Heaven forbid I should deny thee flesh and blood, my girl!

Inis. Here's an old dog for you.

[Aside.'

Isab. Do not mistake, sir. The fatal stroke which seperates soul and body is not more terrible to the thoughts of sinners, than the name of Guzman to my

ear.

Lop. Puh, puh! you lie, you lie.

Isab. My frighted heart beats hard against my breast, as if it sought a passage to your feet, to beg you'd change your purpose.

Lop. A very pretty speech, this; if it were turned into blank verse, it would serve for a tragedy. Why thou hast more wit than I thought thou hadst, child. I fancy this was all extempore; I don't believe thou didst ever think one word on't before.

Inis. Yes, but she has, my lord; for I have heard her say the same things a thousand times.

Lop. How, how-What, do you top your second. hand jests upon your father, hussy, who knows better what's good for you than you do yourself? Remember 'tis your duty to obey.

Isab. [Rising.] I never disobeyed before, and I wish I had not reason now; but nature hath got the better of my duty, and makes me loathe the harsh commands you lay.

Lop. Ha, ha! very fine! ha, ha!

Isab. Death itself would be more welcome.

Lop. Are you sure of that?

Isab, I am your daughter, my lord, and can boast

as strong a resolution as yourself. I'll die before I'll marry Guzman.

Lop. Say you so? I'll try that presently. [Draws.] Here, let me see with what dexterity you can breathe a vein now. [Offers her his sword.] The point is pretty sharp-'twill do your business, I warrant you.

Inis. Bless me, sir! What, do you mean to put a sword into the hands of a desperate woman?

Lop. Desperate! ha, ha, ha! you see how desperate she is. What, art thou frighted, little Bellì ha! Isab. I confess I am startled at your morals, sir. Lop. Ay, ay, child, thou hadst better take the man; he'll hurt thee the least of the two.

Isab. I shall take neither, sir: Death has many doors; and when I can live no longer with pleasure, I shall find one to let him in at without your aid.

Lop. Say'st thou so, my dear Bell? Ods, I'm afraid thou art a little lunatic, Bell. I must take care of thee, child. [Takes hold of her, and pulls out of his pocket a key.] I shall make bold to secure thee, my dear; I'll see if locks and bars can keep thee till Guzman come. Go, get into your chamber:

There I'll your boasted resolution try,

And see who'll get the better, you or 1.

[Pushes her in, and locks the door.

ACT II. SCENE 1.

A Room in Don PEDRO's House. Enter Donna V10. LANTE reading a Letter, and FLORA following.

Flora.

WHAT, must that letter be read again?

Vio. Yes, and again, and again, and again, a thousand times again; a letter from a faithful lover can ne'er be read too often; it speaks such kind, such soft, such tender things

Flo. But always the same language.

Vio. It does not charm the less for that.

:

[Kisses it.

Flo. In my opinion, nothing charms that does not change and any composition of the four-andtwenty letters, after the first essay, from the same hand, must be dull, except a bank-note or a bill of exchange.

Vio. Thy taste is my aversion.

[Reads.]—' My

Fre

all that's charming, since life's not life, exil'd from thee, this night shall bring me to thy arms. derick and thee are all I trust. These six weeks' absence has been in love's account six hundred years. When it is dark, expect the wonted signal at thy window till when, adieu. Thine, more than his own,

Flo. Who would not have said as much to her beauty, and twenty thousand pounds?

FELIX.' a lady of

-Were

I a man, methinks I could have said a hundred finer things.

Vio. What would you have said?

Flo. I would have compared your eyes to the stars, your teeth to ivory, your lips to coral, your neck to alabaster, your shape to

Vio. No more of your bombast; truth is the best eloquence in a lover. What proof remains ungiven of his love? When his father threatened to disinherit him for refusing Don Antonio's sister, from whence sprung this unhappy quarrel, did it shake his love for me? and now, though strict inquiry runs through every place, with large rewards to apprehend him, does he not venture all for me?

Flo. But you know, madam, your father Don Pedro designs you for a nun—to be sure, you look very like a nun!-and says your grandfather left you your fortune upon that condition.

Vio. Not without my approbation, girl, when I come to one-and-twenty, as I am informed. But, however, I shall run the risk of that. Go, call in Lissardo.

Flo. Yes, madam. questions.

Now for a thousand verbal [Exit, and re-enter with Lissardo.

Vio. Well, and how do you do, Lissardo ?

Liss. Ah, very weary, madam.

look'st wondrous pretty, Flora.

Vio. How came you?

-'Faith, thou

[Aside to Flora.

Liss. En chevalier, madam, upon a hackney jade, which they told me formerly belonged to an English

colonel; but I should have rather thought she had been bred a good Roman catholic all her lifetimefor she down'd on her knees to every stock and stone we came along by.My chops water for a kiss, they do, Flora. [Aside to Flora.

Flo. You'd make one believe you are wondrous fond now.

Vio. Where did you leave your master ?

Liss. Od, if I had you alone, housewife, I'd shew how fond I could be[Aside to Flora. Vio. Where did you leave your master ?

you

Liss. At a little farm-house, madam, about five miles off. He'll be at Don Frederick's in the evening-Od, I will so revenge myself of those lips of thine.

Vio. Is he in health?

Flo. Oh, you counterfeit wondrous well.

[To Flora.

[To Lissardo.

Liss. No; every body knows I counterfeit very ill.

[To Flora.

Vio. How say you? Is Felix ill? What's his distemper ? ha!

Liss. A pies on't, I hate to be interrupted.-Love, madam, love-In short, madam, I believe he has thought of nothing but your ladyship ever since he left Lisbon. I am sure he could not, if I may judge of his heart by my own.

[Looking lovingly upon Flora. Vio. How came you so well acquainted with your

master's thoughts, Lissardo?