_Ben._ Ay, ay! good luck to you! and now I’ll seek my lord with this letter. So, so, my reverend father Cœlestino!-- a convent of nuns under your direction! only separated by a party-wall!-- ha, ha! that looks to me very much as if-- hush, hush, signor Benedetto! what you are saying is not quite so charitable as it should be! bless my heart, bless my heart, how naturally is a man disposed to think the worst he can of his neighbours! ah, fy upon you, Benedetto; fy upon you! [Exit. _1st fish._ (_in the boat_) Now, lads, are you ready? _2d fish._ Ay, ay! pull away! _1st fish._ Off we go then. _All._ Huzza! GLEE. Ply the oar, brother, and speed the boat; Swift o’er the glittering waves we’ll float; Then home as swiftly we’ll haste again, Loaded with wealth of the plundered main. Pull away, pull away! row, boys, row A long pull, a strong pull, and off we go. Hark how the neighbouring convent bell! Throws o’er the waves its vesper swell; Sullen it bomes from shore to shore, Blending its chime with the dash of the oar. Pull away, pull away! row, boys, row! A long pull, a strong pull, and off we go. SCENE II-- _An apartment in the Caprara palace._ The _viceroy_ enters, followed by _Hortensia_ and the _Marquis_; a servant attending. _Hor._ Nay, but in truth, my dear brother, this is carrying your prejudice too far. What! refuse to endure, for a single half hour, father Cœlestino in your presence, merely because his countenance and manner happen not to be exactly to your taste? _Vic._ His conversation is as little to my taste as his manner and countenance: he uses too much honey to please my palate!-- surely, if there is one thing more odious than another, tis your eternal maker of compliments; one who lies in wait for opportunities of thrusting down your throat his undesired applause; and who compels you to bow in return for his nauseous civilities, till he makes your neck feel almost as supple as his own. _Hor._ You know no ill of him.---- _Vic._ I know him to be a flatterer: what would you more? _Hor._ Well, I protest, it never struck me that he flattered. _Vic._ Very likely; and yet my good sister, it’s possible that he might be flattering, while to you he appeared so be speaking the pure simple truth. _Hor._ However, if not for his own sake, at least endure him for mine. He is my friend; you are now the chief person in the island; and should you compel me to reject his offered visit, such a mark of contempt from the viceroy of Sicily might injure the good prior in the world’s opinion. _Vic._ If the good prior be in fact as good as you assert, the contempt of the viceroy of Sicily or of any other viceroy, must be to him a matter of the most absolute indifference. However, be it as you please. _Hor._ I thank you; (_to the servant_) the prior’s visit will be welcome. [Servant bows, and Exit. _Hor._ Ah! did you but know the good man’s heart as well as I do, this unreasonable dislike----