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Act 3 · A School for Greybeards; or, The Mourning Bride

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Act three of A School for Graybeards or The Morning Bride by Hannah Cowi.
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This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain.
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For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Act three
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an apartment at Don Gosper's enter, Don Henry hastily followed by Don Sebastian.
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Now tis too much, too much, aye, So it is that they
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should be all so blind to your starts, your angry blushes, and your
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ill concealed confusion. I drew you from the company the moment dinner ended,
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lest when they had done eating, they should begin to observe. Do you
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reflect that Don Philippe has only to betray you to the Minister to get rid
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of his rival forever? It is more than I can bear. The old
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Dotard's fondness to dead not yet oppose distracts me that I could speak to her
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alone. Tis plain amidst all the bridal gaiety, heart as not at ease.
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Your wish is half answered, for here comes her half the worst half,
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indeed by forty years half Thou a lover unable to speak? Thus two
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a lover speak of them as one forgive me for faith. I am so
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much a lover at this moment that I scarcely know what I am saying.
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In a word, I am summoned by my mistress's maid, who has some
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new information. In an hour, I am again at your service. Exit,
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enter don Gasper. Why wow, Julio, what's all away? Run
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from the guests, hight in corners. How's this? I am not in
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spirits for company, sir. Not to be sure, this joyful occasion not
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in spirits on your uncle's wedding day. Out upon it. But tell me,
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boy, what do you think of the bride? Am I not a
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happy man? Hey? If it turns out so, sir, oh,
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I fear no turns. She is virtuous and modest, and you know a
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modest woman is above all price. But perhaps you do not know that,
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for the observation is made in a book not much read nowadays. What do
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you think helped me to get her? I, sir? What did aside?
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I long to be informed? Wine perhaps will make him communicative. A
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splendid jointure, Probably jointure. The mind's a joints here, no more than
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a jointed door. Guess again, I am not fortunate in guessing. Then
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I'll tell you half a sheet of paper got her. Aye, you may
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well stare twas but half a sheet of paper in which I procured it to
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be said that one Donny Henry, whom she loved, was shrouded and buried.
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That got her, my boy slapping him on the shoulder. There's a
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contriving uncle for you. Is it possible, possible? Why I did it?
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I did it? And where's the harm? A banished man is a
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dead man in the eye of the law, and a dead man can be
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no husband. He thought a duel and was forced to fly. Then how
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sir, could you take advantage? Why those young rascals take every advantage over
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us with nature to baccum And we have a right to make reprisals when we
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can by the help of art. And so the lady believed your intelligence.
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Yes, yes, she believed, and swooned and raved and took her to
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bed faith the doctor gave her up. But I still determined, when it
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came to the last gasp, to tell her the truth rather than have her
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death to answer for. But it never came to that. No, No
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female grief, though sometimes obstinate, is seldom fatal. Why, my dear
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uncle, you're a perfect mathio velle at a plot aside. I shall try
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if I can't helpplot you, though, would you be amusing to see her
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Tonya's astonishment when she finds her Henry is still living. But then she'll be
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yours ha ha ha ha. Yes, then she'll be mine, She'll be
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mine ha ha ha. You must know that you did no fortune, though
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of a noble family, was pelstered with youthful, profligate lovers, and at
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length to get rid of them, agreed to give herself to me. There's
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a stroke of prudence in a girl Henry a side e no twas more.
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I feel it was a stroke of love to me. But what will don
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Henry say to this pretty jest which you and I find so laughable? What
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care I what the man says? A thousand miles off? But if he
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obtains his pardon he returned and then pardon. Oh you don't know how deep
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I am. I leave no loopholes for my schemes to drop through. Hark
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in your ear would be secret. I have bought his pardon, How sir
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bort his pardon? Hush? That's all under the rose you understand me.
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It cost me a good lump of morders. You astonish me strange kindness to
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a man whom you could rob of his wife kindness, tut. I got
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his pardon for myself that nobody else should have it, so that if he
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gets any one to ask for it, it will be answered. The pardon
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has been already granted. But for what of my appearance, he's defunct to
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depend upon it? Aye as much out of the world as the sexton that
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covered him with green sod. And are you actory in possession of his pardon?
