Paul. 'Tis false ! ye have more appetites than hairs! and your flushed, sleek, and pampered appearance, is the disgrace of our order. Out on't! If you are hungry, can't you be content with the wholesome roots of the earth? and if you are dry, isn't there the crystal spring? [Drinks.] Put this away, [gives the glass] and shew me where I'm wanted. [Porter drains the glass-PAUL, going, turns.] So, you would have drunk it, if there had been any left? Ah, glutton! glutton! [Exeunt.

SCENE VI.-The Court before the Priory.

Enter ISAAC and ANTONIO.

Isaac. A plaguy while coming, this same Father Paul! He's detained at vespers, I suppose, poor fellow !

Ant. No, here he comes.

Enter PAUL.

Good Father Paul, I crave your blessing.

Isaac. Yes, good Father Paul, we are come to beg a favour.

Paul. What is it, pray?

Isaac. To marry us, good Father Paul; and in truth thou dost look the very priest of Hymen.

Paul. In short, I may be called so; for I deal in repentance and mortification.

Isaac. No, no; thou seemest an officer of Hymen, because thy presence speaks content and good-humour. Paul. Alas! my appearance is deceitful. Bloated I am, indeed! for fasting is a windy recreation, and it hath swoln me like a bladder.

Ant. But thou hast a good fresh colour in thy face, father, rosy i 'faith.

Paul. Yes, I have blushed for mankind, till the hue of my shame is as fixed as their vices.

Isaac. Good man!

Paul. And I have laboured, too, but to what purpose? They continue to sin under my very nose.

Isaac. Efecks, father, I should have guessed as much, for your nose seems to be put to the blush more than any other part of your face.

Paul. Go, you're a wag.

Ant. But, to the purpose, father: will you officiate for us?

Paul. To join young people thus clandestinely is not safe: and, indeed, I have in my heart many weighty reasons against it.

Ant. And I have in my hand many weighty reasons for it. Isaac, hav'n't you an argument or two in our favour about you?

Isaac. Yes, yes; here is a most unanswerable purse. Paul. For shame: You make me angry: you forget who I am; and when importunate people have forced their trash-ay, into this pocket, here—or into this-why, then the sin was theirs. [They put money into his pockets.] Fie! now how you distress me! I would return it, but that I must touch it that way, and so wrong my oath.

Ant. Now then, come with us.

Isaac. Ay, now give us our title to joy and rapture. Paul. Well, when your hour of repentance comes, don't blame me.

Ant. No bad caution to my friend Isaac. [Aside. Well, well, father, do you do your part, and I'll abide the consequence.

Isaac. Ay, and so will I.

[They are going.

Enter LOUISA, running.

Louisa. O Antonio! Ferdinand is at the porch, and inquiring for us.

Isaac. Who? Don Ferdinand! He's not inquiring for me, I hope.

Ant. Fear not, my love; I'll soon pacify him.

Isaac. Egad, you won't. Antonio, take my advice, and run away: this Ferdinand is the most unmerciful dog! and has the cursedest long sword!—and, upon my soul, he comes on purpose to cut your throat. Ant. Never fear, never fear.

Isaac. Well, you may stay if you will; but I'll get some one to marry me; for, by St. Iago, he shall never meet me again, while I am master of a pair of heels. [Runs out. Enter FERDINAND.-(LOUISA veils.)

Ferd. So, Sir, I have met with you at last.
Ant. Well, Sir.

Ferd. Base, treacherous man! whence can a false, deceitful soul, like yours, borrow confidence to look so steadily on the man you've injured?

Ant. Ferdinand, you are too warm:-'tis true, you find me on the point of wedding one I love beyond my life; but no argument of mine prevailed on her to elope. I scorn deceit, as much as you. By heaven, I knew not she had left her father's, till I saw her.

Ferd. What a mean excuse! You have wronged your friend, then, for one, whose wanton forwardness anticipated your treachery: of this, indeed, your Jew pander informed me; but let your conduct be consistent, and since you have dared to do a wrong, follow me, and shew you have a spirit to avow it. Louisa. Antonio, I perceive his mistake. him to me.

Leave

Paul. Friend, you are rude, to interrupt the union of two willing hearts.

Ferd. No, meddling priest: the hand he seeks is mine.

Paul. If so, I'll proceed no further. Lady, did you ever promise this youth your hand?

[To LOUISA, who shakes her head. Ferd. Clara, I thank you for your silence. I would not have heard your tongue avow such falsity; be't your punishment to remember, I have not reproached you. Enter CLARA.

Clara. What mockery is this?

Ferd. Antonio, you are protected now, but we [Going, CLARA holds one arm, and LOUISA the other.

shall meet.

[Both unveil.

Ferd. How's this? my sister! Clara, too! I'm confounded.

Louisa. 'Tis even so, good brother.

Paul. How! what impiety! Did the man want to marry his own sister?

Louisa. And ar'n't you ashamed of yourself, not to know your own sister?

Clara. To drive away your own mistress—

Louisa. Don't you see how jealousy blinds people? Clara. Ay, and will you ever be jealous again? Ferd. Never-never! You, sister, I know will forgive me but how, Clara, shall I presume

Clara. No, no; just now you told me not to tease you.-'Who do you want, good signior?' 'Not you, not you.' Oh, you blind wretch! But swear never to be jealous again, and I'll forgive you.

Ferd. By all

Clara. There, that will do-you'll keep the oath just as well. [Gives her hand. Louisa. But, brother, here is one, to whom some apology is due.

Ferd. Antonio, I am ashamed to think—

Ant. Not a word of excuse, Ferdinand. I have not been in love myself without learning that a lover's anger should never be resented. But come-let us retire with this good father, and we'll explain to you the cause of this error.

GLEE AND CHORUS.

Oft does Hymen smile to hear
Wordy vows of feign'd regard;
Well he knows when they're sincere,
Never slow to give reward;

For his glory is to prove

Kind to those who wed for love.

SCENE VII.A Grand Saloon.

[Exeunt.

Enter DON JEROME, SERVANTS, and LOPEZ.

Jerome. Be sure, now, let every thing be in the best order. Let all my servants have on their merriest faces: but tell them to get as little drunk as possible, till after supper. So, Lopez, where's your master? Sha'n't we have him at supper?

Lopez. Indeed, I believe not, Sir. He's mad, I doubt: I'm sure he has frighted me from him.

Jerome. Ay, ay, he's after some wench, I suppose: a young rake! Well, well, we'll be merry without him.

Enter a SERVANT.

Serv. Sir, here is Signior Isaac.

Enter ISAAC.

Jerome. So, my dear son-in-law: there, take my blessing and forgiveness. But where's my daughter? where's Louisa?

Isaac. She's without, impatient for a blessing, but almost afraid to enter.

Jerome. Oh, fly, and bring her in. [Exit ISAAC.] Poor girl! I long to see her pretty face.

Isaac. [Without.] Come, my charmer, my trembling angel!

Enter ISAAC and DUENNA; DON JEROME runs
to meet them; she kneels.

Jerome. Come to my arm, my-[Starts back.] Why, who the devil have we here?