Not so late as I thought. It's still not...

Not so late as I thought. It's still not quite her usual time for appearing at the lattice. No matter! Better arrive too early than miss the one moment for seeing her. If any of my acquaintance at Court were to spy me now, a hundred leagues from Madrid and hanging about every morning under the windows of a woman I've never even spoken to ... they'd take me for a Spaniard of Isabella's time .... And why not? We all run after happiness, and mine lies in Rosine's affection. But fancy following a woman to Seville when Madrid and the Court offer such a variety of easily won pleasures! That's just what I'm trying to get away from. I'm weary of the conquests that self-interest or habit or vanity present us in unending succession. How delightful it would be to be loved for oneself alone! If only I could feel certain that in this disguise ... Oh, the Devil take the fellow! What does he want coming just now?

Beaumarchais, Pierre, The Barber of Seville, Trans. John Wood, Penguin Books, 1962, pp. 39.