Latest / A School for Greybeards; or, The Mourning Bride / Act 2

Transcript

Act 2 · A School for Greybeards; or, The Mourning Bride

0:01
Act two of A School for Graybeards or The Morning Bride by Hannah Cowley.
0:07
This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain.
0:13
For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Act two
0:21
an apartment at Donna Alexis's inter Serafina pulling in Alexis, Come along, my
0:29
charming husband. Bless me? What eloquence and fire? Considering you are fifty
0:34
nine high protest a man thirty years younger could hardly have found such a variety
0:40
of things to have said on so trivial a subject. One might mistake you
0:44
for an English senator instead of a Portuguese Privy Councilor you can say so much
0:50
upon nothing nothing? What is it nothing that whenever I go out the door,
0:58
your head is directly out of the window, like the sign of Queen
1:03
Jezebel. Tis known to all the impudent young face hunters in Lisbon, who
1:10
saunter about my gates like wolves before a sheep fold. You call that nothing?
1:15
Oh, no, Heaven forbid, I should be so ungrateful towards the
1:19
grand pleasure of my life. Nothing tis everything my happiness. I wait for
1:27
sunset every day with impatience, because tis known that I then mount my throne,
1:34
that is, I enter my balcony and see new prostrate subjects adoring and
1:40
deifying me zoons. What a vile custom it was to build houses with windows.
1:48
I'll have them all blocked up. Skylights are the only things for a
1:53
Christian country. Windows and balconies. They are fit only for Turkish bath and
2:00
public brothels. Listen, dearie, and I'll bless you with a secret.
2:06
Blind your windows and nail your doors. But if your honor curtsying has no
2:12
better security than these, you'll soon be in the herd whose ideal ornaments touching
2:19
his forehead are so terrific to you. The devil's in it. If stone
2:24
walls won't keep ye, what stronger security could my honor have? My honor
2:32
rely on that, And I swear to you by everything sacred, that no
2:38
vestal's life shall be more blameless. It is due to my own feelings to
2:43
be chaste. I don't condescend to think of yours in the affair. The
2:47
respect I bear myself makes me necessarily preserve my purity. But if I am
2:53
suspected, watched and hunted. I know not, but such torment may weary
2:59
me out of princip which I have hitherto cherished as my life. If all
3:05
this is true, what the devil makes ye so fond of admiration? I
3:12
can't tell what devil makes me so fond of admiration? But I know I
3:15
love admiration, and I will have it till he whom you represent says no
3:23
whom I represent? Who's that mercy? Who can it be but old,
3:30
shriveled, gray pated time to his negative? I shall yield, but with
3:35
a very ill will, I assure you. If the passion we have for
3:39
admiration is wrong, let nature look to it twas she impressed it on our
3:45
hearts. And it is her law that to tyrannize over the peace of man
3:50
is to woman consummation of happiness. And yet you, every one of ye,
3:57
pretend to be tender hearted and compare yashionn't it? And all that?
4:01
Why to say truth one is a sort of a paradox had a tale of
4:06
woe. I melt like Naobi and am agonized set distress if I cannot relieve
4:14
it. Yet a lover's misery is delightful I would not obate a man who
4:18
adored me a single sigh and should have no rest at night if I thought
4:24
he was sleeping quietly, Lord, have mercy now. I hope you feel
4:30
yourself very much honored that I take you so far into my confidence. If
4:35
you have a grain of sense, you'll be charmed with it. I don't
4:41
know what the devil to make of ye. Sometimes I think one thing and
4:46
sometimes another Into a servant, do Octavia, sir, exit murder he than
4:55
Caesar? I'll wait upon him directly. Well. I I am in the
5:00
way at last to have one plague less. However, don Octavio. He
5:05
has come to offer himself to Viola pray step and send her here to receive
5:12
him. For I am obliged to go instantly to council. I shall but
5:17
just speak to Octavio and send him up. Charge her to receive him well.
5:23
She shall be married in less than a week. Exit. I shall
5:29
give his daughter no such charge, poor girl, how can she receive Octavia
5:33
well? With her heart devoted to Sebastian. I wonder what sort of a
5:39
thing this signor is? Some wrinkled privy counselor like himself. I suppose tis
5:46
very odd now that those ancients should take it into their venerable noodles that a
5:50
youthful bride is a proper appendage to their dignity, or to fancy that it
5:56
requires no more talents to please a pretty wife than to go over in a
6:00
stupid nation. Lord, if my dearie would but speak the truth now and
6:05
warn his wise brethren. Hey day, is this the Octavio handsome? I
6:14
vow young bold? He a privy counselor mercy? How could I slander him?
