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Hyp. We shall find him a little tough, I believe: for, poor gentleman! he is like to meet with a very odd reception from his father-inlaw.

Flo. Nay, we have done his business there, I believe.

Hyp. How glibly the old gentleman swallowed Trappanti's lie!

Flo. And how rarely the rogue told it!

Hyp. And how soon it worked with him! for, if you please, says he, we'll let him see that we have wit enough to do our business, and clap up the wedding to-morrow morning.

Flo. Ah, we have it all the way—well, what must we do next?

Hyp. Why, now for the lady-I'll be a little brisk upon her, and thenFlo. Victoria! [Exeunt.

ACT III.

SCENE I-Continued.

Enter VILETTA hastily, DON MANUEL, and TRAPPANTI behind, observing her.

Vil. So, with much ado, I have given the old Don the slip; he has dangled with me through every room in the house, high and low, up stairs and down, as close to my tail as a great boy hankering after one of his mother's maids. Wellnow we will see what monsieur Octavio says.

[Takes a letter from her bosom. Trap. Hist! there she is, and alone. When the devil has any thing to do with a woman, sir, that's his time to take her. Stand close.

D. Man. Ah, he's at work already-there's a letter.

Trap. Leave her to me, sir; I'll read it. Vil. Ha, two pistoles! well, I'll say that for him, the man knows his business; his letters always come post-paid.

[While she is reading, TRAPPANTI steals behind, and looks over her shoulder.] 'Dear Viletta, convey the inclosed immediately to your mistress, and, as you prize my life, 'use all possible means to keep the old gentle'man from the closet, till you are sure she is 'safe out of the window. Your real friend.' Trap. Octavio!

Vil. Ah!

[Reading [Shrieking. Trap. Madam, your ladyship's most humble

servant.

Vil. You're very impertinent, methinks, to look over other people's letters.

Trap. Why, I never read a letter in my life without looking it over.

Vil. I don't know any business you had to look upon this.

Trap. There's the thing-your not knowing that, has put you into this passion.

Vil. You may chance to have your bones broke, Mr Coxcomb.

Trup. Sweet honeycomb ! don't be so waspish; or, if I keep your counsel, d'ye see, I don't know why my bones may'nt keep their places; but if I peach, whose bones will pay for it, then?

Vil. Ha! the fool says true; I had better wheedle him. [Aside.

Trap. My dear queen! don't be frighted—I come as a friend; now, be serious.

Vil. Well, what would you have? Trap. Don't you love money above any thing in the world-except one?

Vil. I except nothing.

Trap. Very good and pray, how many letters do you expect to be paid for when Octavio has married your mistress, and has no occasion to write to her? Look you, child, though you are of counsel for him, use him like a lawyer; make difficulties where there are none, that he may fee you where he needs not. Dispatch is out of practice; delay makes long bills: stick to it; once get him his cause, there's no more advice to be paid for.

Vil. What do you mean?

Trap. Why, that, for the same reason, I have no mind to put an end to my own fees by marrying my master: while they are lovers, they will always have occasion for a confidant and a pimp; but when they marry-serviteur-good night vails; our harvest is over. What d'ye think of me, now?

Vil. Why, I like what you say very well; but I don't know, my friend—to me that same face of yours looks like the title-page to a whole volume of roguery-what is it you drive at?

Trap. Money, money, money! Don't you let your mistress marry Octavio: I'll do my best to hinder my master. Let you and I lay our heads together to keep them asunder, and so make a penny of them all three.

Vil. Look you, seignior, I'll meet you half way, and confess to you I had made a rough draught of this project myself: but say I should agree with you to go on upon't, what security can you give me for performance of articles?

Trap. More than bond or judgment—my person in custody.

Vil. Ah, that won't do.

Trap. No, my love! why, there's many a sweet bit in it-taste it.

[Offering to kiss her, she puts him away. Vil. No. Trap. Faith, you must give me one.

Vil. Indeed, my friend, you are too ugly for me; though I am not handsome myself, I love to play with those that are.

Trap. And yet, methinks, an honest fellow, of my size and complexion, in a careless posture, playing the fool thus with his money

[Tosses a purse, she catches it, and he kisses her.