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As good? The money is paid, and I shall receive it from
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the Bradsil office to morrow. Henrio side, what a discovery is here?
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Don alexis enters pulling in Octavio, come in here, Come into this room,
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my dear Octavio. So here's the young bridegroom. Now, prithee,
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be so kind to leave the apartment to me. In Octavio, let us
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not disturb my father, sir, disturb a feather? Will you leave us?
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Yes? Yes, Olivia. First, let me present my nephew to
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you, the son of my sister Victoria. You knew her, knew her
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I as well as your nose does its spectacles? So young gentleman, what
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are you come to dance at your uncle's wedding? An twas worth while to
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come post from Madrid on purpose. You won't cut capers at so wise a
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wedding every day, I can tell you. Come, come a truce to
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your sneers. Don't you think he resembles his poor dear mother? Not a
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bit? No, the eyes are the very same eyes. Why hers were
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blue and his are black? That's nothing, They're just the same look with
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them. Yes, I grant you asked the look. His look as much
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like eyes as hers did. Then she was round favored. What signifies that
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a long face and the short face may have the same air? But his
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hair is dark and hers was a light? Wounds how you talk? Why
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all hair must be light or dark or some color? Come along, nephew.
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When people get old, they grow so obstinate. There's no convincing them
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of anything. Come along, Come along, exit with don Henry. Don't
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take him to your antonia, lest she should have the odd notion that he's
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a fitter bridegroom for her than you are. Well, my dear boy,
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I am coming on purpose to ask how you manage to day with my daughter?
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The young slot is so mealy mouthed, I could get nothing out of
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her? Was she kind? Did she show a proper sense of the favor?
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Sense of the favor? Sir? She permitted me to implore the favor
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of being allowed to hope? Well, well, that's the point I would
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come to hang phrases. Was you contented with your reception? Was she no
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more than decently coy? She was all goodness, sir? Aside? What
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an old fellow's this? All goodness? Well? That's in general? Tell
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me, come now, tell me honestly. Did she let you kiss her?
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Heavens, I dared not let such a thought exist any man. But
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her father asked me, you'd have said, yes, you would. I
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know you would boasted of the sweetness of her lip and of the pressure of
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her white hand. But I I must know nothing. I am an old
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father. Octavio aside? What can be the meaning of all this? Is
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it his suspicion or his folly? Come? Why won't you you tell me?
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Now? Tell me at once? What shall I tell you? Sir?
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What? Why that she treated you kindly? That you liked her pouting
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lips, and that believe me, sir, I dared not attempt such a
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liberty. No, why had you not my permission? I did not so
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consider it, sir. But if you lay your commands on the lady when
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I have the honor to wait on her again, ay that I will never
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fear me. But pray, where's the foundation of your great content? If
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nothing kind passed aside? I fear the slot has deceived him kind. She
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was all angelic sweetness, sir, Pooh, don't tell me of angelic sweetness.
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A young fellow should be content with nothing less than mortal sweetness. When
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with a blooming girl, she had the condescension to promise? What what that?
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When you should order her to bestore a hand on me? She would
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obey you without reluctance. She promised, that did she? She did?
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And my delighted soul hath dwelt on the sound from that moment. Well,
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well come again this evening, and your soul shall have something else besides sound
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to dwell upon, or I'll understand why, good, sir, you would
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be very convenient, I perceive, But it unfortunately happens that I choose the
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sweet trouble of getting over my love difficulties myself. Oh, to be sure
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above all obliged. I see what I tell you. These young baggages have
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all their arts to make a man half mad, and I know him.
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I'll manage her, my little lochte, never fear sound. Indeed, allow
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me, sir, with all humility, to requests that she will give yourself
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no trouble in the business said death. If I don't take care, I
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shan't have the pleasure of running down my own game. If you wish to
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make a son in law of me, sir, you must permit me to
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travel the road of love in my own manner, aside no bearing him.
