SCENE I.

_An antique Apartment in the Castle._

_Enter DON CAESAR, with Precaution._

_Don Caesar._ Thus far I've got into the castle unperceived--I'm certain Sanguino means the old gentleman a mischief, which nature bids me endeavour to prevent. I saw the rascal slip in at the postern below; but where can he have got to! [_A sliding Panel opens in the Wainscot, and SANGUINO comes out._] Yes, yonder he issues, like a rat or a spider.--How now, Sanguino!

_Sang._ Captain Ramirez!

_Don Caesar._ On enterprize without my knowledge! What's your business here?

_Sang._ Revenge! Look--[_Shows a Stilletto._] if I meet Don Scipio--

_Don Caesar._ A stilletto! I command you to quit your purpose.

_Sang._ What, no satisfaction for my wound last night, and lose my booty too!

_Don Caesar._ Your wound was chance--Put up--We shall have noble booty here, and that's our business--But you seem to know your ground here, Sanguino?

_Sang._ I was formerly master of the horse to Count D'Olivi, the last resident here, so am well acquainted with the galleries, lobbies, windings, turnings, and every secret lurking place in the castle.

_Don Caesar._ I missed Spado at the muster this morning--did he quit the cave with you?

_Spado._ [_Without._] As sure as I'm alive, it's fact, sir.--

_Don Caesar._ Isn't that Spado's voice?

_Sang._ Impossible!

_Don Caesar._ Hush!

[_They retire._

_Enter DON SCIPIO and SPADO._

_Don Scipio._ Yes, I've heard of such places; but you say you have been in the cave where these ruffian banditti live?

_Spado._ Most certainly, sir: for, after having robbed me of five hundred doubloons, the wicked rogues barbarously stripped, and tied me neck and heels, threw me across a mule, like a sack of corn, and led me blindfold to their cursed cavern.

_Don Scipio._ Ah, poor fellow!

_Spado._ There, sir, in this sculking hole the villains live in all manner of debauchery, and dart out upon the innocent traveller, like beasts of prey.

_Don Scipio._ Oh, the tigers! just so they fastened upon me last night, but your sham Fernando, and I, made them run like hares; I gave him my purse for his trouble.

_Spado._ And he took it! what a mean fellow!--you ought not to have ventured out unarmed--I always take a blunderbuss when I go upon the road--the rascal banditti are most infernal cowards.

_Don Scipio._ What a glorious thing to deliver these reprobates into the hands of justice!

_Spado._ Ah, sir, 'twould be a blessed affair--Oh, I'd hang them up like mad dogs!

_Don Scipio._ Well, you say you know the cave?

_Spado._ Yes, yes, I slipped the handkerchief from my eyes and took a peep, made particular observations of the spot; so get a strong guard, and I'll lead you to the very trap-door of their den.

_Don Scipio._ 'Egad, then we'll surprise them, and you'll have the prayers of the whole country, my honest friend.

_Spado._ Heaven knows, sir, I have no motives for this discovery but the public good, so I expect the country will order me a hundred pistoles, as a reward for my honesty.

_Don Caesar._ Here's a pretty dog!

[_Apart._

_Sang._ Ay, ay, he ha'n't long to live.

[_Apart._

_Don Scipio._ An hundred pistoles!

_Spado._ Sir, have an eye upon their captain, as they call him, he's the most abandoned, impudent profligate--[_Suddenly turning sees CAESAR, who shows a Pistol._] Captain did I say? [_Terrified._] Oh, no; the captain's a very worthy good-natured fellow--I meant a scoundrel, who thinks he ought to be captain, one Sanguino, the most daring, wicked, and bloody villain that--[_Turning the other may, perceives SANGUINO with a Pistol._] but indeed, I found Sanguino an honest, good-natured fellow too--

[_With increased terror._

_Don Scipio._ Hey, a bloody, wicked, honest, good-natured fellow! what is all this?

_Spado._ Yes; then, sir, I _thought_ I saw these two gentlemen, and at that instant, I _thought_ they looked so terrible, that with the fright I _awoke_.

_Don Scipio._ Awoke! what the devil then, is all this but a dream you have been telling me?

_Spado._ Ay, sir, and the most frightful dream I ever had in my life. I'm at this instant frightened out of my wits.

_Don Scipio._ You do look frightened indeed--poor man! I thought this cave was--

_Spado._ Don't mention cave, or I faint--heigho!

_Enter_ VASQUEZ.

_Vas._ Dame Isabel wants to speak with you, sir.

_Don Scipio._ I'll wait on her.

_Spado._ Yes, I'll wait on her.

[_Going hastily._

_Don Scipio._ You! she don't want you.

_Spado._ Dear sir, she can't do without me at this time. [_Exit_ SCIPIO.] I come.

[_Going._

_Don Caesar._ No, you stay.--

[_Pulls him back._

_Spado._ Ah, my dear captain. [_Affecting surprise and joy._] What, and my little Sanguino too! Who could have thought of your finding me out here?

_Don Caesar._ Yes, you are found out.

[_Significantly._

_Spado._ Such discoveries as I have made in the castle!--

_Don Caesar._ You're to make discoveries in the forest too.

