served it) yet, for your daughter's sake, if you'll oblige yourself, by signing this paper, to keep your first promise, and give her, with her full fortune, to this gentleman, I'm still content, on that condition, to disannul my own pretences, and resign her. Oct. Ha! what says he? D. Man. Sir, I don't know how to answer you; for I can never believe you'll have good-nature enough to hang yourself out of the way, to make room for him. Hyp. Then, sir, to let you see I have not only an honest meaning, but an immediate power, to make good my word, I first renounce all title to her fortune; these jewels, which I received from you, I give him free possession of; and now, sir, the rest of her fortune you owe him with her person. Oct. I am all amazement ! D. Lou. What can this end in? D. Man. This is unaccountable, I must confessBut still, sir, if you disanuul your pretences, how you'll persuade that gentleman, to whom I am obliged by contract, to part with his D. Phi. That, sir, shall be no let; I am too well acquainted with the virtue of my friend's title, to entertain a thought that can disturb it. Hyp. Then my fears are over.-[Aside.] Now, sir, it only stops at you. D. Man. Well, sir, I see the paper is only conditional, and, since the general welfare is concerned, I won't refuse to lend you my helping hand to it; but, if you should not make your words good, sir, I hope you won't take it ill if a man should poison you? D. Phi. And, sir, let me, too, warn you how you execute this promise; your flattery and dissembled penitence have deceived me once already, which makes me, I confess, a little slow in my belief; therefore, take heed! expect no second mercy; for, be assured of this, I never can forgive a villain. Hyp. If I am proved one, spare me notask but this-Use me as you find me. D. Phi. That you may depend on. D. Man. There, sir. -I [Gives HYPOLITA the writing signed. Ros. Now, I tremble for her. [Aside. Hyp. And now, Don Philip, I confess you are the only injured person here. D. Phi. I know not that-do my friend right, and I shall easily forgive thee. Hyp. His pardon, with his thanks, I am sure I shall deserve; but how shall I forgive myself? Is there, in nature, left a means that can repair the shameful slights, the insults, and the long disquiets you have known from love? D. Phi. Let me understand thee! Hyp. Examine well your heart; and, if the fierce resentment of its wrongs has not extinguished quite the usual soft compassion there, revive at least one spark, in pity of my woman's weakness. D. Man. How! a woman! D. Phi. Whither wouldst thou carry me? Hyp. Not but I know you generous as the heart of love; yet let me doubt if even this low submission can deserve your pardon-don't look on me: I cannot bear that you should know me yet. The extravagant attempt I have this day run through, to meet you thus, justly may subject me to your contempt and scorn, unless the same forgiving goodness that used to overlook the failings of Hypolita prove still my friend, and soften all with the excuse of love. Oct. My sister! Oh, Rosara! Philip! [All seem amazed. D. Phi. Oh, stop this vast effusion of my transported thoughts! ere my offending wishes break their prison through my eyes, and surfeit on forbidden hopes again: or, if my tears are false, if your relenting heart is touched at last in pity of my enduring love, be kind at once, speak on, and awake me to the joy, while I have sense to hear you. Hyp. Nay, then I am subdued indeed! Is it possible, spite of my follies, still your generous heart can love? 'Tis so! Your eyes confess it, and my fears are dead. Why, then, should I blush, to let at once the honest fulness of my heart gush forth? Oh, Philip! Hypolita is-yours for ever! [They advance slowly, and at last rush into one another's arms.] D. Phi. Oh, ecstasy! Distracting joy! Do I then live to call you mine? Is there an end, at last, of my repeated pangs, my sighs, my torments, and my rejected vows? Is it possible--is it she? Oh, let me view thee thus with aching eyes, and feed my eager sense upon the transport of thy love confessed! What, kind! and yet-it is, it is Hypolita! and yet 'tis she! I know her by the busy pulses at my heart, which only love like mine can feel, and she alone can give. [Eagerly embracing her. Hyp. Now, Philip, you may insult our sex's pride, for I confess you have subdued it all in me; I plead no merit but my knowing yours; I own the weakness of my boasted power, and now am only proud of my humility. D. Phi. Oh, never! never shall thy empire cease! 'Tis not in thy power to give thy power away: this last surprise of generous love has bound me to thy heart, a poor indebted wretch, for ever. Hyp. No more; the rest the priest should say but now our joys grow rude-here are our friends, that must be happy, too. D. Phi. Louis! Octavio! my brother now! oh, forgive the hurry of a transported heart! D. Man. A woman! and Octavio's sister! Oct. That heart that does not feel, as 'twere its own, a joy like this, ne'er yet confessed the power of friendship nor of love. [Embracing him. D. Man. Have I then been pleased, and plagued, and frighted out of my wits by a woman all this while? Odsbud, she is a notable contriver! Stand clear, ho! for if I have not a fair brush at her lips-nay, if she does not give me the hearty smack, too, odswinds and thunder! she is not the good-humoured girl I took her for. Hyp. Come, sir, I won't baulk your good humour.