piece of gold not to tell you what time he would be here.

Ros. Nay, then, Viletta, here are two pieces that are twice as lovely; tell me, when shall I see him?

Vil. Umph! these are lovely pieces, indeed.

Ros. When, Viletta?

[Smiling.

Vil. Have you no more of them, madam? Ros. Psha! there, take purse and all; will that content thee?

Vil. Oh, dear madam! I should be unconscionable to desire more; but, really, I was willing to have them all first. [Curtseying.

Ros. When will he come?

Vil. Why, the poor gentleman has been hankering about the house this quarter of an hour; but, I did not observe, madam, you were willing to see him till you had convinced me by so plain a proof.

Ros. Where's my father?

Vil. Fast asleep in the great chair.

Ros. Fetch him in, then, before he wakes.
Vil. Let him wake, his habit will protect him.
Ros. His habit!

Vil. Ay, madam, he's turned friar to come at you if your father surprises us, I have a lie ready to back him.-Hist, Octavio! you may

Oct. Psha! we shall have it one day they must leave their money behind them.

Ros. Suppose you first try my father's goodnature? You know he once encouraged your addresses.

Oct. First, let's be fast married: perhaps he may be good-natured when he can't help it: if we should try him now, 'twill but set him more upon his guard against us: since we are listed under Love, don't let us serve in a separate garrison. Come, come, stand to your arms, whip a suit of night-clothes into your pocket, and let's march off in a body together.

Ros. Ah! my father! Oct. Dead!

Vil. To your function.

Enter DON MANUEL.

D. Man. Viletta!

Vil. Sir.

D. Man. Where's my daughter?

VOL. II.

Vil. Hist! don't disturb her.

D. Man. Disturb her! Why, what's the mat

ter?

Vil. She's at confession, sir.

D. Man Confession! I don't like that; a young woman ought to have no sins at all. Vil. Ah! dear sir, there's no living without them.

D. Man. She's now at years of discretion. Vil. There's the danger, sir; she's just of the tasting age: one has really no relish of a sin till fifteen.

D. Man. Ah! then, the jades have swinging stomachs. I find her aversion to the marriage I have proposed her has put her upon disobedient thoughts: there can be no confession without guilt.

Vil. Nor no pardon, sir, without confession.

D. Man. Fiddle faddle! I won't have her seem wicked. Hussy, you shall confess for her; I'll have her send her sins by you: you know them, I'm sure; but I'll know what the friar has got out of her-Save you, father!

Oct. Bless you, son!

D. Man. Nay, the devil has been very busy with her these two days.

Oct. She has told me a most lamentable story. D. Man. Ten to one but this lamentable story proves a most damnable lie.

Oct. Indeed, son, I find, by her confession, that you are much to blame for your tyrannical government of her.

D. Man. Hey-day! what, has the jade been inventing sins for me, and confessing them instead of her own? Let me come-she shall be locked up till she repents them, too.

Oct. Son, forbear; this is now a corroboration of your guilt: this is inhuman.

D. Man. Sir, I have done; but pray, if you please, let's come to the point: what are these terrible cruelties that this tender lady accuses me of?

Oct. Nay, sir, mistake her not: she did not, with any malicious design, expose your faults, but as her own depended on them; her frailties were the consequence of your cruelty.

8 B

consequent.

Oct. Why, she confessed her first maiden innocent affection had long been settled upon a young gentleman, whose love to her you had once encouraged, and after their most solemn vows of mutual faith, you have most barbarously broke in upon her hopes; and, to the utter ruin of her peace, contracted her to a man she never saw. D. Man, Very good! I see no harm in all

this.

Oct. Methinks the welfare of a daughter, sir, might be of weight enough to make you serious.

D. Mun. Serious! so I am, sir. What a devil! must I needs be melancholy, because I have got her a good husband?

Oct. Her melancholy may tell you, sir, she can't think him a good oue.

D. Man. Sir, I understand thinking better than she, and I'll make her take my word.

Oct. What have you to object against the man she likes?

D. Man. The man I like.

Oct. Suppose the unhappy youth she loves should throw himself distracted at your feet, and try to melt you into pity

D. Man. Ay! that if he can.

Oct. You would not, sir, refuse to hear him? D. Man. Sir, I shall not refuse him any thing that I am sure will signify nothing.

Oct. Were you one moment to reflect upon the pangs which separated lovers feel-were Nature dead in you, that thought might wake her.

D. Man. Sir, when I am asked to do a thing I have not a mind to do, my nature sleeps like a top.

Oct. Then I must tell you, sir, this obstinacy obliges me, as a churchman, to put you in mind of your duty, and to let you know, too, you ought to pay more reverence to our order.

D. Man. Sir, I am not afraid of the sin of marrying my daughter to the best advantage; and so, if you please, father, you may walk home again-when any thing lies upon my conscience, I'll send for you.

Oct. Nay, then, 'tis time to claim a lover's right, and to tell you, sir, the man that dares to ask Rosara from me, is a villain.

[Aside.

