D. Phi. By no means! rather wait a little in the street: be within call, and leave the manage

ment to me.

Oct. Be careful, dear Philip.

D. Phi. I always used to be more fortunate in serving my friend than myself.

Oct. But, hark ye, here lives an Alguazil at the next house; suppose I should send him to you to secure the spark in the mean time?

D. Phi. Do so: we must not lose a moment.
Oct. I won't stir from the door.
D. Phi. You'll soon hear of me

away. [Exit OCT. Trap. So, now I have divided the enemy, there can be no great danger if it should come to a battle-Basta! here comes our party. D. Phi. Stand aside till I call for you.

[TRAP, retires.

Enter DON MANUEL. D. Man. Well, sir, what service have you to command me now, pray?

D. Phi. Now, sir, I hope my credit will stand a little fairer with you: all I beg is but your patient hearing.

D. Man. Well, sir, you shall have it. But, then, I must beg one favour of you, too, which is, to make the business as short as you can; for to tell you the truth, I am not very willing to have any farther trouble about it.

D. Phi. Sir, if I don't now convince you of your error, believe and use me like a villain; in the mean time, sir, I hope you'll think of a proper punishment for the merry gentleman that hath imposed upon you.

D. Man. With all my heart; I'll leave him to thy mercy. Here he comes; bring him to trial as soon as you please.

Enter FLORA and HYPOLITA,

Flo. So! Trippanti has succeeded; he's come without the officers. [To HYP. Hyp. Hearing, sir, you were below, I did not care to disturb the family, by putting the officers to the trouble of a needless search: let me see your warrant; I'm ready to obey it.

know how he deserves to be treated; and that we may have no hard words upon one another, if you please, sir, let me first talk with you in pri[They whisper.

vate.

Hyp. Undone! that fool Trappanti, or that villain, I know not which, has at least mistaken or betrayed me! Ruined past redemption !

Flo. Our affairs, methinks, begin to look with a very indifferent face. Ha! the old Don seems surprised-I don't like that-What shall we do? Hyp. I am at my wit's end. [Aside.

Flo. Then we must either confess, or to gaol, that's positive.

Hyp. I'll rather starve there than be discovered. Should he at last marry with Rosara, the very shame of this attempt would kill me.

Flo. Death! what d'ye mean? that hanging look were enough to confirm a suspicion: bear up, for shame!

Hyp. Impossible! I am dashed, confounded: if thou hast any courage left, shew it quickly. Go, speak before my fears betray me. Aside.

D. Man. If you can make this appear by any witness, sir, I confess 'twill surprize me indeed. Flo. Ay, sir, if you have any witnesses, we desire you'd produce them.

D. Phi. Sir, I have a witness at your service, and a substantial one.Hey! Trappanti! Enter TRAPPANTI.

Now, sir, what think ye?

Hyp. Ha! the rogue winks-then there's life again. [Aside.] Is this your witness, sir?

D. Phi. Yes, sir; this poor fellow, at last, it seems, happens to be honest enough to confess himself a rogue, and your accomplice. Hyp. Ha, ha!

D. Phi. Ha, ha! you are very merry, sir.

D. Man. Nay, there's a jest between ye, that's certain-But, come, friend, what say you to the business? have ye any proof to offer upon oath, that this gentleman is the true Don Philip, and consequently, this other an impostor?

D. Phi. Speak boldly.

Trap. Ay, sir; but shall I come to no harm, if I do speak?

D. Man. Let it be the truth, and I'll protect

Enter Alguazil.

Al. Did you send for me, sir?

D. Phi. Ay, secure that gentleman. D. Man. Hold, hold, sir! all things in order: this gentleman is yet my guest; let me be first acquainted with his crime, and then I shall better

Trap. Are you sure I shall be safe, sir? D. Man. I'll give you my word of honour: speak boldly to the question.

Trap. Well, sir, since I must speak, then, in the first place, I desire your honour would be pleased to command the officer to secure that gentleman.

D. Man. How, friend!

D. Phi. Secure me, rascal!

Trap. Sir, if I can't be protected, I shall ne ver be able to speak.

D. Man. I warrant thee-What is it you say,

friend?

Trap. Sir, as I was just now crossing the street,

this gentleman, with a sneer in his face, takes me by the hands, claps five pistoles in my palm, (here they are) shuts my fist close upon them; my dear friend, says he, you must do me a piece of service; upon which, sir, I bows me to the ground, and desired him to open his case.

D. Phi. What means the rascal? D. Man. Sir, I am as much amazed as you; but pray let's hear him, that we may know his meaning.

Trup. So, sir, upon this he runs me over a long story of a sham and a flam he had just contrived, he said, to defer my master's marriage only for two days.

D. Man. Nay, nay, nay, one at a time; you shall be heard presently. Go on, friend.

Trap. Having me at this advantage, sir, I began to think my wit would do me more service than my courage; so, prudently pretended, out of fear, to comply with his threats, and swallow the perjury; but, now, sir, being under protection, and at liberty of conscience, I have honesty enough, you sec, to tell you the whole truth of the matter.

