66 6 Ah, Colin! foolish Colin! "But when her Eyes she opened, She found the Shepherd had not stirred— Ah, Cupid! wanton Cupid! 'Twas ever thus your Way: When Maids would bid you ply your Wings, THE COUNTESS. Famous! He earned whate'er he got :- THE BARON (turning the page). I think not.-No. Unless 'tis this: My fate is far more hard than his ;— In fact, your Eyes THE COUNTESS. Now, that's a breach! Your bond is not to make a speech. THE BARON. If, in return, Countess, I could your hand but earn! THE COUNTESS. I thought as much. This comes, you see, Where vows are hung on every tree. ... THE BARON (offering his arm, with a low bow). And no one dreams-of PERFIDY. THE METAMORPHOSIS On s'enrichit quand on dort." SCENE. A high stone Seat in an Alley of clipped Lime-trees. THE ABBÉ TIRILI. MONSIEUR L'ÉTOILE. THE ABBÉ (writing). HIS shepherdess Dorine adored__" "TH What rhyme is next? Implored?-ignored? Poured?-soared?-afford? That facile Dunce, L'ÉTOILE, would cap the line at once. "Twill come in time. Meanwhile, suppose We take a meditative doze. (Sleeps. By-and-by his paper falls.) M. L'ÉTOILE (approaching from the back). Some one before me. Monsieur the Scholar? What! 'tis you, Sleeping too! (Picks up the fluttering paper.) More "Tales," of course One can't refuse To chase so fugitive a Muse! Verses are public, too, that fly Insane! "CLITANDER AND DORINE." (Three names for one. This passes all. "No doubt their Purpose oft would be 'On dit,' not less, these earthward Tours Ere he could say an 'Ave' o'er, A Shepherdess, by name Dorine. Trim Waist, ripe Lips, bright Eyes, had she;In short, the whole Artillery. Her Beauty made some local Stir ;- (Writes.) We'll sum in brief There, they shall know who 'twas that wrote:"L'ÉTOILE'S is but a mock-bird's note." THE ABBÉ (waking). [Exit. Implored's the word, I think. But where,- Eh! what? (Reads.) THE METAMORPHOSIS "The Shepherdess Dorine adored L'ÉTOILE,-by all the Muses! Peste! He's off, post-haste, to tell the rest. |