6:21
So? Enter Octavio. Welcome, Don Octavio, For I am informed
6:28
that here you must have welcome the man I saw at church. I protest
6:33
that cruel must checks the transport your welcome gave me. May I not hope
6:39
that without a must you would have given me welcome? Oh? Yes,
6:44
pray hope it. For as I think the season of hoping the most delightful
6:48
in our lives, I should be sorry to shorten yours. If you mean
6:54
to shorten my hope by disappointment, tis kind to protract it. But there
6:59
is a way of ending hope, enchanting viola without giving despair. Fiola?
7:03
Did he call me? Oh? Permit me to believe that the honor your
7:08
father allows me of telling you I adore you is not displeasing to you.
7:13
Mercy he takes me for my husband's daughter. Delightful. From the moment I
7:18
beheld you at Vespers, your image has never left me. I vow I
7:24
won't undeceive him. I take it very ill of my image to follow a
7:28
young man about and keep such bad company without my leave. Whilst your displeasure
7:33
is thus playful, I can support it. Oh, how charming to find
7:38
the information of your face did not deceive me? Why what did it promise
7:43
you? Elegance, liveliness, frankness and understanding? Oh dear, how our
7:49
self love operates on every occasion. Had I deceived you with such frowns,
7:56
had given you room to believe the commands of Don alexis unpleasant me, you
8:01
would have thought me intolerably stupid and wondered why nature gave intelligent eyes to an
8:05
idiot. I will not defend myself to be the object of your railleries an
8:11
enviable distinction. Pray, go on, nay, then I have done.
8:16
An enemy who won't resist is not worth combating. If you will not combat
8:22
an unresisting enemy. I hope you will condescend to ranking with your slaves,
8:26
consent to give me your chains. Oh, by all means I like to
8:31
increase my captives. There, making as though she flung something over his neck.
8:39
There are my chains. Do you feel them? Yes, as rosy
8:46
wreathe. They delight me. That's not what I intended. I would have
8:50
you sigh under them. I in downright earnest too. It is impossible for
8:56
me to sigh in earnest unless you tell me the hopes Don Alexis has given
9:01
me make you sigh in earnest? What were those hopes? I pray that
9:07
I should have the transporting joy of calling you mine. Indeed, I can
9:11
hardly think it by all the tempting witcheries of your face and the soft cupids
9:18
in your graceful air tis true. So pretty an oath deserves a civil reply,
9:22
and I therefore protest to you. The moment Don Alexis consents to my
9:28
being yours, i'll yield you my hand without reluctance. But after this frank
9:33
engagement, Don Octavio, I expect you to leave me for the present.
9:37
I have a peculiar reason to request this favor. Aside. Someone will come
9:43
in a moment and spoil my roguery. Your commands shall ever govern me.
9:48
But when may I again presume I cannot tell you exactly. Now be at
9:54
the gate in the evening. Adieu, adieu off at the gate in the
10:01
evening. How sweetly that would sound if the little villain had not matrimony in
10:07
her head. Well, if I must be a slave at some time in
10:11
my life, Ian, let it be now A desperate action should be done
10:16
as soon as resolved. On exit seen a don Alexis's garden, Sebastian and
10:24
Viola seated on a garden chair in the front. He throws flowers enter,
10:28
then rises hastily. No, I swear, Viola, I'll love thee no
10:35
more, no more. From this instant, I am fixed, Viola,
10:41
coming forward, won't you? Indeed? Let me look in your face whilst
10:48
you make that wicked oath. I could cough you this instant for looking so
10:52
pretty. Heavens, what a horrible length of time is before you to do
10:58
mischief? Sixteen The fire of those eyes can't be quenched, nor that Alabaster's
11:07
skin shriveled in less than twenty years. Oh Tis dreadful. You are mistaken.
11:16
The small pox may fret it, the jaundice may tarnish it. You
11:22
have many chances to behold me frightful, Yet were to heaven, some of
11:26
them would arrive you to continue so lovely, and your father so cruel.
