PUFF. Yes.—Now then, madam. _Tilb_. I see their decks Are clear’d!—I see the signal made! The line is form’d!—a cable’s length asunder! I see the frigates station’d in the rear; And now, I hear the thunder of the guns! I hear the victor’s shouts—I also hear The vanquish’d groan!—and now ’tis smoke-and now I see the loose sails shiver in the wind! I see—I see—what soon you’ll see— GOVERNOR. Hold, daughter! peace! this love hath turn’d thy brain The Spanish fleet thou canst not see—because—It is not yet in sight! DANGLE. Egad, though, the governor seems to make no allowance for this poetical figure you talk of. PUFF. No, a plain matter-of-fact man;—that’s his character. _Tilb_. But will you then refuse his offer? GOVERNOR. I must—I will—I can—I ought—I do. TILNURINA. Think what a noble price. GOVERNOR. No more—you urge in vain. TILNURINA. His liberty is all he asks. SNEER. All who asks, Mr. Puff? Who is— PUFF. Egad, sir, I can’t tell! Here has been such cutting and slashing, I don’t know where they have got to myself. TILNURINA. Indeed, sir, you will find it will connect very well. —And your reward secure. PUFF. Oh, if they hadn’t been so devilish free with their cutting here, you would have found that Don Whiskerandos has been tampering for his liberty, and has persuaded Tilburina to make this proposal to her father. And now, pray observe the conciseness with which the argument is conducted. Egad, the _pro_ and _con_ goes as smart as hits in a fencing match. It is indeed a sort of small-sword-logic, which we have borrowed from the French. TILNURINA. A retreat in Spain! GOVERNOR. Outlawry here! TILNURINA. Your daughter’s prayer! GOVERNOR. Your father’s oath! TILNURINA. My lover! GOVERNOR. My country! TILNURINA. Tilburina! GOVERNOR. England! TILNURINA. A title! GOVERNOR. Honour! TILNURINA. A pension! GOVERNOR. Conscience! TILNURINA. A thousand pounds! GOVERNOR. Ha! thou hast touch’d me nearly! PUFF. There you see-she threw in _Tilburina_. Quick, parry Carte with _England_! Ha! thrust in tierce _a title_!—parried by _honour_. Ha! _a pension_ over the arm!—put by by _conscience_. Then flankonade with _a thousand pounds_—and a palpable hit, egad! TILNURINA. Canst thou—Reject the suppliant, and the daughter too? GOVERNOR. No more; I would not hear thee plead in vain: The father softens—but the governor Is fix’d! [_Exit_.] DANGLE. Ay, that antithesis of persons is a most established figure. TILNURINA. ’Tis well,—hence then, fond hopes,—fond passion hence; Duty, behold I am all over thine— DON FEROLO WHISKERANDOS. [_Without_.] Where is my love—my— TILNURINA. Ha! _Enter_ DON FEROLO WHISKERANDOS. DON FEROLO WHISKERANDOS. My beauteous enemy!—