Vio. Fy, Flora! are you not ashamed to talk thus to my father?—You said yesterday you would be glad to go with me into the monastery. Flo. Did I? I told a great lie, then. Ped. She go with thee! no, no, she's enough to debauch the whole convent.-Well, child, remember what I said to thee: next week- Vio. Ay, and what I am to do this, too. [Aside.]— I am all obedient, sir; I care not how soon I change my condition. Flo. But little does he think what change she means. [Aside. Ped. "Well said, Violante.-—I am glad to find "her so willing to leave the world; but it is wholly "owing to my prudent management. Did she know "that she might command her fortune when she came "at age, or upon day of marriage, perhaps she'd "change her note. -But I have always told her "that her grandfather left it with this proviso, that "she turned nun. Now a small part of this twenty "thousand pounds provides for her in the nunnery, "and the rest is my own. -There is nothing to be got in this life without policy.—[ Aside. ]"————— Well, child, I am going into the country for two or three days, to settle some affairs with thy uncle; and when I return, we'll proceed for thy happiness, child. Good bye, Violante; take care of thyself. [Exeunt Don Pedro and Violante. Flo. So, now for the colonel.- -Hist, hist, co lonel! Enter Colonel. Col. Is the coast clear? Flo. Yes, if you can climb; for you must get over the washhouse, and jump from the garden-wall into the street. Col. Nay, nay, I don't value my neck, if my incognita answers but thy lady's promise. [Exeunt Col. and Flora. Enter FELIX. Fel. I have lain perdue under the stairs till I watched the old man out. [Violante opens the door.] 'Sdeath! I am prevented. [Exit Felix. Enter VIOLANTE. Vio. Now to set my prisoner at liberty. [Goes to the door, where the Colonel is hid.] Sir, sir, you may appear. Enter FELIX, following her. Fel. May he so, madam? I had cause for my suspicion, I find. Treacherous woman! Vio. Ha, Felix here! Nay, then all is discovered. Fel. [Draws.] Villain whoever thou art, come out, I charge thee, and take the reward of thy adul terous errand. Vio. What shall I say -Nothing but the Secret which I have sworn to Keep can reconcile this quar rel. [Aside Fel. A coward! Nay, then I'll fetch you out; think not to hide thyself: no; by St. Anthony, an altar should not protect thee; "even there I'd reach "thy heart, though all the saints were armed in thy "defence." [Exit. Vio. Defend me, Heaven! what shall I do? I must discover Isabella, or here will be murder. Enter FLORA. Flo. I have helped the colonel off clear, madam. Vio. Sayest thou so, my girl? armed. Then I am Re-enter FELIX. Fel. Where has the devil, in compliance to your sex, conveyed him from my resentment ? Vio. Him! whom do you mean, my dear inquisitive spark? Ha, ha, ha, hal you will never leave these jealous whims. Fel. Will you never cease to impose upon me? Vio. You impose upon yourself, my dear. Do you think I did not see you? Yes, I did, and resolved to put this trick upon you. Fel. Trick! Vio. Yes, trick. I knew you'd take the hint, and soon relapse into your wonted error. How easily your jealousy is fired! I shall have a blessed life with you. Fel. Was there nothing in it then but only to try me? Vio. Won't you believe your eyes? Fel. My eyes! No, nor my ears, nor any of my senses, for they have all deceived me. Well, I am convinced that faith is as necessary in love as in religion; for the moment a man lets a woman know her conquest he resigns his senses, and sees nothing but what she'd have him. Vio. And as soon as that man finds his love returned, she becomes as errant a slave as if she had already said after the priest. Fel. The priest, Violante, would dissipate those fears which cause these quarrels. When wilt thou make me happy? Vio To-morrow I will tell thee: my father is gone for two or three days to my uncle's; we have time enough to finish our affairs. -But pr'ythee leave me now, lest some accident should bring my father. Fel. To-morrow then Fly swift, ye Hours, and bring to-morrow on! But must I leave you now, my Violante ? Vio. You must, my Felix. to part no more! -We soon shall meet Fel. Oh, rapturous sounds! Charming woman! [Exit. "Enter ISABELLA. "Isab. I am glad my brother and you are recon"ciled, my dear, and the colonel escaped without his "knowledge; I was frighted out of my wits when I "heard him return. I know not how to express my "thanks, woman, for what you suffered for my sake; "my grateful acknowledgment shall ever wait you, "and to the world proclaim the faith, truth, and ho nour of a woman. "Vio. Pr'ythee don't compliment thy friend, Isa"bella.-You heard the colonel, I suppose. "Isab. Every syllable; and am pleased to find I "do not love in vain. "Vio. Thou hast caught his heart, it seems, and "an hour hence may secure his person.-Thou hast "made hasty work on't, girl. "Isab. From thence I draw my happiness; we "shall have no accounts to make up, after consum"mation. "She who for years protracts her lover's pain, “ And makes him wish, and wait, and sigh in vain, "To be his wife, when late she gives consent, "Finds half his passion was in courtship spent ; "Whilst they, who boldly all delays remove, "Find every hour a fresh supply of love. [Exeunt.” |