Aur. Why, you invincible sot you, will nothing mend you?  Lay it down, or—­

Ben. to Cam. Do ye see, sir, this enemy to the muses? he will not let me hold forth to you. [Lays down the guitar.] O envy and ignorance, whither will you!—­But, gad, before I’ll suffer my parts to be kept in obscurity—­

Aur, What will you do, rascal?

Ben. I’ll take up the guitar, and suffer heroically.
                                            [He plays, AUR. kicks.

Aur. What? do you mutiny?

Ben. Ay, do, kick till your toes ache; I’ll be baffled in my music by ne’er a foot in Christendom.

Aur. I’ll put you out of your tune, with a vengeance to you.
    [As AURELIAN kicks harder, BENITO sings faster, and sometimes
     cries out.

Cam. holding Aur. Nay, then, ’tis time to stickle[2].  Hold, Aurelian, pr’ythee spare Benito, you know we have occasion for him.

Aur. I think that was well kicked.

Ben. And I think that was well sung too.

Cam. Enough, Aurelian.

Ben. No, sir; let him proceed to discourage virtue and see what will come on it.

Cam. Now to our business.  But we must first instruct Benito.

Aur. Be ruled by me, and do not trust him.  I prophesy he’ll spoil the whole affair; he has a worm in his head as long as a conger, a brain so barren of all sense, and yet so fruitful of foolish plots, that if he does not all things his own way, yet at least he’ll ever be mingling his designs with yours, and go halves with you; so that, what with his ignorance, what with his plotting, he’ll be sure to ruin you with an intention to serve you.  For my part, I had turned him off long since, but that my wise father commanded the contrary.

Cam. Still you speak, as if what we did were choice, and not necessity.  You know their uncle is suspicious of me, and consequently jealous of all my servants; but if we employ yours, who is not suspected, because you are a stranger, I doubt not to get an assignation with the younger sister.

Aur. Well, use your own way, Camillo:  but if it ever succeed with his management—­

Cam. You must understand then, Benito, that this old Signior Mario has two nieces, with one of which I am desperately in love, and—­

Ben. [Aside to him.] I understand you already, sir, and you desire love reciprocal.  Leave your business in my hands; and, if it succeed not, think me no wiser than my master.

Cam. Pray take me with you.  These sisters are great beauties, and vast fortunes; but, by a clause in their father’s will, if they marry without their uncle’s consent, are to forfeit all.  Their uncle, who is covetous and base to the last degree, takes advantage of this clause; and, under pretence of not finding fit matches for them, denies his consent to all who love them.