The Duenna: A Comic Opera Part 2

_Don Ferd_. Ay, that's a different case!--we never mean that others should act to our sisters and wives as we do to others'.--But, to- morrow, Clara is to be forced into a convent.

_Don Ant_. Well, and am not I so unfortunately circ.u.mstanced? To- morrow, your father forces Louisa to marry Isaac, the Portuguese--but come with me, and we'll devise something I warrant.

_Don Ferd_. I must go home.

_Don Ant_. Well, adieu!

_Don Ferd_. But, Don Antonio, if you did not love my sister, you have too much honour and friendship to supplant me with Clara--

AIR--_Don Ant_.

Friendship is the bond of reason; But if beauty disapprove, Heaven dissolves all other treason In the heart that's true to love.

The faith which to my friend I swore, As a civil oath I view; But to the charms which I adore, 'Tis religion to be true. [_Exit_.]

_Don Ferd_. There is always a levity in Antonio's manner of replying to me on this subject that is very alarming.--'Sdeath, if Clara should love him after all.

SONG.

Though cause for suspicion appears, Yet proofs of her love, too, are strong; I'm a wretch if I'm right in my fears, And unworthy of bliss if I'm wrong.

What heart-breaking torments from jealousy flow, Ah! none but the jealous--the jealous can know!

When blest with the smiles of my fair, I know not how much I adore: Those smiles let another but share, And I wonder I prized them no more!

Then whence can I hope a relief from my woe, When the falser she seems, still the fonder I grow? [_Exit_.]

SCENE III.--_A Room in_ DON JEROME'S _House_.

_Enter_ DONNA LOUISA _and_ DUENNA.

_Don. Louisa_. But, my dear Margaret, my charming Duenna, do you think we shall succeed?

_Duen_. I tell you again, I have no doubt on't; but it must be instantly put to the trial. Everything is prepared in your room, and for the rest we must trust to fortune.

_Don. Louisa_. My father's oath was, never to see me till I had consented to----

_Duen_. 'Twas thus I overheard him say to his friend, Don Guzman,--_I will demand of her to-morrow, once for all, whether she will consent to marry Isaac Mendoza; if she hesitates, I will make a solemn oath never to see or speak to her till she returns to her duty_.--These were his words.

_Don. Louisa_. And on his known obstinate adherence to what he has once said, you have formed this plan for my escape.--But have you secured my maid in our interest?

_Duen_. She is a party in the whole; but remember, if we succeed, you resign all right and t.i.tle in little Isaac, the Jew, over to me.

_Don. Louisa_. That I do with all my soul; get him if you can, and I shall wish you joy most heartily. He is twenty times as rich as my poor Antonio.

AIR.

Thou canst not boast of fortune's store, My love, while me they wealthy call: But I was glad to find thee poor-- For with my heart I'd give thee all.

And then the grateful youth shall own I loved him for himself alone.

But when his worth my hand shall gain, No word or look of mine shall show That I the smallest thought retain Of what my bounty did bestow; Yet still his grateful heart shall own I loved him for himself alone.

_Duen_. I hear Don Jerome coming.--Quick, give me the last letter I brought you from Antonio--you know that is to be the ground of my dismission.--I must slip out to seal it up, as undelivered. [_Exit_.]

_Enter_ DON JEROME _and_ DON FERDINAND.

_Don Jer_. What, I suppose you have been serenading too! Eh, disturbing some peaceable neighbourhood with villainous catgut and lascivious piping! Out on't! you set your sister, here, a vile example; but I come to tell you, madam, that I'll suffer no more of these midnight incantations--these amorous orgies, that steal the senses in the hearing; as, they say, Egyptian embalmers serve mummies, extracting the brain through the ears. However, there's an end of your frolics.--Isaac Mendoza will be here presently, and to-morrow you shall marry him.

_Don. Louisa_. Never, while I have life!

_Don Ferd_. Indeed, sir, I wonder how you can think of such a man for a son-in-law.

_Don Jer_. Sir, you are very kind to favour me with your sentiments-- and pray, what is your objection to him?

_Don Ferd_. He is a Portuguese, in the first place.

_Don Jer_. No such thing, boy; he has forsworn his country.

_Don. Louisa_. He is a Jew.

_Don Jer_. Another mistake: he has been a Christian these six weeks.

_Don Ferd_. Ay, he left his old religion for an estate, and has not had time to get a new one.

_Don. Louisa_. But stands like a dead wall between church and synagogue, or like the blank leaves between the Old and New Testament.

_Don Jer_. Anything more?

_Don Ferd_. But the most remarkable part of his character is his pa.s.sion for deceit and tricks of cunning.

_Don. Louisa_. Though at the same time the fool predominates so much over the knave, that I am told he is generally the dupe of his own art.

_Don Ferd_. True; like an unskilful gunner, he usually misses his aim, and is hurt by the recoil of his own piece.

_Don Jer_. Anything more?

_Don. Louisa_. To sum up all, he has the worst fault a husband can have--he's not my choice.

_Don Jer_. But you are his; and choice on one side is sufficient--two lovers should never meet in marriage--be you sour as you please, he is sweet-tempered; and for your good fruit, there's nothing like ingrafting on a crab.

_Don. Louisa_. I detest him as a lover, and shall ten times more as a husband.

_Don Jer_. I don't know that-marriage generally makes a great change-- but, to cut the matter short, will you have him or not?

_Don. Louisa_. There is nothing else I could disobey you in.

_Don Jer_. Do you value your father's peace?