me. Don Scipio. I'll have you hanged, you villain! Spado. Hanged! dear sir, 'twould be the death of Pedrillo. [Without.] Come along, my cara sposa -tol-de-rol Enter PEDRILLO. How do you do, boys and girls-Zounds! my old master! Don Juan. Pedrillo! hey-day! here's finery! Ped. I must brazen it out.-Ah, Don Juan, my worthy dad! Don Juan. Why, what in the name of but I'll beat you to a mummy, sirrah! Ped. Don't do that I'm going to be married to an heiress, so mustn't be beat to a mummy.-Stand before me, spouse. [Gets behind Lorenza. Don Juan. Let me come at him. Spado. Stay where you are, he don't want you. Don Fer. Dear sir! Don Scipio. Patience, Don Juan; your son has got my daughter-so our contract's fulfilled. Don Juan. Yes, sir; but who's to satisfy me for your intended affront, hey? Don Scipio. How shall I get out of this-I'll revenge all upon you, you little rascal! to prison you go. Here, a brace of alguazils, and a pair of hand cuffs. Spado. For me! the best friend you have in the world! Don Scipio. Friend, you villain! that sha'n't save your neck. Spado. Why, I've saved your throat. Don Scipio. How, sirrah? Spado. Only two of the banditti here in the castle, this morning. Don Scipio. Oh, dear me ! Spado. I told them they should come and murder you this evening. Don Scipio. Much obliged to you.-Oh, lord! [A crash and tumultuous noise without; BANDITTI rush in armed; DON CESAR at their head.-FERNANDO draws, and stands before VICTORIA. Band. This way! Don Scipio. Oh, ruin! I'm a miserable old man! Where's now my son, Don Cæsar?-If I hadn't banished him, I should now have a protector in my child. Don Cæsar. Then you shall.-Hold! [To BANDITTI.] My father! [Kneels to DoN SCIPIO Don Scipio. How! My son, Don Cæsar! Don Casar. Yes, sir; drove to desperation bymy follies were my own-but my vices Don Scipio. Were the consequence of my rigour. -My child! let these tears wash away the remembrance. Don Cæsar. My father! I am unworthy of this goodness. I confess even now I entered this castle with an impious determination to extort by forceSang. Captain, we didn't come here to talk. Give the word for plunder. Bund. Ay, plunder! Don Cæsar. Hold! [Very tumultuous. Spado. Ay, captain, let's have a choice rummaging. [Cocks his Pistol. Ped. Oh, Lord! there's the barrel-organ! Don Cæsar. Stop! hold! I command you. Don Scipio. Oh, heavens! then is Ramirez the terrible captain of the cut-throats-the grand tiger of Don Scipio. I'll have you hanged, you villain! Spado. Hanged! dear sir, 'twould be the death of me. Pedrillo. [Without.] Come along, my cara sposa -tol-de-rol Enter PEDRILlo. How do you do, boys and girls-Zounds! my old master! Don Juan. Pedrillo! hey-day! here's finery! Ped. I must brazen it out.-Ah, Don Juan, my worthy dad! Don Juan. Why, what in the name of but I'll beat you to a mummy, sirrah! Ped. Don't do that I'm going to be married to an heiress, so mustn't be beat to a mummy.. -Stand before me, spouse. [Gets behind LORENZA. Don Juan. Let me come at him. Spado. Stay where you are, he don't want you. Don Scipio. Patience, Don Juan; your son has got my daughter-so our contract's fulfilled. Don Juan. Yes, sir; but who's to satisfy me for your intended affront, hey? Don Scipio. How shall I get out of this-I'll revenge all upon you, you little rascal! to prison you go. Here, a brace of alguazils, and a pair of handcuffs. Spado. For me! the best friend you have in the world! Don Scipio. Friend, you villain! that sha'n't save your neck. Spado. Why, I've saved your throat. Don Scipio. How, sirrah? Spado. Only two of the banditti here in the castle, this morning. Don Scipio. Oh, dear me! Spado. But I got them out. Don Scipio. How? how? Spado. I told them they should come and murder you this evening. Don Scipio. Much obliged to you.-Oh, lord! [A crash and tumultuous noise without; BANDITTI rush in armed; DON CÆSAR at their head.-FERNANDO draws, and stands before VICTORIA. Band. This way! Don Scipio. Oh, ruin! I'm a miserable old man! Where's now my son, Don Cæsar?—If I hadn't banished him, I should now have a protector in my child. Don Casar. Then you shall.-Hold! [To BANDITTI.] My father! [Kneels to DoN SCIPIO Don Scipio. How! My son, Don Cæsar! Don Casar. Yes, sir; drove to desperation by--my follies were my own-but my vices Don Scipio. Were the consequence of my rigour, -My child! let these tears wash away the remembrance. Don Cæsar. My father! I am unworthy of this goodness. I confess even now I entered this castle with an impious determination to extort by forceSang. Captain, we didn't come here to talk. Give the word for plunder. Band. Ay, plunder! Don Cæsar. Hold! [Very tumultuous. Spado. Ay, captain, let's have a choice rummaging. [Cocks his Pistol. Ped. Oh, Lord! there's the barrel-organ! Don Cæsar. Stop! hold! I command you. Don Scipio. Oh, heavens! then is Ramirez the terrible captain of the cut-throats-the grand tiger of the cave?-But all my fault the unnatural parent should be punished in a rebellious child. My life is yours. Don Cæsar. And I'll preserve it as my own.-Retire, and wait your orders. [Exeunt all BANDITTI but SPADO. Don Scipio. What then, you won't let me be murdered. My dear boy! my darling! Forgive me!— I-I-I pardon all. Don Cæsar. Then, sir, I shall first beg it for my companions, if, reclaimed by the example of their leader, their future lives show them worthy of mercy; if not, with mine let them be forfeit to the hand of justice. Don Scipio. Some, I believe, may go up-Eh! little Spado, could you dance upon nothing? Spado. Yes, sir: but our captain, your son, must lead up the ball. [Bows low. Don Scipio. Ha! ha! ha! Well, you know, though ill bestowed, I must try my interest at Madrid.Children, I ask your pardon; forgive me, Victoria, and take my blessing in return. Vict. And do you, sir, acknowledge me for your child? Don Scipio. I do, I do: and my future kindnessshall make amends for my past cruelty. Ped. Ha, here comes my sposa.-Eh! got a beau already? Enter ALPHONSO and LORENZA. Don Cæsar. My beloved Lorenza! } Embrace. Don Alph. My good captain! as I knew this lady only by the name of Victoria, you little imagined, in your friendly promises to me, you were giving away your Lorenza; but, had I then known we both loved |