Vil. Pshaw! Well, if I must, come, thento see how a woman may be deceived at first sight of a man!

Trap. Nay, then, take a second thought of me, child.

[Again. D. Man. Ha! this is laying their heads toge

ther indeed!

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do to me make a friend of me-you see, sir, I dare be an enemy.

D. Man. Nay, thou dost not want courage; I'll say that for thee; but is it possible any thing can make thee honest ?

Vil. What do you suppose would make me otherwise?

D. Man. Money.

Vil. You have nicked it.

D. Man. And would the same sum make thee surely one as t'other?

Vil. That I cammot say, neither; one must be heavier than t'other, or else the scale cannot turn.

D. Man. Say it be so, would that turn thee into my interest?

Vil. The very minute you turn into mine, sir:

to give to my mistress. Slip into the garden-judge yourself-here stands Octavio with a letI'll come t'ye presently.

Trap. Is't from Octavio? Vil. Pshaw! begone, I say.

Trap. Hist!

[Snatches the letter.

[TRAPPANTI beckons DON MANUEL, who goes softly behind.

Vil. Madam! madam! ha!

D. Man. Now, strumpet, give me the other letter, or I'll murder you.

Vil. Ah lud! oh lud! there!

[Draws.

[Squeaking.

D. Man. Now, we shall see what my gentleman would be at-[Reads.]- My dear angel!' -Ha! soft and impudent!- Depend upon me < at the garden door, by seven this evening: pity my impatience, and believe you can never come < too soon to the arms of your

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OCTAVIO.' Ah! now would this rampant rogue make no more of debauching my gentlewoman, than the gentlewoman would of him, if he were to debauch her. Hold-let's see; what does he say here-uin-um!

[Reads to himself. Vil. What a sot was I to believe this old fool durst do me any harm! but a fright's the devil. Would I had my letters again!--though 'tis no great matter: for, as my friend Trappanti says, delaying Octavio's business is doing my own.

D. Man. [Reading.] Um-um! sure she is safe out of the window. Oh, there the mine is to be sprung, then! The gentleman makes a warm siege on't, in troth, and, one would think, was in a fair way of carrying the place, while he has such an aduurable spy in the middle of the town. Now, were I to act like a true Spaniard, I ought to rip up this jade for more intelligence; but I'll be wise; a bribe and a lie will do my business a great deal better. Now, gentlewoman, what do ye think, in your conscience, I ought to do to ye?

Vil. What I think in my conscience, you'll not

ter, and two pieces to give it to my mistress— there stand you with a hem! and four pieces'where would the letter go, d'ye think?

D. Man. There needs no more-I'm convin→ ced, and will trust thee-there's to encourage thee before-hand, and, when thou bringest me a letter of Octavio's, I'll double the sum.

Vil. Sir, I'll do it-and will take care he shall write presently.

[Aside. D. Man. Now, as you expect I should believe you, begone, and take no notice of what I have discovered.

Vil. I am dumb, sir

[Erit VILETTA.

D. Man. So, this was done like a wise general: and, now I have taken the counterscarp, there may be some hopes of making the town capitulate. Rosara!

[Unlocks the closet.

Enter RoSARA.

Ros. Did you call me, sir?

D. Man. Ay, child. Come, be cheerful; what I have to say to you, I'm sure ought to make you so.

Ros. He has certainly made some discovery; Viletta did not cry out for nothing-What shall I do-dissemble? [Aside.

D. Man. In one word, set your heart at rest, for you shall marry Don Philip this very evening.

Ros. That's but short warning for the gentleman, as well as myself; for I don't know that we ever saw one another. How are you sure he will like me?

D. Man. Oh, as for that matter, he shall see you presently; and I have made it his interest to like you-but if you are still positively resolved upon Octavio, I'll make but few words-pull off your clothes, and go to him.

Ros. My clothes, sir!

D. Man. Ay, for the gentleman shan't have a rag with you.

Ros. I am not in haste to be starved, sir.

