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.

Juc. 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.

Damon.

SONG.

Celimena, of my heart

None shall e'er bereave you:
If, with your good leave, I may
Quarrel with you once a day,
I will never leave you.

Celimena. Passion's but an empty name,
Where respect is wanting:

Damon.

Damon, you mistake your aim;
Hang your heart, and burn your flame,
If you must be ranting.

Love as dull and muddy is,
As decaying liquor:

Anger sets it on the lees,
And refines it by degrees,
Till it works the quicker.

Celimena. Love by quarrels to beget

Damon.

Wisely you endeavour;

With a grave physician's wit,

Who, to cure an ague fit,

Put me in a fever.

Anger rouses love to fight,
And his only bait is,

'Tis the spur to dull delight,
And is but an eager bite,
When desire at height is.

Celimena. If such drops of heat can fall
In our wooing weather;

VOL. III.

If such drops of heat can fall,
We shall have the devil and all
When we come together.

Y

Wild. Your judgment, gentlemen; a man, or a maid?

Bel. An you make no better harmony after you are married, than you have before, you are the miserablest couple in Christendom.

Wild. 'Tis no great matter; if I had had a good voice, she would have spoiled it before to-morrow. Bel. When Maskall has married Beatrix, you may learn of her.

Mask. You shall put her life into a lease, then. Wild. Upon condition, that when I drop into your house from hunting, I may set my slippers at your door, as a Turk does at a Jew's, that you may not

enter.

Theo. And while you refresh yourself within, he shall wind the horn without.

Mask. I'll throw up my lease first.

Bel. Why, thou wouldst not be so impudent, to marry Beatrix for thyself only?

Beat. For all his ranting and tearing now, I'll pass my word, he shall degenerate into as tame and peaceable a husband, as a civil woman would wish to have.

Mel. Why, the ladies are found.

Aur. But their inclinations are lost, I can assure you.

Jac. Look you, sir, there goes the game: Your plate-fleet is divided; half for Spain, and half for England.

Theo. You are justly punished for loving two.

Mel. Yet I have the comfort of a cast lover: I will think well of myself, and despise my mistresses. [Exit.

DANCE.

Bel. Enough, enough; let's end the carnival abed. Wild. And for these gentlemen, whene'er they try, May they all speed as soon, and well as I.

[Exeunt.