Bar. [Calling.]. Help! help! where are all the servants? Oh, I forgot; where's Basil? [Calling.] Basil! come to my assistance! [The COUNT goes up and meets MARCELLINA. Count. [In a low voice.] Where is my angel confined? Marc. In that room; but be prudent. Bar. [Turns and sees them together.] Ah! that she-devil is plotting with him. Will nobody come and turn that drunken rascal out? Basil! why don't you come to my assistance? Enter BASIL, L. Bas. What noise is this? Bar, Fetch me an Alguazile! [Violent knocking at the door.-Opens the door and looks out.] Why, here is another of them, and he seems as far gone as his comrade. Enter FIORELLO in a military dress, pretending to be drunk. FINALE. Fior. Hollo! house here !-Hey! good people! Hollo! house here !-Faith, you'll sleep ill! Bar. Who can this be?-Ugly fellow! Drunken rascal, thus to bellow! Fior. Hollo! house there! All are still here! Bar What Balardo ? Fior. Ah! ah, Bertoldo Bar. Pooh! pooh! Bertoldo Fior. Ah! bravissimo! Doctor Barbaro ! Enter ARGUS, r. Arg. Ya-a-aw! Did you call, sir? C Enter TALLBOY, L. Tall. I'm here, sir-Chi-(Sneezes.) atchi-oh, dear! Bar. Curse your gaping and sneezing, I sure shall go mad! But I'll be revenged! if revenge can be had! Rosina. Gracious heaven! what a clangor ! Fior. [To COUNT.] Now's the time, sir give the Bar. letter "Tis your Lindor! [To ReSINA.] [COUNT throws a letter.] That's for me. Fior.No-stop a little! you shall see, But letters go where they are due! Ros. Charming! Charming! Oh! delightful! Ever thus for nought you school me! [Gives a wrong paper. Bar. [Reads.] "List of dresses!" I know better! "Gowns and night-caps!" They but fool me ! Ros. Bravo! bravo! all is right now, Fio. Fortune takes the lover's part, Mar. O'er their ev'ry day and night now, Bar. Plague upon 'em! rage and spite now Fig. What has happened? some disaster Bar. Scoundrel! you are in the plot, sir. Fior.Stay your hand, sir! he is not, sir. Enter BASIL, L. Bas. Hold! there, hold! why all this stunning! Ros. Fig. Fi. Mar. & Basil. Hush! hush! be quiet, let us all agree. [Knocking withoul, L. All. Sounds of authority! Who can they be? Bar. Who's there? Soldiers. [Without.] Admit us, and you shall see. All. The soldiers! Admit them! Enter OFFICER and Soldiers, Officer Stand, good people, quick, obey us! Bar. Sir, these soldiers have abus'd me, But know nothing of the matter! Wine has made him rather mellow Officer. Silence !- I hear ye-Hark'ee, fellow You're our prisoners-quick away! Fior. Give the paper, Signor, pray; We your prisoners? pr'ythee, stay. [FIORELLO gives OFFICER a protection-the OFFICER salutes, and Soldiers sheath their swordsBARTOLO is petrified. TRIO.-ROSINA, FIORELLO, and BASIL, Cold and immoveable Bar. But, good sir Chorus. Bar. I'm a man- Bar. That's my ward- Bar. And I saw Chorus. Bar. Ros. Hold your tongue! Get along! Pray have done! We are gone. Chorus All. Silence all! End your quarrels! Leave the ground! END OF ACT I. ACT II. SCENE I.-A Room at DR. BARTOLO's, adjoining ROSINA'S. BARTOLO discovered sitting. Bar. What a scene of perplexity am I involv'd in! These drunken soldiers are not known by any other in the regiment, and yet, on a sudden, as much respect was paid to them, as if they had been the Commanders of it. I have my doubts; I am informed Count Almaviva is in Seville, and means to make proposals of marriage to Rosina. How can I justify the refusal of such an honourable match? Basil advises some scandalous story, which may set her against him; [Rises] but, a perverse girl always loves in opposition to reasonand to tell her, her lover's a rake, is to make her more determined to have him. [Aloud knock.] Who's there? Enter COUNT, L. dressed as a Music Master, and assuming a very sanctified appearance-bows very low. Heyday! whom have we here? Čount. Peace and happiness be with you, sir. [Boning. Bar. (c.) Much obliged, sir; but, my peace and happiness, are not likely to be disturbed, except by intruders. Count. (L. c.) Happiness and peace attend you! [Bowing. Bar. Pshaw! may I ask, sir, what brought you here? who are you? and what do you want? Count. May peace and happiness fall to your lot! Bar. Was there ever such a tiresome blockhead! Sir, I must insist upon it, you leave this bowing and scraping, and tell me who you are. Count. My name is Alonzo, a Bachelor of Artsa licentiate, pupil to Don Basil, organist of the Grand Convent; who has the honour to be music master to Madame Rosiną. Bar. Well, Don Alonzo, &c. &c. &c. come to the point. If Basil wanted to introduce you, why did he not come with you? Count. Alas! sir, it was not in his power! sudden illness (I'm shock'd to say) confines him to his bed. Bar. His bed! why, man, he was here within this hour. Count. I know it, sir; but, in returning home, hehis foot-against a stone-his hand-his arm-leg-shook -[pretends to weep] bed-oh! Bar. Mercy on us! you frighten me !-poor Basil confined to his bed-I'll go to him immediately-[taking the COUNT by the arm.] Count. Oh, the devil! [Aside.] No, no, not absolutely confined to his bed, only to his room, sir;—and he desired me to inform you-[Coming near to whisper BARTOLO, who retreats from him]-But can nobody overhear us? Bur. No, sir, no one can overhear us, and I'm sorry for it, for I suspect you to be a rogue! Oh, you may start, and fret, but I'm not to be imposed upon-Speak out, speak louder, I'm deaf. Count. Oh, with all my heart!—[bawling]—Count Almaviva, who has changed his lodgings Bar. Softly! softly! Count. Count Almaviva is coming this evening. Bar. [Trying to stop his mouth]-Softly, good Alonzo! I beseech you, softly, softly! Count. It was I discovered he was in love with Rosina, and that she, ignorant of his rank, had contrived to send him a letter, directed to him under his feigned name, which letter I got possession of. Bar. A letter !-my dear friend, lower your voice!— Rosina can overhear us!-Come, tell me all. You say that Rosina Count. Yes, sir, I do say that this, and much more I discovered; but really, your uncivil beha viour Bar. I'll be very civil now; but pray speak lower. |