SCENE I.

Enter LOUISA and ĴAQUES.

Lou. Were they both seized?

Jaq. Both, madam, and will be here immediately. I ran before, to give your ladyship notice.

Lou. You know my orders; when they are entered, bar all the doors, and, on your lives, let every one be mute, as I directed-I must retire a while. [Exeunt. Enter Bravoes, who let CARLOS out of the chair, while others throw down DoN LEWIS, gagged and bound.

Car. So, gentlemen, you find I've not resisted you- but now, pray, let me know my crime? Why have you brought me hither? Where am I? If in prison, look in my face; perhaps you have mistaken me for another- [JACQUES holds up his lanthorn, nods and exit with the rest.] You seem to know me, sir—All dumb and vanished! my fortune's humorous; she sports with me.

Sure they think I walk in my sleep, and won't speak, for fear of waking me.

D. Lew. Sir, your most humble servant; and now my tongue's at liberty, pray, will you do me the favour to shew me the way home again? What a pox? are you all dumb![Exeunt mute.] Well, sir, and pray what are -Charles! ah! my dear boy!

[Kisses him. Car. My uncle! Nay, then, my fortune has not quite forsaken me. How came you hither, sir?

D. Lew. Faith, like a corpse into a church, boy, with my heels foremost; but, prithee, how didst thou come?

Car. You saw the men, that seized us; they forced me into a chair, and brought me.

D. Lew. Well, but a pox plague them, what is all this for? What would they have?

Enter JAQUES, and Servant, with a banquet, wine, and lights.

Car. More riddles yet; I dream sure!

[JAQUES Compliments DON LEWIS to take his chair.]

D. Lew. For me? Sir, your most humble servant: [Sits.] Charles, sit down, boy. Ha, ha, ha! a parcel of silly dumb dogs! Is this all the business? Puppies! did they think I would not come to supper, without being brought neck and heels to it?

Car. Amazement all! What can it end in?

D. Lew. Never trouble thy head, prithee; pox of questions fall to, man Delicate food truly-Here-Dumb! prithee give's a glass of wine, to wet the way a little. Come, Charles, here's, here's--honest Dumb's health to thee: [Drinks.] Dumb's a very honest fellow, faith.

[Claps JAQUES on the head. Car. What harmony's this? [A flourish. D. Lew. Rare music, indeed; let's eat, and hear it. [Music here.] Mighty fine, truly-I have not made a heartier meal a great while.— [Here JAQUES offers a night-cap and gown to DON LEWIS.] Well, and what's to do now, lad? For me, boy? Odso, we lie here, do we? mighty well that again, faith; (for I was just thinking to go home, but that I had ne'er a lodging:) nay, I always said honest Dumb knew how to make his friends welcome-Well, but it's time enough yet; sha'nt we crack a bottle first? Charles is melancholy. [JAQUES shakes his head.] What, that's as much as to say, if I won't go, I shall be carried-Sir, your humble servant. [Puts on the gown.] Well, Charles, good-night, since they won't let me have a mind to stay any longer.I'd give a pistole, though, to know what this will come to Dumb, come along.

[Exeunt DoN LEWIS and JAQUES. Car. I am buried in amazement--[Music is heard.] Ha, more music? I could almost say, 'twere welcome now.

[Music again. Don LEWIS appears above. D. Lew. So, at last I have groped out a window, that will let me into the secret; now, if any foul play should happen, I am pretty near the street, too, and can bawl out murder to the watch-But, mum, the door opens.

Enter LOUISA.

D. Lew. The sons of whores won't speak neither. Hey day! what's to be done, now?

VOL. II.

dum, dum.

Lou. You seem amazed, sir.

Car. Your pardon, lady, if I confess it raises 2 H

much my wonder, why a stranger, friendless and unknown, should meet, unmerited, such floods of courtesy: for, if I mistake not, once this day before, I've tasted of your bounty.

Lou. I have forgot that; but I confess I saw you, sir.

Car. Why, then, was I forced hither? If you relieved the only from a soft compassion of my fortune, you could not think but such humanity might, on the slightest hint, have drawn me to be grateful.

Lou. I own I could not trust you to my fortune; I knew not but some other might have seen you-beside, methought you spoke less kind to me before.

Car. If my poor thanks were offered in too plain a dress, (as I confess, I am little practised in the rules of graced behaviour) rather think me ignorant, than rude, and pity what you cannot pardon.

Lou. Fie, you are too modest-how could you charge yourself with such a thought? I scarce can think 'tis in your nature to be rude at least

to our sex.

Car. Twere more unpardonable there. Lou. Nay, now you are too strict on the other side; for there may happen times, when, what the world calls rudeness, a woman might be brought to pardon; seasons, when even modesty were ignorance- -Pray be seated, sir—nay, | I'll have it so. Suppose a woman were reduced to offer love; suppose yourself the man so loved; where could you find, at such a time, excuses for your modesty?

