Карло Гольдони
The Comedies of Carlo Goldoni
Marq. I would have given him mine if he had not been a miser.
Eleon. [Sees the Count coming.] Oh, my mother!
Marq. Fear nothing – I'll speak – Yes, I – quite clearly – Good, good, excellent!
Scene XI. —Enter the Count, and afterwards Frontino
Count. [Aside.] She is here; now is the time to oblige her to determine. – [To Araminta.] I sent a request, Madame —
Aram. I was coming, but was stopped by the Marquis.
Marq. Yes, Signor Count, I have to inform you —
Count. Pardon me, Signor; I have business with this lady. – [To Araminta.] The notary will soon be here, and we must sign the contract.
Aram. And do you still persist in claiming my daughter? Have you not renounced her?
Count. No, Signora. My design, of which my sister may have informed you, was to propose conditions honourable to all parties; but these the Marquis disapproves.
Marq. Hear me speak. You asked me – yes – I would have – why not? But – be so kind – Good, good, excellent! No anger – a hundred thousand livres, diamonds, and not a grain of oats!
Count. Why do you thus reiterate oats? I cannot understand; can you, ladies?
Dor. [To the Count.] Your coachman, brother, may have refused —
Count. [To the Marquis.] How! have your horses not been fed? If so, am I responsible for my coachman's error? Must I be thought a miser – I! – [Aside.] My servants have babbled, and I shall lose my reputation.
Front. [Entering to the Count.] Persons without are asking for you, signor.
Count. [Aside.] My supper guests perhaps; the moment is favourable to the support of my honour. – [Aloud.] Is the notary among them?
Front. Yes, Signor.
Count. Bid him come in. Show the other persons into the card-room. Let the house be illuminated and the supper served.
[Exit Frontino.
Marq. Good, good, excellent!
Scene. —The last
Enter the Notary, the Jeweller, Giacinto, and others.
Count. [To the Notary.] Signor, please to read the contract, that it may be signed. So, Signor Giacinto, you have discovered that my bride is better, and that the supper will take place.
Giac. No, Signor, I have made no such discovery. But I have discovered some literary gentlemen, who, since I am not enabled to print my comedy and your genealogy, will publish the genealogy at their own expense, with all necessary and some remarkable annotations.
Count. [Enraged.] I understand the insult. [Dissembling.] Have you the genealogy in your pocket?
Giac. Here it is, Signor.
Count. [Receiving and concealing the MS.] Signor – I have a proper esteem for talents – they have ever been encouraged and recompensed by me. – [Aside.] A mercenary scoundrel! – [Whispers Giacinto.] Accept these five-and-twenty louis, and let me hear no more. – [Tears the paper.]
[Exit Giacinto.
Aram. [Aside.] What a man! He would quickly have scattered my daughter's fortune.
Count. [To the Notary.] Once more, the contract.
Jew. [Advancing with a bow.] Signor Count.
Count. How now! What do you want?
Jew. Permission to speak.
Count. [Softly to the Jeweller.] I desired you to come in a week.
Jew. 'Tis true. But hearing you are this evening to be affianced, permit me to observe that, after my jewels have been seen —
Count. Ay, ay. – [Vexed and aside.] The rascal knows what he is about. – [Privately returns the jewels and angrily whispers,] Here, take your diamonds, and trouble me no more.
[Exit Jeweller.
Front. [Entering.] The supper is ready; must it be served?
Count. Wait till I call you. Once more, the contract; with your leave, madam, we will read it, that it may be signed.
Aram. Signor, while I was a widow the power was my own, but now I am once more married.
Count. Married! Who is your husband, Madame!
Marq. Good, good, excellent! Yes, signor, 'tis I.
Count. [Aside.] Here is a blow! Oh, all hopes are gone! – [Aloud.] Then Eleonora —
Aram. I love my daughter too much to willingly part with her; once to-day you have refused her hand, which I shall now give to —
Marq. Good, good, excellent! – To my son.
Count. [To Dorimene indignantly.] I am derided, sister, disdained.
Dor. I warned you, brother, yet you would persist. Be prudent; you are in the presence of many people; do not risk your reputation.
Count. [Aside.] Very true. Come what will, I must dissemble. – [Aloud.] You're happily come, ladies and gentlemen, to witness the signing of a contract between – the – Chevalier del Bosco and this young lady. – [Aside.] My tongue is parched; I have not the power to proceed. – [Aloud.] The honour of contributing to this – ceremony – is mine. – [Aside.] Oh that the house were on fire! – [Aloud.] Let us walk into the library till the supper is ready.
Aram. Long live the spendthrift!
Marq. And down with the miser!
[Exeunt omnes.