Изображения страниц
PDF
EPUB

confederacy-Bartolo in one scale, Almaviva in the other -Justice is blind.

[ROSINA draws up the Venetian blind at the balcony. But soft, she comes forth. Now, to shew you my good will, I'll let you commence your operations, but I must pretend to be in bed, for if Dr. Bartolo once suspects me all my power to serve your master vanishes.

[Exit into his house, à DUETTO.-FIORELLO and ROSINA,

Fior. Oh! maiden fair, the morning breaks,
And with the morn thy true love wakes!
He wakes in hope to set thee free,
And share thy love and liberty.

Rosina. Ah! gentle youth, my burning cheek
Would shame the morning's ruddy streak,
If he for whom I feel it glow,

Could hear my tongue my hopes avow.

[blocks in formation]

Thy lover

Rosina

rest, or joy disdains,"

Till he has burst the tyrant's chains.
?

Bar. [Calls within, L.] Rosina! Rosina!

Ros. [To FIORELLO.] 'Tis my guardian's voice! hide under the window!

Bar. [Entering the Balcony.] Rosina, my love, what, at your matins so early?

Ros. Yes, sir, the beauty of the morning tempted me out; the birds caroll'd their songs of freedom, why not I mine of captivity?

Bar. Well, well, so long as you do sing, no matter for what, and, as you are in a singing mood, will you favour me with the song you sung so well last night?

Ros. [Looking over some Music.] I would with great pleasure, sir, but unluckily I have left it in my own room; if you will do me the favour to fetch it, I will sing with cheerfulness.

Bar. Good girl! good girl! how kind and complying! I'll fetch it back in an instant.

[Exit from Balcony. Ros. Now, then, to make the most of that instant! [Takes pencil and writes on a Song.

Fior. [From under the Balcony.] Signora! Signora ! shall I run and fetch my master?

Ros. No, no; bear this song to him, I shall have done it in an instant.

Bar. [Speaks without.] The song an't in your room! I've search'd for it high and low.

Ros. [Embarrassed,] Oh! dear sir, I'm sorry you've had the trouble, I've got it, here it is—

[Holds it out, drops it, and screams.

Enter BARTOLO at Balcony

Ab it has fallen into the street; Oh, my dear sir, run down, and get it, I would not lose it for the world.'"

Bar. Oh! Jade! Jade! you dropt it on purpose! I perceived it! In with you!-I'll fetch it; but I'll fasten the balcony first-In, in, I say!

[They retire, and BARTOLO fastens the Blind. Fior. [Takes up the Song.] Now, then, with the wings of Mercury to delight my master.

Fig. [Peeping from his Door.] Hold! don't forget to whom you are indebted for all this; and tell the Count to come to me with speed-away, away!

[Exit FIORELLO,L.U.E.-FIGARO returns into his House. Enter BARTOLO from his Door, stooping to pick up the Song.

Bar. Why, where the devil is it? [Looks about.] Gone! gone! and I'm trick'd! Oh, that balcony-that balcony is a temptation to intrigue; I'll have it pulled down, and the window brick'd up! And look here! Figaro's shop not open! What is he about? [Knocks loud at the Door and calls] Figaro! Figaro! [FIGARO opens his Chamber window in his Night Cap, and puts a Blunderbuss out.

Fig. If you don't go away, you're a dead man.
Bar. Mercy on us! don't you know me, Figaró?
Fig. [Gaping.] I know nobody in my sleep.

Bar. [Creeps under the Window for safety.] O dear! O dear!

Fig. If you attack my house in the middle of the night, I'll blow your brains out.

Bar. I'm Doctor Bartolo, your landlord! be quiet and come down.

ment.

Fig. Lord, sir, is it you? I'll be with you in a mo[Leaves the Window. Bar. Was ever man so plagued with stupidity and

roguery! Every thing goes contrary; all conspires to fret me! That fellow sleeps, because I wish him to keep awake; and my Ward wakes, because I want her to sleep-But I'll get my marriage contract engross'd today, and then my fears will end.

Enter FIGARO, who opens his Shop-windows.

Fig. In the name of all the saints, Signor, what has rous'd you so early?

Bar. The serenaders, the caterwaulers; my intended wife has roused me,-aye, and ought to have roused you too; but Somnus was watchful, compared to you; [During this Speech he is locking the Door.] What devil could prompt me to leave the balcony? Then, this stupid fellow, Basil, not to come with the marriage contract, as he promised.

Enter FIORELLO at the back, watching BARTOLO.

Bar. Figaro! Rosina and I are to be privately mar ried to-morrow; I am now going to fetch Basil, so don't let a creature go near my door. I have locked my servants all up, to prevent intrigue; do your duty this one day, and your arrear of rent is cancelled. [Exit R. looking first at the house and then at FIGARO, very suspiciously.

