University of Virginia Library

SCENE IV.

A Garden. On one Side an Arbour, on the other a Summer-house.
Enter Pedrillo, and a female Servant.
PEDRILLO.
Now, Flora! place yourself behind yon clump.
Be ready when I call.—Mind what I told you.
[Exit Flora.
Well, I'm a lucky dog!—I cannot chuse
But laugh at my success— (puts a purse in his pocket)

There—lie thou there—
Thou'lt soon have a twin-brother, if Don Carlos—
Ha!—Who comes here?
Enter Ramirez.
Oh! sir—I'm glad you're come.
If it may please your honour to retire
Into yon summer house, the lady Laura
Will join you speedily.

RAMIREZ.
Thanks, my good fellow—
I will reward thee amply.

PEDRILLO.
This way, sir.

(They go into the summer-house.
Enter Don Carlos.
CARLOS.
The gate left open, as it were t'invite
My free access! I'll in—What! no one here?—
Surely no accident has interven'd
To keep my Laura. Since I grew a lover,
I am become a child; my froward humour
Tinges each trifle with misfortune's hue,
And makes me start at shadows. I'm asham'd
Of mine own weakness. Surely I have proofs
Of Laura's love; then why should I despond?

Enter Pedrillo.
PEDRILLO.
You're come in time.

CARLOS.
Is Donna Laura here?
'Tis past the hour, I think.

PEDRILLO.
I would exhort
Your lordship to be patient; but I know
A lover's calculation far outruns
The tardy foot of time.

CARLOS.
To one like me,
On whom a dawn of hope begins to break,
Each moment seems an hour.—But hark!—Who comes?
Perhaps 'tis she—Is it? It is my Laura!

Enter Clara richly dressed and veiled—Laura and her maid.
LAURA.
Yes, I believe so—But I am so frighten'd,
I hardly know if I'm myself or not.

CARLOS.
To what propitious pow'r am I oblig'd
For this unlook'd for happiness?

LAURA.
To none,
But this mad-headed, friendly, dear duenna,
Who chaparon'd me here to visit you.—
But I've a thousand things to say to you—

CLARA.
You'd better say them then in yonder arbour,
For here you'll chance to meet with interruptions.

LAURA.
Why, you strange creature, would you shut me up
In private with a cavalier like him?

PEDRILLO.
Why make objection, when there's no occasion?
Your maid here, Margaretta, will be with you.

LAURA.
What would Don Guzman say?

CLARA.
A pretty question!
You'd best go home again, my tim'rous dear,
And ask his leave.

LAURA.
You'll make me hate you, Nunez!

CARLOS.
Let her persuade you—you may safely trust me.

CLARA.
You hear him.—Well, unless you soon decide,
You'll lose your opportunity—D'ye hear?

GUZMAN
(without).
Let my attendants wait!

LAURA.
Who's that?

CLARA.
I'll open
The gate, and ascertain—

LAURA.
Oh no!—Stay, stay—
Well, if I must, I must—'tis all your doing.

(Don Carlos, Laura and Maid go into the arbour.
CLARA.
So far we've made advance. Hark ye, Pedrillo!
Who's at the gate?

PEDRILLO.
I guess it is Don Guzman.

CLARA.
Then we've no business here—

(Goes into the summer house.
PEDRILLO.
Here Flora! hasten—
Enter Clara's Maid.
Follow your lady into the summer house.
(Puts her in.
My wise Don Guzman! You're before your time—
I must get rid of you at all events,
And keep you off 'till the young folks are tack'd.

(Retires.
Don Guzman (without).
GUZMAN.
Oons! the gate fast? That's not what I expected—
Oh ho! 'tis open.— (Enters)
—What can all this mean?
A billet doux, fixing an assignation
With one who signs herself Incognita!
I've not of late been us'd to such appointments—

Pedrillo advances.
PEDRILLO.
Oh, my good lord! It's lucky I have found you!

GUZMAN.
You're Don Ramirez' valet, are you not?

PEDRILLO.
I was, my lord—but I have turn'd him off.

GUZMAN.
How's that?—You turn'd him off?—What is't you mean?

PEDRILLO.
Aye, my good lord. I bore him while I could,
But he became too bad for me at last;
For I'm an honest lad, my lord, I have
A character to keep—

GUZMAN.
I'll take care of you.
I like your looks, you seem an honest fellow—

PEDRILLO.
You'll find I am so. Stay not here, my lord—
The wolf is ready to bear off your lamb.
I know it all.—My lord, that Mrs. Nunez—
You know she took his part before your lordship.