D. Man. Then let me see you put on your best airs, and receive Don Philip as you should do.

Ros. When do you expect him, sir?

D. Man. Expect him, sir!-he has been here this hour-I only staid to get you out of the sullens-He's none of your hum-drums-all life and mettle! 'Odzooks, he has the courage of a cock! a duel's but a dance to him: he has been at sa! sa!-sa! for you already.

Ros. Well, sir, I shan't be afraid of his courage, since I see you are resolved he shall be the man-He shall find me a woman, sir; let him win me and wear me as soon as you please.

D. Man. Ah, now, thou art my own girl! hold but in this humour one quarter of an hour, and I'll toss thee t'other bushel of doubloons into thy portion-Here, bid a-Come, I'll fetch him myself-She's in a rare cue i'faith! ah, if he does but nick her now! [Exit DON MAN.

Ros. Now, I have but one card to play-if that don't hit, my hopes are crushed indeed: if this young spark be not a downright coxcomb, I may have a trick to turn all yet-Dear fortune! give him but common sense, I'll make it impossible for him to like me-Here they come

[Walks carelessly, and sings.

I'll rove and I'll range

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Hyp. Whether he will or no?
Kos. He can't help it now.
Hyp. How so, pray?

Ros. Because he has promised you, you shall marry me; and he has always promised me, I should marry the man I could love.

Hyp. Ay-that is, he would oblige you to love the man you should marry.

Ros. The man that I marry will be sure of my love; but for the man that marries me- -mercy on him!

Hyp. No matter for that; I'll marry you. Ros. Come, I don't believe you are so illInatured.

Enter DON MANUEL and HYPOLITA. Hyp. I'll love and I'll change-[Sings with her. D. Man. Ab, he has her, he has her! Hyp. Madam, I kiss your ladyship's hands: find, by your gaiety, you are no stranger to my business. Perhaps you expected I should have come in, with a grave bow and a long speech; but my affairs are in a little more haste; therefore, if you please, madam, we'll cut the work short; be thoroughly intimate at the first sight, and see one another's humours in a quarter of an hour, as well as if we had been weary of them this twelvemonth.

D. Man. Ah!

Ros. Troth, sir, I think you are very much in the right. The sooner I see you, the sooner I shall know whether I like you or not.

Hyp. Psha! as for that matter, you'll find me a very fashionable husband; I shan't expect my wife to be very fond of me.

Ros. But I love to be in the fashion too, sir, in taking the man I have a mind to.

Hyp. Say you so? why, then, take me as soon as you please.

Ros. I only stay for my mind, sir: as soon as ever that comes to me, upon my word I'm ready to wait upon you.

Hyp. Well, madam, a quarter of an hour shall break no squares-Sir, if you'll find an occasion to leave us alone, I see we shall come to a right understanding presently.

D. Man. I'll do it, sir. Well, child, speak in thy conscience, is not he a pretty fellow?

Hyp. Why, dost thou not like me, child?
Ros. Um-No.

Hyp. What's the matter?
Ros. The old fault.
Hyp. What?

Ros. I don't like you.
Hyp. Is that all?
Ros. No.

the rest?

Hyp. That's hard-
Ros. That you won't like.
Hyp. I'll stand it—try me.

Ros. Why, then, in short, I like another:another mau, sir, has got into my head, and has made such work there, you'll never be able to set me to rights as long as you live-What d'ye think of me now, sir? Won't this serve for a reason why you should not marry me?

Hyp. Um-the reason is a pretty smart sort of a reason, truly: but it won't do-To be short with ye, madam, I have reason to believe I shall be disinherited if I don't marry you.

Ros. And what have you reason to believe you shall be, if you do marry me?

Hyp. In the Spanish fashion, I suppose, jealous to a degree.

Ros. You may be in the English fashion, and something else to a degree.

Hyp. Oh, if I have not courage enough to prevent that, madam, let the world think me, in the

English city fashion, content to a degree. Now, here in Spain, child, we have such things as back rooms, barred windows, hard fare, poison, daggers, bolts, chains, and so forth.

Ros. Ay, sir; and there are such things as bribes, plots, shams, letters, lies, walls, ladders, keys, confidants, and so forth.

