der through this vast body of earth and rock.Rapino, is Calvette above, upon his post? Rap. Yes. Don Cæsar. Spado, 'tis your business to relieve the ċentinel. 'tis Spado. Relieve! what's the matter with him? Don Cæsar. Come, come, no jesting with dutyyour watch. Spado. Let the wolves watch for me- my duty is to get supper ready.—[Thunder.]-Go up! Od's fire, do you think I am a Salamander?—D'ye hear! Sang. No sport I fear. Don Cæsar. Then call Calvette, lock down the trap-door, and get us some more wine from the cistern. of Spado. Wine! Ay, captain; and this being a night peace, we'll have a dish of olives. Sang. No peace! we'll up and scour the forest presently. But well thought on; a rich old fellow; one Don Scipio, has lately come to reside in the castle on the skirts of the forest-what say you to plunder there? Don Cæsar. Not to-night-I know my time-I have my reasons-I shall give command on that business. But where's the stranger we brought in at our last excursion? Rap. He reposes in yonder recess. Spado. Ay, egad, there he lies, with a face as inno cent-Aside.]-If my fellow-rooks would but fly off, I'd have the pigeon here within all to myself. Cal. Appears at the top of the winding Stairs, with a Lantern.] A booty! Sang. Good news, Cal. A booty! cavaliers; here comes Calvettes Sang What! where? Cal. Soft-but one man! Sang. But one man! Is he alone Cal. Quite. Spado. One man, and alone-that's odd! Cal. He seems in years, but his habit, as well as I could distinguish, speaks him noble. [Descends. Don Cæsar. Then he'll fight.-My arms! Spado. Oh, he'll fight-get my arms; no, my legs will do for me. [Aside. Sang. Come, my carbine-quick! Don Cæsar. To the attack of one man- -paltry! Only you, Calvette, Sanguino, Rapino, and Spado go; the rest prepare for our general excursion. Spado. Captain, don't send me; indeed I'm too rash! Don Cæsar. Come, come, leave buffoonery, and to your duty. [CALVETTE and RAPINO ascend; the rest go in at several Recesses; SPADO, the last, ascends up slowly. Enter DON ALPHONSO. Don Alph. I find myself somewhat refreshed by my slumber; at such a time to fall into the hands of these ruffians, how unlucky! I'm pent up here; my rival Fernando, once my friend, reaches Don Scipio's castle, weds my charming Victoria, and I lose her for ever: but if I could secure an interview, love should plead my cause. AIR III. DON ALPHONSO. The hardy sailor braves the ocean, To dread of foreign foes a stranger, SPADO returns down the Stairs. Spado. [Aside.] Now for some talk with our prisoner here-Stay, are they all out of ear-shot? How the poor bird sings in its cage! I know more of his affairs than he thinks of, by overhearing his conversation at the inn at Lorca. Don Alph. How shall I escape from these rascals? Oh, here is one of the gentlemen. Pray, sir, may I take the liberty Spado. No liberty for you.-Yet upon certain conditions, indeed-give me your hand. Don Alph. [Aside.] Impudent scoundrel! Spado. Signor, I wish to serve you-and serve you I will; but I must know the channel, before I make for the coast; therefore, to examine you with the pious severity of an holy inquisitor, who the devil are you? Don Alph. A pious adjuration truly!-[Aside.]Sir, my name is Alphonso, and I am son of a banker at Madrid. Spado. Banker! Oh! I thought he sung like a young goldfinch. Don Alph. Perhaps, by trusting this fellow, I may make my escape. Spado. I'll convince him I know his secrets, and then I hold his purse-strings. Don Alph. You won't betray me? Don Alph. Then you must know, when your gang attacked me yesterday evening Spado. You were posting full gallop to Don Scipio's castle, on the confines of the forest here. Don Alph. Hey! then perhaps you know my pas sion for Spado. Donna Victoria, his daughter. Don Alph. Then you know that she's contractedSpado. To your friend Don Fernando de Zelva, who is now on his journey to the castle, and to the destruction of your hopes, weds the lady on his arrival. Don Alph. True, while I am pent up in this cursed cavern; but how you got my story, I Spado. No matter! I could let you out of this cursed cavern. Don Alph. And will you? Spado. Ah, our trap-door above requires a golden key. Don Alph. Your comrades have not left me a piastre. Spado. Will you give me an order on your father's bank for fifty pieces, and I'll let you out? Don Alph. You shall have it. Spado. A bargain. I'll secure your escape. Enter DON CESAR, behind. Don Cæsar. How's this? Spado. Zounds, the captain Ramirez! [Aside.]Aye, you dog, I'll secure you from an escape! Do you think I'd set you at liberty without the captain's orders? Betray my trust for a bribe! What the devil do you take me for? [In a seeming rage.] Oh, captain, I didnt see you. Don Cæsar. What's the matter? Spado. Nothing, only our prisoner here was mistaken in his man-that's all. Let you escape, indeed. Don Alph. Here's a rascal? Spado. Rascal D'ye hear him? He has been abusing me this half hour, because I would not convey him out without your knowledge. Oh, what offers he did make me! but my integrity is proof against Gallions, Escurials, Perus, and Mexicos. Don Casar. Begone instantly to your comrades. [SPADO ascends.] Signor, no occasion to tamper with my companions; you shall owe your liberty to none but me. I'll convey you to the cottage of the vines, belonging to the peasant Philippo, not far from Don Scipio's castle; there you may rest in safety to-night, and Don Alph. Ah, captain! no rest for me. Don Casar. Lookye, signor, I am a ruffian, perhaps worse, but venture to trust me.-A picklock may be used to get to a treasure-don't wish to know more of me than I now chuse to tell you; but, if your mistress loves you as well as you seem to love her, to-morrow night she's yours. Don Alph. My good friend! Don Casar. Now for Philippo-I don't suppose you wish to see any of our work above-ha! haha! Well, well, I was once a lover, but now AIR IV.DON CESAR. On by the spur of valour goaded, Gloom of night, Lends a clear and cheering light, Who a fear or doubt can feel? Like serpents now, through thickets creeping, Let the wand'ring trav'ler dread us ! While our swords with lightning blaze. [Thunder |