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barber, at the beck of any scrub! I am surgeon-dentist, and peruquier to the bishop of Salamanca! I only do my particular friends the honour to take them by the nose, so perhaps, when more at leisure, you will step over the way to my shop.

Bar. No, sir, I shall not step over the way to your shop.

Fig. Then step into the next you in a minute.

room, and I'll shave

Bar. I shan't leave this room! so shave me here, sir. Fig. Here! for shame, sir! how can you be so rude to a strange gentleman?

Bar. It is because I won't be so rude as to leave a strange gentleman, that I am shaved here; [Sits] besides, I shall have the pleasure of hearing your lesson. Fig. [Aside to ROSINA.] We shall never be able to get him out of the room. [Calls] Here, Argus! Tallboy! bring the doctor's shaving things!

Bar. What signifies calling them! have you not laid them up?

Fig. Give me the keys, sir-I'll fetch the things myself; they are in your chamber, I think.

Bar. Here! [Going to give the keys, but recollects himself-returns.] No! upon second thoughts, I'll fetch them myself. [Whispers to COUNT.] Alonzo, have an eye upon that fellow and Rosina, while I am gone, they are not to be trusted. [Exit, M. D.

Fig. How unlucky not to get the keys! Belzebub stands his friend, certainly: Is not the key of the lattice of your window among them?

Ros. Yes; 'tis the newest key on the bunch.-Hark!

Re-enter BARTOLO.

Bar I'll not trust the barber-a moment's time is enough for him to cabal with her. [Aside to COUNT.] Has he spoken to her?

Count. Not a word-I prevented all communication. Bar. [To FIGARO.] Here, take the bunch; you will find my things up stairs in the China closet, but be sure to touch nothing else.

Fig. Nothing, nothing-[as he goes]-but the key of the lattice.

[He takes the key off the bunch.-At this moment the COUNT, who sees him do it, and wishing to tuke BARTOLO'S attention, makes a very high flourish in singing, as if instructing RosINA.

Bar. [Jumps up.] What the devil are you at? that's

not the key.
Fig. Yes it is.

Bar. What do you say?

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Fig. I said A flat is the key he wanted.
Bar. Go about your business-

[Exit FIGARO, M.D. [To ALONZO, in a whisper.] That's the fellow who car ried the letter to the Count..

Count. I know it is; he looks like a knave.

Bar. Oh, a great rogue !-I thought it better to send him for the things, than leave him in the same room with her.

Count. He should not have talk'd to her; I would have prevented that.

Ros. Upon my word, gentlemen, you are very polite, to be whispering ;-Is this the lesson I am to have?

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[Noise without of breaking China. Bar. Oh, that cursed barber! he has broken all my China... [Exit running, M. D. Count. Beloved Rosina !-In this moment which Figaro has contrived, let me conjure you to see me in the evening, that we may fix the time to rescue you from im pending misery.

Ros. Impossible!-my window

Count. Can easily be scaled. Figaro has the key,I saw him take it off the bunch. The letter you gene rously sent me this morning

[The door at the back is thrown open, and discovers a corkscrew staircase, with BARTOLO pulling down FIGARO, who at every step lets fall some China' upon BARTOLO's head.

Bar. What are you at, villain? Would you ruin me?

Fig. Don't pull so!-this cursed corkscrew staircase is so dark and narrow, I shall break my neck.

Bar. [Pulling him forward.] Better break your neck than my China, you clumsy knave.

Fig. Clumsy! If there's a handier man in the house, I'll be hanged!-why, look here!-here's the shavingbasin, the soap, and the towel, all whole, you see!-I have broke nothing that was wanted to shave you.

Bar. How could you break a pewter basin? What did you touch my old China for?

Fig. Why, I touch'd the old China because-because -my foot slipp'd, and so it broke!

Bar. Ah! villain! your foot will slip some day, and your neck will break!

Fig. I'll be hang'd if it does!-but, come, sir, be shaved! I've no time to stay, and you keep me here talking in such a way, it's quite a shame!

[During all this FIGARO places a small table with the things to shave BARTOLO, and at as great a distance as possible from the lovers.

Bar. Hold your tongue, you impertinent puppyNow, Alonzo, go on with your lesson.

[BARTOLO places his chair, L. so as to command a

sight of the lovers. FIGARO, in preparing, gets between his knees, and interrupts his view: takes his wig off, and puts his night-cap on, pulling it over his eyes. During this the COUNT and ROSINA sit, and he appears to be instructing her. FIGARO beats up a lather in the basin.

Now, Rosina, go on with your singing!

Enter BASIL, L.

Ros. (R.) Yes, sir.

Basil. Dr. Bartolo, I have some intelligence for you. Count. (3.) Basil, as I live!

