Modern Italian Comedy : MAY, 



Giac. But my wife is not going out this morning ; and I stay at home to 

 keep her company. 



C. Beat. Pooh, pooh ! Nonsense ! She will have company enough without 

 you. Come ! Why, you would not begin to be troublesome only on the second 

 day of your marriage, would you ? Go out : go out ! 



Giac. But I don't know where to go ; I have got no acquaintance. 



C. Beat. Oh, walk about the city. 



Giac. But I don't know the way. 



C. Beat. Oh, well go into the gardens, then. Go somewhere. 



Giac. But I have got such a cold ! 



C. Beat. Oh hot or cold, you can't stay at home here under every body's 

 feet. So go out at once, before you put me out of patience. 



Giac. Well, well I will. But don't be angry, sister-in-law. You don't 

 seem to be so good-humoured, I think, as you used to be. (Exit.) 



The excellent Countess Beatrice has spent her sister's fortune, and 

 palmed her upon Giacinto without a penny. She is still dissatisfied, 

 however, that her sister has not a title as well as a husband -, and favours 

 the unlawful pretensions of the " certain Count," who was postponed 

 when the wealthy plebeian made his appearance. This lady's own per- 

 sonal husband now appears in the play ; and seems to fare as ill as the 

 nouveau marie is likely to do. The " Count Ottavio" is here the 

 Jerry Sneak of the English drama ; but our English aristocratic habits 

 would not permit us to lay fatuity so high. 



C. Ott. Centering}. Wife ! 



C. Beat. Wife ! You can say " Countess/' can't you if you try, Signor 

 Asino ? 



C. Ott. Many pardons. But I came to ask, would it be convenient to give 

 me my little pocket-money to-day ? Because, to say the truth, I want to buy 

 a little stock of snuff. 



C. Beat. Snuff, indeed ! I have nothing to do, but to find money for your 

 vices. 



C. Ott. My vices ! But snuff is a necessary thing, wife. And, be- 

 sides 



C. Beat. Oh besides ! I'll give you the money when it is convenient. 

 That is not now. 



C. Ott. Ha ! well ! Never mind never mind. I would not have asked if 

 all my troubles did not come on me at once. I lost twelve carlini* to your 

 good friend, my lord the Marquis, last week, at primero ; and I paid him 

 when I lost. This week, he lost twenty carlini to me ; and I can't get him 

 to pay at all. 



C. Beat. Oh, most abominable man, cease to annoy me ! 



C. Ott. Ha ! That's just what the Marquis said, when I asked him for my 

 twenty carlini. 



C. Beat. What ! (with anger). And had you really then the presump- 

 tion to ask his lordship the Marquis for money ? Then that is the reason 

 -I was surprised at it that he has not been here this day or two ; he is 

 offended at your impertinence. Come, Sir ! Go this moment. Go, and beg 

 his pardon. Go ! 



C. Ott. But 



C. Beat. No " huts." Go this instant. 



C. Ott. But I have not had my chocolate yet this morning. 



C. Beat. Chocolate ! You shan't have a drop. Indeed, there is none for 

 you. Now Giacinto is married, he must have it, sometimes of a morning, at 

 least for a few days. You shall have it afterwards, week about. 



The scarcity of the chocolate here seems ridiculous enough : but the 

 same state of domestic economy occurs constantly through all the plays. 



* A small silver coin of Italy. 