[Throws off his disguise. Vil. So here will be fine work! D. Man, Octavio! the devil! Oct. You'll find me one, unless you do me speedy justice since not the bonds of honour, nature, nor submissive reason, can oblige you, I am reduced to take a surer, shorter way, and force you to be just. I leave you, sir, to think on't. [Walks about angrily. D. Man. Ah! here's a confessor! ah! that jade of mine!-and that other jade of my jade's! -Here has been rare doings!-Well! it shan't hold long; madam shall be noosed to-morrow morning-Ha! sir's in a great passion here,

[Pertly.

D. Man. Tum! dum! dum! Vil. If you please to lend me the key, sir, I'll let her out.

D. Man. Tum! dum! dum!

Oct. You might afford me at least, as I am a gentleman, a civil answer, sir.

D. Man. Why, then, in one word, sir, you shall not marry my daughter; and, as you are a gentleman, I'm sure you won't think it good manners to stay in my house, when I submissively beg of you to walk out.

Oct. You are the father of my mistress, and something, sir, too old to answer, as you ought, this wrong; therefore, I'll look for reparation where I can with honour take it; and since you have obliged me to leave your house, I'll watch it carefully; I'll know who dares enter it. This, sir, be sure of; the man that offers at Rosara's love, shall have one virtue, courage, at least; I'll be his proof of that, and ere he steps before me, force him to deserve her. [Exit. OCT.

D. Man. Ah! poor fellow ! he's mad now, and does not know what he would be at.-But, however, 'twill be no harm to provide against himWho waits there?

Enter a Servant.

Run you for an alguazil, and bid your fellows arm themselves; I expect mischief at my door immediately: if Octavio offers any disturbance, knock him down, and bring him before me. [Exit Ser. Vil. Hist! don't I hear my mistress's voice? Ros. [Within.] Viletta!

Vil. Here, here, madam-Bless me! what's this?

[VILETTA listens at the closet door, and ROSARA thrusts a billet to her through the key-hole.]

Ha! a billetto Octavio-a-hem [Puts it into her bosom. D. Man. How now, hussy? What are you fumbling about that door for?

Vil. Nothing, sir; I was only peeping to see if my mistress had done prayers yet.

D. Man. Oh! she had as good let them alone; for she shall never come out till she has stomach

enough to fall to upon the man I have provided for her. But hark you, Mrs Modesty, was it you, pray, that let in that able comforter for my babe of grace there?

Vil. Yes, sir; I let him in.

[Pertly. D. Man. Did you so? Ha! then, if you please, madam, I'll let you go out-go-go-get a sheet of brown paper, pack up your things, and let me never see that damned ugly face of thine as long as 1 live.

Vil. Bless me! sir, you are in a strange humour, that you won't know when a servant does as she should do.

sir.

D. Man. Thou art strangely impudent.

Vil. Only the farthest from it in the world,

D. Man. Then I am strangely mistaken; didst not thou own just now thoa lettest him in?

Vil. Yes-but 'twas in disguise-for I did not design you should see him, because I know you did not care my mistress should see him.

D. Man. Ha!

Trap. Ay, sir, I secured them as soon as ever I saw his sword out; I guessed his design, and scoured off with the portmanteau.

Hyp. I'll know now who set you on, sir. Oct. Prithee, young man, don't be troublesome; but thank the rascal, that knocked me down, for your escape.

D. Man. Ha!

Vil. And you know, sir, that the sin of loving him had lain upon her conscience a great while; so I thought it high time she should come to a thorough confession.

D. Man. Ha!

Vil. So upon this, sir, as you see-I-I-I let him in, that's all.

D. Man. Nay, if it be so as thou sayest, he was a proper confessor, indeed.

Vil. Ay, sir, for you know this was not a spiritual father's business.

D. Man. No, no; this matter was utterly carnal.

Vil. Well, sir, and judge you now if my mistress is not beholden to me?

D. Man. Oh! extremely; but you'll go to hell, my dear, for all this though, perhaps, you'll chuse that place: I think you never much cared for your husband's company; and, if I don't mistake, you sent him to heaven in the old road. Hark! what noise is that? [Noise without Vil. So, Octavio's pushing his fortune-he'll have a wife or a halter, that's positive-I'll go [Exit VILETTA.

see.

Enter a Servant, hastily.

D. Man. How now?

Ser. O, sir, Octavio has set upon a couple of gentlemen just as they were alighting out of a coach at the door; one of them, I believe, is he that is to marry my young mistress; I heard them name her name; I'm afraid there will be mischief, sir: there they are, all at it, helter, skelter!

D. Man. Run into the hall, take down my back, breast, and head-piece; call an officer;

reward for your insolence. Pray, sir, what are you? who knows you?

Oct. I'm glad, at least, to find it is not Don Philip that's my rival. [Aside. Ser. Sir, my master knows the gentleman very well; he belongs to the army.

Hyp. Then, sir, if you'd have me use you like a gentleman, I desire your meaning of those familiar questions you asked me at the coach-side.

Oct. Faith, young gentleman, I'll be very short: I love the lady you are to marry, and if you don't quit your pretences in two hours, it will entail perpetual danger upon you and your family.

Hyp. Sir, if you please, the danger's equalfor, rot me, if I am not as fond of cutting your throat, as you can be of mine!

