The Duenna: A Comic Opera Part 10

What bard, &c.

_Enter_ DON CARLOS.

So, friend, is Antonio found?

_Don Car_. I could not meet with him, lady; but I doubt not my friend Isaac will be here with him presently.

_Don. Louisa_. Oh, shame! you have used no diligence. Is this your courtesy to a lady, who has trusted herself to your protection?

_Don Car_. Indeed, madam, I have not been remiss.

_Don. Louisa_. Well, well; but if either of you had known how each moment of delay weighs upon the heart of her who loves, and waits the object of her love, oh, ye would not then have trifled thus!

_Don Car_. Alas, I know it well!

_Don. Louisa_. Were you ever in love, then?

_Don Car_. I was, lady; but, while I have life, I will never be again.

_Don. Louisa_. Was your mistress so cruel?

_Don Car_. If she had always been so, I should have been happier.

SONG.

Oh, had my love ne'er smiled on me, I ne'er had known such anguish; But think how false, how cruel she, To bid me cease to languish; To bid me hope her hand to gain, Breathe on a flame half perish'd; And then with cold and fixed disdain, To kill the hope she cherish'd.

Not worse his fate, who on a wreck, That drove as winds did blow it, Silent had left the shatter'd deck, To find a grave below it.

Then land was cried--no more resign'd, He glow'd with joy to hear it; Not worse his fate, his woe, to find The wreck must sink ere near it!

_Don. Louisa_. As I live, here is your friend coming with Antonio!

I'll retire for a moment to surprise him. [_Exit_.]

_Enter_ ISAAC _and_ DON ANTONIO.

_Don Ant_. Indeed, my good friend, you must be mistaken. Clara d'Almanza in love with me, and employ you to bring me to meet her! It is impossible!

_Isaac_. That you shall see in an instant. Carlos, where is the lady?-- [DON CARLOS _points to the door_.] In the next room, is she?

_Don Ant_. Nay, if that lady is really here, she certainly wants me to conduct her to a dear friend of mine, who has long been her lover.

_Isaac_. Psha! I tell you 'tis no such thing--you are the man she wants, and n.o.body but you. Here's ado to persuade you to take a pretty girl that's dying for you!

_Don Ant_. But I have no affection for this lady.

_Isaac_. And you have for Louisa, hey? But take my word for it, Antonio, you have no chance there--so you may as well secure the good that offers itself to you.

_Don Ant_. And could you reconcile it to your conscience to supplant your friend?

_Isaac_. Pis.h.!.+ Conscience has no more to do with gallantry than it has with politics. Why, you are no honest fellow if love can't make a rogue of you; so come--do go in and speak to her, at least.

_Don Ant_, Well, I have no objection to that.

_Isaac_. [_Opens the door_.] There--there she is--yonder by the window--get in, do.--[_Pushes him in, and half shuts the door_.] Now, Carlos, now I shall hamper him, I warrant! Stay, I'll peep how they go on. Egad, he looks confoundedly posed! Now she's coaxing him. See, Carlos, he begins to come to--ay, ay, he'll soon forget his conscience.

_Don Car_. Look--now they are both laughing!

_Isaac_. Ay, so they are--yes, yes, they are laughing at that dear friend he talked of--ay, poor devil, they have outwitted him.

_Don Car_, Now he's kissing her hand.

_Isaac_, Yes, yes, faith, they're agreed--he's caught, he's entangled.

My dear Carlos, we have brought it about. Oh, this little cunning head! I'm a Machiavel--a very Machiavel!

_Don Car_, I hear somebody inquiring for you--I'll see who it is.

[_Exit_.]

_Re-enter_ DON ANTONIO _and_ DONNA LOUISA.

_Don Ant_. Well, my good friend, this lady has so entirely convinced me of the certainty of your success at Don Jerome's, that I now resign my pretensions there.

_Isaac_. You never did a wiser thing, believe me; and, as for deceiving your friend, that's nothing at all--tricking is all fair in love, isn't it, ma'am?

_Don. Louisa_. Certainly, sir; and I am particularly glad to find you are of that opinion.

_Isaac_. O Lud! yes, ma'am--let any one outwit me that can, I say! But here, let me join your hands. There you lucky rogue! I wish you happily married from the bottom of my soul!

_Don. Louisa_. And I am sure, if you wish it, no one else should prevent it.

_Isaac_. Now, Antonio, we are rivals no more; so let us be friends, will you?

_Don Ant_. With all my heart, Isaac.

_Isaac_. It is not every man, let me tell you, that would have taken such pains, or been so generous to a rival.

_Don Ant_. No, 'faith, I don't believe there's another beside yourself in all Spain.

_Isaac_. Well, but you resign all pretensions to the other lady?

_Don Ant_. That I do, most sincerely.

_Isaac_. I doubt you have a little hankering there still.

_Don Ant_. None in the least, upon my soul.

_Isaac_. I mean after her fortune.