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And then they stared each others' faces round :
'Tis odd, not one of all these seekers thought,
And seems to me almost a sort of blunder,
Of looking in the bed as well as under.

CXLV.

During this inquisition Julia's tongue

Was not asleep-« Yes, search and search, » she crie «Insult on insult heap, and wrong on wrong!

« It was for this that I became a bride!

«For this in silence I have suffer'd long

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A husband like Alfonso at my side ; "But now I'll bear no more, nor here remain, «If there be law, or lawyers, in all Spain.

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CXLVI.

Yes, Don Alfonso! husband now no more,

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If

ever you

indeed deserved the name,

« Is't worthy of your years?-you have threescore, Fifty, or sixty-it is all the same

« Is't wise or fitting causeless to explore

« For facts against a virtuous woman's fame? Ungrateful, perjured, barbarous Don Alfonso, « How dare you think your lady would go on so?

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CXLVII.

«Is it for this I have disdain'd to hold

The common privileges of my sex

<< That I have chosen a confessor so old

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?

other it would vex,

"And never once he has had cause to scold,

«But found my very innocence perplex So much, he always doubted I was married« How sorry you will be when I've miscarried!

CXLVIII.

« Was it for this that no cortejo cre

" I yet have chosen from out the youth of Seville? «Is it for this I scarce went any where,

« Except to bull-fights, mass, play, rout, and revel?

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« Is it for this, whate'er my suitors were,

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I favour'd none-nay, was almost uncivil?

«Is it for this that General Count O'Reilly,

« Who took Algiers, declares I used him vilely¤? CXLIX.

« Did not the Italian Musico Cazzani

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Sing at my heart six months at least in vain? Did not his countryman, Count Corniani,

« Call me the only virtuous wife in Spain? « Were there not also Russians, English, many? «The Count Strongstroganoff I put in pain, « And Lord Mount Coffeehouse, the Irish peer, Who kill'd himself for love (with wine) last year. CL.

« Have I not had two bishops at my feet?

"The Duke of Ichar, and Don Fernan Nunez,

« And is it thus a faithful wife you treat?

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I wonder in what quarter now the moon is:

I praise your vast forbearance not to beat

«Me also, since the time so opportune is—

Oh, valiant man! with sword drawn and cock'd trigger, Now, tell me, don't you cut a pretty figure?

CLI.

« Was it for this you took your sudden journey,

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Under pretence of business indispensible

« With that sublime of rascals your attorney,

"Whom I see standing there, and looking sensible

"Of having play'd the fool? though both I spurn, he

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« Deserves the worst, his conduct's less defensible,

Because, no doubt, 'twas for his dirty fee,

« And not from any love to you nor me.

CLII.

<< If he comes here to take a deposition,

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By all means let the gentleman proceed;

"You've made the apartment in a fit condition :

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There's pen and ink for you, sir, when you need<< Let every thing be noted with precision,

« I would not you for nothing should be feed"But as my maid's undrest, pray turn your spies out." « Oh! » sobb'd Antonia, « I could tear their eyes out. »

CLIII.

«There is the closet, there the toilet, there

<< The anti-chamber-search them under, over : « There is the sofa, there the great arm-chair, « The chimney-which would really hold a lover. I wish to sleep, and beg you will take care «And make no further noise, till you discover

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<< The secret cavern of this lurking treasure—

«And when 'tis found, let me, too, have that pleasure.

CLIV.

«And now, Hidalgo! now that you have throw

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« Doubt upon me, confusion over all,

Pray have the courtesy to make it known

"Who is the man you search for? how d'ye call

<< Him? what's his lineage? let him but be shownI hope he's young and handsome-is he tall?

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Tell me and be assured, that since you stain

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My honour thus, it shall not be in vain.

CLV.

« At least, perhaps, he has not sixty years,
«At that age he would be too old for slaughter,
«Or for so young a husband's jealous fears-

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(Antonia let me have a glass of water.)

« I am ashamed of having shed these tears,

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They are unworthy of my father's daughter; My mother dream'd not in my natal hour "That I should fall into a monster's power.

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CLVI.

Perhaps 'tis of Antonia you are jealous, "You saw that she was sleeping by my

side

"When you broke in upon us with your fellows:

"

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Look where you please—we've nothing, sir, to hide; Only another time, I trust, you'll tell us,

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Or for the sake of decency abide "A moment at the door, that we may " Drest to receive so much good company.

CLVII.

« And now, sir, I have done, and say no more;
<< The little I have said may serve to show
<< The guileless heart in silence may grieve o'er
« The wrongs to whose exposure it is slow →
conscience as before,
<< "Twill one day ask you why yon used me so?
"God grant you feel not then the bitterest grief!
(Antonia! where's my pocket-handkerchief?) ›

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I leave you to your

CLVIII.

She ceased, and turn'd upon her pillow; pale
She lay, her dark eyes flashing through their tears,
Like skies that rain and lighten; as a veil,

Waved and o'ershading her wan check, appears

Hier streaming hair; the black curls strive, but fail, To hide the glossy shoulder, which uprears

Its snow through all;-her soft lips lie apart, And louder than her breathing beats her heart.

CLIX.

The Senhor Don Alfonso stood confused ;
Autonia bustled round the rausack'd room,
And, turning up her nose, with looks abused
Her master, and his myrmidons, of whom
Not oue, except the attorney, was amused;
Hle, like Achates, faithful to the tomb,
So there were quarrels, cared not for the cause,
Knowing they must be settled by the laws.

CLX.

With prying snub-nose, and small eyes, he stood,
Following Antonia's motions here and there,
With much suspicion in his attitude;

For reputations he had little care ;
So that a suit or action were made good,
Small pity had he for the young and fair,
And ne'er believed in negatives, till these
Were proved by competent false witnesses.

CLXI.

But Don Alfonso stood with downcast looks,
And, truth to say, he made a foolish figure,
When, after searching in five hundred nooks,
And treating a young wife with so much rigour,
He gain'd no point, except some self-rebukes,
Added to those his lady with such vigour
Had pour'd upon him for the last half hour,
Quick, thick, and heavy-as a thunder-shower.

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