jerome. But he is poor. Can you clear him of that, I say? Is he not a gay, dissipated rake, who has squandered his patrimony? Ferd. Sir, he inherited but little; and that, his generosity, more than his profuseness, has stripped him of; but he has never sullied his honour, which, with his title, has outlived his means. Jerome. Pshaw! you talk like a blockhead! Nobility, without an estate, is as ridiculous as gold-lace on a frize coat. Ferd. This language, Sir, would better become a Dutch or English trader, than a Spaniard. Jerome. Yes, and those Dutch and English traders, as you call them, are the wiser people. Why, booby, in England, they were formerly as nice, as to birth and family, as we are: but they have long discovered what a wonderful purifier gold is; and now, no one there regards pedigree in any thing but a horse. Oh, here comes Isaac! I hope he has prospered in his suit. Ferd. Doubtless, that agreeable figure of his must have helped his suit surprisingly. Jerome. How now? [FERDINAND walks aside. Enter ISAAC. Well, my friend, have you softened her? Jerome. What, does she come to? Isaac. Why, truly, she is kinder than I expected to find her. Jerome. And the dear little angel was civil, eh? Isaac.. Ay, and if all the family were transported, it would not signify. [Aside. Jerome. Well, and you were astonished at her beauty, eh? Isaac, I was astonished, indeed! Pray,how old is Miss? Jerome. How old? Let me see-eight and twelve: she is twenty. Isaac. Twenty? Jerome. Ay, to a month. Isaac. Then, upon my soul, she is the oldest-looking girl of her age in Christendom! Jerome. Do you think so? but, I believe, you will not see a prettier girl. Isaac. Here and there one. Jerome. Louisa has the family face. Isaac. Yes, 'egad, I should have taken it for a family face, and one that has been in the family some time, too. [Aside. Jerome. She has her father's eyes. Isaac. Truly, I should have guessed them to have been so. If she had her mother's spectacles, I believe she would not see the worse. [Aside Jerome. Her aunt Ursula's nose, and her grandmothers forehead, to a hair. Isaac. Ay, 'faith, and her grandfather's chin, to a hair. [A side. |