able condition I am in! The devils that worried St. Anthony were a tame set to these! My blood boils! Seized by a set of sturdy knaves, with close-masked faces, tied to a tree and left alone, but not for long:-A troop of fiends, in women's garments, flocked around me, teazing and pinching, pricking and laughing at me! then like their prototypes, the untamed savages, they joined their hands, and danced and sung around their stake tied victim-Oh, how I wished myself a porcupine! at last I loosed an arm and reached my sword, they fled and have escaped me, but by all that's mischievous, I'll carbonado the first woman I meet! If I do not, why-I'll marry her. Here's one already! Rolan. I am caught at last! Caught by a woman, excellently caught, That in a brace of minutes hast produc'd Than thy whole sex could compass! thou en- Prepare for I must kill thee certainly! (throws away his sword) But it shall be with kindness. My poor boy! I'll marry thee to-night. Yet have a care, of me, I'll be your page again. Rolan. We'll to your father. Zam. Alas! I fear I have offended him Think not so: Serv. What name ? Balt. No matter; tell him an old man, Or I will make his dukedom ring so loud I thus take back again. You now must see The drift of what I have been lately acting, And what I am. And though, being a wo man, Giddy with youth and unrestrained fancy, I have reak'd too sharply; yet 'twas done, Balt. You have done most wisely, And all my anger dies in speechless wonder. Jaq. So does all my greatness! Duke. What says my Juliana? Juli. I am lost, too In admiration, sir: my fearful thoughts Rise on a trembling wing to that rash height, Whence, growing dizzy once, I fell to earth. Yet since your goodness, for the second time, Will lift me, though unworthy, to that pitch Of greatness, there to hold a constant flight, I will endeavour so to bear myself, That in the world's eye, and my friends' obser Count. 'Sdeath! why, 'tis Rolando. Rolan. It was a boy, dressed up to cozen me! Suffice it, sirs, that being well convinc'd In what I lately was a stubborn scepticThat women may be reasonable creatures; And finding that your Grace, in one fair instance, Has wrought a wond'rous reformation in them; I'm resolved to marry-(they all laugh)—for 'tis odds (Our joint endeavours lab'ring to that end) That in another century or two They may become endurable. (to the Duke) What say you? Duke. Most certainly. Rolan. Yours, sir? (To the COUNT) Rolan. And yours? (To BALTHAZAR) Jaq. He does not ask mine! Rolan. Add but your blessing, sir, and we are happy! What think you of my page? (ZAMORA unveils, and kneels to BALTHAZAR.) Balt. Zamora ! Zam. Your daughter, sir; who trembling at your feet Balt. Come to my heart! You knew how deeply you were rooted there, Or scarce had ventur'd such a frolick. That, sir, There; she is yours, sir,If you are still determined. ZAMORA goes to JULIANA and VOLANTE embracing them. Rolan. Fix'd as fate Duke. But there hangs a woman on his Nor in so doing do I change my mind; I swore to wed no woman-she's an angel. Volan. Ay, so are all women before marriage, and that's the reason their husbands so soon wish them in heaven afterwards. Duke. Those who are tartly tongued; but END OF THE HONEYMOON. 22 |
