Faith to faith plighted, Will cease to be kind. Enter VASQUEZ. Vas. Madam-my master and Don Fernando. Isab. Oh, when he comes, take notice of him. Enter DON SCIPIO and FERNANDO. Don Scipio. Oh, my darling dame, and my delicate daughter, bless your stars that you see poor old Scipio alive again-Behold my son-in-law and the preserver of my life-Don Fernando, there's your spouse, and this is Donna Isabella, a lady of vast merit, of which my heart is sensible. Don Fer. Madam! Isab. What an impudent fellow! [Salutes [Aside. Don Scipio. Dear Fernando, you are as welcome to this castle as flattery to a lady; but there she is— bill and coo-embrace-caress her. [FERNANDO salutes LORENZA. Lor. If I had never seen Ramirez, I should think the man tolerable enough! [Aside. Don Scipio. Ha! ha! this shall be the happy night -Eh, dame Isabel, by our agreement, before the lark sings, I take possession of this noble tenement. Don Fer. Don Scipio, I hoped to have the honour of seeing your son. Don Scipio. My son! Who, Cæsar? Oh, lord! He's-He was a-turned out a profligate-Sent him to Italy-got into bad company-don't know what's become of him-My dear friend, if you would not offend me, never mention Don Cæsar in my hearing. Egad-Eh, my dainty dame, is not Don Fernando a fine fellow? Isab. Yes, he's well enough for a trumpeter. Don Scipio. Trumpeter! [With Surprise.] what the devil do you mean by that? Oh, because I sound his praise; but, madam, he's a cavalier of noble birth, title, fortune, and valour Isab. Don Scipio, a word if you please. [Takes him aside. Lor: [To FERNANDO.] Si-Signor, our castle here is rather a gloomy mansion, when compared to the beautiful cassinos, on the banks of the Arno. Don Fer: Arno! true, Don Scipio said in his letter, that his daughter had been bred at Florence. Lor. You have had an unpleasant journey, signor. Don Fer. I have encountered some difficulties by the way, it is true, madam; but am amply repaid by the honour and happiness I now enjoy. [Bows: Lor. Sir! I swear he's a polite cavalier! [Aside.] Won't you please to sit, sir? I fancy you must be somewhat weary. [Sits. Don Scipio. What the devil! Eh, sure-what this fellow only Don Fernando's footman! how! it can't be! Isab. A fact; and presently you'll see Don Fernando himself in livery. Don Scipio. Look at the impudent son of a gipsy -Sat himself down-Zounds! I'll Isab. Hold! let him play off his airs. Don Scipio. A footman! Ay, this accounts for his behaviour in the forest-Don Fernando would never have accepted my purse-[Taps his shoulder.]—Hey, what, you've got there! [Rises. Don Fer. Will you please to sit, sir? You may sit down, friend. Don Fer. A strange old gentleman! Enter VASQUEZ. Vas. Sir, your servant Pedrillo is arrived. self. [Exit VASQUEZ. Isab. Servant Pedrillo! Ay, this is Fernando him[Apart, joyfully to SCIPIO. Don Fer. Oh, then the fellow has found his way at last. Don Scipio-Ladies-excuse me a moment. [Exit FERNANDO. Lor. What a charming fellow! Enter PEDRILLO, with a Portmanteau. Ped. Oh dear! I've got among the gentlefolksI ask pardon. Isab. How well he does look and act the servant! Don Scipio. Admirable; yet I perceive the grandee under the livery. Isab. Please to sit, sir. [With great respect. Lor. A livery servant sit down by me! Don Scipio. Pray sit down, sir. [Ceremoniously. Ped. Sit down! [Sits.] Oh, these must be the upper servants of the family-her ladyship here is the housekeeper, I suppose the young tawdry tit, lady's maid (Hey, her mistress throws off good clothes,) and old Whiskers, Don Scipio's butler. [Aside. Enter DON FERNANDO. Don Fer. Pedrillo! how! seated? what means this disrespect? Ped. Sir. [Rises to him.] Old Whiskers the butler there asked me to sit down by Signora the waiting maid here. Don Fer. Sirrah Egad-Eh, my dainty dame, is not Don Fernando a fine fellow? Isab. Yes, he's well enough for a trumpeter. Don Scipio. Trumpeter! [With Surprise.] what the devil do you mean by that? Oh, because I sound his praise; but, madam, he's a cavalier of noble birth, title, fortune, and valour Isab. Don Scipio, a word if you please. [Takes him aside. Lor: [To FERNANDO.] Si-Signor, our castle here is rather a gloomy mansion, when compared to the beautiful cassinos, on the banks of the Arno. Don Fer: Arno! true, Don Scipio said in his letter, that his daughter had been bred at Florence. Lor. You have had an unpleasant journey, signor. Don Fer. I have encountered some difficulties by the way, it is true, madam; but am amply repaid by the honour and happiness I now enjoy. [Bows. Lor. Sir!-I swear he's a polite cavalier! [Aside.] Won't you please to sit, sir? I fancy you must be somewhat weary. [Sits. Don Scipio. What the devil! Eh, sure- -what this fellow only Don Fernando's footman! how! it can't be! Isab. A fact; and presently you'll see Don Fernando himself in livery. Don Scipio. Look at the impudent son of a gipsy -Sat himself down-Zounds! I'll Isab. Hold! let him play off his airs. Don Scipio. A footman! Ay, this accounts for his behaviour in the forest-Don Fernando would never have accepted my purse-[Taps his shoulder.]-Hey, what, you've got there! [Rises. Don Fer. Will you please to sit, sir? You may sit down, friend. Don Fer. A strange old gentleman! self. Enter VASQUEZ. Vas. Sir, your servant Pedrillo is arrived. [Exit VASQUEZ. Isab. Servant Pedrillo! Ay, this is Fernando him[Apart, joyfully to SCIPIO. Don Fer. Oh, then the fellow has found his way at last. Don Scipio-Ladies-excuse me a moment. [Exit FERNANDO. Lor. What a charming fellow ! Enter PEDRILLO, with a Portmanteau. Ped. Oh dear! I've got among the gentlefolksI ask pardon. Isab. How well he does look and act the servant! Don Scipio. Admirable; yet I perceive the grandee under the livery. Isab. Please to sit, sir. [With great respect. Lor. A livery servant sit down by me! Don Scipio. Pray sit down, sir. [Ceremoniously. Ped. Sit down! [Sits.] Oh, these must be the upper servants of the family-her ladyship here is the housekeeper, I suppose-the young tawdry tit, lady's maid (Hey, her mistress throws off good clothes,) and old Whiskers, Don Scipio's butler. [Aside. Enter DON FERNANDO. Don Fer. Pedrillo! how! seated? what means this disrespect? Ped. Sir. [Rises to him.] Old Whiskers the butler there asked me to sit down by Signora the waiting maid here. Don Fer: Sirrah |