ÆäÀÌÁö À̹ÌÁö
PDF
ePub

ashamed to perceive that this spot has attractions for me, only because it was here I conversed with her. "Twas here the little syren, conscious of her charms, unveiled her fascinating face-'Twas here-Ha!

Enter DON GARCIA and DON VINCENTIO.

Gar. Ha! Don Julio!

Julio. Pshaw! gentlemen, pray be quick.

Gar. 'Twas here that Julio, leaving champaigne untasted, and songs of gallantry unsung, came to talk to the whistling branches.

Vin. 'Twas here that Julio, flying from the young and gay, was found in doleful meditation—[Altering his Tone.]-on a wench, for a hundred ducats!

Gar. Who is she?

Julio. Not Donna Olivia, gentlemen; not Donna Olivia.

of

Gar. We have been seeking you, to ask the event your visit to her.

Julio. The event has proved that you have been most grossly duped.

[ocr errors]

Vin. I knew that-Ha! ha! ha!

Julio. And you likewise, I know that-Ha! ha! ha!The fair lady, so far from being a vixen, is the very essence of gentleness. To me, so much sweetness in a wife, would be downright maukish. Vin. Well, but she's fond of a jew's harp.

Julio. Detests it; she would be as fond of a jew. Gar. Pho, pho! this is a game at cross purposes; -let us all go to Don Cæsar's together, and compare opinions on the spot.

Julio. I'll go most willingly-but it will be only to cover you both with confusion, for being the two men in Spain most easily imposed on. [All going.

Enter MINETte.

Min. Gentlemen, my lady has sent me for one of

you, pray which of you is it?

Julio. [Returning.] Me, without doubt, child.
Vin. I don't know that..

Gar. Look at me, my dear; don't think I am

the man?

you

Min. Let me see a good air, and well made-you are the man for a dancer. [To GARCIA.] Well dressed, and nicely put out of hands-you are the man for a bandbox. [To VINCENTIO.]-Handsome and bold-you are the man for my lady.

[TO JULIO. Julio. My dear little Iris, here's all the gold in my pocket.-Gentlemen, I wish you a good night—I am your very obedient, humble

[Stalking by them, with his Arm round MINETTE. Gar. Pho; pr'ythee, don't be a fool. Are we not going to Donna Olivia?

Julio. Donna Olivia, must wait, my dear boy; we can decide about her to-morrow. Come along, my

little dove of Venus !

[Exit. Gar. What a rash fellow it is! ten to one but this is some common business, and he'll be robbed and murdered-they take him for a stranger.

Vin. Let's follow, and see where she leads him. Gar. That's hardly fair: however, as I think there's danger, we will follow.

[Exit.

SCENE IV.

DON CESAR'S.

Enter MINETTE and DON JULIO.

Min. There, sir, please to sit down, till my lady is ready to wait on you-she won't be long-I'm sure

·H...

she's out, and I may do great things before she re [Aside-Exit.

turns.

Julio. Through fifty back lanes, a long garden, and a narrow staircase, into a superb apartment—all that's in the regular way; as the Spanish women manage it, one intrigue is too much like another. If it was not now and then for the little lively fillip of a jealous husband or brother, which obliges one to leap from a window, or crawl, like a cat, along the gutters, there would be no bearing the ennui. Ah! ah! but this promises novelty; [Looking through the Wing.] a young girl and an old man-wife or daughter? They are coming this way. My lovely incognita, by all that's propitious! Why did not some kind spirit whisper to me my happiness? but hold-she can't mean to treat the old gentleman with a sight of [Goes behind the Sofa.

me.

Enter DON CESAR and OLIVIA.

Cæsar. No, no, madam, no going out-There, madam, this is your apartment, your house, your garden, your assembly, till you go to your convent. Why, how impudent you are, to look thus unconcerned!-Can hardly forbear laughing in my face!Very well-very well!

[Exit, double locking the Door. Oliv. Ha! ha! ha! I'll be even with you, my dear father, if you treble lock it. I'll stay here two days, without once asking for my liberty, and you'll come the third, with tears in your eyes, to take me out.— He has forgot the door leading to the garden-but I vow I'll stay, [Sitting down.] I can make the time pass pleasantly enough.

Julio. I hope so.

[Looking over the Back of the Sofa.

Oliv. Heaven and earth!

Julio. My dear creature, why are you so alarmed? am I here before you expected me? [Coming round.

Oliv. Expected you!

Julio. Oh, this pretty surprise! Come, let us sit down; I think your father was very obliging to lock us in together.

Oli. Sir! sir! my father! [Calling at the Doer. Cæsar. [Without.] Ay, 'tis all in vain-I won't come near you. There you are, and there you may stay. I shan't return, make as much noise as you will.

Julio. Why, are you not ashamed that your father has so much more consideration for your guest than you have?

Oliv. My guest! how is it possible he can have discovered me?

Julio. Pho! This is carrying the thing further than you need-if there was a third person here, it might be prudent.

Oliv. Why, this assurance, Don Julio, is reallyJulio. The thing in the world you are most ready to pardon.

Oliv. Upon my word, I don't know how to treat

you.

Julio. Consult your heart!

Oliv. I shall consult my honour.

Julio. Honour is a pretty thing to play with, but when spoken with that very grave face, after having sent your maid to bring me here, is really more than I expected. I shall be in an ill humour presentlyI won't stay if you treat me thus.

Ohio. Well, this is superior to every thing! I have heard that men will slander women privately to each other; 'tis their common amusement; but to do it to one's face!—and you really pretend that I sent for you?

Julio. Ha ha ha! Well, if it obliges you, I will pretend that you did not send for me; that your maid did not conduct me hither; nay, that I have not now the supreme happiness [Catching her in his Arms.

Enter MINETTE ; she screams, and runs out.

Julio. Donna Olivia de Zuniga! how the devil came she here?

Oliv. [Aside.] That's lucky! Olivia, my dear friend, why do you run away? Keep the character, I charge you. [Apart to MINETTE.] Be still Olivia.

Min. Oh! dear madamn! I was-I was so frightened when I saw that gentleman.

Oliv. Oh, my dear, it's the merriest pretty kind of gentleman in the world; he pretends that I sent my maid for him into the streets, ha! ha!

Julio. That's right; always tell a thing yourself, which you would not have believed.

Min. It is the readiest excuse for being found in a lady's apartment, however. Now will I swear I know nothing of the matter. [Aside. Oliv. Now, I think it a horrid poor excuse; he has certainly not had occasion to invent reasons for such impertinencies often. Tell me that he has made love to you to-day. [Apart. Min. I fancy that he has had occasion to excuse impertinencies often ;--his impertinence to me today

Julio. To you, madam?

Min. Making love to me, my dear, all the morning -could hardly get him away, he was so desirous to speak to my father. Nay, sir, I don't care for your impatience.

Julio. [Aside.] Now would I give a thousand pistoles if she were a man!

Oliv. Nay, then, this accidental meeting is fortunate-pray, Don Julio, don't let my presence prevent your saying what you think proper to my friendshall I leave you together?

Julio. [Apart.] To contradict a lady on such an assertion would be too gross; but, upon my honour, Donna Olivia is the last woman upon earth who

« ÀÌÀü°è¼Ó »