Ros. Oh! heavens !

Fig. Oh the devil!

Bar. Ab, my friend! [He is rising in haste-FIGARO dabs the lather in his face.

Fig. Sit quiet.

Bar. Curse your impudence! [Wipes it off.] Figaro, hold your hand a moment.-- Why, Basil, I'm glad you have recovered so soon; Alonzo, here, gave me an alarming account of you.

Basil. Recovered!-Alonzo!

Fig. If you don't sit still, and be shaved, I must go. [Holding him fast in his chair.

Bar. Yes, Alonzo, your pupil.

Fig. How can I shave you if you talk so?
Basil. My pupil!-I must say-

Count. Say nothing, Basil. You can tell the Doctor nothing he does not know; I told him you had commissioned me, to give Signora Rosina her lesson in music

D

Basil. Lesson-Music-I don't comprehend !

[Goes to ROSINA-During this BARTOLO has extricated himself from FIGARO.

Count. [To BARTOLO.] Tell him quietly that we have agreed to say so.

Bar. I will-I will! See, he is talking to Rosina now! I fear he'll spoil all! Basil! Basil! don't contradict us-mind, don't tell Rosina you did not send him to give her a lesson: you'll spoil all, if you do!

Basil. Very well! I come to tell you the Count had changed his lodgings.

Bar. I know it be quiet.

Basil. Who told you of it?

Bar. Your messenger, Alonzo, to be sure.

Count. Yes, I.-Don't contradict that: you'll spoil all, if you do.

Basii. Oh, I'm not to contradict either.

Ros. [Aside to BASIL.] Can't you be silent?

Basil. What, and she too?

Fig. [Aside.] Hold your peace, booby, don't say a word.

Basil. And he too!-Why, whom do you wish to deceive! Every body seems to be in the secret, and all determined to keep it from one another.

Count. [Aside to BARTOLO.] It will be impossible for me to say any thing to your ward about the Count's letter while Basil is here-I think you had better send him home again.

Bar. You are right; I will. Basil, it is very good of you to come out, ill as you are, to tell me the news of the Count; but you had better now go home, and go to bed. [Turns and talks to FIGARO.

Basil. Go home and go to bed! Count. Yes: the Doctor wonders you would venture out, being so very ill. [Puts a purse into his hand. Fig. He looks like a ghost. [TO BARTOLO.

Basil. [Looking at the purse.] Oh, now I begin to comprehend.

Bar. [To FIGARO.] What do you think is his com plaint?

Fig. Yellow jaundice, I think, troubles him at pre

sent.

Bar. Yellow fiddlestick!-I think it is a fever.

Fig. Let me feel his pulse ;-0 yes, it is a scarlet fever, and very catching. [They all jump away from him.

All. Go to bed, Basil, go to bed.

Fig. I think I had better bleed him first. Put him in a chair, and I'll take a quart or two of blood from him. Basil. No, I thank you! I don't comprehend—and if it were not for the purse

Ros. Don't stand muttering there, Basil; why don't you go? Go to bed, Basil.

All. Aye, aye, good night. Go to bed; good night [He still seems to linger, and they all keep wishing him a "good night," and pushing him out at [Exit BASIL, L.

the same time.

Ros, Thank heaven, he is gone at last!

Bar. Poor man, he is very ill indeed.
Count. His fever's high.

Fig. How he muttered between his teeth. But, come, sir; now please to be seated.

[He places chairs as before, and begins to lather his face.

Count. (R.) [Aside.] Rosina, listen to me. [Aloud.] We will, if you please, madam, finish our lesson. Ros. (R.) I'm all attention.

Bar. (L.) Stand on one side a little, I can't see them. Fig. [Crying, as if in great pain.] O! O! O dear! O dear!

Bar. [Jumps up.] What's the matter with you?

Fig. Something in my eye. [He stamps about till he has turned BARTOLO with his back to the lovers.] Oh, my eye! I believe it is a gnat: look in it, but don't touch it. Do you see it? blow into it.

[While BARTOLO is employed with FIGARO, the COUNT speaks to ROSINA.

Count. Precisely at midnight, we shall be at your lattice. As Figaro has the key, all will be easy.

Bar. There, then, 'tis out now. Do finish the shaving, and let me get rid of you.

[BARTOLO takes his place again, and FIGARO begins

to shave him.

Ros. But the balcony is high-Somebody may be passing-I know not if I should permit—

Count. Lovely Rosina! trust to my honour; fear not my prudence. [Kneels.] Believe my love more ardent than any man can

[During this BARTOLO is cut in the chin by FIGARO. He starts up, knocks FIGARO down, and discovers the COUNT on his knees. All confusion, Scene closes.

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