OF "A CURIOUS MISHAP."

THE BENEFICENT BEAR[2]

(_IL BURBERO BENEFICO_)

(_LE BOURRU BIENFAISANT_)

A COMEDY IN THREE ACTS

[2: In order to render the exact shade of meaning of the Italian
title, it has been necessary to adopt the colloquial phrase.]

DRAMATIS PERSONAE.

GERONTE.
DALANCOURT, _his nephew._
DORVAL, _the friend of Geronte._
VALERIO, _the lover of Angelica._
PICCARDO, _the servant of Geronte._
A SERVANT _of Dalancourt._
MADAME DALANCOURT.
ANGELICA, _sister of Dalancourt._
MARTUCCIA, _housekeeper to Geronte._

_The Scene is in Paris, at the house of_ GERONTE.

THE BENEFICENT BEAR.

ACT I.

SCENE I.--Martuccia, Angelica, _and_ Valerio.

_Ang._ Valerio, leave me, I entreat you; I fear for myself, I fear for
you. Ah! if we should be surprised--

_Val._ My dear Angelica!

_Mar._ Do go, sir.

_Val._ [_To_ Martuccia.] One moment more. If I could be well assured--

_Mar._ Of what?

_Val._ Of her love--of her constancy.

_Ang._ Ah, Valerio! can you doubt it?

_Mar._ Go, go, sir; she loves you but too well.

_Val._ This is the happiness of my life--

_Mar._ Quick, go away. If my master should come in suddenly!

_Ang._ [_To_ Martuccia.] He never leaves his room so early.

_Mar._ That is true; but you know he walks and amuses himself in this
room. Here are his chessmen, and here he often plays. Oh, don't you know
Signor Geronte?

_Val._ Pardon me, he is Angelica's uncle. I know my father was his
friend, but I have never spoken to him.

_Mar._ He is a man, sir, of a most singular character. At bottom a most
worthy man, but impatient, and peculiar to the last degree.

_Ang._ Yes, he tells me he loves me, and I believe him; but while he
tells me so, he makes me tremble.

_Val._ [_To_ Angelica.] What have you to fear? you have neither father
nor mother. You are at your brother's disposal, and he is my friend; I
will speak to him.

_Mar._ Ah! Exactly! Trust to Signor Dalancourt.

_Val._ Well, can he refuse me?

_Mar._ Indeed, I think he can.

_Val._ Why so?

_Mar._ Listen; I will explain the whole matter in a few words. My
nephew, your brother the lawyer's new clerk, has told me what I will now
tell you. He has been with him only a fortnight, I heard it from him
this morning; but he confided it to me as the greatest secret: for
Heaven's sake do not betray me