D. Man. Ay, this is evidence, indeed!
Omn. Ha, ha, ha!

D. Phi. Dog! villain! did not you confess to me that this gentleman picked you up, not three hours ago, at the same inn where I alighted? that he had owned his stealing my portmanteau at Toledo? that, if he succeeded to marry the lady, you were to have a considerable sum for your pains; and these two were to share the rest of her fortune between them?

Trap. O lud! O lud! Sir, as I hope to die in my bed, these are the very words he threatened to stab me if I would not swear against my master- -I told him at first, sir, I was not fit for his business; I was never good at a lie in my

life.

VOL. II.

Alg. Nay, sir, I saw this gentleman's sword at his breast, out of my window. Trap. Look ye there, sir! D. Phi. Damnation ! Omn. Ha, ha, ha!

D. Man. Really, my friend, thou art almost turned fool in this business: if thou hadst prevailed upon this wretch to perjure himself, couldst thou think I should not have detected him? But, poor man ! you were a little hard put to it, indeed; any shift was better than none, it seems: you knew 'twould not be long to the wedding. You may go, friend. [Exit ALGUAZIL.

Flo. Ha, ha!

D. Phi. Sir, by my eternal hopes of peace and happiness, you're imposed on! If you proceed thus rashly, your daughter is inevitably ruined. If what I have said be not true in fact, as hell or he is false, may Heaven brand me with the severest marks of perjury! Defer the marriage but an hour.

D. Man. Ay, and in half that time, I suppose, you are in hopes to defer it for altogether.

D. Phi. Perdition seize me, if I have any hope or thought but that of serving you!

D. Man. Nay, now, thou art a downright distracted man-Dost thou expect I should take thy bare word, when here were two honest fellows that have just proved thee in a lie to thy face? Enter a Servant.

Ser. Sir, the priest is come.

D. Man. Is he so? then, sir, if you please, since you see you can do me no farther service, I believe it may be time for you to go.-Come, son, now let's wait upon the bride, and put an end to this gentleman's trouble altogether.

[Exit DON MANUEL,

Hyp. Sir, I'll wait on ye. D. Phi. Confusion! I've undone my friend. [Walks about. Flo. [Aside.] Trappanti! rogue, this was a master-piece.

Trap. [Aside.] Sir, I believe it won't be mended in haste. [Exeunt FLO. and TRAP. Hyp. Sir. D. Phi. Ha! alone! If I were not prevented now- -Well, sir.

Hyp. I suppose you don't think the favours you have designed me are to be put up without satisfaction; therefore, I shall expect to see you early to-morrow, near the Prado, with your sword in your hand; in the mean time, sir, I'm a little more in haste to be the lady's humble servant than your's. [Going.

D. Phi. Hold, sir!--you and I can't part upon such easy terms. Hyp. Sir!

D. Phi. You are not so near the lady, sir, perhaps, as you imagine. [D. P. locks the door. Hyp. What d'ye mean? D. Phi. Speak softly.

3 D

D. Phi. Expect no more from me; either comply this moment, or my sword shall force thee.

Hyp. Consider, sir

D. Phi. Thou liest, villain! 'tis thy fear that holds thee.

Hyp. Ah! let me go, I say.

Trap. Help, ho! I'm not able to hold him. D. Man. Force him out of the room there; call an officer; in the mean time, secure him in the cellar.

D. Phi. Hear me but one word, sir.

D. Man. Stop his mouth- Out with him. [They hurry him off.

Come, dear son! be pacified.

Hyp. A villain!

name and family.

Hyp. Hold, sir.

D. Phi. Speak, or thou diest.

[A noise at the door. Hyp. Sir, I will-Ha! they are entering-0, for a moment's courage! Come on, sir!

[She breaks from him, and draws, retiring, till DON MANUEL, FLORA, and TRAPPANTI, with servants, rush in, and part them.]

D. Man. Knock him down.

Flo. Part them.

Hyp. Away, rascal! [To TRAP. who holds her. Trap. Hold, sir! dear sir! hold; you have given him enough.

Hyp. Dog! let me go; or I'll cut away thy hold.

D. Man. Nay, dear son! hold, we'll find a better way to punish him.

Hyp. Pray, sir, give me way-a villain, to assault me in the very moment of my happiness! [Struggling. D. Phi. By heaven, sir, he this moment has confessed his villany, and begged my pardon upon his knees.

Hyp. D'ye hear him, sir! I beg you let me go; this is beyond bearing.

D. Man. Ay, son, leave him to me and the law.

Hyp. I am sorry, sir, such a fellow should have it in his power to disturb me— -But

Enter ROSARA.

D. Man. Look; here's my daughter in a fright to see for you.

Hyp. Then, I'm composed again.

Runs to ROSARA. Ros. I heard fighting here; I hope you are not wounded, sir?

Hyp. I have no wound but what the priest can heal! D. Man. Ay! well said, my little champion! Hyp. Oh, madam, I have such a terrible escape to tell you! [Aside. Ros. Truly, I began to be afraid I should lose my little husband! [Aside. Hyp. Husband, quotha! Get me but once safe out of these breeches, if ever I wear them again[Aside. D. Man. Come, come, children, the priest stays for us. [Exeunt.