Car. If I could love again, my eyes would tell her; if not, I should not easily believe, at least, in manners, would not seem to understand her.

:

Lou. Oh, they have such subtle ways to steal into a lover's heart! nay, if she's resolute, not all your strength of modesty can guard you she'd press you still with plainer, stronger proofs; her life, her fortune should be yours: for, where a woman loves, such gifts as these are trifles. Thus, like the lazy minutes, would she steal them on, which once but past, are quite forgotten.

[Gives him jewels. Car. Is't possible! can there be such a womau?

Lou. Fie! I could chide you now; you would not, sure, be thought so slow of apprehension.

Car. I would not willingly be thought so vain, or so uncharitable, to suppose there could be such a one.

Lou. Nay, now, you force me to forsake my sex, and tell you plain-I cannot speak it-yet you must know-i am this creature so reduced

for you.

Car. Monstrous!

Lou. What is't you start at?

Car. Not for your beauty; though I confess you fair to a perfection, complete in all, that may engage the eye: but, when that beauty

fades (as time leaves none unvisited) what charm shall then secure my love? Your riches? Noan honest mind's above the bribes of fortune :— for, though distressed, a stranger, and in want, I thus return them thankless. Be modest, and be virtuous, I'll admire you; all good men will adore you; and, when your beauty and your fortune are no more, will still deliver down your name revered to ages.

Lou. If I appear too free a lover, and talk beyond the usual courage of my sex, forgive me; I'll be again the fearful, softening wretch, that you would have me: my wishes shall be dumb, unless my eyes may speak them: for pity speak, for I confess your hard reproofs have struck upon my heart! Oh! say you will be mine, and make your own conditions. If you suspect my temper, bind me by the most sacred tie, and let my love, my person, and my fortune, lawfully be

yours.

Car. Take heed! Consider yet, if even this humility be not the offspring of your first unruly passion: but since, at least, it carries something a better claim to my concern, I'll be at once sincere, and tell you, 'tis impossible that we should ever meet in love.

Lou. Impossible! Oh, why?

Car. Because my love, my vows, and faith, are given to another: therefore, since you find I dare be honest, be early wise, and now release me to my fortune.

Lou. I cannot part with you.

Car. You must! I cannot with my reason— Pray, let me pass! Why do you thus hang upon my arm, and strain your eyes, as if they had power to hold me?

Lou. Ungrateful! Will you go? Take heed! for you have proved I am not mistress of my temper.

Car. I see it, and am sorry, but needed not this threat to drive me; for still I dare be just, and force myself away. [Exit CARLOS.

Lou. Oh, torture! left! refused! despised! Have I thrown off my pride for this? Oh, insupportable! If I am not revenged, may all thewell. [Walks disordered. D. Lew. What a pox! are all these fine things come to nothing, then?-Poor soul! she's in great heat, truly Ah, silly rogue!now, could I find in my heart to put her into good humour again-I have a great mind, faith-Odd, she's a hummer!- -A strange mind, I ha'nt had such a mind a great while-Hey! ay; I'll do't faith-if she does but stay now; ah, if she does but stay! [As he is getting from the balco ny, LOUISA is speaking to JAQUES.]

Lou. Who waits there?
Enter JAQUES.

Where's the stranger?

Jaq. Madam, I met him just now walking hastily about the gallery.

D. Lew. I say, don't you be so modest; for there are times, do you see, when even modesty is ignorance, (pray be seated, madam-nay, I'll have it so) ah! [Sits down, and mimics her behaviour to CARLOS.] Lou. Confusion! have I exposed myself to this wretch, too!—had witnesses to my folly! nay, I deserve it. [Stands mute. D. Lew. So, so, I shall bring her to terms presently-you have a world of pretty jewels here, madam-ay, these now-these are a couple of fine large stones, truly; but, where a woman loves, such gifts as these are trifles. [Mimics again. Lou. Insupportable! within there!

Enter Servants and Bravoes.

D. Lew. Hey!

[Rising.

[Aside.

Ser. Did your ladyship call, madam? D. Lew. I don't like her looks, faith. Lou. Here, take this fool, let him be gagged, tied neck and heels, and locked into a garret; away with him!

Ď. Lew. Dumb! Dumb! help, Dumb! Dumb! stand by me, Dumb! a pox of my finishing, awe! awe! [They gag him, and carry kim off. Lou. The insolence of this fool was more provoking than the other's scorn; but I shall yet find ways to measure my revenge. [Exit LOUISA.

Re-enter CARLOS in the dark.

Car. What can this evil woman mean me? The doors all barred; the lights put out; the servants mute, and she with fury in her eyes now shot regardless by me. I would the worst would shew itself! Ha! yonder's a light; I'll follow it, and provoke my fortune. [Exit.

