_The Scene is at the Hague, in the house of_ PHILIBERT.
SCENE I.--Gascoigne, _packing his master's trunk._
_Mar._ May I wish good-morning to Monsieur Gascoigne?
_Gas._ Yes, my sweet Marianna, I thank you for your good-morning, but good-night would be more agreeable to me from your lips.
_Mar._ From what I see, I should rather wish you a pleasant journey.
_Gas._ Oh, my precious jewel, such a melancholy departure must be followed by a most doleful journey!
_Gas._ How can you doubt it? After having enjoyed your delightful society for six months, can I leave you without the deepest sorrow?
_Mar._ And who forces you to do what is so disagreeable?
_Mar._ Masters are not wanting at the Hague, and you can easily find one who will give you better wages than a poor French officer, a prisoner of war, and a man in every way roughly used by fortune.
_Gas._ Pardon me, such language does not become so good a girl as you are. I have for many years had the honour of serving my excellent master; his father, I may say, recommended me to him; I have attended him in the war, and have not shunned danger to show my fidelity. He is poor, but never man had a better heart. Were he promoted, I am sure I should share his good fortune. Would you desire me to abandon him, and let him return to France without me?
_Mar._ You speak like the worthy fellow you are; but I cannot conceal my affection for you.
_Gas._ Dear Marianna, I am as much distressed as you are, but I hope to see you again, and then to be able to say, Here I am, I can support you, and, if you wish it, I am yours.
_Mar._ Heaven grant it! But why is the Lieutenant in such haste to depart? My master is fond of his company, and I think the daughter not less so than the father.
_Gas._ Too true; and that is his reason for going.
_Mar._ What! does he dislike people to be fond of him?
_Gas._ Ah, my Marianna, my poor master is desperately in love with your young mistress; he leads the most wretched life in the world; he knows their love for each other is increasing every day, and, as they can no longer hide it, he fears for himself, and for Mademoiselle Giannina. Your master is rich, and mine is poor. Monsieur Philibert has this only daughter, and will not give her to a younger son, a soldier; one, in short, who would have to live on her means. The Lieutenant, though poor, is a man of honour; he respects the obligations of hospitality, of friendship, of good faith; he fears he may be overcome and seduced by love, and that he in turn may seduce his mistress from her duty. This being the case, he does violence to his feelings, sacrifices love to principle, and is resolved to go.