 | The Portrait |  |
1
1. PART THE FIRST.
An apartment in Pantaloon's house.The picture in front, as just sent home from the paitner's.
ISABELLA
alone.
AIR.
I'm pretty—or my looking-glass
And flatt'ring men betray—
Genteel and young—and yet, alas!
Distress'd!—ah well-a-day!
My guardian pursues me,
Eternally wooes me:
Such courtship may teize me.
But never can please me;
Let him say what he will, let him do all he can,
How shou'd a young maiden endure an old man?
And flatt'ring men betray—
Genteel and young—and yet, alas!
Distress'd!—ah well-a-day!
My guardian pursues me,
Eternally wooes me:
Such courtship may teize me.
But never can please me;
2
How shou'd a young maiden endure an old man?
I'm tender—as Leander knew:
Leander, dearest swain!
Loving and true—ah when will you,
Sweet youth, return again?
How soft were thy graces!
How close thy embraces!
How melting thy kisses!
Oh ravishing blisses!
Let her say, let her do all she can,
How shou'd a young maiden resist a young man?
Leander, dearest swain!
Loving and true—ah when will you,
Sweet youth, return again?
How soft were thy graces!
How close thy embraces!
How melting thy kisses!
Oh ravishing blisses!
Let her say, let her do all she can,
How shou'd a young maiden resist a young man?
With heroines in romances
It was the constant trade,
To tell their stories to some confidante;
But when a smart gallant
Makes amorous advances,
A modern lady trusts her chambermaid.
And here comes mine:
Trusty, tho' flippant, Colombine.
Enter COLOMBINE.
Oh Colombine! thy kind advice,
What shall I do? resolve me in a trice.
It was the constant trade,
To tell their stories to some confidante;
But when a smart gallant
Makes amorous advances,
A modern lady trusts her chambermaid.
3
Trusty, tho' flippant, Colombine.
Enter COLOMBINE.
Oh Colombine! thy kind advice,
What shall I do? resolve me in a trice.
COLOMBINE.
Be rul'd by me, I'll end your sorrows soon.
ISABELLA.
What shall I do?
COLOMBINE.
Do? marry Pantaloon.
ISABELLA.
Marry my guardian? pr'ythee hold!
COLOMBINE.
He's prudent—
ISABELLA.
He's extremely old.
4
He's loving, and he rolls in gold.
A rare rich husband!
ISABELLA.
He's extremely old.
COLOMBINE.
Stricken in years no doubt—what then?
He's constant—
ISABELLA.
He's threescore and ten.
COLOMBINE.
Threescore and ten! a charming sound,
When join'd to threescore thousand pound.
AIR.When join'd to threescore thousand pound.
Ah, madam, reflect
To what you object,
The older a husband the better:
To his age, which a wife
Thinks the curse of her life,
A widow will own she's a debtor.
A rusty old blade,
Worn out in the trade,
In love may perhaps disappoint her;
But his gout, or his cough,
Soon carries him off,
And makes her amends in a jointure.
To what you object,
The older a husband the better:
To his age, which a wife
Thinks the curse of her life,
A widow will own she's a debtor.
5
Worn out in the trade,
In love may perhaps disappoint her;
But his gout, or his cough,
Soon carries him off,
And makes her amends in a jointure.
RECITATIVE.
ISABELLA.
Patience, dear Colombine! I wou'd as soon
Marry my grave, as wed with Pantaloon.
Leander is my love—a charming youth—
And nought shall shake my constancy and truth.
COLOMBINE.
When a girl doats, who dares to contradict her?
But Pantaloon—
ISABELLA.
Behold him! There's his picture.
6
Is that a form or feature
To warm a virgin's breast?
Can such an ugly creature
Expect to be carest?
To warm a virgin's breast?
Can such an ugly creature
Expect to be carest?
RECITATIVE.
COLOMBINE.
Peace, madam! here he comes;—at least deceive him;
Tickle his vanity;—and after grieve him.
Enter PANTALOON.
PANTALOON.
Good-morrow, sweetest Isabel!
How does my charmer?
ISABELLA.
Pretty well.
PANTALOON.
When married, you'll be better still;
When shall thy Guardy wed thee?
7
When he will.—
How much his picture he resembles!
[Aside.
COLOMBINE.
How she detests him! yet dissembles.
[Aside.
PANTALOON.
Sweet Isabel, you've set my heart on fire;
I'm all a conflagration of desire.
First I'll present thee with thy wedding-ring,
And give thee, afterwards—a better thing.
AIR.I'm all a conflagration of desire.
First I'll present thee with thy wedding-ring,
And give thee, afterwards—a better thing.
How will I play the lover's part,
When pretty Bell bestows her heart,
Her heart and hand on Pantaloon!
Every day, every night,
Shall abound with delight,
And every month be honey-moon.
RECITATIVE.When pretty Bell bestows her heart,
Her heart and hand on Pantaloon!
Every day, every night,
Shall abound with delight,
And every month be honey-moon.
Let not my Isabella frown,
If business calls me out of town;
For a few days I must depart,
Soon to return—
If business calls me out of town;
8
Soon to return—
ISABELLA.
You break my heart!
COLOMBINE.
Ah, sir, how can you thus afflict her,
And leave her nothing but your picture?
PANTALOON.
Ah, Colombine, it gives me pain;
But I shall soon return again.
Weep not, my love! I'm griev'd to go;
But business must be done, you know.
TRIO.
PANTALOON.
Oh how painful 'tis to part!
ISABELLA.
Ah, Pantaloon! 'twill break my heart.
9
Take comfort, charming Bell!
How shocking 'tis to leave her!
How cruel 'tis to grieve her!
A dismal tale to tell.
PANTALOON.
My lovey,
My dovey,
My litttle pigsnye,
I pr'ythee don't cry!
ISABELLA.
How painful to part!
PANTALOON.
But soon, very soon
You shall see Pantaloon.
ISABELLA.
'Twill, sure, break my heart.
10
How shocking to leave her,
How cruel to grieve her,
Away you false loon!
| The Portrait | |