11:33
But suppose the change should happen to my father and he should favor our wishes.
11:39
Will you then allow me to keep my charms? Ay? Then,
11:43
indeed, oh, I would dote on them, not one, but should
11:50
have its separate share of passion divided and subdivided. I'd give to each a
11:56
twelvemonth, and then begin again inventive love, ever the same, and yet
12:03
forever new. Enter Carlotta, bless me, Madam. Donlexis has returned.
12:09
The council has put off. He is asking for you, and will be
12:13
in the garden directly. It is impossible. Scarcely have I had time to
12:18
vent half the malice of my tenderness. I have been here but three minutes.
12:24
Three minutes, Oh dear, how every woman the noon sight of twenty
12:28
would rejoice if time measured out his minutes as love does. You have been
12:33
here one hour and a quarter. By the great dial at the end of
12:37
the walk, be it hours or minutes, you must leave me, my
12:41
Sebastian. Should my father surprise us, I could expect nothing less than six
12:46
months imprisonment in a garret, with the lives of the saints for my study,
12:52
and bread and water for my banquet. Oh, I would embrace the
12:58
punishment if at the end end of the period he would allow you to give
13:03
me a new imprisonment. Now you might as well have put off those two
13:09
speeches and a half to the next opportunity. See the consequence. Here comes
13:13
the old gentleman. Well, I'll not be in the mess. I assure
13:16
you take it all to yourselves, going. Oh, stay, stay,
13:22
my dear Carlotta. He can't discern at this distance who he are. Let
13:26
me run away. I'll go into the house through the close walk, and
13:31
Sebastian shall stay and pass for your lover. It must be so the danger
13:37
will be less to you than me. Exit upon my word. So I
13:43
must be the scapegoat. But I won't be blamed. I vow, I'll
13:46
pretend I don't know you. Tis very extraordinary, sir, that the gardener
13:52
could not leave the wicket open whilst he threw out his rubbish but you must
13:56
throw yourself in for more rubbish. If you don't go this minute, I'll
14:00
call him to bring his basket and sling you out again with the rest.
14:03
I detest the supterfuge, but I must submit to it. Oh Carlata,
14:11
I feel that viola must be mine. Exit. She feels it too.
14:20
I pray get you gone, and don't mistake your neighbor's gardens again. There
14:24
there, that's your way, going with him through the wing enter Alexis,
14:31
Oh, you traitorous, artful slut. This must be all a faint.
14:37
I clearly heard. She feels it too, that she must concern my wife,
14:46
Oh my daughter, Oh my blood burns. She feels it too,
14:52
Garloda re entering. I wonder people are not ashamed of themselves. I swear
14:58
to pretend. Oh, dear sir, are you here? Am I here?
15:03
Cunning gentlewoman? Who was that spark? Eh? Speak thou powder puff,
15:09
thou snip of gauze, thou black pin? Who was he? Tell
15:15
me the truth? For I have a touchstone to try thee by that thou
15:20
canst not evade. I never thought of asking who he was. The careless
15:24
gardener left the door open he's some curious stranger walking about the streets of lisbon
15:31
Ay, seeking whom he might devour. But come, what were the curious
15:37
stranger in you talking about? What were his parting words, Garlotta aside?
15:43
The devil is surely propping him? Why, sir, they are not worth
15:48
repeating. He was saying twas he asked if it was past twelve o'clock.
15:54
Alexis aside, is it past twelve? A little off? She feels it
16:02
too. That fits like custard and cucumber. Those were not the words,
16:07
mistress. Try again, I mean his expression just before you said pray get
16:15
ye gone. Oh that sir. Then he said. What he said just
16:21
then was that's a fine poplar, pointing to a tree. Alexis side,
16:29
a fine poplar. She feels it too. That does not meet a bit
16:33
closer than the other. Come on, once more, combrush recollect or buy
16:40
Saint Anthony. No, I have it, sir, I have recollected now.
16:44
The very words what the gentleman said it going away was oh, you
16:48
little black eyed rogue. Alexis aside, you little black eyed rogue. She
16:55
feels it too. As wide as Lisbond Harbor from the Irish channel. Now,
17:02
by our lady, if thou dost persist in giving me the trouble to
17:06
question thee again, this cane, and you shall be better acquainted than your
17:10
skin and your bones. Hussy shaking her, Oh, how you grip my
17:15
arm? Devil, take it if you will have it? Hear it?
