| Count. At last I am determined to marry. How! Imarry! I, who have always avoided expense! I, whohave detested all intercourse with ladies! Well, in thiscase, I am hurried away in my own despite. Ambitionhas induced me to obtain a title; therefore, should Idie without children, my money is lost! and childrenthemselves will but bring trouble! [Calls.] Frontino! |
| |
| Scene II.—Enter Frontino. |
| Front. Here, sir! |
| Count. Hark ye! |
| Front. I have found a tailor, sir, as you ordered me;and a tailor of the first notoriety. |
| Count. Will he come directly? |
| Front. Very soon. He was obliged first to wait on aduke. I was lucky enough to find him at home whenhe was about to step into his coach. |
| Count. His coach? |
| Front. Yes, sir. |
| Count. His own coach? His own horses? |
| Front. Beyond all doubt. A superb carriage, andexcellent nags. |
| Count. O Lord! He's too rich. Is he in repute? |
| Front. In the greatest. He works for the first familiesin Paris. |
| Count. But his honesty? |
| Front. On that subject I have nothing to say. Butwhy, Signor Count, did you not employ your owntailor? |
| Count. Fie! My own tailor on such an occasion! Ihave need of several suits; and, as they must be grand,magnificent, and made to perfection, shall I, if any oneshould ask who is my tailor, shall I answer, "SignorTaccone," whose name nobody knows? |
| Front. Then, sir, from what I hear, you are soon tobe married? |
| Count. So soon, that this very day, and in this veryhouse, I am to sign the contract: I have therefore calledyou to give the necessary orders. On this occasion, Ishall have a large company to dine with me, and musthave such a dinner—in short, brilliant! grand! splendid!Not that I would satiate the indiscreet, or gorge myguests; but I would surprise, by an air of grandeur—youknow what I mean? |
| Front. Yes, sir, tolerably well; but to do all thiswill not be quite so easy. I must inquire whether thecook— |
| Count. No, no, Frontino; I would not have youdependent on the caprice of a cook. Take the directionof everything upon yourself. I know your talents,the readiness of your wit, and your zeal for your master'sinterest. There is not in the whole world a man likeFrontino! You can work miracles; and on such anoccasion will surpass yourself. |
| Front. [Aside.] Ha! his usual mode. Coaxing mewhen he wants me; but afterwards— |
| Count. Here is a list of the guests whom I haveinvited. My sister lives in this house, and my futurespouse and her mother have the adjoining apartments.Here is a note of the other guests. We shall be thirtyat table. Hasten to them all, and get a positive answerfrom each, that, in case of refusals, other persons maybe invited. |
| Front. Thirty guests! Do you know, sir, how mucha dinner for thirty will— |
| Count. Perfectly; and will employ your discretion tocombine economy and magnificence. |
| Front. For example, you gave a supper a few nightsago to three gentlemen, and— |
| Count. Ay, that was a trifle; at present I would betalked of. |
| Front. But this trifling supper you thought so dearthat— |
| Count. Lose no time in useless words. |
| Front. You threw the account in my face, and havenot yet— |
| Count. Here is my sister. Begone! |
| Front. [Aside.] O Lord! what will become of me?This time, friend Frontino, by way of recompense,prepare yourself to be kicked out of doors. | [Exit. |
| |
| Scene III.—Enter Dorimene. |
| Count. Good morning, dear sister; how do you do? |
| Dor. Perfectly well. How are you? |
| Count. Never better. Fortunate and happy man! Iam to possess a bride of high birth and merit. |
| Dor. Then you are determined in favour of Eleonora? |
| Count. Ay, sweet sister! She is your relation; youproposed her to me, and I therefore have reason to giveher the preference. |
| Dor. [Ironically.] Her and her portion of one hundredthousand crowns, with as much more perhaps at thedeath of her mother. |
| Count. You will allow, sister, that such conditionsare not to be despised. |
| Dor. True; but you, who are so— |
| Count. I understand you. A man like me, havingsacrificed a considerable sum to obtain a title, shouldhave endeavoured to marry into an illustrious family.I have thought much, and combated long this reigninginclination, but I know the prejudices of the oldnobility; I must have paid dearly for the pompoushonour of such an alliance. |
| Dor. That is not what I wish to say. |
| Count. I am determined to marry the charmingEleonora. |
| Dor. But if the charming Eleonora should feel nolove for you? |
| Count. My dear sister, I do not think myself a personto be despised. |