-[He kisses her.]-And now I have a favour to beg of you: you remember your promise; only your blessing here, sir. [OCTAVIO and ROSARA kneel. D. Man. Ah! I can deny thee nothing; and, since I find thou art not fit for my girl's business thyself, odzooks! it shall never be done out of the family-and so, children, Heaven bless you together! Come, I'll give you her hand myself, you know the way to her heart; and, as soon as the priest has said grace, he shall toss you the rest of her body into the bargain. And now my cares are over again. Oct. We'll study to deserve your love, sir. Oh, Rosara! Ros. Now, Octavio, do you believe I loved you better than the person I was to marry? Oct. Kind creature! you were in her secret, then? Ros. I was, and she in mine. Oct. Sister! what words can thank you? Flo. Trusty Flora, sir, at your service. I have had many a battle with my lady upon your account; but I always told her we should do her business at last. D. Man. Another metamorphosis! Brave girls, faith! Odzooks, we shall have them make campaigns shortly! D. Phi. Take this as an earnest of my thanks; in Seville, I'll provide for thee. Hyp. Nay, here's another accomplice, too-confederate I cannot say; for honest Trappanti did not know but that I was as great a rogue as himself. Trap. Tis a folly to lie; I did not indeed, inadam-But the world cannot say I have been a VOL. II. rogue to your ladyship-and, if ed with your money you had not part Hyp. Thou hadst not parted with thy honesty. Trap. Right, madam; but how should a poor naked fellow resist, when he had so many pistoles held against him? [Shews money. D. Man. Aye, aye; well said, lad. Vil. La! a tempting bait, indeed! let him offer to marry me again, if he dares. [Aside. D. Phi. Well, Trappanti, thou hast been serviceable, however, and I'll think of thee. Oct. Nay, I am his debtor, too. Trap. Ah, there's a very easy way, gentlemen, to reward me; and, since you partly owe your happiness to my roguery, I should be very proud to owe mine only to your generosity. Oct. As how, pray? Trap. Why, sir, I find, by my constitution, that it is as natural to be in love as an hungry, and that I ha'nt a jot less stomach than the best of my betters; and, though I have often thought a wife but dining every day upon the same dish, yet, methinks, it's better than no dinner at all: and, for my part, I had rather have no stomach to my meat, than no meat to my stomach: upon which consideration, gentlemen and ladies, I desire you'll use your interest with Madona here— to let me dine at her ordinary. D. Man. A pleasant rogue, faith! Odzooks! the jade shall have him. Come, hussy, he's an ingenious person. Vil. Sir, I don't understand his stuff; when he speaks plain, I know what to say to him. Trap. Why, then, in plain terms, let me a lease of your tenement-marry me. Vil. Aye, now you say something I was afraid, by what you said in the garden, you had only a mind to be a wicked tenant at will. Trap. No, no, child; I have no mind to be turned out at a quarter's warning. Vil. Well, there's my hand-and now meet me as soon as you will with a canonical lawyer, and I'll give you possession of the rest of the premises. D. Man. Odzooks! and well thought of! I'll send for one presently. Hear you, sirrah! run to Father Benedict again, tell him his work don't hold here; his last marriage is broke to pieces; but now we have got better tackle, he must come and stitch two or three fresh couple together, as fast as he can. Enter Servant. Ser. Sir, the music's come. D. Man. Ah, they could never take us in a better time-let them enter-Ladies, and sons and daughters, for I think you are all akin to me now, will you be pleased to sit? [After the entertainment 3 E Enter EDGING, hastily. Edg. O madam! Edg. I have the strangest thing to shew your ladyship- -such a discovery pray? Edg. The business, madam! I have not patience to tell you; I am out of breath at the very thoughts on't; I shall not be able to speak this half hour. Lady Easy. WAS ever woman's spirit, by an injurious husband, broke like mine? A vile licentious man! must he bring home his follies, too? Lady Easy. You are resolved to make it withWrong me with my very servant! O! how te-out much ceremony, I find. What's the business, dious a relief is patience! and yet, in my condition, 'tis the only remedy: for to reproach him with my wrongs, is taking on myself the means of a redress, bidding defiance to his falsehood, and naturally but provokes him to undo me. The uneasy thought of my continual jealousy may teaze him to a fixed aversion; and hitherto, though he neglects, I cannot think he hates me. It must be so since I want power to please him, he never shall upbraid me with an attempt of making him uneasy-My eyes and tongue shall yet be blind and silent to my wrongs; nor would I have him think my virtue could suspect him, till, by some gross, apparent proof of his misdoing, he forces me to see-and to forgive it. Lady Easy. Not to the purpose, I believe! but, methinks, you talk impertinently with a great deal of ease. Edg. Nay, madam, perhaps not so impertinent as your ladyship thinks; there is that will