CAT. What a passion there breathes in this music. It is enough to make
one die away with delight!
MAD. There is something plaintive in it.
MASC. Do you not think that the air perfectly well expresses the
sentiment, _stop thief, stop thief?_ And then as if some one cried out
very loud, _stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop thief!_ Then all at once
like a person out of breath, _Stop thief!_
MAD. This is to understand the perfection of things, the grand
perfection, the perfection of perfections. I declare it is altogether a
wonderful performance. I am quite enchanted with the air and the words.
CAT. I never yet met with anything so excellent.
MASC. All that I do comes naturally to me; it is without study.
MAD. Nature has treated you like a very fond mother; you are her darling
child.
MASC. How do you pass away the time, ladies?
CAT. With nothing at all.
MAD. Until now we have lived in a terrible dearth of amusements.
MASC. I am at your service to attend you to the play, one of those days,
if you will permit me. Indeed, a new comedy is to be acted which I
should be very glad we might see together.
MAD. There is no refusing you anything.
MASC. But I beg of you to applaud it well, when we shall be there; for I
have promised to give a helping hand to the piece.
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