birth and family, as we are: but they have long discovered what a wonderful purifier gold is; and now, no one there regards pedigree in any thing but a horse -Oh here comes Isaac! I hope he has prospered in his suit. Ferd. Doubtless, that agreeble figure of his must have helped his suit surprisingly. Jerome. How now ? [FERDINAND walks aside. Well, my friend, have you softened her? Isaac. Why, truly, she was kinder than I expected to find her. Jerome. And the dear little angel was civil, hey? Isauc. Yes, the pretty little angel was very civil. Jerome. I'm transported to hear it-well, and you were astonished at her beauty, hey? Isaac. I was astonished, indeed! pray, how old is miss? Jerome. How old? let me see-eight and twelveshe is twenty. Isaac. Twenty? Jerome. Ay, to a month. Isaac. Then, upon my soul, she is the oldest looking girl of her age in Christendom! Jerome. Do you think so but, I believe, you will not see a prettier girl. Isaac. Here and there one. Jerome. Louisa has the family face. Isaac. Yes, 'egad, I should have taken it for a family face, and one that has been in the family some time too. Jerome. She has her father's eyes. [Aside. Isaac. Truly I should have guessed them to have been so -If she had her mother's spectacles, I believe she would not see the worse. [Asia‹. Jerome. Her aunt Ursula's nose, and her grandmother's forehead, to a hair. Isaac. Ay, 'faith, and her grandfather's chin to a hair. {Aside. Jerome. Well, if she was but as dutiful as she's handsome-and hark ye, friend Isaac, she is none of your made-up beauties-her charms are of the lasting kind. Isaac. I'faith, so they should-for if she be but twenty now, she may double her age, before her years will overtake her face. Jerome. Why, zounds, Master Isaac ! you are not sneering, are you? Isaac. Why now, seriously, Don Jerome, do you think your daughter handsome? Jerome. By this light, she's as handsome a girl as any in Seville. Isaac. Then, by these eyes, I think her as plain a woman as ever I beheld. Jerome. By St Iago, you must be blind. Isaac. No, no; 'tis you are partial. Jerome. How! have I neither sense nor taste? If a fair skin, fine eyes, teeth of ivory, with a lovely bloom, and a delicate shape-if these, with a heavenly voice, and a world of grace, are not charms, I know not what you call beautiful. Isaac. Good lack, with what eyes a father sees! As I have life, she is the very reverse of all this; as for the dimity skin you told me of, I swear, 'tis a thorough nankeen as ever I saw ! for her eyes, their utmost merit is not squinting-for her teeth, where there is one of ivory, its neighbour is pure ebony, black and white alternately, just like the keys of an harpsichord. Then, as to her singing, and heavenly voice by this hand, she has a shrill, cracked pipe, that sounds, for all the world, like a child's trumpet. Jerome. Why, you little Hebrew scoundrel, do you mean to insult me? out of my house, I say! Ferd. Dear sir, what's the matter? Jerome. Why, this Israelite here has the impudence to say your sister's ugly. Ferd. He must be either blind or insolent. Isaac So, I find they are all in a story. 'Egad, I believe I have gone too far! Ferd. Sure, sir, there must be some mistake; it can't be my sister whom he has seen. Jerome. Surath! you are as great a fool as he! what mistake can there be? did not I lock up Louisa, and hav'n't I the key in my own pocket? And didn't her maid show him into the dressing room? and yet you talk of a mistake, no, the Portuguese meant to nsult mand, but that this roof protects him, old as I am, this sword should do me justice. Isaac. I must get off as well as I can-her fortune is not the less handsome. Isaac. DUET. Believe me, good sir, I ne'er meant to offend. Jerome. Zounds! you'd best not provoke me, my rage is so high. Isaac. Hold him fast, I beseech you, his rage is so high; Good sir, you're too hot, and this place I must fly. Jerome. You're a knave and a sot, and this place you'd best fly. Isaac. Don Jerome, come now, let us lay aside all joking, and be serious. Jerome. How? Isaac. Ha! ha! ha! I'll be hanged if you hav'n't taken my abuse of your daughter seriously. Jerome. You meant it so, did not you? Isaac. mercy, no! a joke-just to try how angry it would make you. Jerome. Was that all, i'faith I didn't know you had been such a wag, ha ha! ha! By St lago! you made me very angry though—well, and you do think Louisa handsome? Isaac. Handsome! Venus de Medicis was a sybil 'to her. Jerome. Give me your hand, you little jocose rogue -'Egad, I thought we had been all off. Ferd. So! I was in hopes this would have been a quarrel; but I find the Jew is too cunning. Jerome. Ay, this gust of passion has made me dry -I am seldom ruffled-order some wine in the next room-let us drink the poor girl's health-poor Louisa! ugly, heh! Ha! ha! ha! 'Twas a very good joke, indeed! Isaac. And a very true one, for all that. Jerome. And, Ferdinand, I insist upon your drinking success to my friend. Ferd. Sir, I will drink success to my friend, with all my heart. Jerome. Come, little Solomon, if any sparks of anger had remained, this would be the only way t quench them. TRIO. A bumper of good liquor But if more deep the quarrel, That's crabbed when he is mellow. SCENE IV. ISAAC's Lodgings. [Exeunt. Enter LOUISA. Louisa. Was ever truant daughter so whimsically circumstanced as I am! I have sent my intended husband to look after my lover-the man of my father's choice is gone to bring me the man of my own -but how dispiriting is this interval of expectation! Enter CARLOS. So, friend, is Antonio found? Carlos. I could not meet with him, lady; but I doubt not, my friend Isaac will be here with him presently. Louisa. Oh, shame! you have used no diligenceIs this your courtesy to a lady, who has trusted herself to your protection? Carlos. Indeed, madam, I have not been remiss. Louisa. Well, well; but if either of you had known how each moment of delay weighs upon the heart of her who loves, and waits the object of her love, oh, ye would not then have trifled thus! Carlos. Alas, I know it well! Louisa. Were you ever in love then? |