17:18
Then he said, I feel that Viola must be mine? Bawling, Now
17:26
are you satisfied? Alexis aside? I feel that Yolda must be mine.
17:34
She feels it too. Hmm, that fits like the two shells of an
17:38
oyster. Now, Minx, I feel that I have the truth, and
17:44
I feel a violent desire to make you feel this cane. And so that
17:48
curious stranger must have been Don Sebastian, whom I have ordered her never to
17:55
think of, never, never, Why sir, she has ordered herself never
18:00
to think of him, But Lord her thoughts mind her, and I'm more
18:03
than a conclave of cardinals, would you? They will gallop toward him in
18:06
spite of her, will they? But I'll cripple their speed. They shall
18:11
have a checked rein before she's aware. I'll go this moment, and oh,
18:17
here madam comes into Viola. Bless me Carlotta. Where have you been,
18:25
oh dear Why she has been so kind to entertain one of your lovers
18:30
with outdoors, madam, whilst you were engaged with another within. I do
18:36
not understand you, sir. You don't come troop mistress to Carlotta, you
18:44
little black eyed rogue. Viola aside, to be sure my father's bewitched.
18:52
Ah fik ye, you shall pack up your wardrobe in your pocket handkerchief,
18:56
you little black eyed rogue, and beat your march before you are three hours
19:00
nearer your wrinkles. I hope I shall never overtake my wrinkles if they are
19:06
to make me so suspicious and tyrannical as yours have made you exit well,
19:11
innocent ones. What sort of entertainment did you give Octavio? Suh? How
19:18
did you like him? Viola aside, bless me, what has he got
19:26
in his head? Did you coquette and give yourself only the allowed airs on
19:30
these occasions? Or was your stubborn mind so full of Sebastian that you gave
19:37
him no hopes? My dear father, if you'll be pleased to speak in
19:41
a way that I can understand, don't provoke me. What encouragement. I
19:47
say, have you given don Octavio? Have you dared to throw cold water
19:51
on his hopes? Why how you stand if you don't answer me? Into
19:56
Seraphina hastily bless my dear? What is all this noise? Why I can't
20:03
get her to say a word about Octavio? I know no more than my
20:07
shoe string whether she behaved decently to him or not? To be sure she
20:11
did? How can you question it? But you are really very coarse?
20:17
Allows something to her delicacy, Viola, aside I believe they are both besides
20:25
themselves. Leave her with me. I'll get out all that passed. She'll
20:30
be undisguised to me. Gad. I'll go to Octavio himself. That's the
20:36
shortest way. I'll ask him what past. If he is content, I
20:41
shall be. So I'll go to Octavio. Exit, my dear Viola,
20:49
this is a web of my weaving. How shall I puzzle through it?
20:53
I know not your poor father? How you stare be pleased to know then
21:00
that I have just been receiving the most violent love in the name of your
21:06
ladyship, actually personating you, personating me. Your father went out this morning.
21:14
My dear and either banked, borrowed, or stole a lover. For
21:18
Ye, the poor youth was introduced to my apartment. Took it for granted
21:22
that I was viola and begun as I suppose, he promised your father he
21:27
would to adore and die for me in very good form. Oh, now
21:34
the mysteries cleared. This is the Donald Tavio. Yes, yes, now
21:40
you have the nut. Shall we crack it or throw it away? Pray?
21:45
Let us get at the colonel. If you can contrive to keep my
21:49
father in the dark some little time, it will allow me to concert measures
21:55
with Don Sebastion. You do him the honor to approve his address, says
22:00
I know. Oh, if you can make anything of the incident, it
22:03
is quite at your service. I'll listen to Octavio's love tales with all the
22:08
condescension imaginable, and let him adore me for a month to come. If
22:15
it will be of use to you and Sebastian, how very grateful he will
22:19
be. Well. Let us go then and settle matters. We must take
22:23
Carlotta into our council or the thing can't go on. My father has discharged
22:30
her. Huh, I'll manage that it would be hard, indeed, to
22:34
marry an old man and not make him do as one likes young husbands.
22:40
We are content to submit too, But when we marry graybeards, it is
22:45
with the pious design to have our way in everything excellent indivect too,