SNEER. Why, ’tis certain, that unnecessarily to mortify the vanity of any writer is a cruelty which mere dulness never can deserve; but where a base and personal malignity usurps the place of literary emulation, the aggressor deserves neither quarter nor pity. DANGLE. That’s true, egad!—though he’s my friend! SCENE II.—_A drawing-room in_ DANGLE’S _House._ MRS. DANGLE, SIGNOR PASTICCIO RITORNELLO, SIGNORE PASTICCIO RITORNELLO, INTERPRETER, _and_ MUSICIANS _discovered_. INTERPRETER. Je dis, madame, j’ai l’honneur to introduce et de vous demander votre protection pour le Signor Pasticcio Ritornello et pour sa charmante famille. SIGNOR PASTICCIO RITORNELLO. Ah! vosignoria, not vi preghiamo di favoritevi colla vostra protezione. FIRST SIGNORA PASTICCIO RITORNELLO. Vosignoria fatevi questi grazie. SECOND SIGNORA PASTICCIO RITORNELLO. Si, signora. INTERPRETER. Madame—me interpret.—C’est à dire—in English—qu’ils vous prient de leur faire l’honneur— MRS. DANGLE. I say again, gentlemen, I don’t understand a word you say. SIGNOR PASTICCIO RITORNELLO. Questo signore spiegheró— INTERPRETER. Oui—me interpret.—Nous avons les lettres de recommendation pour Monsieur Dangle de— MRS. DANGLE. Upon my word, sir, I don’t understand you. SIGNOR PASTICCIO RITORNELLO. La Contessa Rondeau è nostra padrona. THIRD SIGNORA PASTICCIO RITORNELLO. Si, padre, et Miladi Fugue. INTERPRETER. O!—me interpret.—Madame, ils disent—in English—Qu’ils ont l’honneur d’être protégés de ces dames.—You understand? MRS. DANGLE. No, sir,—no understand! _Enter_ DANGLE _and_ SNEER. INTERPRETER. Ah, voici, Monsieur Dangle! ALL ITALIANS. Ah! Signor Dangle! MRS. DANGLE. Mr. Dangle, here are two very civil gentlemen trying to make themselves understood, and I don’t know which is the interpreter. DANGLE. Eh, bien! [_The_ INTERPRETER _and_ SIGNOR PASTICCIO _here speak at the same time_.] INTERPRETER. Monsieur Dangle, le grand bruit de vos talens pour la critique, et de votre intérêt avec messieurs les directeurs à tous les théâtres— SIGNOR PASTICCIO RITORNELLO. Vosignoria siete si famoso par la vostra conoscenza, e vostra interessa colla le direttore da— DANGLE. Egad, I think the interpreter is the hardest to be understood of the two! SNEER. Why, I thought, Dangle, you had been an admirable linguist! DANGLE. So I am, if they would not talk so damned fast. SNEER. Well, I’ll explain that—the less time we lose in bearing them the better—for that, I suppose, is what they are brought here for. [_Speaks to_ SIGNOR PASTICCIO— _they sing trios, &c.,_ DANGLE _beating out of time._] _Enter_ SERVANT _and whispers_ DANGLE. DANGLE. Show him up.—[_Exit_ SERVANT.] Bravo! admirable! bravissimo! admirablissimo!—Ah! Sneer! where will you find voices such as these in England? SNEER. Not easily.