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Pasquale: NOW TO SEE MY LITTLE NEPHEW; I'LL SHOW THE SILLY CUCKOO WHAT HIS CONDUCT HAS COST HIM. HERE HE IS COMING. (Enter Ernesto)
Act 1, Scene 3 (Pasquale & Ernesto)
Pasquale: YOUR TIMING'S PERFECT. I WAS JUST NOW GOING TO CALL YOU. PLEASE BE SEATED. I'M NOT GIVING A SERMON. I'M REQUESTING A MINUTE OF ATTENTION. WELL IS IT OR IS IT NOT TRUE THAT TWO MONTHS HAVE GONE BY NOW SINCE I ASKED YOU TO WED A NOBLE LADY - BEAUTIFUL, WEALTHY AND READY?
Ernesto: IT IS TRUE.
Pasquale: WITH THE PROMISE OF INCLUDING A MOST SUBSTANTIAL INCOME AND, ON MY PASSING, ALL MY POSSESSIONS?
Ernesto: IT IS TRUE.
Pasquale: DID I THREATEN IN CASE OF YOUR REFUSAL TO DISINHERIT, THUS CRUSHING YOUR AMBITIONS? AND TO MARRY, IF NEEDED?
Ernesto: IT'S ALL TRUE
Pasquale: ALL RIGHT THEN. THIS OFFER WE'VE DEBATED - THREE MONTHS I'VE WAITED. I ASK ONCE MORE...
Ernesto: I CANNOT; I LOVE NORINA. I AM FAITHFUL AND LOVING.
Pasquale: YES - TO A RUINED WOMAN!
Ernesto: HAVE RESPECT FOR A MAIDEN IN POVERTY - BUT WITH HONOUR AND FULL OF VIRTUE.
Pasquale: THAT'S YOUR FINAL DECISION?
Ernesto: I'D RATHER DIE THAN CHANGE IT.
Pasquale: ALL RIGHT. GET CRACKING. FIND YOURSELF SOME NEW LODGINGS.
Ernesto: YOU'D REALLY SEND ME PACKING?
Pasquale: IF YOU WILL BE SO HEADSTRONG, THEN I'M DONE WITH MY DUTY. YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN; NOW SO LONG! I'LL WED A BEAUTY!
Ernesto: YOU? GET MARRIED?
Pasquale: YES INDEED, SIR.
Ernesto: YOU WILL?
Pasquale: THE SELF-SAME, IN PERSON, NO OTHER.
Ernesto: PARDON ME IF I'M ASTONISHED.
Pasquale: I'M GETTING MARRIED
Ernesto: (OH HOW OUTRAGEOUS!) YOU'RE GETTING MARRIED?
Pasquale: I'VE SAID IT; I REPEAT IT: I PASQUALE DA CORNETO OWNING PROPERTY, HERE DULY, BEING SOUND IN MIND AND BODY, BEING SOUND IN MIND AND BODY, DO ADVISE YOU WELL AND TRULY, I PASQUALE DA CORNETO AM ABOUT TO TAKE A WIFE.
Ernesto: YOU ARE JOKING.
Pasquale: JOKING? TAKE WARNING!
Ernesto: YES, YES, YOU'RE JOKING!
Pasquale: WE SHALL SEE BEFORE THE MORNING. I ADMIT I MAY
BE OLDER; BUT I'M WELL-PRESERVED AND BOLDER. WHEN IT COMES TO STRENGTH
AND VIGOUR, I HAVE OOMPH ENOUGH TO SPARE. IN THE MEANTIME, MY GOOD FELLOW,
FIND THE EXIT OVER THERE!