GUZMAN.
Well, what of her?

PEDRILLO.
She has contriv'd it so,
That Donna Laura has agreed to marry—

GUZMAN.
Whom?

PEDRILLO.
Don Ramirez.

GUZMAN.
'Sdeath! it cannot be.

PEDRILLO.
He told me all the plot of it himself.
This very evening, she and Mrs. Nunez
Are to steal out, and meet Ramirez here.
This is a very noted place.

GUZMAN.
I'll steal 'em!
I'll teach 'em how to carry on their plots!
Ho!—Gasper! Gomez!—Thank you, honest friend—
Do you stay here to watch—I'll hasten home,
And catch 'em ere they're ready.

[Exit.
PEDRILLO.
He's dispos'd of!
Beatrice!—

[Enter Beatrice and Bertran.
BEATRICE.
I'm here—Where is Ramirez plac'd?

PEDRILLO.
He's in yon summer-house. Where is Diego?

BEATRICE.
He's safe enough. The cook has him in charge.
He's hard at work with a cold pigeon pye.

PEDRILLO.
Now have we got the whole covey in our net,
Except the old cock bird—
[DON GUZMAN (without)—This way, scoundrels!]
And, as I live,
He comes—He seems in a most pelting passion.
Now, girl, bear up—the storm is at it's height.

Enter Don Guzman, Don Alonzo, Cuchillo and Servants, with torches.
GUZMAN.
Don't talk to me of being calm and cool!
I tell you she is gone!—my girl is flown—
She's ruin'd—lost!—My family's dishonour'd!—
If I can meet the villain who seduc'd her—

ALONZO.
My lord, I'll follow him through all the world,
But he shall give you satisfaction.

GUZMAN.
Sir,
He shall. This old arm can do something yet.
(Seeing Pedrillo)
—Oh, Lazarillo! What you said is true.

PEDRILLO.
I knew it was. She must be somewhere here.

CUCHILLO.
Had we not better search for the young lady?

GUZMAN.
We had—But where?— (To Beatrice)
—Pray who are you, good dame?

BEATRICE.
Pray who am I, indeed!—Pray who are you?
What's here to do?—D'ye know I'm mistress here?

GUZMAN.
Oh ho! you know it all then, I suppose.

BEATRICE.
Know what?

GUZMAN.
My daughter—

BEATRICE.
I! I scorn your words!
I know your daughter!

GUZMAN.
Yes, you cockatrice!
Tell me directly where she is?

BEATRICE.
Not I!

PEDRILLO.
That summer—house perhaps—

GUZMAN.
Here it goes, faith!
Now we shall see.
(He kicks open the door of the summer-house.)
Oh! have I caught you, madam!
(He pulls out Clara veiled.)
I'll teach you how to run away again!
A pretty comrade you've selected too.
Come, sir, or I'll compel you to appear.

Enter Don Ramirez.
RAMIREZ.
My lord, I'm ready here to justify
What I have done.

GUZMAN.
I doubt not your assurance.
But, sir—

RAMIREZ.
From you, my lord, I can bear much:
But know, my lord, this lady has seen through
Your flimsy artifice; she does me justice:
She has chosen me, my lord, as her protector;
Her faith is plighted to me, mine to her.

GUZMAN.
She plight her faith to such a one as thou!

RAMIREZ.
Things more improbable ere now have happen'd.
But, let her answer for herself. Speak, madam—
Is it not true that we have interchang'd
Our mutual faith?

CLARA.
It is most true indeed!

GUZMAN.
Why, you young reprobate—

RAMIREZ.
Obdurate still!
(To Clara)
Let not his anger daunt you, madam.—Come,
Unite with me to move his flinty heart.
Cast off that envious veil—break forth at once
With all your dazzling charms.

CLARA.
Thus I obey!—

(Unveils.)
RAMIREZ.
Confusion! Clara!

CLARA.
Yes, 'tis I, your Clara,
To whom your vows of constancy were pledg'd,
Who, when her unsuspecting heart confess'd
You its sole lord, was cruelly abandon'd,
And left to mourn her fond credulity.
Nay, turn not thus away—look on me, sir—

RAMIREZ.
I pray you spare me—I cannot look on you:
Your eyes, like basilisks, would pierce my brain,
And drive me to distraction!—Think no more
Of a lost wretch like me—Let me go hence,
And hide myself for ever from your presence!

GUZMAN.
So, so—here's a discovery! Don Ramirez
Contracted to my daughter's poor duenna!
Pray, Mrs. Nunez, do explain a little.

