SCENE IV.—_A garden leading down to the sea; on one side a Portico.

_Masks singing and dancing; in the course of which enter and mix with them, JUAN, SERAFINA, LEONELO, and FLORA, and afterwards ALVARO; all masked._

CHORUS.

Tantara, tantara, come follow me all, Carnival, Carnival, Carnival. Follow me, follow me, nobody ask; Crazy is Carnival under the mask. Follow me, follow me, nobody knows; Under the mask is under the rose. Tantara, tantara, etc.

_Juan._ How like you all this uproar?

_Ser._ O quite well.

_Juan_ (_aside_). And so should I, Did not a shadow from that darken’d room Trail after me. But why torment myself!

_Leon._ My lord, the dancers wait.

_Juan_ (_to the musicians_). Pardon me. Strike up!

_Voices._ Strike up! strike up!

_A Voice._ The castanets!

_Voices._ The castanets! the castanets!

_Musician._ What will you have?

_Voices._ The Tarazana! the Tarazana!

[_A dance, during which ALVARO observes SERAFINA._

_Fab._ You recognise her?

_Alv._ Yes, Fabio, my heart Would recognise her under any dress, And under any mask.

_Fab._ Now is your time.

_Alv._ (_to SERAFINA_). Mask, will you dance with me?

_Ser._ No, Cavalier; You come too late.

_Alv._ Too late?

_Ser._ I am engaged.

_Alv._ Nevertheless—

_Ser._ Nay, sir, I am not apt To change my mind.

_Alv._ I hoped that in my favour You might perhaps.

_Ser._ ’Twas a delusion.

_Alv._ But, Fair Mask, didst never change thy mind before?

_Ser._ Perhaps once—to such purpose that that _once_ Forbids all other.

_Juan._ Serafina, the Mask Has askt your hand to dance. On these occasions You must permit him, whether known or not. Unknown, the usage of the time allows; If known, ’twere more discourteous to refuse.

_Ser._ My lord, ’twas chiefly upon your account That I refused to dance with him; if you Desire it, I am ready.

_Juan._ How, my love, On my account?

_Ser._ Liking your company Much better.

_Juan._ Nay, take the humour of the time, And dance with him. (_Aside._) I marvel who it is That follows Serafina, and to whom, The very indisposition that she shows, Argues a kind of secret inclination.

_Alv._ Well, do you still reject me?

_Ser._ I am bidden To dance with you; what measure will you call?

_Alv._ Play ‘Love lies bleeding!’

_Ser._ But why that?

_Alv._ Because The spirit of the tune and of the words Moves with my heart, and gives me leave beside Amid its soft and slow divisions To gaze on you and whisper in your ear.

(_A minuet by the Masks; during which ALVARO constantly whispers SERAFINA, who seems distrest; after some time, they return in the figure to the front of the Stage._)

_Ser._ I’ve heard enough, sir; save for courtesy, Too much. No more.

_Alv._ Brief as the happiness That once was mine! But—

_Ser._ Stay, sir, I will hear No more. I had not danced with you at all, But that I wish’d to tell you once for all How hopeless is your passion—the great danger Your coming hither put and puts me to, And that not my honour only, but my life, Depends upon your quitting me at once, Now and for ever.

_Alv._ Serafina!

_Ser._ (_aloud_). I am tired; Pardon me, friends, I cannot dance.

_Juan._ My love, What is ’t? Unwell?

_Ser._ I know not.

_A Woman._ Stop the ball!

_Another._ All in her honour too!

_Another._ What is the matter?

_Juan._ You are but tired with dancing.

_Ser._ No, no, no, Let us go home.

_Juan._ Pardon us, friends, Continue you your revels; we will go Into the house awhile, and rest; I think The heat and dancing have distrest her much, But she’ll be better. To your dance again. Come, Serafina. (_Aside._) Leonelo! hither! Find out the Mask that with your lady danced.

_Leon._ I’ll watch him to the world’s end—or beyond, If need be.

_Juan._ Good—Come, Serafina.