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Exit zuones, what a heatorian? Why so you may travel the road of
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love in your own manner? I only meant humbly to or when the turnpike
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gates for ye, hum see what one gets by one's good nature. Exit
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scene Don Gasper's garden, Enter Henry, Don Henry, looking as though and
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certain surely tis herself. Yes, tis Antonia, like the soft lily pressed
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by the dewy robe of night. She bends her lovely head. Oh Clara,
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lead her, lead her to her Henry. Ah, according to my
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wish, they come But how may I be master of her thoughts? Perhaps
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to her friend, she will unveil her inmost heart. I shall seem to
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sleep, yes, but whilst I appear to slumble, my ear will hang
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on every sound she utters, and my whole soul be suspended on her breath.
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He reclines on a bank. Some shrubs prevent his being immediately seen.
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Enter Antonia and Clara. This is the strangest whim, seeking shades and solitude
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instead of company and mirth. What will don Gasper say? Oh, name
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him not the arrival of the young stranger. His nephew has renewed all my
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miseries. But here my sorrows have a short cessation. Oh oh, those
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lonely shades will soothe my sadness. Each day I'll seek the soft recess and
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opening of all the treasures of remembrance. Live on my Henry's image. Come,
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Come, that's a sort of image worship we don't allow. It would
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be more Catholic to live in lonely shades with himself. This soft recess would
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be at least more poetical, my dear, with a handsome young man in
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it, even though he should be uncivilly asleep pointing to Henry Antonia, not
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regarding her. Oh, I'll call back each sacred hour which blessed our wedded
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souls, trace each font sine that chastened love made pure, and in the
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dear review, forget that I am a wretch. I do forget it.
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Pray and look behind those shrubs. There's a youth as much like Don Henry
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as every one impudent rogue was like another. Ah Tis, don't Julio let
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us retire before he wakes. And yet, oh Clara, I could,
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with his sleep lengthened to eternity and myself immortal, to stand thus and gaze
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on him. One might almost fancy it Don Henry himself, only unhappily,
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tis not the custom for people to leave their family mansions in the churchyard to
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repose on violets for their mistresses to gaze on them. The resemblance is stronger
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now he sleeps. When awake, this stranger has a scorn, a severity
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in his eye, something that bade me fear. But Henry's eye talked only
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love. Oh, I have seen a volume in a single glance, one
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looks said what eloquence and learning might try to imitate in vain sings, sweet
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rosy sleep, Oh, do not fly, bind thy soft philet on his
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eye, that o'er reach grace my own may rove and feast my helpless,
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joyless love. For when he lifts those shading lids, his chilling glance,
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such bliss forbids then Rosy's sleep. Oh, do not fly, but bind
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thy filet on his eye. I say, on the contrary, open your
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eyes. Who knows, but they may by this time have acquired a softer
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expression. Fie, Clara, let us go this instant you will surely wake
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him. Going hastily exit, Clara, Henry starting up. Yes, he
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is awakened, indeed, Oh, my Antonia. Turn turn, sweet traitress,
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and look upon the man you've injured. Antonia shrieking. Oh, I
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shall sink what art thou is? Henry? Then alive and Julio, Oh
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tell me, whilst I yet can breathe say art thou both or nothing?
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Convinced thyself embracing her, Oh, my Antonia, no tis not hair.
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My arms return not empty to my bosom. But need a solid treasure,
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the treasure you have lightly prized. Alas, my Henry, I believe thee
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dead. Oh, let me touch thee again, taking his hand. These
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veins are warm with life. Health blushes on thy cheeks, and this soft
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pressure darts through my nerves, and it's new life to me. Oh,
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my henry, it is, it is thyself? Can this joy be real?
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You thought me dead and tonia, and chosen bridal pomp to celebrate my
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obsequies. The Ephesian story will be always new. Think not my heart perfidious.
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Had I chose a youthful husband, you might have turned me fickle.
