about. O this little cunning head! I'm a Machiavel -a very Machiavel.

Carlos. 1 hear somebody inquiring for you. I'll see who it is.

[Exit CARLOS.

Enter ANTONIO and LOUISA.

Ant. Well, my good friend, this lady has so entirely convinced me of the certainty of your success at Don Jerome's, that I now resign my pretensions there.

Isaac. You never did a wiser thing, believe me— and, as for deceiving your friend, that's nothing at all. Tricking is all fair in love, isn't it, madam?

Louisa. Certainly, Sir, and I am particularly glad to find you are of that opinion.

Isaac. Olud! yes, ma'am. Let any one outwit me that can, I say—but here, let me join your hands.There, you lucky rogue! I wish you happily married, from the bottom of my soul!

Louisa And I am sure if you wish it, no one else should prevent it.

Isaac. Now, Antonio, we are rivals no more; so let us be friends, will you?

Ant. With all my heart, Isaac.

Isaac. It is not every man, let me tell you, that would have taken such pains, or been so generous to a rival.

Ant. No, 'faith; I don't believe there's another beside yourself in all Spain.

Isaac. Well, but you resign all pretensions to the other lady?

Ant. That I do, most sincerely.

Isaac. I doubt you have a little hankering there

still.

Ant. None in the least, upon my soul.

Isaac. I mean after her fortune.

Ant. No, believe me. You are heartily welcome to every thing she has.

Isaac. Well, i'faith, you have the best of the bargain, as to beauty, twenty to one. Now I'll tell you a secret:-I am to carry off Louisa this very evening.

Louisa. indeed!

Isaac. Yes: she has sworn not to take a husband from her father's hand-so, I've persuaded him to trust her to walk with me in the garden, and then we shall give him the slip.

Louisa. And is Don Jerome to know nothing of this?

Isaac. O lud, no! There lies the jest. Don't you see that, by this step, I overreach him? I shall be entitled to the girl's fortune, without settling a ducat on her. Ha! ha ha! This is trap!—I'm a cunning dog, an't I? A sly villain, eh?

Ant. Ha! ha! ha! you are, indeed!

Isaac. Roguish, you'll say; but keen, eh?-devilish keen!

Ant. So you are indeed-keen-very keen.

Isaac. And what a laugh we shall have at Don Jerome's, when the truth comes out! eh?

Louisa. Yes, I'll answer for it, we shall have a good laugh when the truth comes out. Ha! ha! ha!

Enter CARLOS.

Carlos Here are the dancers come to practise the fandango, you intended to have honoured Donna Louisa with.

Isaac. O, I sha'n't want them; but as I must pay them, I'll see a caper for my money. Will you excuse me?

Louisa. Willingly.

Isuac. Here's my friend, whom you may command for any services. Madam, your most obedient-Antonio, I wish you all happiness. Oh, the easy blockhead! what a tool I have made of him!-This was a masterpiece! [A side.] [Exit.

Louisa. Carlos, will you be my guard again, convey me to the convent of St. Catharine?

and

Ant. Why, Louisa-why should you go there? Louisa. I have my reasons, and you must not be seen to go with me. I shall write from thence to my father: perhaps, when he finds what he has driven

me to, he may relent.

Ant. I have no hope from him. O Louisa! in these arms should be your sanctuary.

Louisa. Be patient but for a little while :-my father cannot force me from thence. But let me see you there before evening, and I will explain myself. Ant. I shall obey.

Louisa. Come, friend. Antonio, Carlos has been a lover himself.

Ant. Then he knows the value of his trust.
Carlos. You shall not find me unfaithful.

TRIO.

Soft pity never leaves the gentle breast,
Where love has been received a welcome guest:
As wandering saints poor huts have sacred made,
He hallows every heart he once has sway'd;
And when his presence we no longer share,
Still leaves compassion as a relic there.

ACT III.

SCENE I-A Library.

Enter JEROME and SERVANT.

[Exeunt.

Jerome. Why, I never was so amazed in my life! Louisa gone off with Isaac Mendoza! What! steal away with the very man whom I wanted her to marry!-elope with her own husband, as it were!-it is impossible!

Serv. Her maid says, Sir, they had your leave to walk in the garden, while you were abroad. The door by the shrubbery was found open, and they have not been heard of since. [Exit. Jerome. Well, it is the most unaccountable affair! 'Sdeath! there is certainly some infernal mystery in it, I can't comprehend!

Enter SERVANT, with a Letter.

Serv. Hers is a letter, Sir, from Signior Isaac.

H

[Exit.

Jerome. So, so, this will explain-ay, Isaac Mendoza-let me see [Reads.

'Dearest Sir.

'You must, doubtless, be much surprised at my flight with your daughter. [Yes, 'faith, and well I may !] I had the happiness to gain her heart at our first interview-[The devil you had!]-But she having unfortunately made a vow not to receive a husband from your hands, I was obliged to comply with her whim - [So, so!]-We shall shortly throw ourselves at your feet, and I hope you will have a blessing ready for one, who will then be

"Your son-in-law,
ISAAC MENDOZA.'

A whim, eh? Why, the devil's in the girl, I think! This morning, she would die sooner than have him and before evening, she runs away with him! Well, well, my will's accomplished-let the motive be what it will and the Portuguese, sure, will never refuse to fulfil the rest of the article.

Enter Second SERVANT, with a Letter.

Serv. Sir, here's a man below, who says he brought this from my young lady, Donna Louisa. [Exit. Jerome. How! yes, it is my daughter's hand, indeed! Lord, there was no occasion for them both to write. Well, let's see what she says▬▬ [Reads.

'My dearest Father.

'How shall I entreat your pardon for the rash step I have taken?-how confess the motive? [Pish! hasn't Isaac just told me the motive? One would think they weren't together when they wrote.] If I have a spirit too resentful of ill usage, 1 have also a heart as easily affected by kindness-[So, so, here the whole matter comes out! Her resentment for Antonio's ill usage has made her sensible of Isaac's kindness. Yes, yes, it is all plain enough—well]- -I am not married yet, though with a man, I am convinced, adores me-[Yes, yes, I dare say Isaac is very fond of her]-But I shall

anxiously expect your answer, in which, should I be so fortunate as to receive your consent, you will make completely happy.

'Your ever affectionate daughter,

'LOUISA.'

My cousent! to be sure she shall have it! Egad, I was never better pleased. I have fulfilled my resolution-I knew I should. Oh, there's nothing like obstinacy-Lewis!

Enter SERVANT.

Let the man, who brought the last letter, wait; and get me a pen and ink below. I am impatient to set poor Louisa's heart at rest. Holloa! Lewis! Sancho!

Enter SERVANTS.

See that there be a noble supper provided in the saloon to-night-serve up my best wines, and let me have music, d'ye hear.

Serv. Yes, Sir.

[Exeunt. Jerome. And order all my doors to be thrown open -admit all guests, with masks or without masksI'faith, we'll have a night of it. And I'll let them see how merry an old man can be.

SONG.

Oh, the days when I was young,
When I laugh'd in fortune's spite,
Talk'd of love the whole day long,
And with nectar crown'd the night!
Then it was, old father Care;
Little reck'd I of thy frown;
Half thy malice youth could bear,
And the rest a bumper drown.
Truth, they say, lies in a well,
Why, I vow, I ne'er could see,
Let the water-drinkers tell,
There it always lay, for me.