Ang. Oh, let me hold you ever thus, lest fate again should part us.

Car. 'Twas death, indeed, to part; but from so hard a separation, thus again to meet, is life restored.

Aug. Oh! I were happy, blessed above my sex, could but my plain simplicity of love deserve your kind endearments.

Car. Is't possible, thou miracle of goodness, that thou canst thus forget the misery, the want, the ruin my unhappy love has brought thee to? Trust me, that stormy thought has clouded even the very joy I had to see thee.

Enter JAQUES and LOUISA at a distance. Jaq. They are there; from hence, your ladyship may hear them.

Lou. Leave me.

[Erit JAQUES, and Lovisa listens. Aug. I cannot bear to see you thus: for my sake, don't despond; for, while you seem in hope, I shall easily be cheerful.

Car. Oh, thou engaging softness! thy courage has revived me; no, we'll not despair; the guar dian power, that hitherto has saved us, may now protect, and fix us happy.

Lou. Ha! so near acquainted

[Behind.

Car. Oh, I have a shameful tale to tell thee of her intemperance, as would subject her even to thy loathing.

Lou. Insolent!-well!

Ang. You amaze me! pray, what is it?

Car. This is no time to tell; I had forgot my danger. Let it suffice, the doors are barred against me; now, this moment I am a prisoner to her fury; if thou canst help me to any means of safety, or escape, ask me no questions, but be quick, and tell me.

Ang. Now, you frighten me; but here, through my apartment, leads a passage to the garden; at the lower end, you'll find a mount; if you dare drop from thence, I'll shew you: but can't you say, when I may hope again to see you?

Car. About an hour hence, walking in the garden, ready for your escape; for if I live, I'll come provided with the means to make it sureNow I dare thank thee, fortune.

Ang. You will not fail?

Cur. If I survive, depend on me. 'Till when, may Heaven support thy innocence! Ang. Follow me—————

[Exeunt hastily. Lou. Are you so nimble, sir? Who waits there?

Enter JAQUES.

Run, take help, and stop the stranger; he is now making his escape through the garden; fly! [Exit JAQUES.-Love, and revenge, like vipers, gnaw upon my quiet, and I must change their food, or leave my being. No, if I forego a second time that dear support, my pride, may I bccome as miserable as that wretch, that destined fool, he doats on! Ha! she is returned! yonder she passes; with what assured contentment in her looks!—how pleased the thing is !-strangely impudent-sure! the ugly creature thinks I won't strangle her.

Enter JAQUES. Now, have you brought him?

Jaq. Madam, we made what haste we could, but the gentleman reached the mount before us, and escaped over the garden wall.

Lou. Escaped, villain! durst thou tell me so? Jaq. If your ladyship had called me a little sooner, we had taken him. Who the devil is this stranger?

again; and, if he keeps his word, (as I've an odious cause to fear he will) he yet, at least in my revenge, shall prove me woman. [Exit Louisa,

SCENE III,-The Street.

Enter D. DUART disguised, with a servant.

D. Du. Where did you find him! Ser. Hard by, sir, at an house of civil recreation; he's now coming forth; that's he.

Enter CLODIO.

D. Du, I scarce remember him. I would not willingly mistake-I'll observe him.

Clo. So now if I can but pick up an honest fellow, to crack one healing bottle, I think I shall finish the day as smartly as the grand signiorHold, let me see, what has my hasty refreshment cost me here; umb-umb-umb-[Counts his money,]-seven pistoles, by Jupiter; why, what a plaguy income this jade must have in a week, if she's thus paid by the hour!

D. Du. 'Tis the same! leave me[Exit Servant.]-Your servant, sir. Clo. Sir-your humble servant,

D. Du. Pardon a stranger's freedom, sir; but when you know my business

Clo. Sir, if you'll take a bottle, I shall be proud of your acquaintance; and if I don't do your business before we part, I'll knock under the table,

D. Du. Sir, I shall be glad to drink with you; but at present am incapable of sitting to it.

Clo. Why, then, sir, you shall only drink as long as you can stand; we'll have a bottle here, sir. Hey, Madona! [Calls at the door.

D. Du. A very frank humoured gentleman; I'll know him farther-I presume, sir, you are not of Portugal?

Clo. No, sir-I am a kind of a—what d'ye call 'um-a sort of a here-and-thereian; I am a stranger no where.

D. Du. Have you travelled far, sir?
Clo. My tour of Europe, or so, sir-

Enter Servant with wine.

Clo. So, so here's the wine! come; sir, to our better acquaintance-faith, I like you mightily-Allons![Drinks.]-Morbleu! ce n'est pas mauvais! Allons, encore, hey! Vive l'amour! Quand Iris, &c. [Sings.

D. Du. I find, sir, you have taken a taste of all the countries you have travelled through: but I presume your chief amusement has lain among the ladies. You fared well in France, I hope?