"Turn not away, fair angel, for since last You bless'd my eyes, my thoughts have been on you; For weeks I've follow'd, not daring to address you. As I'm a bachelor, and free to wed, Might I your favour gain, a life of tenderness, To you, my love, I'd tender."
(_Aside._) I borrow'd that speech, excepting the last flourish, from my master: but since he has used it like his cast-off clothes, 'tis mine by custom. (_Aloud._) Will you not answer? I love you, madam, have loved you long; and, by my soul! ne'er said so much before to any woman breathing. [_Nina turns round and lifts her veil, Antonio turns away._] (_Aside._) By all that's intolerable, my Toledo wife! (_Turning to her._) Holy Saint Frances! It is, it is my wife!
_Nina._ Yes, sir, your injured, your deserted wife!
_Ant._ And are you still alive? then I am once more happy! (_Offers to embrace her._)
_Nina._ Forbear! When was I dead, you wretch?
_Ant._ Why, Nina, I've a letter from Toledo, that states that you are dead; you died a treble death, yourself and twins.
_Ant._ Twins, my love, sweet pledges of affection. I've the letter in my pocket; I've kept it there for months, pored over it for weeks, and cried over it for days. (_Fumbles in his pocket._) Now I recollect it is in the pocket of my gala suit. What an infamous forgery! Come to my arms, my dear lamented, but now recovered wife!
_Nina._ Keep off, you wretch! What did you say just now? "I've loved you long, and ne'er have said so much to any woman breathing."
_Ant._ Well, my love, no more I had, except to yourself; and you I thought were dead. Why, my dearest Nina, it is a proof of my constancy. When I first saw you, I said to myself "that is the only woman I ever saw with a foot and ankle so pretty as my Nina's;" and the more I looked at you, the more your sweet figure reminded me of yourself. In fact, it was your likeness to yourself that created the first emotion in my widowed heart. Had I fallen in love with anybody else, my dearest Nina, you might have cause for anger; but I assert, to fall in love with my own wife proves me a paragon of fidelity.
_Nina._ O, Lopez, could I but believe you!
[_Antonio turns away and takes out his handkerchief._] (_Aside._) As my master says (_turning to Nina_),