504 Modern Italian Comedy. [MAY, 



Ros. Bless me, no ! That hole is one of the greatest beauties. It was made 

 by a cavalier, who fell in love with that female figure in the picture ; and, in 

 despair that it was only a painting, stabbed the canvas. 



Psctth. Pshaw ! He was an ass ! When we fall in love with women, they 

 should be real ones not paintings. (Turns again to Colombina.) How can it 

 be that you are only a chambermaid, my love ? 



Col. The misfortunes of my family, may it please your Excellency. 



Enter the Countess Eugenia. 



Eng. A thousand pardons, my Lord ! I am afraid I have made you wait. 



Psctth. Not at all. Your ladyship is entitled to command our attention as 

 you please. You have a handsome chambermaid here ! 



Eug. Humph! Colombina! leave the room. 



Col. (aside}. How envious she is ! Your Excellency's servant. (Curtsies, 

 and exit.) 



Psctth. A brave girl ! And she has a very pretty foot, too ! It is a pity her 

 shoes are ill made. 



Ros. Signora Comtessa ! you must be prevailed on to do my Lord here 

 a great favour. He is dying in love with your Correggio. You must abso- 

 lutely persuade my lord the Count to give it up to him. 



Eug. Ah ! that will be difficult ! It is an old picture painted for one of 

 my lord's ancestors. He won't part with it. 



Psctth. (aside to Rosbif). Never mind. If they won't sell it, so much the 

 better, you know. 



Ros. (aside). But pardon me it is the fellow to that which Signor Flutt 

 bought ; and, indeed, very superior. Besides as I told you buying it will 

 be considered an attention to the family. 



Psctth. Well but if they won't have the attention, you know what can 

 we do? 



Ros. Press her press her. 



Psctth. No. Pressing and paying too, I think, is rather too much. 



Ros. Madam, my Lord here is afraid to importune you : but you would 

 do him the greatest favour in the world, if you could prevail on the Count to 

 part with this picture. 



Eug. Certainly : if you desire it, I'll try. But there is no chance of his 

 selling it : he has refused, I know, already, several times, four hundred 

 sequins. If his lordship, here, however, will honour us by accepting it as a 

 gift, perhaps 



Psctth. No : excuse me : I can't take any thing as a gift. 



Ros. Well, well but this is a difference that we can accommodate. My 

 Lord here shall take the picture as a gift. And his lordship the Count shall 

 do us the pleasure to accept four hundred sequins not as a payment but 

 to buy sugar-plums for the children. 



Psctth. But stop ! (Aside, to Rosbif.} Stop, I say are you mad ? Four 

 'hundred sequins ! Two hundred guineas'- worth of sugar-plums ! The poor 

 babes will be poisoned. Give them something less. 



Eug. Well, well ! I do not promise : but I will try what can be done. 



Psctth. Humph ! Really, if your ladyship does not succeed, it is of no 

 great consequence. 



Eug. Nay, Milord, when I have said I will try, you may conclude the thing 

 I believe as done. 



Psctth. But, really I would not wish to put the Count to any inconve- 

 nience. 



Eug. Oh ! no matter no matter. Rely upon me. There are times, you 

 know, when we wives may obtain almost what we will. 



Psctth. (aside). Humph ! If you were my wife, you would obtain very 

 little, I can tell you. 



Ros. Well, then, this matter is settled. And now we may take our ride. 

 (Exeunt.) 