Hyp. Hey! a very complete regiment indeed! what a world of service might these do in a quarter of an hour, with a woman's courage at the head of them! Really, madam, your dress and humour have the prettiest loose French air, something so quality, that, let me die, madam, I believe in a month I should be apt to poison ye. Ros. So, it takes! [Aside.] And, let me die, sir, I believe I should be apt to deserve it of ye. Hyp. I shall certainly do it.

-for I

Ros. It must be in my breakfast, thenshould certainly run away before the weddingdinner came up.

Hyp. That's over-acted; but I'll startle her. [Aside.] Then I must tell you, madam, a Spanish husband may be provoked as well as a wife.

Ros. My life on't, his revenge is not half so sweet! and if she's provoked, 'tis a thousand to one but she licks her lips before she's nailed in her coffin !

Hyp. You are very gay, madam.

Ros. I see nothing to fright me, sir, for I cannot believe you'll marry me now -I have told you my humour: if you like it, you have a good stomach.

Hyp. Why, truly, you may probably lie a little heavy upon it, but I can better digest you than poverty: As for your inclination, I'll keep your body honest, however; that shall be locked up; and if you don't love me, then-I'll stab you.

Ros. With what? your words? it must be those you say after the priest, then-You'll be able to do very little that will reach my heart, I assure ye.

Hyp. Well, well, madam, you need not give yourself half this trouble; I am heartily convinced you will make the damned'st wife that ever poor dog of a husband wished at the devil: but really, madam, you are very unfortunate; for, notwithstanding all the mighty pains you have taken, you have met with a positive coxcomb, that's still just fool and stout enough to marry

you.

might have been suspected: your shewing me what a man of sense should hate, convinces me you know, too, what he ought to love; and she, that's once so well acquainted with the charms of virtue, never can forsake it. I both admire and love you now; you have made, what only was my interest, my happiness. At my first view, I woo'd you only to secure a sordid fortune, which now I, overjoyed, could part with, nay, with my life, with any thing, to purchase your unrivalled heart.

Ros. Now I am plunged indeed! [Aside.] Well, sir, I own you have discovered me; and, since you have obliged me to be serious, I now, from my sincerity, protest my heart's already given, from whence no power nor interest shall

recall it.

Hyp. I hate my interest, and would owe no power or title, but to love.

Ros. If, as you say, you think I find a charm in virtue, you'll know, too, there's a charm in constancy. You ought to scorn me, should I flatter you with hope, since now you are assured I must be false before I can be yours. If what I have said seems cold, or too neglectful of your merit, call it not ingratitude or scorn, but faith unmoved, and justice to the man I love.

Hyp. Death! I have fooled away my hopes: she must consent, and soon, or yet I'm lost.

[4side.

Ros. He seems a little thoughtful; if he has honour, there may yet be hopes.

[Aside.

Hyp. It must-it can be only so; that way I make her sure, and serve my brother, too. [Aside.] Well, madam, to let you see I'm a friend to love, though love's an enemy to me, give me but a seeming proof that Octavio is the undisputed master of your heart, and I'll forego the power your father's obligations give me, and throw my hopes into his arms with you.

Ros. Sir, you confound me with this goodness! A proof! is it possible? will that content ye? Command me to what proof you please; or, if you'll trust to my sincerity, let these tears of joy convince you. Here, on my knees, by all my hopes of peace, I swear

Hyp. Hold! swear never to make a husband, but Octavio.

Ros. I swear, and Heaven befriend me as I keep this vow inviolate!

Ros. Twill be a proof of your courage, indeed. Hyp. Rise, madam; and now receive a secret Hyp. Madam, you rally very well, 'tis confess-which I need not charge you to be careful of, ed: but now, if you please, we'll be a little since, as well your quiet as my own depends upon it. A little common prudence between us, in all probability, before night, may inake us happy in our secret wishes.

serious.

-What does he mean?

Ros. I think I am[Aside. Hyp. Come, come, this humour is as much affected as my own: I could no more bear the qualities you say you have, than I know you are guilty of them your pretty arts in striving to avoid, have charmed me. Had you been precisely coy, or over-modest, your virtue, then, VOL. II.

