away with that simple little maiden, hand in hand.
Barely had they left the spot, than Don Juan was upon it again, for he had determined upon keeping the little village maiden in view. But barely had he returned to the spot than he was accosted by one whom he would fain have not seen, Don Ottavio, the cavalier of Donna Anna.
The don was not easily abashed, so he came lightly to Ottavio’s side, but he thought to himself that this was one of his unlucky days.
“This meeting is fortunate, Don Juan, if thou hast a generous heart.”
“I hope for thy sake and mine own, that I have.”
“For we have need of thy friendship.”
“I breathe again,” thought the don, who, brave as he was, had trembled in meeting the injured lady, Donna Anna. “Command me,” he said aloud, “my arms are thine, if ’tis a question of arms. But Donna Anna, why these tears?”
“Do not hear him,” said a voice; and the three turning, saw Donna Elvira, who had determined to keep Juan in view; “do not hear him, he hath destroyed me.”
“Pardon her Ottavio, and you, Donna Anna, she is a poor deranged lady; leave her to me.”
“Do not believe him!”
“Poor lady! You see!”
“Do not believe him!”
Donna Anna and Ottavio seemed puzzled by this meeting. The lady seemed sane, and yet Don Juan was a man of probity, said all the world.
He bade her be still; but she called out more loudly than before, that he was her destroyer; and as she changed color, and struck her foot upon the ground, Ottavio and Anna shook their heads as though deploring her.
Whereon, the poor lady seeing their error, turned from them, and walked away quickly.
The don took advantage of this incident to rid himself of the terrible company of Ottavio and Anna, and so saying that for her dear sake he would follow her, he fled away; not marking the terrified start that Donna Anna gave as he turned from her.
“Dear Anna, how pale thou art! What has happened?”
“I dare not say, and yet I dare not be silent.”
“Speak! speak!”
“As I live—as I live, Ottavio, Don Juan killed my father.”
“What sayest thou?”
“I am sure; I am sure. The tones of the last words he spoke—the very words themselves. Ottavio, as I live he killed my father; ’twas he who entered my room; whom I held, whom I followed, who turned and killed my father! I ask of thee that vengeance that is just, Ottavio. Be but sure, and then act; thy arm shall be strengthened to thy work by my love—by the memory of my bleeding father! Come, come!”
Barely had the couple left the spot, than Leporello and his master were upon it.
“If I fly him not, the foul fiend will have me!”
“Well my little Leporello? All well?”
“No, little Don Juan; on the other side, all ill.”
“Wherefore ill?”
“Wherefore? marry, because ’tis. Have I taken them all to thy house? Yes have I. Have I spoken lies and flattery in thy service, that I am lost for ever? Yes have I. Have I beguiled Masetto till he is a very fool? The tempter knoweth that I have. The men I have set drinking, the women idem (as the lawyers have it), when, who cometh, if not my little Zerlina? And who with our little Zerlina, if not Madame Elvira, who prythee? She should be laid, master; she should be laid like a vexed spirit. And she hath abused me; my faith! hath she abused me—hath she laid about her uncivilly touching me!”
“And what saidst thou?”
“Marry, the best thing I could say … nothing. But when she hath worn herself silent, and when she is, if I may thus say it, so to speak, melting in tears, I take me her hand, direct her to the street, and there do I most gingerly leave her.”
“Then, she being gone, I may be there. Now, my Leporello, wine, wine; bring us plenty of wine, for ’tis the persuader which smoothens my road wonderfully.”
And, taking the factotum by the arm, he pushed him along before him.
CHAPTER III.
“But Masetto, dear Masetto.”
“Get thee gone. What! thou wouldst caress me, thou false Zerlina!”
“But I love thee.”
“Then hast thou a marvellous queer way of showing it. Thou dost bemean me. Thou dost make fingers to point at me, and then, forsooth, thou dost say ‘I love thee.’ Pish! for pure modesty’s sake I cry ‘shame.’”
“But I love thee. He did deceive me. See, if thou lovest me not, thou dost kill me. Wherefore turnest thou from me? I love thee, I love thee.”
“Thou art encompassed with immodesty.”
“Beat me, beat me, thy Zerlina, here she stands, beat me; and I’ll kiss thy hands quite meekly. Beat me, beat me, but forgive me, for I love thee, dear Masetto.”
“Thou hast the power of the evil one to overthrow me. Truly, man is weak.”
“Beat me, beat me. Masetto, here’s the don.”
“Let him approach. I defy him.”
“I fain would hide myself.”
“And, marry, I fain thou shouldst not. Ho, ho—she fears I shall learn secrets; ho, ho, ho, thou art falsity. I will hide myself.”
“Nay, if he find thee, he will beat thee, as thou wattest not of.”
“Let him fear me, my arm is strong.”
“’Tis hopeless to speak to him.” This she said softly.
“Speak loudly, untruthful woman, speak honestly loud. (I have mine ideas, yes, Masetto, I have mine ideas.)”
And he hid behind a tree.
Said the little woman to herself, “he hath a wry mind, Masetto;” and then she ran to hiding herself, as she saw the don approach, accompanied by several peasants.
He dismissed those people immediately, and then called out “Zerlina, come thou here.”
“So please you, let me go.”
“My angel, I love thee too well.”
“So
