“A cudgel, sir, i’faith such as shall make a broad-chested man fly before thee; feel not its weight. Oh, oh. My head, mercy o’ my head. My back, wouldst twitter my back to a jelly? Marry, now, ’twas an awful thwack to the elbow; help, oh, oh. See what ’tis to trust people. Help!” Here the don finding his vicious arm quite weak, stole away in the dark, each of Masetto’s “helps” growing fainter and fainter. Now little Zerlina had followed her rustic afar off, and when she heard his yells, she came with quite a run to his side. Arrived there, she saw no one near him; but he was still yelling, and rubbing all of his back he could get at. “Masetto, Masetto, what hast thou?” “By my faith, what have I not? I am beaten to a jelly!” “Who hath beaten thee?” “A man of a foul tongue and a strong arm.” “Where is he?” “I know not, but that he is gone. Why art thou here? Oh, gadabout, why art thou here?” “Thou art jealous again.” “Why art thou here? Now answer me that, straightly and purely.” “Thou shalt see, O dearest, what my answer is. For a reason that no money could purchase nor art wrest from me--that thou mightst lay thy hand--thy hand here on my heart.” Whereon the jealous young rustic marched home appeased. CHAPTER VI. The worthy servant and the worthy master were once more together; they met in the cemetery. The don was wondering how his servant had managed with the Donna Elvira, when that valuable factotum ran up against his master. “This master will destroy me.” “What! dost ruffle with thy master? “Yes, I say again--would I had never known this master.” “What, rapscallion!” “I tell thee I have rarely escaped a murdering business and I love not blood, my master; no, I love not blood.” “‘Twould be an honor to lose blood for thy master’s sake.” “Faith! I would sooner keep it for mine own.” “Come, I have rare adventures to tell thee.” “Good master, tell them me at home; but, master, what devilment brings thee here?” “I have had a wondrous adventure.” “The poor woman!” “I met her in the street. Thou may’st guess, I briskly went to her. Take her by the hand, do I? Aye, yes. When, thou dog, whom, thinkest thou, she took me for? Thyself was it? Yes, then.” “For me! then, master, that woman hath abused herself in this, for I will have nought to do with the sex.” “But, faith! she soon finds I am not Leporello, and then doth she yell so as to wake the happiest sleepers. I’ faith! I leapt over the wall, and here am I. Ha, ha, ha!” “Good! rare! my master. Ha, ha, ha!” “BEFORE THE DAWN THIS MIRTH SHALL DIE!” “Who speaketh?” “Master as I tremble--and I would not say I do not tremble; for as I have a soul, I tremble vastly--’tis some spirit from the other world who knows thee better even than I do.” “Peace, fool! Who speaketh?” “MAN WEIGHED DOWN WITH CRIME, DEPART FROM AMIDST THE HOLY DEAD.” “Did I not say ’twas a spirit, master? A very gentle spirit, most assuredly.”