could inspire me with a tender idea. Find an excuse to send her away, my angel, I entreat you. I have a thousand things to say, and the moments are too precious to be given to her. Oliv. I think so too, but one can't be rude, you know. Come, my dear, sit down, [Seating herself.] have you brought your work? Julio. The devil! what can she mean? [Pushing himself between MINETTE and the Sofa.] Donna Olivia, I am sorry to inform you that my physician has just been sent for to your father, Don Cæsar.-The poor gentleman was seized with a vertigo. Oliv. Vertigoes! Oh, he has them frequently, you [To MINETTE. Min. Yes, and they always keep me from his sight. Julio. Did ever one woman prevent another from leaving her at such a moment before? I really, madam, cannot comprehend know. Cesar. [Without.] It is impossible-impossible, gentlemen! Don Julio cannot be here. Julio. Hah! who's that? Enter DON CESAR, DON GARCIA, and DON VINCENTIO. Gar. There! did we not tell you so? we saw him enter the garden. Cæsar. What can be the meaning of all this? A man in my daughter's apartment! [Attempting to draw. Gar. Hold, sir! Don Julio is of the first rank in Spain, and will unquestionably be able to satisfy your honour, without troubling your sword.-We have done mischief, Vincentio! [Apart. Julio. [To OLIVIA.] They have been cursedly impertinent! but I'll bring you off, never fear, by pretending a passion for your busy friend, there. Cesar. Satisfy me then in a moment; speak, one of you. : Julio. I came here, sir, by the merest accident.— The garden door was open, curiosity led me to this apartment. You came in a moment after, and very civilly locked me in with your daughter. Cæsar. Locked you in! why, then, did you not, like a man of honour, cry out? Julio. The lady cried out, sir, and you told her you would not return; but when Donna Olivia de Zuniga entered, for whom I have conceived a most violent passion- Cæsar. A passion for her! Oh, let me hear no more on't.-A passion for her! You may as well entertain a passion for the untameable hyæna. Gar. There, Vincentio, what think you now? Xantippe or not? Vin. I am afraid I must give up that-but pray support me as to this point, Don Cæsar; is not the lady fond of a jew's harp! Cæsar. Fond! she's fond of nothing, but playing the vixen; there is not such a fury upon earth! Julio. These are odd liberties, with a person who does not belong him. Caesar. I'll play the hypocrite for her no more; the world shall know her true character, they shall know -but ask her maid there. Julio. Her maid! Min. Why, yes, sir; to say truth, I am but Donna Olivia's maid, after all. Oliv. [Apart.] Dear Minette! speak for me, or I am now ruined. Min. I will, ma'am.-I must confess, sir, [Going up to JULIO.] there never was so bitter a tempered creature, as my lady is. I have borne her humours for two years; I have seen her by night and by day. [OLIVIA pulls her Sleeve, impatiently] I will, I will! [To OLIVIA.] and this I am sure, that if you marry her, you'll rue the day every hour the first month, and hang yourself the next. There, madam, I have done it roundly now. Oliv. I am undone-I am caught in my own snare! [Aside. Cæsar. After this true character of my daughter, I suppose, signor, we shall hear no more of your passion; so let us go down, and leave madam to begin her penance. Julio. My ideas are totally confused.-You Donna Olivia de Zuniga, and the person I thought you, her maid! something too flattering darts across my mind. Cæsar. If you have taken a fancy to her maid, I have nothing farther to say; but as to that violent creature Julio. Oh, do not profane her.-Where is that spirit which you tell me of? Is it that which speaks in modest, conscious blushes on her cheeks? Is it that which bends her lovely eyes to earth? Cæsar. Ay, she's only bending them to earth, considering how to afflict me with some new obstinacyshe'll break out like a tygress in a moment. Julio. It cannot be are you, charming woman! such a creature? Oliv. Yes, to all mankind-but one. [Looking down. Julio. But one! Oh, might that excepted one, be me! Oliv. Would you not fear to trust your fate with her, you have cause to think so hateful? Julio. No, I'd bless the hour that bound my fate to her's-permit me, sir, to pay my vows to this fair vixen. Cæsar. What, are you such a bold man as that?— Pho! but if you are, 'twill be only lost time-she'll contrive, some way or other, to return your vows upon your hands. Oliv. If they have your authority, sir, I will return them-only with my own. Cæsar. What's that! what did she say? my head is giddy with surprise. Julio. And mine with rapture. [Catching her Hand. Cæsar. Don't make a fool of me, Olivia.-Wil't marry him? Oliv. When you command me, sir. Cæsar. My dear Don Julio, thou art my guardian angel-shall I have a son-in-law at last? Garcia, Vincentio, could you have thought it? Gar. No, sir; if we had, we should have saved that lady much trouble; 'tis pretty clear now, why she was a vixen. Vin. Yes, yes, 'tis clear enough, and I beg your pardon, madam, for the share of trouble I gave you; but pray, have the goodness to tell me, sincerely, what do you think of a crash? Oliv. I love music, Don Vincentio, I admire your skill, and whenever you'll give me a concert, I shall be obliged. Vin. You could not have pleased me so well, if had married me. you Enter DON CARLOS and VICTORIA. Oliv. Hah! here comes Victoria and her Carlos. My friend, you are happy-'tis in your eyes; I need not ask the event. Cæsar. What, is this Don Carlos, whom Victoria gave us for a cousin? Sir, you come in happy hour! Car. I do indeed, for I am most happy. Julio. My dear Carlos, what has new made thee thus, this morning? Car. A wife! Marry, Julio, marry ! Car. Yes; and when you have married an angel, when that angel has done for you such things, as makes your gratitude almost equal to your love, you may then guess something of what I feel, in calling this angel mine. Oliv. Now, I trust, Don Julio, after all this, that if I should do you the honour of my hand, you'll treat me cruelly, be a very bad man, that I, like my exemplary cousin. Vict. Hold, Olivia! it is not necessary that a husband should be faulty, to make a wife's character exemplary. Should he be tenderly watchful of your happiness, your gratitude will give a thousand graces to your conduct; whilst the purity of your manners, and the nice honour of your life, will gain you the approbation of those, whose praise is fame. Oliv. Pretty and matronly! thank you, my dear. We have each struck a bold stroke to-day :-your's has been to reclaim a husband, mine to get one; but the most important is yet to be obtained—the approbation of our judges. That meed withheld, our labours have been vain; THE END. |