_Sang._ Our cave!

_Spado._ Oh, you overheard that! Didn't I hum the old fellow finely? Ha! ha! ha!

_Sang._ And for your reward, traitor, take this to your heart.

[_Offers to stab him._

_Don Caesar._ Hold, Sanguino.

_Spado._ Nay, my dear Sanguino, stay! What the devil--So here I can't run a jest upon a silly old man, but I must be run through with a stilletto!

_Don Caesar._ Come, Spado, confess what really brought you here.

_Spado._ Business, my dear sir, business; all in our own way too, for I designed to let every man of you into the castle this very night, when all the family are in bed, and plunder's the word--Oh, such a delicious booty! pyramids of plate, bags of gold, and little chests of diamonds!

_Sang._ Indeed!

_Spado._ Sanguino, look at the closet.

_Sang._ Well!

_Spado._ A glorious prize!

_Sang._ Indeed!

_Spado._ Six chests of massy plate! Look, only look into the closet; wait here a moment, and I'll fetch a master key that shall open every one of them.

_Don Caesar._ Hey! Let's see those chests.

_Sang._ Massy plate! Quick, quick, the master key.

_Spado._ I'll fetch it.

_Sang._ Do but make haste, Spado.

_Spado._ I will, my dear boy.

[_Exeunt SANGUINO and DON CAESAR._

My good--honest--Oh, you two thieves!

[_Aside._

_Enter_ DON SCIPIO.

_Don Scipio._ Now, Spado, I--hey, where is my little dreamer? but why is this door open? this closet contains many valuables--Why will they leave it open? Let's see--

[_Goes into the Closet._

_Enter SPADO with a Portmanteau._

_Spado._ [_As entering._] I have no key--However, I have stolen Don Fernando's portmanteau as a peace-offering for these two rascals! Are you there? What a pity the coming of my fellow-rogues! I should have had the whole castle to myself--Oh, what a charming seat of work for a man of my industry--[_Speaking at Closet Door._] You find the chests there--you may convey them out at night, and as for cutting Don Scipio's throat--that I leave to--

_Enter DON SCIPIO._

_Don Scipio._ Cut my throat!--What, are you at your dreams again?

_Spado._ [_Aside._] Oh, zounds!--Yes, sir, as I was telling you.

_Don Scipio._ Of a little fellow you have the worst dreams I ever heard.

_Spado._ Shocking, sir--then I thought--

_Don Scipio._ Hold, hold, let me hear no more of your curst dreams.

_Spado._ I've got off, thanks to his credulity.

[_Aside._

_Don Scipio._ What portmanteau's that?

_Spado._ 'Sdeath, I'm on again!

[_Aside._

_Don Scipio._ Fernando's, I think.

_Spado._ [_Affecting surprise._] What, my master's?--'egad so it is--But I wonder who could have brought it here.--Ay, ay, my fellow servant Pedrillo is now too grand to mind his business;--and my master, I find, though he has taken the habit, scorns the office of a servant--So I must look after the things myself.

_Don Scipio._ Ay, ay, take care of them.

_Spado._ Yes, sir, I'll take care of them!

_Don Scipio._ Ha! ha! ha! what a strange whimsical fellow this master of yours! with his plots and disguises.--Think to impose upon me too.--But I think I'm far from a fool.

_Spado._ [_Looking archly at him._] That's more than I am.

_Don Scipio._ So he pretends not to know you, though he has sent you here as a spy, to see what you can pick up?

_Spado._ Yes, sir, I came here to see what I can pick up.

[_Takes up the Portmanteau._

_Don Scipio._ What an honest servant!--he has an eye to every thing!

[_Exit DON SCIPIO._

_Spado._ But before I turn honest, I must get somewhat to keep me so.

AIR X.--SPADO.

_In the forest here hard by,_ _A bold robber late was I,_ _Sword and blunderbuss in hand,_ _When I bid a trav'ler stand;_ _Zounds, deliver up your cash,_ _Or straight I'll pop and slash,_ _All among the leaves so green-o!_ _Damme, sir,_ _If you stir,_ _Sluice your veins,_ _Blow your brains,_ _Hey down,_ _Ho down,_ _Derry, derry down,_ _All amongst the leaves so green-o._

II.

_Soon I'll quit the roving trade,_ _When a gentleman I'm made;_ _Then so spruce and debonnaire,_ _'Gad, I'll court a lady fair;_ _How I'll prattle, tattle, chat,_ _How I'll kiss her, and all that,_ _All amongst the leaves so green-o!_ _How d'ye do?_ _How are you?_ _Why so coy?_ _Let us toy,_ _Hey down,_ _Ho down,_ _Derry, derry down,_ _All amongst the leaves so green-o._

III.

_But ere old, and grey my pate,_ _I'll scrape up a snug estate:_ _With my nimbleness of thumbs,_ _I'll soon butter all my crumbs._ _When I'm justice of the peace,_ _Then I'll master many a lease,_ _All amongst the leaves so green-o._ _Wig profound,_ _Belly round,_ _Sit at ease,_ _Snatch the fees,_ _Hey down,_ _Ho down,_ _Derry, derry down,_ _All amongst the leaves so green-o._

[_Exit._