speak to the purpose, I am sure-A base man [Gives a letter. Lady Easy. What is this? An open letter! Whence comes it? Edg. Nay, read it, madam; you will soon guess-If these are the tricks of husbands, keep me a maid still, say I. Lady Easy. [Looking on the superscription.] To Sir Charles Easy! Ha! Too well I know this hateful hand. O my heart! but I must veil my jealousy, which 'tis not fit this creature should suppose I am acquainted with. [Aside.] This direction is to your master; how came you by it? qualities gave me any concern. In my eye, the woman has no more charms than my mother. Edg. Hum! he takes no notice of me yetI'll let him see I can take as little notice of him. [She walks by him gravely; he turns her about and holds her; she struggles.] Pray, sir! Sir Cha. A pretty pert air, that I'll humour it-What's the matter, child? Are not you well? Kiss me, hussy. Edg. No, the deuce fetch me if I do! Edg. Why, madam, as my master was lying down, after he came in from hunting, he sent me into his dressing-room, to fetch his snuff-box out of his waistcoat pocket; and so, as I was search-mour, ing for the box, madam, there I found this wicked letter from a mistress; which I had no sooner read, but, I declare it, my very blood rose at him again; methought I could have torn him and her to pieces. Lady Easy. Intolerable! This odious thing's jealous of him herself, and wants me to join with her in a revenge upon him-Sure I am fallen, indeed! But 'twere to make me lower yet, to let her think I understand her. [Aside. Edg. Nay, pray, madam, read it; you will be out of patience at it. Edg. No, sir, 'tis not worth my being out of humour at-though, if ever you have any thing to say to me again, I'll be burned. Sir Cha. Somebody has belied me to thee. Edg. No, sir, 'tis you have belied yourself to me-Did not I ask you, when you first made a fool of me, if you would be always constant to me? and did not you say, I might be sure you would? And here, instead of that, you are going on in your old intrigue with my lady Graveairs. Sir Cha. So Edg. Beside, don't you suffer my lady to huff me Lady Easy. You are bold, mistress; has my every day as if I were her dog, or had no more indulgence, or your master's good humour, flat- concern with you-I declare I won't bear it, and tered you into the assurance of reading his let- she shan't think to huff me—for aught I know, ters? a liberty I never gave myself--Here-lay I am as agreeable as she and though she dares it where you had it immediately-Should he know not take any notice of your baseness to her, you of your sauciness, 'twould not be my favour could shan't think to use me so-and so, pray, take protect you. [Exit LADY EASY. your nasty letter-I know the hand well enough Edg. Your favour! marry come up! sure I-for my part, I won't stay in the family to be don't depend upon your favour! It's not come to abused at this rate: I that have refused lords that, I hope. Poor creature!-don't you think I am and dukes for your sake. I'd have you to know, my master's mistress for nothing-You shall find, sir, I have had as many blue and green ribbons madam, I won't be snapt up as I have been-Not after me, for aught I know, as would have made but it vexes me to think she should not be as un- me a falbala apron. easy as I. I am sure he is a base man to me, and I could cry my eyes out that she should not think him as bad to her every jot. If I am wronged, sure she may very well expect it, that is but his wife-A conceited thing-she need not be so easy, neither-I am as handsome as she, I hope-Here's my master-I'll try whether I am to be huffed by her or no. [Walks behind. Enter SIR CHARLES EASY. Sir Cha. So! The day is come again!-Life but rises to another stage, and the same dull journey is before us. How like chi'dren do we judge of happiness! When I was stinted in my fortune, almost every thing was a pleasure to me, because most things then being out of my reach, I had always the pleasure of hoping for them; now, fortune's in my hand, she is as insipid as an old acquaintance-It is mighty silly faith! Just the same thing by my wife, too; I am told she is extremely handsome-nay, and have heard a great many people say, she is certainly the best woman in the world-Why, I don't know but she may; yet I could never find that her person or good Sir Cha. My lady Graveairs! my nasty letter! and I won't stay in the family! Death! I'm in a pretty condition!-What an unlimited privilege has this jade got from being a whore ! Edg. I suppose, sir, you think to use every body as you do your wife. Sir Cha. My wife! hah! Come hither, Mrs Edging; hark you, drab. Edg. Oh! [Seizing her by the shoulder. Sir Cha. When you speak of my wife, you are to say your lady, and you are never to speak of your lady to me in any regard of her being my wife-for, look you, child, you are not her strumpet, but mine; therefore, I only give you leave to be saucy with me. In the next place, you are never to suppose there is any such person as my lady Graveairs; and lastly, my pretty one, how came you by this letter? Edg. It's no matter, perhaps. Sir Cha. Aye, but if you should not tell me quickly, how are you sure I won't take a great piece of flesh out of your shoulder?-My dear. [Shakes her. Edg. O lud! O lud! I will tell you, sir. |