The Duenna | Page 8

Jerome, the honour of your alliance----
Don Jer. Ay, but her beauty will affect you--she is, though I say it who am her father, a very prodigy. There you will see features with an eye like mine--yes, i'faith, there is a kind of wicked sparkling-- sometimes of a roguish brightness, that shows her to be my own.
Isaac. Pretty rogue!
Don Jer. Then, when she smiles, you'll see a little dimple in one cheek only; a beauty it is certainly, yet, you shall not say which is prettiest, the cheek with the dimple, or the cheek without.
Isaac. Pretty rogue!
Don Jer. Then the roses on those cheeks are shaded with a sort of velvet down, that gives a delicacy to the glow of health.
Isaac. Pretty rogue!
Don Jer. Her skin pure dimity, yet more fair, being spangled here and there with a golden freckle.
Isaac. Charming pretty rogue! pray how is the tone of her voice?
Don Jer. Remarkably pleasing--but if you could prevail on her to sing, you would be enchanted--she is a nightingale--a Virginia nightingale! But come, come; her maid shall conduct you to her antechamber.
Isaac. Well, egad, I'll pluck up resolution, and meet her frowns intrepidly.
Don Jer. Ay! woo her briskly--win her, and give me a proof of your address, my little Solomon.
Isaac. But hold--I expect my friend Carlos to call on me here. If he comes, will you send him to me?
Don Jer. I will. Lauretta!--[Calls.]--Come--she'll show you to the room. What! do you droop? here's a mournful face to make love with! [Exeunt.]

SCENE II.--DONNA LOUISA'S _Dressing-Room_.
Enter ISAAC and MAID.
Maid. Sir, my mistress will wait on you presently.
[Goes to the door.]
Isaac. When she's at leisure--don't hurry her.--[Exit MAID.]--I wish I had ever practised a love-scene--I doubt I shall make a poor figure--I couldn't be more afraid if I was going before the Inquisition. So, the door opens--yes, she's coming--the very rustling of her silk has a disdainful sound.
Enter DUENNA dressed as DONNA LOUISA.
Now dar'n't I look round, for the soul of me--her beauty will certainly strike me dumb if I do. I wish she'd speak first.
Duen. Sir, I attend your pleasure.
Isaac. [Aside.] So! the ice is broke, and a pretty civil beginning too!--[Aloud.] Hem! madam--miss--I'm all attention.
Duen. Nay, sir, 'tis I who should listen, and you propose.
Isaac. [Aside.] Egad, this isn't so disdainful neither--I believe I may venture to look. No--I dar'n't--one glance of those roguish sparklers would fix me again.
Duen. You seem thoughtful, sir. Let me persuade you to sit down.
Isaac. [Aside.] So, so; she mollifies apace--she's struck with my figure! this attitude has had its effect.
Duen. Come, sir, here's a chair.
Isaac. Madam, the greatness of your goodness overpowers me--that a lady so lovely should deign to turn her beauteous eyes on me so.
[_She takes his hand, he turns and sees her_.]
Duen. You seem surprised at my condescension.
Isaac. Why, yes, madam, I am a little surprised at it.--[Aside.] Zounds! this can never be Louisa--she's as old as my mother!
Duen. But former prepossessions give way to my father's commands.
Isaac. [Aside.] Her father! Yes, 'tis she then.--Lord, Lord; how blind some parents are!
Duen. Signor Isaac!
Isaac. [Aside.] Truly, the little damsel was right--she has rather a matronly air, indeed! ah! 'tis well my affections are fixed on her fortune, and not her person.
Duen. Signor, won't you sit? [She sits.]
Isaac. Pardon me, madam, I have scarce recovered my astonishment at your condescension, madam.--[Aside.] She has the devil's own dimples, to be sure!
Duen. I do not wonder, sir, that you are surprised at my affability-- I own, signor, that I was vastly prepossessed against you, and, being teased by my father, I did give some encouragement to Antonio; but then, sir, you were described to me as quite a different person.
Isaac. Ay, and so you were to me, upon my soul, madam.
Duen. But when I saw you I was never more struck in my life.
Isaac. That was just my case, too, madam: I was struck all of a heap, for my part.
Duen. Well, sir, I see our misapprehension has been mutual--you expected to find me haughty and averse, and I was taught to believe you a little black, snub-nosed fellow, without person, manners, or address.
Isaac. [Aside.] Egad, I wish she had answered her picture as well!
Duen. But, sir, your air is noble--something so liberal in your carriage, with so penetrating an eye, and so bewitching a smile!
Isaac. [Aside.] Egad, now I look at her again, I don't think she is so ugly!
Duen. So little like a Jew, and so much like a gentleman!
Isaac. [Aside.] Well, certainly, there is something pleasing in the tone of her voice.
Duen. You will pardon this breach of decorum in praising you thus, but my joy at being so agreeably deceived has given me such a flow of spirits!
Isaac. Oh, dear lady, may I thank those dear lips for this goodness?--[Kisses her.] [Aside.]Why