Excerpt: ...that obstacle in my way. Well, let us see if he still persists in his love. SCENE II.-LEANDER, MASCARILLE. MASC. Sir, I have lost my labour; Trufaldin will not keep his word. LEAND. He himself has told me the whole affair; but, what is more, I have discovered that all this pretty rigmarole about Celia being carried off by gypsies, and having a great nobleman for her father, who is setting out from Spain to come hither, is nothing but a mere stratagem, a merry trick, a made-up story, a tale raised by Lelio to ...
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Excerpt: ...that obstacle in my way. Well, let us see if he still persists in his love. SCENE II.-LEANDER, MASCARILLE. MASC. Sir, I have lost my labour; Trufaldin will not keep his word. LEAND. He himself has told me the whole affair; but, what is more, I have discovered that all this pretty rigmarole about Celia being carried off by gypsies, and having a great nobleman for her father, who is setting out from Spain to come hither, is nothing but a mere stratagem, a merry trick, a made-up story, a tale raised by Lelio to prevent my buying Celia. MASC. Here is roguery for you! LEAND. And yet this ridiculous story has produced such an impression on Trufaldin, and he has swallowed the bait of this shallow device so greedily, that he will not allow himself to be undeceived. MASC. So that henceforth he will watch her carefully. I do not see we can do anything more. LEAND. If at first I thought this girl amiable, I now find her absolutely adorable, and I am in doubt whether I ought not to employ extreme measures to make her my own, thwart her ill fortune by plighting her my troth, and turn her present chains into matrimonial ones. MASC. Would you marry her? LEAND. I am not yet determined, but if her origin is somewhat obscure, her charms and her virtue are gentle attractions, which have incredible force to allure every heart. MASC. Did you not mention her virtue? LEAND. Ha! what is that you mutter? Out with it; explain what you mean by repeating that word "virtue." MASC. Sir, your countenance changes all of a sudden; perhaps I had much better hold my tongue. LEAND. No, no, speak out. MASC. Well, then, out of charity I will cure you of your blindness. That girl.... LEAND. Proceed. MASC. So far from being merciless, makes no difficulty in obliging some people in private; you may believe me, after all she is not stony-hearted, to any one who knows how to take her in the right mood. She looks demure, and would fain pass for a prude; but I can speak of her on sure...
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