AIR II.—DON CÆSAR.
Flow, thou regal purple stream,
Tinctur'd by the solar beam,
In my goblet sparkling rise,
Cheer my heart and glad my eyes.
My brain ascend on fancy's wing,
'Noint me, wine, a jovial king.
While I live, I'll lave my clay,
When I'm dead and gone away,
Let my thirsty subjects say,
A month he reign'd, but that was May.
[Thunder.]
Don Cæsar. Hark, how distinct we hear the thunder through this vast body of earth and rock.—Rapino, is Calvette above, upon his post?
Rap. Yes.
Don Cæsar. Spado, 'tis your business to relieve the centinel.
Spado. Relieve! what's the matter with him?
Don Cæsar. Come, come, no jesting with duty—'tis your watch.
Spado. Let the wolves watch for me—my duty is to get supper ready.—[Thunder.]—Go up! Od's fire, do you think I'm a Salamander?—D'ye hear?
Sang. No sport, I fear.
Don Cæsar. Then call Calvette, lock down the trap-door, and get us some more wine from the cistern.
Spado. Wine! Ay, captain; and this being a night of peace, we'll have a dish of olives.
Sang. No, peace! we'll up and scour the forest presently. But well thought on; a rich old fellow, one Don Scipio, has lately come to reside in the castle on the skirts of the forest—what say you to plunder there?
Don Cæsar. Not to-night—I know my time—I have my reasons—I shall give command on that business. But where's the stranger we brought in at our last excursion?
Rap. He reposes in yonder recess.
Spado. Ay, egad, there he lies, with a face as innocent—[Aside.]—If my fellow-rooks would but fly off, I'd have the pigeon here within all to myself.
Cal. [Appears at the Top of the winding Stairs, with a Lanthorn.] A booty.
Sang. Good news, cavaliers; here comes Calvette.
Cal. A booty!
Sang. What! where?
Cal. Soft—but one man!
Sang. But one man! Is he alone?
Cal. Quite.
Spado. One man, and alone—that's odd!
Cal. He seems in years, but his habit, as well as I could distinguish, speaks him noble.
[Descends.
Don Cæsar. Then he'll fight.—My arms!
Spado. Oh, he'll fight—get my arms; no, my legs will do for me.
[Aside.
Sang. Come, my carbine—quick!
Don Cæsar. To the attack of one man—paltry! Only you, Calvette, Sanguino, Rapino, and Spado go; the rest prepare for our general excursion.
Spado. Captain, don't send me; indeed I'm too rash!
Don Cæsar. Come, come, leave buffoonery, and to your duty.
[Calvette and Rapino ascend; the rest go in at several Recesses; Spado, the last, ascends up slowly.
Enter Don Alphonso.
Don Alph. I find myself somewhat refreshed by my slumber; at such a time to fall into the hands of these ruffians, how unlucky! I'm pent up here; my rival, Fernando, once my friend, reaches Don Scipio's castle, weds my charming Victoria, and I lose her for ever; but if I could secure an interview, love should plead my cause.