:

Ros. What mean you, sir? sure you are some angel sent to my deliverance.

Hyp. Truly, madam, I have been often told so; but, like most angels of my kind, there is a mortal man in the world, who, I have a great mind should know that I am-but a woman.

3 C

Ros. A woman! are not you Don Philip? Hyp. His shadow, madam, no more; I just run before him-nay, and after him, too.

Ros. I am confounded-a woman!

Hyp. As arrant a woman, from top to toe, as ever man run mad for.

Ros. Nay, then, you are an angel.

Hyp. Perhaps, you'll think me little a kin to one at least. Octavio, madam, your lover, is my brother; my name Hypolita; my story you shall know at leisure.

Ros. Hypolita! nay, then, from what you've said, and what I have heard Octavio say of you, I guess your story: but this was so extravagant a thought.

Hup. That's true, madam, it-it-it was a little round about, indeed; I might have found a nearer way to Don Philip; but these men are such testy things, they can never stay one's time; always in haste, just as they please; now we are to look kind, then grave; now soft, then sincere-Fiddlestick! when, may be, a woman has a new suit of knots on her head-so, if we happen not to be in their humour, forsooth, then we coquette, and are proud and vain, and then they are to turn to fools, and tell us so; then, one pouts and the other huffs; and you see there is such a plague, that I don't know-one does not care to be rid of them neither.

Ros. A very generous confession!

Hyp. Well, madam, now you know me thoroughly, I hope you'll think me as fit for a hus

band as another woman.

Ros. Then I must marry ye?

Hyp. Aye, and speedily, too; for I expect Don Philip every moment, and, if we don't look about us, he will be apt to forbid the banns.

Ros. If he comes, what shall we do?

Hyp. I am provided for him-Here comes your father he's secure. Come, put on a dumb, consenting air, and leave the rest to me.

Ros. Well, this getting the better of my wise papa won't be the least part of my satisfaction.

Enter DON MANUEL.

D. Man. So, son, how does the battle go now? Have you cannonaded stoutly? Does she cry quarter?

Hyp. My dear father! let me embrace your knees; my life's too poor to make you a return; you have given me an empire, sir; I would not change to be grand signior.

D. Man. Ah, rogue! he has done it, he has done it; he has her! ha! is't not so, my little champion?

Hyp. Victoria, sir! the town's my own. Look here! and here, sir! thus have I been plundering this half hour; and thus, and thus, and thus, till my lips ache again. [Kisses her. D. Man. Ah! give me the great chaircannot bear my joy--You rampant rogue!

could not ye give the poor girl a quarter of an hour's warning?

Hyp. My charmer! [Embracing RoSARA. D. Man. Ah, my cares are over!

Hyp. Oh, I told you, sir; hearts and towns are never too strong for a surprise.

D. Man. Prithee, be quiet, I hate the sight of ye-Rosara! come hither, you wicked thing; come hither, I say.

it

Ros. I am glad to see you well pleased, sir. D. Man. Oh, I cannot live- I cannot live it; pours upon me like a torrent; I am as full as a bumper-it runs over at my eyes; I shall choke- -Answer me two questions, and kill me outright.

Ros Any thing that will make you more pleased, sir. D. Man. Are you positively resolved to marry this gentleman?

Ros. Sir, I am convinced 'tis the first match that can make me happy.

D. Man. I am the miserablest dog aliveand I warrant you are willing to marry him tomorrow morning, if I should ask you?

Ros. Sooner, sir, if you think it necessary. D. Man. Oh, this malicious jade has a mind to destroy me all at once- -Ye cursed toad! how did you do to get in with her so? [TO HYPOLITA.

Ros. Come, sir, take heart; your joy won't be always so troublesome.

D. Man. You lie, hussy, I shall be plagued with it as long as I live.

Hyp. You must not live above two hours, then. [Aside.

D. Man. I warrant this raking rogue will get her with child, too-I shall have a young squab Spaniard upon my lap, that will so grandpapa me! Well, what want you, gloomy face?

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