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But from those I fled, abhorred a second love and fixed where venerable age
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secured my heart from every tender impulse. A guardian, twas I asked,
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and not a husband. Nature made women false to see how well they would
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excuse their crimes. Tis well you treat me thus to check the transport of
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beholding thee, which else might be too much. But think reproachful man,
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consider my high birth and slender fortunes. Behold me a lonely orphan, haunted
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by a train of lovers, some too high in rank to make them fear
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to act whate'er their wishes prompted twas to escape all these? Oh was it
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that indeed which forced THEE to this marriage. It cannot be a marriage since
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my Henry lives. My vows were given to THEE, the solemn contract signed
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and heaven by its holy priest involk to bless the engagement, and in heaven
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tis recorded. I do acknowledge it, and death alone could give Antonia right
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to make herself another's bay. Sort of has deceived me, and virtuous art
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must free me from the deceiver. But oh, thy life's at stake,
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Where shall we fly? And at what blessed altars solemnize our vows? Wilt
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thou then follow my sad fortunes? Yes, to the utmost boundaries of the
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earth. Oh, my sixth soul needed a coordial of this mighty strength to
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cheer it. No, then, Antonia, we need not fly. My
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pardons promised, I have important secrets to communicate tomorrow. Thou'lt be mine tomorrow
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transporting aur, And wilt thou yet be Henry's. Oh, bind the promise
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on thine knee, invoke the sacred powers to witness it. That's then kneeling
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and hear me Heaven. And thus I listen to THEE kneeling Enter Don Philip,
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followed by Alexis, Tony, my little Tony, where art starting?
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Hey? Some blood? What's all this? Ah? Didn't I warn ye
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of the bride's odd notions? Didn't I warn ye? We are undone?
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Trust to me apart. That's then I invoke the sacred powers to witness my
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resolve never to know another love, never to hold myself bound by any vows
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but those made to the Lord of my affections, the contracted husband of my
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heart, her contracted husband to Alexis. Mark that down. And thus do
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I invoke the same gracious powers to bless you as you are true, and
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to preserve thee and that husband in a sweet eternity of love. Bon Philip
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runs to help them up. Thank ye, my dear children, they're there.
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What do you say now to my choice? Had ever man such a
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wife and such a nephew no faith? I believe not, and I may
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be hanged if I believe it now, though I have seen it. Envy
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share envy. You see, when I marry a girl, I know how
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to choose one. Come along, my pigeons, going off with one under
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each arm. Exit Philip and Antonia. Hark ye, don Julie give me
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a man putching him back. Come. I know there's some jest in this.
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You must trust me any gad, if you will, I'll do trust
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me. I know tis some jest. I admire your penetration. I love
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a jest to my soul, and gad, if you'll trust me. Here
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here is a seal ring, taking it off twas worn by my great grandfather
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fifteen generations back. I value it beyond the great ruby in the throne at
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Delhi He gad, I have a great mind to give it ye, putting
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it on again, and throwing his hand behind him, Henry aside an idea
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darts upon me. Yes, by Heaven, it shall be done. This
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is the critical instant of Antonia's fate. A ring valued by you so highly
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on alexis ought to grace no finger but your own. I refuse to accept
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it, but if you will entrust it to me, I swear when next
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you see it, you shall know the jest, shall I indeed, yes,
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And I'll venture to promise that you shall enjoy it too. There is
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my ring. I pant for the hour of its being restored, as much
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as a girl does to unburden her first love. Sigret, I too,
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pant for the hour, For if I mistake not, I shall meantime make
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such a use of your great grandfather's seal ring as must make that in every
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future hour blissful to me. Exit What can he mean to do with it?
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That seal ring make all his future hours blissful? Maybe there's some concealed
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witchcraft in it, and he has had wit enough to find it out.
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Or if rightly turned, it may make a man in visible, or something
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of that sort. There have been such things formerly. Gad. I'll follow
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him, though, if my ring has any properties of that kind, I'll
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snugly. I shall be able to watch my wife. End of Fact three.