| Dor. But inclinations are capricious. |
| Count. Has Eleonora told you she cannot loveme? |
| Dor. She has not precisely told me, but I have greatreason to doubt it. |
| Count. [To himself, vexed.] This is a little strange. |
| Dor. Why are you angry? If you take in ill part— |
| Count. No, no; you mistake me. Speak freely andsincerely. |
| Dor. You know the confidence you have placed inme. Having discoursed together concerning this family,I wrote to Madame Araminta, inviting her and herdaughter to pass a few days at Paris. |
| Count. And they have been a fortnight with you.This I know must give trouble, and bring expense;and as you have done it for my sake—I—my duty—myobligations are eternal. |
| Dor. By no means, brother. The expense is trifling,and the inconvenience small. I love this family, and,beside being related to my husband, am greatly interestedin its behalf. Eleonora is the best girl onearth, and her mother is no less respectable. A goodheart, economical, and to the most exact economy sheunites prudence and regularity of conduct. |
| Count. Excellent; and so has been the education ofher daughter. But now tell me— |
| Dor. Sincerely, brother, in my opinion, Eleonora lovesyou neither much nor little. |
| Count. On what do you found this strange suspicion? |
| Dor. I will tell you. When your name is mentioned,she looks down and gives no answer. |
| Count. Bashfulness. |
| Dor. When she hears or sees you coming, she is in atremor, and wishes to hide herself. |
| Count. At her age that is not extraordinary. |
| Dor. When this marriage is mentioned, the tears arein her eyes. |
| Count. The tears of a child? Can anything be moreequivocal? |
| Dor. And though so equivocal and so full of doubt,will you dare to marry her? |
| Count. Certainly, without the least difficulty. |
| Dor. It seems you love her to distraction. |
| Count. I love—I do not know how much. |
| Dor. You have scarcely seen her twice. |
| Count. Is not that enough to a feeling heart like mine? |
| Dor. Ah, brother, I know you. |
| Count. Your penetration is a little too quick. |
| Dor. I do not wish that you should hereafter have toreproach me. |
| Count. Yonder is Frontino. |
| Dor. If you have business— |
| Count. [With affected kindness.] Will you go? |
| Dor. We shall meet again soon. I only wish you tothink a little on what I have said, and before youmarry— |
| Count. Fear nothing, dear sister. Do me the pleasureto dine with me to-day. I will send to invite MadameAraminta and her daughter. We shall have manyguests. The notary will be here after dinner, and thecontract will be signed. |
| Dor. To-day? |
| Count. No doubt: Madame Araminta has pledgedher word. |
| Dor. [Ironically.] I give you joy.—[Aside.] I willnever suffer Eleonora to sacrifice herself for my sake.If I could but truly understand her heart—I will try. | [Exit. |
| |
| Scene IV.—The Count, and then Frontino. |
| Count. Poor girl! A little too diffident of me. Doesnot think me capable of subduing a tender and inexperiencedheart! Besides, she carries her delicacyrather too far: in marriages of convenience, not theheart, but family interest is consulted. Well, Frontino,what have you to say? |
| Front. The tailor is come, sir. |
| Count. Where is he? |
| Front. At the door, sending away his coach, andgiving orders to his servants. |
| Count. His servants? |
| Front. Yes, sir. |
| Count. Apropos: that reminds me that you mustwrite immediately to my country steward, that he maysend me six handsome youths, tall, well made, the besthe can find on the estate, that the tailor may take theirmeasure for liveries. |
| Front. Six clowns in liveries! |
| Count. Yes, to honour my wedding. Tell the stewardthat all the time they stay here, their country wages shallbe continued, besides having their board. You knowthis sort of people take care not to overload their plates. |
| Front. Never fear, sir, they will not die of indigestion. |
| Count. Hold. Take the key of the closet where theplate is kept; let it be displayed, and all brought onthe table. |
| Front. But, sir, your plate is so antique, and so black—itwill be necessary at least to have it new polished. |
| Count. Oh, silver is always silver. Here comes thetailor, I suppose. |
| Front. Yes, sir. Enter, Signor, enter. |
| |
| Scene V.—To them the Tailor. |
| Tail. I am the most humble servant of your mostillustrious lordship. |
| Count. Come near, sir. I was impatient to see you.I want four suits for myself, and twelve liveries for myservants. |
| Tail. It will do me honour to serve you, and have nodoubt but it shall please you. |
