to examine a malefactor. [WILDBLOOD sneezes within.] Hark! what noise is that within? I think one

sneezes.

Bel. One of the devils, I warrant you, has got a cold, with being so long out of the fire. Alon. Bless his devilship, as I may say.

[WILDBLOOD Sneezes again. Serv. [To Don ALONZO.] This is a man's voice; do not suffer yourself to be deceived so grossly, sir. Mask. A man's voice! that's a good one indeed, that you should live to these years, and yet be so silly as not to know a man from a devil.

Alon. There's more in't than I imagined: Hold up your torch, and go in first, Pedro, and I'll follow you.

Mask. No, let me have the honour to be your usher. [Takes the torch and goes in. Mask. [Within.] Help, help, help!

Alon. What's the matter?

Bel. Stir not upon your life, sir.

Enter MASKALL again, without the torch.

Mask. I was no sooner entered, but a huge giant seized my torch, and felled me along, with the very whiff of his breath, as he passed by me.

Alon. Bless us!

Bel. [At the door to them within.] Pass out now, while you have time, in the dark: The officers of justice will be here immediately; the garden-door is open for you.

Alon. What are you muttering there, sir?

Bel. Only dismissing these spirits of darkness, that they may trouble you no further.-Go out, I say. [They all come out upon the stage, groping their

way. WILDBLOOD falls into ALONZO's hands. Alon. I have caught somebody: Are these your spirits? Another light quickly, Pedro.

Mask. [Slipping between ALON. and WILD.] Tis Maskall you have caught, sir; do you mean to strangle me, that you press me so hard between your arms?

Alon. [Letting WILD. go.] Is it thee, Maskall? I durst have sworn it had been another.

Bel. Make haste now, before the candle comes. [AURELIA falls into ALONzo's arms.

Alon. Now I have another.

Aur. 'Tis Maskall you have caught, sir.

Alon. No, I thank you, niece, this artifice is too gross I know your voice a little better. What ho, bring lights there!

Bel. Her impertinence has ruined all.

Enter Servants with lights, and swords drawn. Sero. Sir, the corrigidor is coming, according to your desire: In the mean time, we have secured the garden doors.

Alon. I'm glad on't: I'll make some of them severe examples.

Wild. Nay, then, as we have lived merrily, so let us die together: But we'll shew the Don some sport first.

Theo. What will become of us!

Jac. We'll die for company: Nothing vexes me, but that I am not a man, to have one thrust at that malicious old father of mine before I go.

Lop. Let us break our way through the corrigidor's band.

Jac. A match, i'faith. We'll venture our bodies with you: You shall put the baggage in the middle.

Wild. He that pierces thee, I say no more, but I shall be somewhat angry with him.-[To ALON.] In the mean time, I arrest you, sir, in the behalf of

this good company. As the corrigidor uses us, so we'll use you.

Alon. You do not mean to murder me!

Bel. You murder yourself, if you force us to it. Wild. Give me a razor there, that I may scrape his weeson, that the bristles may not hinder me, when I come to cut it.

Bel. What need you bring matters to that extremity? You have your ransom in your hand: Here are three men, and there are three women; you understand me.

Jac. If not, here's a sword, and there's a throat; you understand me.

Alon. This is very hard!

Theo. The propositions are good, and marriage is as honourable as it used to be.

Beat. You had best let your daughters live branded with the name of strumpets; for whatever befals the men, that will be sure to be their share.

Alon. I can put them into a nunnery.

All the Women. A nunnery!

Jac. I would have thee to know, thou graceless old man, that I defy a nunnery: Name a nunnery once more, and I disown thee for my father.

Lop. You know the custom of the country, in this case, sir: 'Tis either death or marriage. The business will certainly be public; and if they die, they have sworn you shall bear them company.

Alon. Since it must be so, run, Pedro, and stop the corrigidor: Tell him it was only a carnival merriment, which I mistook for a rape and robbery.

Jac. Why now you are a dutiful father again, and I receive you into grace.

Bel. Among the rest of your mistakes, sir, I must desire you to let my astrology pass for one: My mathematics, and art magic, were only a carni

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val device; and now that's ending, I have more mind to deal with the flesh, than with the devil. Alon. No astrologer! 'tis impossible!

Mask. I have known him, sir, these seven years, and dare take my oath, he has been always an utter stranger to the stars; and indeed to any thing that belongs to heaven.

Lop. Then I have been cozened among the rest. Theo. And I; but I forgive him.

Beat. I hope you will forgive me, madam, who have been the cause on't; but what he wants in astrology, he shall make up to you some other way, I'll pass my word for him.'

Alon. I hope you are both gentlemen?

Bel. As good as the cid himself, sir.

Alon. And for your religion, right Romans-
Wild. As ever was Mark Anthony.

Alon. For your fortunes and courages

Mask. They are both desperate, sir; especially their fortunes.

Theo. [To BEL.] You should not have had my consent so soon, but only to revenge myself upon the falseness of Don Melchor.

Aur. I must avow, that gratitude for Don Lopez is as prevalent with me, as revenge against Don Melchor.

Alon. Lent, you know, begins to-morrow; when that's over, marriage will be proper.

Jac. If I stay till after Lent, I shall be to marry when I have no love left: I'll not bate you an ace of to-night, father; I mean to bury this man ere Lent be done, and get me another before Easter. Alon. Well, make a night on't then.

[Giving his daughters. Wild. Jacintha Wildblood, welcome to me: Since our stars have doomed it so, we cannot help it; but 'twas a mere trick of fate, to catch us thus at un

awares; to draw us in, with a what do you lack, as we passed by: Had we once separated to-night, we should have had more wit, than ever to have met again to-morrow.

Jac. 'Tis true, we shot each other flying: We were both upon the wing, I find; and, had we passed this critical minute, I should have gone for the Indies, and you for Greenland, ere we had met in a bed, upon consideration.

Mask. You have quarrelled twice to-night without bloodshed; beware the third time.

Jac. Apropos! I have been retrieving an old song of a lover, that was ever quarrelling with his mistress: I think it will fit our amour so well, that, if you please, I'll give it you for an epithalamium; and you shall sing it. [Gives him a paper. Wild. I never sung in all my life; nor ever durst try, when I was alone, for fear of braying.

Jac. Just me, up and down; but for a frolic, let's sing together; for I am sure, if we cannot sing now, we shall never have cause when we are married. Wild. Begin then; give me my key, and I'll set my voice tot.

Jac. Fa la, fa la, fa la.

Wild. Fala, fala, fala. Is this your best, upon the faith of a virgin?

Jac. Ay, by the muses, I am at my pitch.

Wild. Then do your worst; and let the company be judge who sings worst.

Jac. Upon condition the best singer shall wear the breeches. Prepare to strip, sir; I shall put you into your drawers presently.

Wild. I shall be revenged, with putting you into your smock anon; St George for me.

Jac. St James for me: Come start, sir.