O! beaming beauties of the broad and boundless abyss, Whose whirling worlds seem wondrously whiter than is this. O! vision! vast and various to my view, Ye stars, which shine “because you’ve nothing else to do.” I gaze upon your splendours, so superbly spacious— Good gracious! A minstrel wanders forth. I’ll quench the light And hear his music on the airs of night. (_Puts out the candle._) _Enter RODERIGO._ I see her! I see her! I see her at the winder, It is! my beating heart! it is Berlinda! Come forth, my lute! ye muses, up above, Smile while it thus amuses her I love! (_Cats are heard on the tiles in chorus._) O, rapture! ’tis Berlinda’s voice I hear, Those _strains_ are hers—alas! I feel so queer— Courage, faint heart! thy mistress thou must please, Pour forth thy lays upon the lazy breeze. (_Tunes his violin and sings to the air of “Beautiful Star.”_) Loverly girl, on yonder height, Sweeter than the (h)owls of night, Hear thy fond one’s voice to you Genteely asking, How do you do? How do you do-oo! _Chanticleer in the distance._ Cock-a-doodle-do-oo! _Chorus of Rivals._ How do you do-oo? Lovely Berlinda, how do you do? RODER. Ha! there are rivals—such arrivals much I fear— Hist! they are coming, my idea is to hide here. (_Hides._) _Enter BANQUO BELVIDERE. (Anxiously gazes round and then addresses the window.)_ Berlinda! art thou there, my own Berlinda? My heart is hot with love—a very cinder— Alas! she’s gone to bed, she cannot hear, And I shall go to Bedlam soon I fear. I place these flowers on the sill within thy reach, They’re better, p’raps, than silly flowers of speech. (_Exit._) RODERIGO (_comes forth and takes the flowers_). A sweet expression of my love, but not a _dear_ one. What, another rival? Yes, I think I hear one. (_Hides._) _Enter THEOPHILUS BALDERDASH (with a cold in the head—sneezes violently during his speech)._