1828.] The Plays of Ghcrardo da Rossi. 495 



of the same morning, it happens, rather unluckily, that a fainting fit, 

 introduced (before the whole family), by the young -widow, in the gar- 

 den, is converted, by the appearance of one of the new servants (the 

 disguised Captain) with cold water, into something very like a swoon 

 in earnest : and a scene ensues of prodigious confusion, threatening every 

 moment to discredit the Baroness's conjugal piety, and expose the dis- 

 guise of the new domestics ; which ends with the lady's recovery from 

 her real alarm or illness, and her precipitate retreat into the chateau. 



Matters are thus left, at the end of the first act, in a very pleasant 

 dramatic perplexity. The " Captain" is delighted to find his mistress 

 a widow, and free ; but surprised beyond measure to find her in a strange 

 house. And grieving for her husband too ! and doubts how he had best 

 explain his own appearance before her at such a time, and in such a garb. 

 The " Baroness," on her part, not knowing the true reason of her lover's 

 disguise, concludes that it is assumed entirely on her account, and that 

 the knowledge of her widowhood and residence has brought him to the 

 chateau. On deliberation, however, and when the real state of the 

 affair becomes known, the lady's regard for her reputation overcomes all 

 other considerations. She resolves firmly to listen to no suitor not 

 even to hear of such a person in the first year of her widowhood. The 

 lover becomes frantic, out to no purpose : she presses upon him a sum of 

 money to aid his departure in safety ; but insists that he shall instantly 

 quit the castle, and orders her own travelling carriage to make a visit 

 elsewhere until he shall be gone. And thus ends the second act. 



A lucky event, however, in the third, saves at once the scruples of 

 the Baroness, and the hopes of the Captain Erminio. As the parties are 

 bidding each other a last adieu in a distant part of the pleasure-grounds, 

 the sound of drums and fifes is heard ; and " Trivella," the hero's ser- 

 vant, rushes in to say that a party of military is entering the castle-gates, 

 to examine the neighbourhood, and search for deserters ! The ruin of 

 the fugitives now seems certain ; as it ought properly to do, in a play, 

 always just before they are going to be made happy for life. The Com- 

 mandant of the party is already making his rounds, inspecting the pass- 

 ports and papers of persons of all ranks, and strictly examining all 

 strangers who are unprovided with them. Escape is impossible ; for the 

 only passage across the frontier is by a ferry, the avenue to which is 

 guarded and the want of a passport to cross has been the cause why the 

 Captain sought shelter in the chateau where he stands. In this dilemma 

 a moment lost being certain death the Baroness's waiting-maid (who 

 of course is in love with the Captain's valet) recollects that " the robes of 

 state" of the late " Baron" (he was a judge) are in a cabinet at hand, and 

 the passport with which the family was travelling, at the time of his 

 death, in a pocket-book by them. The lady, afflicting as the resource is, 

 rather than see her lover perish, consents that he shall be assisted with 

 this disguise. But, after a first step, there is no safety. Scarcely is the 

 Captain attired as a judge, than the visiting Major appears. He 

 examines the passport delivered, and finds that the name of the Baroness 

 appears in it, with those of all the suite. The questions then necessary 

 to be put, officially, leave the lady no choice but to answer the question 

 whether she is the wife of the party (the soi-disant judge) who holds the 

 passport ) or to destroy the whole plot, and deliver the Captain up to 

 death. Of course, she must answer it in the affirmative : and the 

 result is fate has been against the lady's widowhood the lovers fly 

 together. 



