The Female Massaroni ; Or, The Fair Brigands | ||
SCENE IV.
—A Landscape.Enter Georgina, Babbla, and the rest of the Fair Brigands, hastily, R. S. E.
Geo.
Halt, comrades!—Now to cover our retreat.
Make ready—present—fire!
[They fire off, L.
Bab.
Plenty of smoke, my lady, but no danger;
Since our pistols are but charged with powder.
Voices.
[Without.]
Follow! follow!
Geo.
They come!—Now to the abbey ruins—march!
[Exeunt, L. S. E.
Enter Count Fernando, Count Dorio, Sancho, Jeromo, and Vassals, hastily, in pursuit, R. S. E.
Fer.
This way, my friends. [To Count Dorio.]
You say my dear Georgina
Hath not returned?
38
Alas! I grieve to say,
We've heard no tidings of her, and I fear,
Lest Massaroni should have crossed her path.
San.
And my dear Babbla, too?
Jer.
No doubt of it.
Babbla is as true to her fair mistress—
San.
As I to my good master.
Fer.
Cease prating;
And follow to the rescue of my love!
[Exit, L. S. E.
San.
To the world's end! [Flourishing his sword.]
—Now, then, for love and glory!
[Exeunt, L. S. E.
Enter Rosa, R., followed by Ladroni, with his head bound up.
Rosa.
I hope your wound, poor fellow, is not mortal!
Lad.
Alas! I feel it is.
Rosa.
How did it happen?
Lad.
In fighting beside my honoured, noble master,
That rascal Massaroni fired his pistol
Point blank into my face; right through my head
The bullet flew!
Enter the Marquis Sapparino, R. S. E., unseen by Rosa and Ladroni.
Rosa.
What a calamity!
Let me examine if the wound be serious.
Lad.
'Tis useless, pretty Rosa; mortal aid
Can now avail me nothing, for by this
Time to-morrow, I shall be meat for worms!
Rosa.
The saints forbid! Come, I will be your doctor.
Lad.
'Tis of no use!
Rosa.
Yes, but I say I will!
[She unties the handkerchief, Ladroni endeavours to prevent her.
Oh, what a dreadful wound!—Why, as I live,
I cannot even see the slightest scratch!
Mar.
[Stepping between them.]
Why, thou poltroon! didst thou not run away?
Lad.
Yes, I ran to fetch—more ammunition.
[Exit, L.
Mar.
The miserable coward!—I alone
Bore the whole brunt of the tremendous conflict!
Rosa.
Aye, on your knees; for you must know, my lord,
That I peeped through the key-hole all the time.
Mar.
You did! [Aside.]
The little vixen! [Aloud.]
Hush, dear Rosa!
39
Besides, I'm engaged just now.—Adieu!
[Exit, hastily, L.
Rosa.
[Calling after him.]
Stay, stay!—Where is your marriage contract?
The paper that the brigand made you sign?
[Laughing.]
Ha! ha! ha!
[Exit, R.
The Female Massaroni ; Or, The Fair Brigands | ||