CLARA.
My lord, 'tis time that all disguise should end.
Grant me your pardon for a stratagem,
Devis'd at once to vindicate myself,
And save you and your daughter.

GUZMAN.
And pray, madam,
What is your real character?

CLARA.
My lord,
My family is not unknown to you.
You've heard of Don Henriquez de Mendoza?

GUZMAN.
I knew him well—my brother officer,
In the same regiment—

CLARA.
He was my father.

GUZMAN.
Your father?—I remember to have heard
He had a daughter, and her name was Clara.

CLARA.
I'm she.

GUZMAN.
Nay, then you are deserving of him.
Eh?—What is your opinion, Don Alonzo?
Master Cuchillo, what say you to it?

ALONZO.
This is a most surprising turn indeed.

CUCHILLO.
I never knew a clearer alibi!
But where is Donna Laura all this time?

GUZMAN.
Odso! that's true.— (To Beatrice)
Where is my daughter, beldam?

BEATRICE.
You may come out, ma'am—Here she is, my lord.

Enter Donna Laura followed by Don Carlos.
GUZMAN.
Oh, you young baggage!—Hey!—Whom have we here?
What right have you, sir!—Who the deuce are you?

CARLOS.
My lord, your pardon, if I have presum'd
To aim at such perfection—

GUZMAN.
What's your name?

CARLOS.
Carlos, my lord; the eldest son of him
Who bears Medina's dukedom.

GUZMAN.
I'm your lordship's
Most humble servant! but I wish to know
How you became acquainted with my daughter.

CARLOS.
I saw her in the public walk, my lord,
And the first glance of her bewitching eye,
Made me her willing slave. I trac'd her home,
Wrote her fond letters, often pass'd the night
Beneath her windows; 'till, at length, my vows
Made an impression on her yielding heart.

GUZMAN.
My lord, no one can disapprove of you.
I'm flatter'd by your preference. (To Laura)
Well, child,
What say you to his lordship?

LAURA.
Dear papa—
To ask that question when you found us here!

GUZMAN.
Ah! toad!—I understand you. (To Carlos)
Well, my lord,
She's your's.

CARLOS
(kneeling to Laura).
Thus let me sanction that blest word.

GUZMAN.
So—bless you both!—How fares it, Don Ramirez?
Come, cheer up, man! You've made a small mistake,
But you have better luck than you deserve.

RAMIREZ.
My lord, I own that I've deserv'd but little.
I'm overwhelm'd with shame, and know not how
To look that much wrong'd lady in the face.
If she can pardon me—

CLARA.
I've given a proof
I'm not inexorable—But for pardon,
I fear that I must ask for your forgiveness.
I've ta'en some freedoms with you, which perhaps
You may not readily excuse.

RAMIREZ.
With me?
Whate'er they are, I have deserv'd them all.

CLARA.
Call my first witness, Mrs. Nunez, here!
Won't she appear?—Why then I'll answer for her.
“Now, Mrs. Nunez, if you'll stand my friend,
“And try—”

RAMIREZ.
So, so; you then was the duenna?

BEATRICE.
And, sir, you may remember one Lucretia.
I give you back your promise, sir; your children
Won't tax you heavily for their support.

BERTRAN.
When all are at confession, give me leave
To lay aside my double character
Of schoolmaster, and not'ry of Toledo.

PEDRILLO.
I've yet a longer catalogue of sins.
(To Guzman)
—I was your lordship's trusty Lazarillo—
(To Ramirez)
—Your tailor, sir—and if your man Diego—

Enter Diego.
DIEGO.
What! Pedro Lobo again!

PEDRILLO.
Aye, Pedro Lobo!

DIEGO.
I pray you make me room—I cannot stay.

PEDRILLO.
You need not be alarm'd—we're good friends now.
You promis'd me to call and drink a glass.
I am not Pedro Lobo now.

DIEGO.
Art sure on't?

GUZMAN.
I see you've been too cunning for us all.
But that is past. You all shall home with me.
'Twill serve us as a merry jest.— (To Carlos)
—My lord,
Take your bride's hand.— (To Clara)
—For you, my pretty plotter,
If you'll give your's to that repentant sinner—

RAMIREZ.
I hardly dare to sue for't—

CLARA.
Thus I give it.
But, should you feel inclin'd again to stray,
I mayn't so easily forgive you.

RAMIREZ.
No!
I am too conscious of my past offences,
Ever to hazard your displeasure more.
Each moment of my future life shall prove
How true I am to Clara, and to love!