altered my first intention of staying out the whole night; and meeting Leonora's father on the road was at any rate a lucky incident. I will not disturb them; but, since I have let myself in with my own master-key, go softly to bed; I shall be able to strike a light; and then I think I may say, my cares are over. Good heavens ! what a wonderful deal of uneasiness may mortals avoid by a little prudence! I doubt not now, there are some men who would have gone out in my situation, and, trusting to the goodness of fortune, left their house and their honour in the care of an unexperienced girl, or the discretion of a mercenary servant. But what did I do? I put a padlock on my door, and all is safe. Enter MUNGO from the Cellar, with a Flask in one hand, and a Candle in the other. Mungo. [Coming forward.] Tol, lol, lol, lol.. Mungo. Hola. Diego. Heaven and earth! what do I see! Mungo. Where are you, young Massa and Missy! here wine for supper. Diego. I'm thunder-struck! Mungo. My old Massa little tink we be so merryhic-hic-What's the matter with me! the room turn Diego. (L. c.) Wretch, do you know me ? Diego. Horrid creature! what makes you here at this time of night? is it with a design to surprise the innocents in their bed, and murder them sleeping? Mungo. Hush, hush-make no noise-hic-hic. Diego. The slave is intoxicated. Mungo. Make no noise, I say; dere's young gentleman wid young lady; he play on guitar, and she like him better dan she like you. Fal, lal, lal. Diego. Monster, I'll make an example of you. me! Mungo. Will you fight? Diego. He's mad. Mungo. Deres one in de house you little tink. Gad he do your business. Diego. Go, lie down in your sty, and sleep. Mungo. Sleep! sleep youself; you drunk-ha, ha, ha! Look, a padlock: you put a padlock on a dore again, will you! Ha, ha, ha! Diego. Didn't I hear music? Diego. Was it not the sound of a guitar? Mungo. Yes, he play on de guitar rarely. hand; you're old rascal-an't you? Give me Diego. What dreadful shock affects me! I'm in a cold sweat; a mist comes over my eyes; and my knees knock together as if I had got a fit of the shaking palsy. Mungo. I tell you a word in your ear. Diego. Has any stranger broke into my house? Mungo. Yes, by-hic-a fine young gentleman, he now in a next room with missy. Diego. Holy Saint Francis! is it possible? Mungo. Go you round softly-you catch them together. Diego. Confusion! Distraction! I shall run mad. Oh wherefore this terrible flurry? From my top to my toe, Are running about hurry seurry. My heart in my bosom a bumping, And thumping; Is't a spectre I see? Hence vanish.-Ah me! My senses deceive me ; Soon reason will leave me ; What a wretch am I destin'd to be! Enter URSULA, r. [Exit, L. Urs. (R.) O shame, monstrous; you drunken swab, you have been in the cellar, with a plague to you. Mungo. (R. c.) Let me put my hands about you neck Urs. Oh, I shall be ruined! Help, help, ruin, ruin! Enter LEANDER and LEONORA, R. S. E. Leon. Goodness me, what's the matter? Urs. O dear child, this black villain has frightened me out of my wits; he wanted Mungo. Me, curse a heart, I want noting wid her; what she say I want for Leon. Ursula, the gentleman says he has some friends waiting for him at the other side of the garden wall that will throw him over a ladder made of ropes, which he got up by. DUET. Leand. Then must I go? By this, and this, Here I could for ever grow. Leon. Well, now good night; Let loose your hold, sir; I think you want to scare me quite. Leand. Oh, fortune's spite ! Leon. Good night, good night. Enter DoN DIEGO, L. Diego. (L.) Stay, sir, let nobody go out of the room. Urs. [Falling down.] Ah! ah! a ghost! a ghost! Diego. Woman, stand up. Leonora, what am I to think of this? Leon. Oh, dear sir, don't kill me. Diego. Young man, who are you, who have thus clandestinely, at an unseasonable hour, broke into my house? Am I to consider you as a robber, or how? Leand. As one whom love has made indiscreet; as one whom love has taught industry and art to compass his designs. I love the beautiful Leonora, and she me; but, farther than what you hear or see, neither one nor the other have been culpable. Mungo. Hear him, hear him. Leand. Don Diego, you know my father well, Don Alphonso de Luna; I am a scholar of this university, D and am willing to submit to whatever punishment, he, through your means, shall inflict; but wreak not your vengeance here. [Pointing to LEON. Diego. Thus then my hopes and cares are at once frustrated; possessed of what I thought a jewel, I was desirous to keep it for myself; I left my watch for one little moment, and in that moment Leon. (c.) Pray, pray, guardian, let me tell you the story, and you'll find I am not to blame. Diego. No, child, I only am to blame, who should have considered that sixteen and sixty agree ill together. But though I was too old to be wise, I am not too old to learn; and so, I say, send for a smith directly, beat all the grates from my windows, take the locks from my doors, and let egress and regress be given freely. Leon. And will you be my husband, sir? Diego. No, child; I will give you to one that will make you a better husband: here, young man, take her: if your parents consent, to-morrow shall see you joined in the face of the church: and the dowry which I promised her, in case of failure on my side of the contract, shall now go with her as a marriage portion. Leand. Signior, this is so generous Diego. No thanks: perhaps I owe acknowledgments to you; but you, Ursula, have no excuse, no passion to plead, and your age should have taught you better. I'll give you five hundred crowns, but never let me see you more. Mungo. And what you give me, massa? Diego. Bastinadoes for your drunkenness and infidelity. Oh, man! man! how short is your foresight; how ineffectual your prudence; while the very means you use are destructive of your ends! FINALE. Diego. Go forge me fetters that shall bind The rage of the tempestuous wind; Sound with a needle-full of thread Mungo. And, massa, be not angry, pray, Leon. Which wid dis matter will agree: THE END. |