The Colony

cannot believe in any way that this fisherman, dressed as such, is the husband of Bélinde. The latter reproaches her lover under the name of a friend, which lasts throughout the piece. In the second act, there is a scene of insults between the two women, which produces nothing. The Governor, who treated Bélinde in a manner that Frenchmen would never have tolerated, does not even suspect that she could be innocent. Nardo comes to tell him that she was innocent, that he just saw her throw herself into the sea, and brings him a letter. Only then does one learn that a certain Leandro lost her near her lover. You believe he is in despair; he says so at first; but he soon interrupts himself to make a joke at the expense of poor Nardo. He makes him believe that he is going to enjoy the greatest honors possible. They are going to put him on a beautiful funeral pyre next to the corpse of his wife (although he now knows well that they are not married) and they are going to burn them both. When this mockery has lasted for an entire aria, the Governor returns to his despair and runs after Bélinde. Then comes the scene that gave rise to the last one in The Colony. Here is the translation, which will give an idea of the style of the original piece.

NARDO. Well Marine; what happened to you? MARINE. What! Nothing at all. And you, what do you want? What do you have to say? — N. I say that I would give one of my eyes if Bélinde were found alive. — M. And I would give both of mine if you would drop dead. — N. A fine sentence! — M. Not so much.