| Front. My master pays well. |
| Tail. I have the honour of knowing him. Who is itthat does not know the illustrious Count Casteldoro? |
| Count. The occasion requires all possible display ofsplendour. |
| Tail. I will show you stuffs of gold and silver. |
| Count. No, no; I do not wish to look as if caparisonedin gilded leather. The dresses must be noble and rich,but nothing with a shining ground. |
| Tail. You prefer embroidery? |
| Count. I do; four embroidered suits, but in the bestpossible taste, the patterns rich and delicate. |
| Front. [Aside.] Hey-day! I do not know my master. |
| Tail. Rich, but light embroidery? |
| Count. No, sir: Spanish point—ample, massive, andof the best workmanship; well designed, splendid, butnothing that shines. |
| Tail. Everything that you can desire. Shall I takeyour measure? |
| Count. Yes—on one condition. |
| Tail. What is it? |
| Front. [Aside.] Ay, let us hear the condition. |
| Count. You must tack on the embroidery slightly,that it may not be spoiled. I would have no buttonsof false diamonds. I shall wear my four suits each ofthem twice during the first eight days of my nuptials,so that your embroidery will still be new, and mayagain be sold as such. You must now tell me what youwill charge for the cloth, the making, and the use ofyour ornaments. |
| Front. [Aside.] Yes, yes, he is still himself. |
| Count. But first concerning the liveries. |
| Tail. With your permission, I wish to have thehonour of speaking to you in private. |
| Front. [Angrily to the Tailor.] If I must not stay, Ican go. |
| Count. By no means. Frontino is part of the family:you may speak before him. |
| Front. [To the Tailor.] You see, sir! Hem! |
| Tail. No, friend; I did not mean you, but—look to seeif we have no listeners. [Slily gives Frontino a crown.] |
| Front. [Aside.] A crown! It is long since I had somuch. |
| Tail. Sir, I comprehend the nature of your project.You are not naturally inclined to pomp; but, sagaciousand prudent as you are, you willingly sacrifice toappearance and convenience. I esteem myself mostfortunate in having the honour to serve you. I admiregentlemen who think like you, and laugh at those whoruin themselves, while I give them every aid in mypower, that they may be ruined in style. In me youhave discovered the only man fit for your purpose: setyour heart at rest; I have the means to satisfy you. |
| Count. [Aside.] If I do not mistake, this is a mostsmooth-tongued, artful—[Aloud.] Well, then, youwill make my four suits! |
| Tail. Pardon me, sir, your idea is not practicable.I could not avoid paying extremely dear for theembroidery; and my delicate conscience would neverpermit me to sell it again as new. |
| Count. [Aside.] His delicate conscience! Why didhe come to me? |
| Tail. I will confide a secret to you which I havetreasured jealously; for, were it known, I cannot tellyou how much it would prejudice my character andcredit. I, who am the court-tailor, tailor to the principalnobility of Paris, I secretly, and under a borrowedname, carry on a flourishing trade in old clothes. |
| Count. An old clothesman keep his coach? |
| Tail. Which is maintained by that very means. |
| Front. [To the Count.] You see, sir, I have found youa man of sincerity; a man whose heart is as open ashis face; a man who merits all your confidence. |
| Count. [Aside.] I perceive.—[Aloud.] Should I findthis to be to my interest? |
| Tail. I will show you two dozen of most magnificentsuits, all new, that never were worn but once or twiceat the most. |
| Count. Will they be known again? |
| Tail. No danger of that; everything that entersmy magazine assumes a new face. I export the mostsplendid samples that France produces, and I importthe spoils and riches of the principal cities in Europe.You shall see suits the most superb, and stuffs of thegreatest rarity. It is a pity you will have neither goldnor silver. |
| Count. Nay, should it be anything of uncommonbeauty and taste, gold and silver would not offend me. |
| Front. To be sure, if the streets were to be pavedwith gold, we must walk. |
| Count. But the price. |
| Tail. See, admire, and select; act just as you please.—[Aside.]I have found the very man I wished for.—Iwill soon be back, dear sir.—[Aside.] Paris is the place;everything a man wants is there to be found. |
| Front. Have you by chance anything that will sit genteel,and make me look like a gentleman's gentleman? |
| Tail. [Aside.] I will clothe you from head to foot,only be my friend. |
| Front. Your friend! On such conditions, who couldrefuse? |