[ocr errors]

Fig. So, off goes the old, and now for the new lover. [He makes signs to FIORELLO, who beckons on COUNT ALMAVIVA from L. V. E.-He runs to FIGARO. Count. Ah, my faithful Figaro.

Fig. Yes, my lord, your honest old servant.

Count. Hush-[Stops his mouth.] My title and your honesty must not be mentioned now! I am here in disguise, perhaps you are the same; I say nothing of your roguery, you say nothing of my rank.

Fig. I'll not mention a word, my lord.

Count. Silence, rascal, or I'll break your bones. Fig. Thank you a thousand times; the same kind, familiar, free-spoken, friendly, noble

Count. Hold, knave; you, I find still the same chattering blockhead, with all your bad habits confirmed.

Fig. Why, as you turned me off for making too free with your good ones, I think you shou'dn't find fault with me for using my own.

Count. Well, Figaro, you hav'nt starv'd since we parted; I think you are much lustier.

Fig. Yes, Signor, want and fasting have done it.

Count. Want?

Fig. Yes, signor, it has puff'd me out, as starv'd land produces a toad-stool.

Count. But, when you left me at Madrid, you got employment; how did you play your cards to lose that?

Fig. All owing to an odd trick, sir; so they cut me out of the game: upon which I turned my back upon Madrid, and with all my worldly wealth in a pocket handkerchief, I took a sentimental journey to Seville, to which place I begg'd, borrowed, and shaved my way, till, having overcome all difficulties, I am at last settled in this shop, by Doctor Bartolo.

Count. Know, then, about six months ago, I met Rosina on the Prado at Madrid-she captivated me beyond my power to describe; I sought her in vain, thro' every house in the city.-At length discovered her to be of noble extraction, an orphan, and, they say, married to Doctor Bartolo.

Fig. They say, who says?

Count. Common report.

Fig. Common report's a common liar; the Doctor gives himself out for her husband, merely to keep off others; she is yet cnly his ward; but, to-morrow, indeed, will make her his wife.

Count. That to-morrow shall never come.

Fig. Lord, sir, you don't mean to murder him?

Count. No; but I mean to carry off Rosina, and that will save the necessity, What is the outline of old Bartolo's character?

Fig. A peeping, peering, growling, grunting, spying, spiteful, stingy, jealous old curmudgeon.

Count. His private virtues concisely summed up, now for his public ones?

Fig. He has none. In short, he is hated by his ward, despised by the world, and hardly honest enough to keep himself from the galleys.

Count. But, is he very jealous?

Fig. Jealous? he walks with the candle behind him, for fear of leaving his shadow in the room with her; no male visitors are ever permitted within his walls.

Count. Have not you access, Figaro?

+ Fig. Yes, because he can't do without me. I am his Barber, Surgeon and Apothecary-Razors, Lancet,

B

1

Good

Pestle and Mortar-always something to do in the

house.

Count. Oh, my dear Figaro-you were born to be my friend. [Embracing him warmly. Fig. Oh, my dear Count [Embraces in his turn.] How familiar a great man is, when he wants one's assist[Aside. Count. Now, what will be the best disguise for me to assume?

ance.

1

[FIGARO looks at him with affected surprise. Come, come, my dear Figaro, no affectation; for tho' you are his apothecary, you know you are my physician.

Fig. Indeed! then let me feel your pulse.

Count. You needn't-I know I must bleed. [COUNT takes out his purse-FIGARO holds out his hand without looking at COUNT, who keeps putting money into it.] There, there, there! I've lost enough, I think. Fig. No;-a few ounces more.

Count. Why, I shall bleed to death!

Fig. Your Doctor knows best what's good for you.

Count. There, take it all. [Puts the purse into F1GARO's hand.] And now are you satisfied?

Fig. [Puts purse in his pocket without looking at it.] I'll put it in a cool place, and examine it to

morrow.

Count. Well, then, instruct me now how I shall get admitted into the house.

Fig. Thus, have you observed a number of soldiers in the city?

Count. Certainly; their Colonel is my friend. W quarter in the same hotel.

Fig. Fortunate! Another battalion of the regimen are now marching in-you shall borrow a suit of thei clothes, and be quartered on Doctor Bartolo.

Count. Transporting thought!

Fig. But you must get a protection from your friend the Colonel, in case the soldiers should question you and, as you may be guilty of some trifling extravaganc in Bartolo's house, you had better pretend to be a littl tipsey; this will put him off his guard, and he won't much distrust you.

Count. I am already drunk with joy! shall we lull the vigilance of the servants?

But ho

Fig. I think the art of medicine may furnish the mean

« ПредыдущаяПродолжить »