Hyp. Sir, we wait on you.

SCENE I.-Continues.

Enter TRAPPANTI.

Trap. WHAT, in the name of roguery, can this new master of mine be? he's either a fool or bewitched, that's positive.-First, he gives me fifty pieces for helping him to marry the lady, and, as soon as the wedding is over, claps me twenty more into the other hand, to help him to get rid of her-Nay, not only that, but gives me a strict charge to observe his directions in being evidence against him as an impostor, to refund all the lies I have told in his service; to sweep him clear out of my conscience; and, now, to swear the robbery against him. What the bottom of this can be, I must confess, does a little puzzle my

woman that will have him in haste. But this last escape of yours was such a master-piece!

Hyp. Nay, I confess, between fear and shame, I would have given my life for a ducat.

Ros. Though I wonder, when you perceived him so sensibly touched with his old passion, how you had patience to conceal yourself any longer.

Hup. Indeed, I could not easily have resisted it, but that I knew, if I had been discovered before my marriage with you, your father, to be sure, would have insisted then upon his contract with him, which I did not know how far Don Philip might be carried in point of honour to keep; I knew, too, his refusing it would but the more incense the old gentleman against my brother's happiness with you; and I found myself obliged, in gratitude, not to build my own upon the ruin of yours.

Ros. This is an obligation I never could de

serve.

Hyp. Your assistance, madam, in my affair has overpaid it.

Ros. What's become of Don Philip? I hope you have not kept him prisoner all this while? Hyp. Oh, he'll be released presently; Flora has her orders. Where's your father, madam?

Ros. I saw him go towards his closet; I believe he's gone to fetch you part of my fortune; he seemed in mighty good humour.

Hyp. We must be sure to keep it up as high as we can, that he may be the more stunned when he falls.

Ros. With all my heart: methinks, I am possessed with the spirit of disobedience- Now, could I, in the humour I am in, consent to any mischief that would but heartily plague my old gentleman, for daring to be better than his word to Octavio.

of them; the rest of your fortune shall be paid in the best Barbary gold to-morrow morning.

Hyp. Aye, sir, this is speaking like a father! this is encouragement, indeed!

D. Man. Much good may do thy heart and soul with them--and Heaven bless you together! I have had a great deal of care and trouble to bring it about, children; but thank my stars 'tis over-'tis over now-now, I may sleep with my doors open, and never have my slumbers broken with the fear of rogues and rivals.

Ros. Don't interrupt him, and see how far his humour will carry him.

[TO HYPOLITA. D. Man. But there is no joy lasting in this world; we must all die, when we have done our best, sooner or later; old or young, prince or peasant, high or low, kings, lords and common whores must die! nothing certain; we are forced to buy one comfort with the loss of another. Now I have married my child, I have lost my companion-I have parted with my girl-her heart's gone another way now-She'll forget her old father--I shall never have her wake me more, like a cheerful lark, with her pretty songs in a morning—I shall have nobody to chat at dinner with me now, or take up a godly book, and read me to sleep in an afternoon. Ah! these comforters are all gone now! [Weeps.

Hyp. How very near the extreme of one passion is to another! Now he is tired with joy, till he is downright melancholy.

Ros. What's the matter, sir?

D. Man. Ay, my child! now it comes to the test, methinks, I don't know how to part with thee.

Ros. Oh, sir! we shall be better friends than

ever.

D. Man. Uh, uh! shall we? wilt thou come

he comes.

Enter DON MANUEL,

D. Man. Ah, my little conqueror ! let me embrace thee!- That ever I should see this day! this most triumphant day! this day of all days in my life!

Hyp. Aye, and of my life, too, sir. [Embracing him. D. Man. Aye, and my cares are over-now, I have nothing to do but to think of the other world, for I've done all my business in this; got as many children as I could; and, now I'm grown old, have set a young couple to work that will do it better.

Hyp. I warrant ye, sir, you'll soon see whether your daughter has married a man or no.

D. Man. Ah, well said! and that you may never be out of humour with your business, look you here, children, I have brought you some baubles that will make you merry as long as you live; twelve thousand pistoles are the least value

ven bless thee! give me a kiss-I must kiss thee at parting: be a good girl, use thy husband well, make an obedient wife, and I shall die contented.

Hyp. Dic, sir! Come, come, you have a great while to live-Hang these melancholy thoughts! they are the worst company in the world at a wedding-Consider, sir, we are young; if you would oblige us, let us have a little life and mirth, a jubilee to-day at least; stir your servants; call in your neighbours; let me see your whole family mad for joy, sir.

D. Man. Ha! shall we shall we be merry, then?

Hyp. Merry, sir! aye, as beggars at a feast. What! shall a dull Spanish custom tell me, when I am the happiest man in the kingdom, I shan't be as mad as I have a mind to? Let me see the face of nothing to-day but revels, friends, feasts, and music, sir.

D. Man. Ah! thou shalt have thy humourthou shalt have thy humour! Hey, within there!