The Duenna: A Comic Opera Part 5

_Isaac_. Ah! this little brain is never at a loss--cunning Isaac!

cunning rogue! Donna Clara, will you trust yourself awhile to my friend's direction?

_Don. Louisa_. May I rely on you, good signor?

_Don. Car_. Lady, it is impossible I should deceive you.

AIR.

Had I a heart for falsehood framed, I ne'er could injure you; For though your tongue no promise claim'd, Your charms would make me true.

To you no soul shall bear deceit, No stranger offer wrong; But friends in all the aged you'll meet, And lovers in the young.

But when they learn that you have blest Another with your heart, They'll bid aspiring pa.s.sion rest, And act a brother's part: Then, lady, dread not here deceit, Nor fear to suffer wrong; For friends in all the aged you'll meet, And brothers in the young.

_Isaac_. Conduct the lady to my lodgings, Carlos; I must haste to Don Jerome. Perhaps you know Louisa, ma'am. She's divinely handsome, isn't she?

_Don. Louisa_. You must excuse me not joining with you.

_Isaac_. Why I have heard it on all hands.

_Don. Louisa_. Her father is uncommonly partial to her; but I believe you will find she has rather a matronly air.

_Isaac_. Carlos, this is all envy.--You pretty girls never speak well of one another.--[_To_ DON CARLOS.] Hark ye, find out Antonio, and I'll saddle him with this sc.r.a.pe, I warrant. Oh, 'twas the luckiest thought! Donna Clara, your very obedient. Carlos, to your post.

DUET.

_Isaac_.

My mistress expects me, and I must go to her, Or how can I hope for a smile?

_Don. Louisa_.

Soon may you return a prosperous wooer, But think what I suffer the while.

Alone, and away from the man whom I love, In strangers I'm forced to confide.

_Isaac_.

Dear lady, my friend you may trust, and he'll prove Your servant, protector, and guide.

AIR.

_Don Car_.

Gentle maid, ah! why suspect me?

Let me serve thee--then reject me.

Canst thou trust, and I deceive thee?

Art thou sad, and shall I grieve thee?

Gentle maid, ah I why suspect me?

Let me serve thee--then reject me.

TRIO.

_Don. Louisa_.

Never mayst thou happy be, If in aught thou'rt false to me.

_Isaac_.

Never may he happy be, If in aught he's false to thee.

_Don Car_.

Never may I happy be, If in aught I'm false to thee.

_Don. Louisa_.

Never mayst thou, &c.

_Isaac_.

Never may he, &c.

_Don Car_.

Never may I, &c. [_Exeunt_.]

ACT II.

SCENE I.--_A Library in_ DON JEROME'S _House_.

_Enter_ DON JEROME _and_ ISAAC.

_Don Jer_. Ha! ha! ha! run away from her father! has she given him the slip? Ha! ha! ha! poor Don Guzman!

_Isaac_. Ay; and I am to conduct her to Antonio; by which means you see I shall hamper him so that he can give me no disturbance with your daughter--this is a trap, isn't it? a nice stroke of cunning, hey?

_Don Jer_. Excellent! excellent I yes, yes, carry her to him, hamper him by all means, ha! ha! ha! Poor Don Guzman! an old fool! imposed on by a girl!

_Isaac_. Nay, they have the cunning of serpents, that's the truth on't.

_Don Jer_. Psha! they are cunning only when they have fools to deal with. Why don't my girl play me such a trick? Let her cunning over- reach my caution, I say--hey, little Isaac!

_Isaac_. True, true; or let me see any of the s.e.x make a fool of me!-- No, no, egad! little Solomon (as my aunt used to call me) understands tricking a little too well.

_Don Jer_. Ay, but such a driveller as Don Guzman!

_Isaac_. And such a dupe as Antonio!

_Don Jer_. True; never were seen such a couple of credulous simpletons! But come, 'tis time you should see my daughter--you must carry on the siege by yourself, friend Isaac.

_Isaac_. Sir, you'll introduce----

_Don Jer_. No--I have sworn a solemn oath not to see or to speak to her till she renounces her disobedience; win her to that, and she gains a father and a husband at once.

_Isaac_. Gad, I shall never be able to deal with her alone; nothing keeps me in such awe as perfect beauty--now there is something consoling and encouraging in ugliness.