The Duenna | Page 7

you in an honourable way; and for anything else, if I were to comply
now, I suppose you have some ungrateful brother, or cousin, who
would want to cut my throat for my civility--so, truly, you had best go
home again.
_Don. Louisa_. [Aside.] Odious wretch!--[Aloud.]--But, good signor, it
is Antonio d'Ercilla, on whose account I have eloped.
Isaac. How! what! it is not with me, then, that you are in love?
_Don. Louisa_. No, indeed, it is not.
Isaac. Then you are a forward, impertinent simpleton! and I shall
certainly acquaint your father.
_Don. Louisa_. Is this your gallantry?
Isaac. Yet hold--Antonio d'Ercilla, did you say? egad, I may make
something of this--Antonio d'Ercilla?
_Don. Louisa_. Yes; and if ever you wish to prosper in love, you will
bring me to him.

Isaac. By St. Iago and I will too!--Carlos, this Antonio is one who
rivals me (as I have heard) with Louisa--now, if I could hamper him
with this girl, I should have the field to myself; hey, Carlos! A lucky
thought, isn't it?
Don Car. Yes, very good--very good!
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 passion 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 scrape, 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 sex 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!