University of Virginia Library

Scene II.

A Room in Felix's House.—Felix and Hernando.
Hern.

Not going to see the Entry, sir?

Fel.

What use going to a festival if one has no spirits
for it?

Hern.

Humph, what makes you out of spirits?

Fel.

Why should you ask?

Hern.

Nay, then, you have already answer'd me. You
are in love.

Fel.

I scarce know whether you are right or wrong,
Hernando. I have indeed seen a lady whose very beauty
forbids all hope of my attaining it.

Hern.

How so, sir?

Fel.

She who has enslav'd Don Juan and Don Pedro has

fetter'd me, at last! I should care little for their rivalry, had
not each made me keeper of his love, so that—Hark!

Mari Nuño
(within).

Don Felix!

Fel.

Who is that?

Hern.

Some one calling you.

Mari
(within).

Señor Don Felix!

Fel.

Well?

Mari
(within).

From Donna Eugenia!

[A letter is thrown in at the window.
Fel.

From Eugenia! (Reads).
“Grateful to you for your
advice, I have already begun to follow it; but, in order to
that, I must see you once again, this evening! Adieu!”
Here is a dilemma! For if—

Hern.
Don Juan!

Enter Juan.
Juan
(aside).
What was that?

Fel.
Don Juan back,
When such a festival—

Juan.
And you? Oh, Felix,
I know not how to speak or hold my tongue!

Fel.
A riddle! How is that?

Juan.
Why, if I speak
I needs must anger you; if not, myself.

Fel.
I do not understand it yet.

Juan.
Nor I;
Yet if you give me leave (as leave they give
To children and to fools to say their mind)
I'll say mine.

Fel.
Surely say it.

Juan.
Tell me then—
That letter I saw flying in at the window
As I came up, what was it?

Fel.
That of all
That you could ask, Juan, I cannot answer—
Must not—relying on our old regard
For fair construction.

Juan.
I believe it, Felix:
Yet seeing that you first excus'd yourself
From helping on my suit, upon the score
Of other obligation; and that now,
Ev'n now, but a few wretched minutes back,
Eugenia herself, in the public street,
Forbad me from her carriage angrily
From following her more—What can I think
But that she loves another? when besides,
Coming back suddenly, I hear her name
Whisper'd—oh what so loud as an ill whisper!—
By you, and see a letter too thrown in,
Which on my coming up confus'd you hide,
And will not say from whom—I say, Don Felix,
What can I think?

Fel.
(aside).
And I, what can I do?
Who, even if I may excuse myself,
Must needs embroil Don Pedro!

Juan.
Answer me.

Fel.
Have I not answer'd you sufficiently,
In saying that my old and well-tried love
Should well excuse my silence?

Juan.
I confess
Your love, old and well tried as you profess;
And on that very score ask of you, Felix,
What you would do if one as true and tried
In a like case seal'd up his lips to you?

Fel.
Leave them unlockt in fullest confidence.

Juan.
Alas! how much, much easier to give
Than follow ev'n the counsel one implores!
Felix, in pity I entreat of you,
Show me that letter!

Fel.
Gladly should you see it
If no one but myself were implicate.

Juan.
There is then some one else?

Fel.
There is.

Juan.
Who else?

Fel.
That's what I cannot tell you.

Juan.
Dare not trust
A friend as true to you as you to him?

Fel.
In anything but this.

Juan.
What can this do
But aggravate my worst suspicions?

Fel.
I cannot help it.

Juan.
I must tell you then
My friendship for you, Felix, may defer,
But not forego, the reading of that letter.

Fel.
I am sorry, sir, your friendship must abide
In ignorance till doomsday.

Juan.
You'll not show it?

Fel.
No, never.

Juan.
Follow me, sir.

Fel.
Where you please.

As they are going out, enter Pedro.
Ped.
How now? Don Juan and Felix quarrelling?

Fed.
Nay, only walking out.

Ped.
What, walking out,
With hands upon your swords and inflam'd faces?
You shall not go.

Hern.
That's right, sir, keep them back,
They were about—

Fel.
Peace, rascal!

Ped.
Friends may quarrel,
But surely not to such extremity
But that a third may piece the quarrel up
Without the sword. The cause of your dispute?

Fel.
I must be silent.

Juan.
And so must not I;
Who will not have it thought
That I forgot my manners as a guest
For any idle reason. You, Don Pedro,
Though lately known to me, are a gentleman,
And you shall hear my story.

Fel.
Not a word,
Or else—

Ped.
Nay, Felix—

Juan.
I will speak it out!
Don Pedro, I confided to Don Felix,
My friend and host, the love I long have borne
For one with whom he could advance my suit,
And promis'd so to do it; but instead,
Yea, under the very mask of doing it,
Has urg'd his own; has even now receiv'd
A letter through that ready window thrown,
He dares not show me; and to make all sure,
I heard him whispering as I came upstairs,
The very name of my Eugenia—

Ped.
Hold!
This is my quarrel.
He who pretends to love Eugenia
Must answer it to me.

Juan.
Two rivals, then!

Fel.
Two enemies grown out of two old friends
By the very means I us'd to keep them so!

Juan.
Keep them, indeed!

Ped.
When with base treachery—

Juan.
Hypocrisy—

Ped.
Under the name of friend—

Juan.
A pretty friend—

Ped.
You robb'd me—

Juan
(turning to Pedro).
You! Dare you
Pretend—

Ped.
(to Juan).
Dare I! Dare you, sir?

Fel.
Peace, I say,
And hear me speak!

Juan
(to Felix).
The time is past for that.
Follow me, sir.

Ped.
No, me.

Fel.
One, or the other, or together both,
I'll either lead or follow, nothing loath!

[Exeunt wrangling.