And give the alarm! Begone! The rest with me. Firm as a rock my castle yet remains, Which laughs to scorn the battle of the waves. AIR 16th. (Song.) O'er my poor shatter'd bark, as they throng mountains high, The billows triumphant may roll; And the flash to its victim may light thro' the sky For the thunder shall cease, and the waves that now roar, Soon lie silently scatter'd in foam on the shore. Chorus Away to the castle, quick, bear her away! Let him set her free, (And what mortal is he), Who can tear from the gripe of the lion his prey. [Exeunt. Scene, the Fisherman's Cottage. Mar. (As entering.) Ha, ha, ha, ha! We shall have rare sport at the Countess's! There's to be a masquerade, and a great entertainment, to receive my two lovers: and if I can only perform my part with success, it will be one of the best jokes - ha, ha, ha! (A knock at the door.) So, so, honest Mr. Balthazar, that's your knock I'm sure. Within a minute of his time. Your old sinners are always punctual, be cause [She opens the door, and BALTHAZAR enters, Bal. I was afraid you had company. Didn't I hear somebody laugh? Mar. 'Twas me. I had just fallen asleep, and was dreaming what a fool you were making of Signor Stephano: I awoke myself with laughing. Bal. Yes, and I have been making a pretty fool of myself! I have been cutting off my beard. It is not for every woman I would cut off my beard; but you, Mrs. Martha, can make me do any thing. I have settled your business with the judge. Mar. And so have I yours. (Aside.) Bal. We have agreed that Nicolini shall be pardoned I thought Signor Stephano was a hardhearted man, but I find him merciful, very merciful. He pities you very much he wanted to call and tell you so, but you know there was no occasion for that. Mar. None in the least. Bal. So I told him he need not give himself the trouble; for, you know, when a man feels for the distresses of a woman, and a young woman, and a beautiful young young woman; there is no knowing how far his pity may carry him! (A knocking at the door.) Bless my soul! what ish dat? Mar. Hush! Steph. (Without.) Mrs. Martha, Mrs. Martha ! Mar. Was ever any thing so unfortunate? why didn't you persuade him not to come? Bal. You won't let him in? Mar. Refuse to open the door to a judge? Bal. What will become of me? Mar. Here, here, can't you get into this cloaths press? (Opens the folding doors of a cloaths-press, which has a partition down the middle.) Bal. Impossible! Steph. (Without.) Mrs. Martha, I say? Mar. He won't stay five minutes. Bal. I shall be smother'd in half the time! Mar. Pho, pho, you'll have plenty of air through the key-hole Balt. Thro' the key hole? oh, what will become of me? (She locks him up in one side of the press.) Mar. So I have caged one of my turtle-doves safely, now for the other (Opens the door, and Signor STEPHANO enters disguised as the Jew.) Step. Well, you little jade, what made you so long before you opened the door? Mar. You were in such a hurry I was only locking something up in the cloaths-press. Steph. Well, you little jade, here I am! Why don't you laugh at me? (She laughs.) That's right, laugh at me heartily, or I shall think I am but half metamorphosed. (She turns him about, and laughs heartily.) Well, havn't I done it completely? Ha ha! ha! Mar. I think you have, ha! ha! ha! Steph. Don't I cut a very ridiculous figure, ha ha! ba! Mar. Very! Ha! ha! ha! Steph. Did you ever know a man make a greater fool of himself, ha ha! ha! Mar. Never! Ha! ha! ha! Steph. Ha! ha! ha! but to be serious; you have seen Balthazar, I suppose? Mar. No. Steph. He promised to call, but I suppose he'll take some other opportunity? Mar. Very likely. Steph. He's a good soul, and I can assure you, felt for your distresses, as if they had been his own; would you believe it, when he talk'd of your situation, he was absolutely in tears. Mar. Kind-hearted creature! Steph. Tho' a judge, I could not forbear weeping myself. Mar. Poor Nicolino, then, has nothing to fear. Steph. Nothing, and every thing to hope. Well, and now we're quite snug and alone Mar. Yes, there are only three of us. Steph. Hey! what? three of us? Mar. Why, you know, there's myself one, and you are two. Steph. Ha, ha! ha, well, that is a very good joke; and the best of the joke is, that I am at once your gallant and your confessor; as a Jew I can't commit more sin than as a judge I can pardon, and (A knocking at the door.) What the devil's that? Mar. 'Tis he! Steph. What, Balthazar? Mar. Yes, I know his rap. Steph. Well, you know you're not at home |