Oct. If I were out of these gentlemen's hands, on my word, sir, you should not want an opportunity.

Hyp. O, sir! these gentlemen shall protect neither of us; my friend and I will be your bail from them.

Flo. Ay, sir, we'll bail you; and, if you please sir, bring your friend, I'm his. Damn me! what! d'ye think you have boys to deal with?

Oct. Sir, I ask your pardon, and shall desire to kiss your hands, about an hour hence, at

[Whispers.

Flo. Very well, sir, we'll meet you. Hyp. Release the gentleman. Ser. Sir, we dare not, without my master's der. Here he is, sir.

Enter DON MANUEL.

or

D. Man. How now, bully confessor? What! in limbo?

Hyp. Sir, Don Ferdinando de las Torres, whom I am proud to call my father, commanded me to deliver this into the hands of his most dear and

worthy friend, Don Manuel Grimaldi, and, at the same ime, gave me assurance of a kind reception.

D. Man. Sir, you are thrice welcome; let me embrace ye. I'm overjoyed to see you-Your friend, sir?

Hyp. Don Pedro Velada, my near relation, who has done me the honour of his company from Seville, sir, to assist at the solemnity of his friend's happiness.

D. Man. Sir, you are welcome; I shall be proud to know you.

Flo. You do me honour, sir.

D. Man. I hope you are not hurt, gentlemen. Hyp. Not at all, sir; thanks to a little skill in

the sword.

D. Man. I am glad of it; however, give me leave to interrupt our business for a moment, till I have done you justice on the person that offered you this insolence at my gate.

Hyp. Your pardon, sir; I understand he is a gentleman, and beg you would not let my honour suffer, by receiving a lame reparation from the law.

D. Man. A pretty mettled fellow, faith!-I must not let him fight though. [Aside.] But, sir, you don't know, perhaps, how deeply this man is your enemy.

Hyp. Sir, I know more of his spleen and folly than you imagine, which, if you please to discharge him, I'll acquaint you with.

6

D. Man. Discharge him! Pray consider, sir— [They seem to talk.

Enter VILETTA, and slips a note into OCTAVIO's hand.

."

[Exit VIL.

Vil. Send your answer to me. Oct. [Aside.] Now for a beam of hope in a tempest! [Reads.] I charge you, don't hazard my ruin and your own, by the madness of a 'quarrel: the closet window, where I am, is but a step to the ground: be at the back-door of 'the garden exactly at the close of the evening, 'where you will certainly find one that may put you in the best way of getting rid of a rival.' Dear, kind creature! Now if my little don's fit of honour does but hold out to bail me, I am the happiest dog in the universe.

D. Man. Well, sir, since I find your honour is dipt so deep in the matter-here-release the gentleman.

Flo. So, sir, you have your freedom; you may depend upon us.

Hyp. You will find us punctual.- -Sir, your

servant.

Oct. So, now, I have a very handsome occasion to put off the tilt, too. Gentlemen, I ask your pardon; I begin to be a little sensible of the rashness I committed; and, I confess, your manner of treating me has been so very much like men of honour, that I think myself obliged, from the same principle, to assure ye, that, though I love

Rosara equal to my life, yet no consideration shall persuade me to be a rude enemy, even to my rival. I thank you for my freedom, and am your humble servant. [Exit OCT. Hyp. Your servant, sir- -I think we released my brother very handsomely; but I ha'n't done with him. [Aside to FLORA, D. Man. What can this sudden turn of civility mean? I'm afraid 'tis but a cloak to some new roguery he has in his head.

Hyp. I don't know how old it may be, but my servant here has discovered a piece of villainy of his that exceeds any other he can be capable of. D. Man. Is it possible? Why would you let him go, then?

sir.

Hyp. Because I'm sure he can do me no harm,

D. Man. Pray, be plain, sir; what is it? Hyp. This fellow can inform you-for, to say truth, he's much better at a lie. [Aside. D. Man. Come hither, friend; pray, what is this business?

Hyp. Ay, what was that you overheard between Octavio and another gentleman at the inn where we alighted?

Trap. Why, sir, as I was unbuckling my portmanteau in the yard there, I observed Octavio and another spark very familiar with your bonour's name; upon which, sir, I pricked up the ears of my curiosity, and took in all their dis

Trap. Says one of them, says he, No, damn him, the old rogue (meaning you, sir) will never let you have her by fair means; however, says Octavio, I'll try soft words; but, if those won't do, bully him, says t'other.

D. Man. Ah, poor dog! but that would not do neither, sir; he has tried them both to-day to no purpose.

Trap. Say you so, sir! then you'll find what I say is all of a piece. Well, and if neither of these will do, says he, you must e'en tilt the young prig, your rival, (meaning you, then, sir).

[To HYP. D. Mɑn. Ha, ha! that, I perceive, my spark did not greatly care for.

Trap. No, sir; that, he found, was catching a Tartar. 'Sbud! my master fought like a lion,

sir.

Hyp. Truly, I did not spare him.

Flo. No, faith-after he was knocked down. [dside. Trap. But now, sir, comes the cream of the roguery,