AIR III.—DON ALPHONSO.
The hardy sailor braves the ocean,
Fearless of the roaring wind;
Yet his heart, with soft emotion,
Throbs to leave his love behind.
To dread of foreign foes a stranger,
Tho' the youth can dauntless roam,
Alarming fears paint every danger
In a rival, left at home.
Spado returns down the Stairs.
Spado. [Aside.] Now for some talk with our prisoner here—Stay, are they all out of ear-shot? How the poor bird sings in its cage! I know more of his affairs than he thinks of, by overhearing his conversation at the inn at Lorca.
Don Alph. How shall I escape from these rascals? Oh, here is one of the gentlemen. Pray, sir, may I take the liberty—
Spado. No liberty for you.—Yet upon certain conditions, indeed—give me your hand.
Don Alph. [Aside.] Impudent scoundrel!
Spado. Signor, I wish to serve you—and serve you I will; but I must know the channel, before I make for the coast; therefore, to examine you with the pious severity of an holy inquisitor, who the devil are you?
Don Alph. A pious adjuration truly!—[Aside.]—Sir, my name is Alphonso, and I am son of a banker at Madrid.
Spado. Banker! Oh! I thought he sung like a young goldfinch.
Don Alph. Perhaps, by trusting this fellow, I may make my escape.
[Aside.
Spado. I'll convince him I know his secrets, and then I hold his purse-strings.
Don Alph. You won't betray me?
Spado. Honour among thieves.
Don Alph. Then you must know, when your gang attacked me yesterday evening—
Spado. You were posting full gallop to Don Scipio's castle, on the confines of the forest here.
Don Alph. Hey! then perhaps you know my passion for—
Spado. Donna Victoria, his daughter.
Don Alph. Then you know that she's contracted—
Spado. To your friend Don Fernando de Zelva, who is now on his journey to the castle, and, to the destruction of your hopes, weds the lady on his arrival.
Don Alph. True, while I am pent up in this cursed cavern; but how you got my story, I——
Spado. No matter! I could let you out of this cursed cavern.
Don Alph. And will you?
Spado. Ah, our trap-door above requires a golden key.
Don Alph. Your comrades have not left me a piastre.
Spado. Will you give me an order on your father's bank for fifty pieces, and I'll let you out?
Don Alph. You shall have it.
Spado. A bargain. I'll secure your escape.
Enter Don Cæsar, behind.
Don Cæsar. How's this?
Spado. Zounds, the captain Ramirez! [Aside.]—Ay, you dog, I'll secure you for an escape! Do you think I'd set you at liberty without the captain's orders? Betray my trust for a bribe! What the devil do you take me for? [In a seeming rage.] Oh, captain, I did not see you.
Don Cæsar. What's the matter?
Spado. Nothing, only our prisoner here was mistaken in his man—that's all. Let you escape, indeed!
Don Alph. Here's a rascal!
Spado. Rascal! D'ye hear him? He has been abusing me this half hour, because I would not convey him out without your knowledge. Oh, what offers he did make me! but my integrity is proof against Gallions, Escurials, Perus, and Mexicos.
Don Cæsar. Begone instantly to your comrades. [Spado ascends.] Signor, no occasion to tamper with my companions; you shall owe your liberty to none but me. I'll convey you to the cottage of the vines, belonging to the peasant Philippo, not far from Don Scipio's castle; there you may rest in safety to-night, and—
Don Alph. Ah, captain! no rest for me.
Don Cæsar. Look ye, signor, I am a ruffian, perhaps worse, but venture to trust me.—A picklock may be used to get to a treasure—don't wish to know more of me than I now chuse to tell you; but, if your mistress loves you as well as you seem to love her, to-morrow night she's yours.
Don Alph. My good friend!
Don Cæsar. Now for Philippo—I don't suppose you wish to see any of our work above—ha! ha! ha!—Well, well, I was once a lover, but now—