_Enter_ ISAAC _and_ DON ANTONIO.
_Isaac_. A plaguey while coming, this same father Paul.--He's detained
at vespers, I suppose, poor fellow.
_Don Ant_. No, here he comes.
_Enter_ FATHER PAUL.
Good father Paul, I crave your blessing.
_Isaac_. Yes, good father Paul, we are come to beg a favour.
_Paul_. What is it, pray?
_Isaac_. To marry us, good father Paul; and in truth thou dost look
like the priest of Hymen.
_Paul_. In short, I may be called so; for I deal in repentance and
mortification.
_Isaac_. No, no, thou seemest an officer of Hymen, because thy
presence speaks content and good humour.
_Paul_. Alas, my appearance is deceitful. Bloated I am, indeed! for
fasting is a windy recreation, and it hath swollen me like a bladder.
_Don Ant_. But thou hast a good fresh colour in thy face, father;
rosy, i'faith!
_Paul_. Yes, I have blushed for mankind, till the hue of my shame is
as fixed as their vices.
_Isaac_. Good man!
_Paul_. And I have laboured, too, but to what purpose? they continue
to sin under my very nose.
_Isaac_. Efecks, father, I should have guessed as much, for your nose
seems to be put to the blush more than any other part of your face.
_Paul_. Go, you're a wag.
_Don Ant_. But to the purpose, father--will you officiate for us?
_Paul_. To join young people thus clandestinely is not safe: and,
indeed, I have in my heart many weighty reasons against it.
_Don Ant_. And I have in my hand many weighty reasons for it. Isaac,
haven't you an argument or two in our favour about you?
_Isaac_. Yes, yes; here is a most unanswerable purse.
_Paul_. For shame! you make me angry: you forget who I am, and when
importunate people have forced their trash--ay, into this pocket here--
or into this--why, then the sin was theirs.--[_They put money into
his pockets_.] Fie, now how you distress me! I would return it, but
that I must touch it that way, and so wrong my oath.
_Don Ant_. Now then, come with us.
_Isaac_. Ay, now give us our title to joy and rapture.
_Paul_. Well, when your hour of repentance comes, don't blame me.
_Don Ant_. [_Aside_.] No bad caution to my friend Isaac.--[_Aloud_.]
Well, well, father, do you do your part, and I'll abide the
consequences.
_Isaac_. Ay, and so will I.
_Enter_ DONNA LOUISA, _running_.
_Don. Louisa_. O Antonio, Ferdinand is at the porch, and inquiring for
us.
_Isaac_. Who? Don Ferdinand! he's not inquiring for me, I hope.
_Don Ant_. Fear not, my love; I'll soon pacify him.
_Isaac_. Egad, you won't. Antonio, take my advice, and run away; this
Ferdinand is the most unmerciful dog, and has the cursedest long
sword! and, upon my, soul, he comes on purpose to cut your throat.
_Don Ant_. Never fear, never fear.
_Isaac_. Well, you may stay if you will; but I'll get some one to
marry me: for by St. Iago, he shall never meet me again, while I am
master of a pair of heels. [_Runs out_.--DONNA LOUISA _lets down her
veil_.]
_Enter_ DON FERDINAND.
_Don Ferd_. So, sir, I have met with you at last.
_Don Ant_. Well, sir.
_Don Ferd_. Base, treacherous man! whence can a false, deceitful soul,
like yours, borrow confidence, to look so steadily on the man you've
injured!
_Don Ant_. Ferdinand, you are too warm: 'tis true you find me on the
point of wedding one I loved beyond my life; but no argument of mine
prevailed on her to elope.--I scorn deceit, as much as you. By heaven
I knew not that she had left her father's till I saw her!
_Don Ferd_. What a mean excuse! You have wronged your friend, then,
for one, whose wanton forwardness anticipated your treachery--of this,
indeed, your Jew pander informed me; but let your conduct be
consistent, and since you have dared to do a wrong, follow me, and
show you have a spirit to avow it.
_Don. Louisa_. Antonio, I perceive his mistake--leave him to me.
_Paul_. Friend, you are rude, to interrupt the union of two willing
hearts.
_Don Ferd_. No, meddling priest! the hand he seeks is mine.
_Paul_. If so, I'll proceed no further. Lady, did you ever promise
this youth your hand? [_To_ DONNA LOUISA, _who shakes her head_.]
_Don Ferd_. Clara, I thank you for your silence--I would not have
heard your tongue avow such falsity; be't your punishment to remember
that I have not reproached you.
_Enter_ DONNA CLARA, _veiled_.
_Don. Clara_. What mockery is this?
_Don Ferd_. Antonio, you are protected now, but we shall meet.
[_Going_, DONNA CLARA _holds one arm, and_ DONNA LOUISA _the other_.]
DUET.
_Don. Louisa_.
Turn thee round, I pray thee,
Calm awhile thy rage.
_Don. Clara_.
I must help to stay thee,
And thy wrath assuage.
_Don. Louisa_.
Couldst thou not discover
One so dear to thee?
_Don. Clara_.
Canst thou be a lover,
And thus fly from me? [_Both unveil_.]
_Don Ferd_. How's this? My sister! Clara, too--I'm confounded.
_Don. Louisa_. 'Tis even so, good brother.
_Paul_. How! what impiety? did the man want to marry his own sister?
_Don. Louisa_. And ar'n't you ashamed of yourself not to know your own
sister?
_Don. Clara_. To drive away your own mistress----
_Don. Louisa_. Don't you see how jealousy blinds people?
_Don. Clara_. Ay, and will you ever be jealous again?
_Don Ferd_. Never--never!--You, sister, I know will forgive me--but
how, Clara, shall I presume----
_Don. Clara_. No, no; just now you told me not to tease you--"Who do
you want, good signor?" "Not you, not you!" Oh you blind wretch! but
swear never to be jealous again, and I'll forgive you.
_Don Ferd_. By all----
_Don. Clara_. There, that will do--you'll keep the oath just as well.
[_Gives her hand_.]
_Don. Louisa_. But, brother, here is one to whom some apology is due.
_Don Ferd_. Antonio, I am ashamed to think----
_Don Ant_. Not a word of excuse, Ferdinand--I have not been in love
myself without learning that a lover's anger should never be resented.
But come--let us retire, with this good father, and we'll explain to
you the cause of this error.
GLEE AND CHORUS.
Oft does Hymen smile to hear
Wordy vows of feign'd regard;
Well, he knows when they're sincere,
Never slow to give reward
For his glory is to prove
Kind to those who wed for love. [_Exeunt_.]