Fruitless or not: well done, for Blanca’s sake;

Poor Blanca, though indeed she knows it not,

And scarcely would believe it—

But who comes here?—the friend of better days,

Don Mendo! I would hide me from his eye,

But, oh indignity, his ancient friend,

Equal in birth and honour to himself,

Must now, reduced to ’t by a shameless son,

Become his tavern-keeper! For the present

I may hold back—the King too! come to meet