two days before, upon a Dancing-master.--Persecuted by Creditors, tired of starving, and unable, through the feebleness of Youth to sustain so unequal a Struggle, I had the weakness, at last, to sink before Temptation, and set up a Pharaoh Bank. And now, for once, behold the Scene changed! See me equally familiar with Lords as with their Lacquies! Every door was open to me! Every hand held out! But, notwithstanding my desire to be Something in this world, my detestation of the brazen Effrontery, profound Ignorance, and insupportable Insolence of these fashionable Friends of Nobility was so innate that I found I could better endure all the Miseries of Poverty than the Disgrace and Disgust of such Society.--Quitting, therefore, with contempt this new Trade, and leaving false Shame behind me, as a burthen too heavy for a Foot-passenger, I once more took up my strap and hone, and travelled for employment from Town to Town.----At Seville I found a Lord mad to marry his Mistress; my Wit procured him what his could not, a Wife; and, in return, he gratefully endeavours to Seduce mine--Strange concatenation of circumstance! My Parents all at once claim me!--’Tis he, ’tis she, ’tis me, ’tis--I don’t know who!--I came into the world without my Knowledge, and I shall go out on’t without my Will; and thus do I continue to torment myself about this Being of mine, without understanding what this Being is, what it was, what it shall be, whence it came, where it is, or whither it shall go.--I only know it to be a compound of Contradictions! A little, wise, foolish Animal, ardent in the pursuit of Pleasure, capricious through Vanity, laborious from Necessity, but indolent by Choice. After having exhausted every Art for enjoyment, and every Profession for a livelihood, I found myself intoxicated by a heavenly Illusion, that has vanish’d at my approach!--Vanished!--And is it vanish’d?”}}--Oh Susan! Susan! (_Figaro sinks melancholy upon the garden-seat; but being suddenly roused by a noise, wraps himself up in his Rocquelaure._ _Enter softly, in each other’s dress, the_ COUNTESS _and_ SUSAN, _followed by_ MARCELINA. _Susan._ So Figaro is to be here. (_In an under voice_) _Marcelina._ He is here. _Susan._ Thus one is come to lay the Springe, and the other to seize the Game. _Marcelina._ I will go and hide myself in this Pavilion, where I shall hear all. (_Exit into the Pavilion on the left._) _Susan._ We may begin. (_Speaks louder_) If my Lady does not want me, I will walk and enjoy the fresh air. _Figaro._ Oh, the Cocatrice. _Countess._ It may give thee cold. _Susan._ Oh no, my Lady. _Figaro._ Oh no! She’ll not take cold to-night. (_Aside_). _Susan retires a little towards the Pavilion on the left; Hannibal is heard singing, and, as he enters, perceives the Countess, in Susan’s dress._