[_Exeunt JUAN and SERAFINA._

_Alv._ So end my hopes for ever. Fool! who seeking For what once lost could never more be found Like to a child after a rainbow running— Leaving my father, who had only just Recover’d me to his old heart again, Without adieu—equipp’d this Brigantine (Down to the bottom may she go with me!) In chase of this—not Serafina—no— But this false Siren, Who draws me with the music of her beauty, To leave me in destruction.

_Leon._ (_watching him_). This must be some monk, who knows of some better entertainment elsewhere.

_Alv._ And after all, Not one kind word of welcome or of thanks, But that her life depended on my leaving her, Who would for her have sacrificed my own In any way but that. But it is done! Henceforward I renounce all hope; henceforth— And why not all despair?—the world is wide, Eh, Fabio? and the good old saw says well That fortune at the worst must surely mend. Let us to sea, the ship is ready; come, Away with all this foolery.

(_Throws off mask, etc._)

_Leon._ Here is a harlequin sailor!

_Fabio._ Well resolved.

_Alv._ Wear them what other fool may list, I’ll straight aboard, and if the wind and sea Can rise as they were wont, I’ll stretch all sail Toward the perdition she consigns me to. Halloa there! (_Whistles._)

_Enter SAILORS._

_Sail._ Captain?

_Alv._ How is ’t for a cruise?

_Sail._ Oh, never better; just a breeze to keep The ship from looking in her glass too long.

_Alv._ Aboard, aboard then! Farewell all my hopes; My love, farewell for ever!

_Voices_ (_within_). Fire! fire! fire!

_All._ What’s this?

_Voices._ Fire! fire! in Don Diego’s palace! Help! help!

_Alv._ She there! my life shall save the life She said it jeopardied.

_As he is going out, enter JUAN with SERAFINA fainted in his arms._

_Juan._ Friends! Gentlemen! if you would help in this calamity, take charge for a moment of this most precious thing of all, till I return.

_Alv._ (_taking SERAFINA in his arms_). Trust me, sir.

[_JUAN rushes off._

_Leon._ Stop, my lord, stop a moment—he is gone, and this man—

_Alv._ Serafina in my arms! my ship at hand! O love, O destiny!—aboard, aboard— O ’tis the merriest proverb of them all, How one man rises by his neighbour’s fall.

[_Exit, carrying off SERAFINA._

_Leon._ Halloa! stop him! stop him! it is my mistress; Don Juan! my lord! my lord! the rascal has carried her off! my lord! my lord!

[_Runs after ALVARO._

_1st Voice in the crowd._ The fire is getting under.

_2nd Voice._ No lives lost?

_3rd Voice._ Only, they say, one poor girl of the lady Serafina’s.

_Enter DON JUAN hurriedly._

_Juan._ I thought I heard Leonelo calling me—But where is Serafina? This is the place—yes—Serafina! I left them here—taken her perhaps fainting as she was for help. Gentlemen, have you seen any here with a lady, fainted, in their charge—a sailor, I think?

_1st Man._ Not I, sir.

_2nd Man._ Nor I.

_3rd Man._ Stay, I think there were some sailors with a lady in their arms.

_Juan._ And where—

_Enter LEONELO breathless._

_Leon._ Oh, my lord, my lord!

_Juan._ Speak!

_Leon._ The Mask who danced with my lady—

_Juan._ Where is she?

_Leon._ Was the sailor you gave her in charge to—He has carried her off.

_Juan._ The Mask! the sailor!

_Leon._ I saw him throw off his disguise, and now he has carried her off—to the shore—to sea—to the ship there now spreading her sails in the harbour.

_Juan._ Man! beware lest I blast thee!

_Leon._ As if I were the sailor! I tell you I ran after them, shouted, struggled, but was pushed aside, knocked down—

_Juan._ To the shore, to the shore! follow me!

_Voices._ What is the matter?

_Juan._ What I dare not name till it be avenged; Pirate!—Ruffian! Oh fool, I might have guessed—but I will find them through water and fire too. To the shore!

[_Exit JUAN, LEONELO after him; confusion, etc._