University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

The Appenines—Mountains, the tops of which are covered with snow—in various places bearing all the appearance of luxuriant vegetation—in others hanging woods of mountain-ash, fir, and pine, and avalanches of snow and rock falling into cataracts and waterfalls, terminating in a lake, over which a Swiss bridge is thrown; nearer the audience, a fire lighted under a projecting rock in a narrow dell.—Rinaldo discovered seated in a musing attitude over the fire, drawing, on his tablets; his dog basking beside him—Altaverde at a distance observing him—thunder, lightning, &c. the clouds dark, and the moon obscured.
AIR—ALTAVERDE.

Exit.
Rinaldo throwing his cloak round him, still keeps his eyes fixed on the tablet, and his hand employed in finishing the drawing—a sudden gust of wind is heard, and an old man hurries on, trembling with cold and alarm, a staff in his right hand, in his left a lanthorn, the light extinguished.—Rinaldo throws off his cloak, starts up, and grasps his pistols, demanding his name and errand?
RECITATIVE—OLD MAN.
My lamp extinguish'd by the boisterous wind,
Bewilder'd, bending to a Stranger's will,—
Permission to illume it were thought kind,
By the Old Man of Oriolo Hill.

Rinaldo raising him, complies with his request, then orders him to depart.—He bows, and retires.
RECITATIVE—OLD MAN.
The Cottage not far off, where 'lone I dwell,
At your approach will shelter you—farewell!— Exit.

Rinaldo thanks him, muses, gazes with rapture on the object he has drawn, and kisses it.—Enter from behind Florella (an amazonian of his troop) cleaning her pistols—she starts at seeing him so intent on the tablet—approaches him, he conceals it, but welcomes her—she demands what has engaged his attention? —Musquetry fired without—a shout, and bugle horn—the clouds disperse, the moon appears, and Altaverde is seen meeting Cinthio and Robbers descending the mountains—they approach, form a semicircle round Rinaldo, and saluting him, place their plunder, in trophies, before him.—Cinthio presents him a handsome miniature, the case of which in opening he lets fall; struck with its resemblance to that he had drawn, tears the latter from his tablets, kisses the miniature, and places it near his heart.—Florella views this action with jealous emotion, snatches up the drawing, and discontentedly retires.—A whistle is heard, Paolo enters, and tremblingly displays the following placard:

     

Venice	—	2000 Sequins.
Genoa	—	2000 Ditto.
Lucca	—	2500 Ditto.

Rinaldo, treating the rewards with ineffable contempt, takes from his belt several Purses, and disperses amongst his Troops presents to twice their amount. They hack the placard with their poynards to atoms; Rinaldo then orders them to regale, and after drinking their captain's health,

commences, in which the Banditti manœuvre with their carbines, introducing the

during this he appears busied writing, and at the conclusion gives Altaverde a paper on which is written

calls the band around him, and commands him to read it.

RECITATIVE—ALTAVERDE.
Our general Orders, be it understood,
Is glorious plunder!—death if any fly;—
But he who wantonly sheds human blood,
Whate'er his plea, Rinaldo dooms to die!—

Paolo, aside, murmurs at the latter part, the others huzza! bending in acquiescence to Rinaldo's will; and having armed themselves, he takes the lead, and marches them over the mountains.—Mulo (Baron Rovezzo's French Valet) enters terrified, approaches the fire, and takes with fear a gulp of the wine the Robbers had left; the Baron following with his sword drawn, and prince Rosella bringing up the rear; they intimate they have been plundered of all; the Baron regretting most the loss of a miniature (of which he there finds the case) as does Mulo his hat, which finding he proudly claps on his head, and, vapouring, threatens to destroy the Plunderers were they but there.—The robbers' distant march is heard, and Rinaldo seen leading his troop over the more distant hills.—The Baron, &c. precipitately exeunt.