Nurse returns.

Nurse. Oh, madam! you are utterly ruin'd and undone; your creditors of all kinds are come in upon you: they have mustered up a regiment of rogues, that are come to plunder your house, and seize upon all you have in the world; they are below. What will you do, madam?

Isa. Do nothing; no, for I am born to suffer.

Enter CARLOS to her.

Car. Oh, sister! can I call you by that name,
And be the son of this inhuman man,
Inveterate to your ruin? Do not think
I am a-kin to his barbarity:

I must abhor my father's usage of you;
And from my bleeding honest heart must pity,
Pity your lost condition. Can you think
Of any way that I may serve you in?
But what enrages most my sense of grief,
My sorrow for your wrongs, is, that my father,
Fore-knowing well the storm that was to fall,
Has order'd me not to appear for you.

Isa. I thank your pity; my poor husband fell
For disobeying him, do not you stay

To venture his displeasure too for me.

Car. You must resolve on something [Exit.

Isa. Let my fate

Determine for me; I shall be prepar'd,

The worst that can befall me, is to die :

[A noise.

"When once it comes to that, it matters not "Which way 'tis brought about: whether I starve, "Or hang, or drown, the end is still the same; "Plagues, poison, famine, are but several names “Of the same thing, and all conclude in death. "But sudden death! Oh, for a sudden death, "To cheat my persecutors of their hopes, "Th' expected pleasure of beholding me "Long in my pains, ling'ring in misery. "It will not be, that is deny'd me too." Hark, they are coming; let the torrent roar: It can but overwhelm me in its fall;

And life and death are now alike to me.

[Exeunt, the Nurse leading the Child.

SCENE III.

Opens, and shews CARLOS and VILLEROY with the

Officers.

Vil. No farther violence

The debt in all is but four thousand crowns:

Were it ten times the sum, I think

you know
My fortune very well can answer it.
You have my word for this: I'll see you paid.

Off. That's as much as we can desire:
the money, no matter whence it comes.
Vil. To-morrow you shall have it.
Car. Thus far all's well-

so we have

Enter ISABELLA, and Nurse with the Child.

And now my sister comes to crown the work. [Aside. Isa. Where are the raving blood-hounds, that pursue In a full cry, gaping to swallow me?

I meet your rage, and come to be devour'd:

Say, which way are you to dispose of me?
To dungeons, darkness, death!

Car. Have patience.

Isa. Patience!

Off. You'll excuse us, we are but in our office : Debts must be paid.

Isa. My death will pay you all.

[Distractedly.

Off. While there is law to be had, people will have

their own.

Vil. 'Tis very fit they should; but pray be gone. To-morrow certainly

Isa. What of to-morrow?

"Am I then the sport,

[Exeunt Officers.

"The game of fortune, and her laughing fools?

"The common spectacle, to be expos'd

"From day to day, and baited for the mirth

"Of the lewd rabble?"

For fresh afflictions?

Must I be reserv'd

Vil. For long happiness

Of life, I hope.

Isa. There is no hope for me.

The load grows light, when we resolve to bear:

I'm ready for my trial.

Car. Pray be calm,

And know your friends.

Isa. My friends! Have I a friend?

Car. A faithful friend; in your extremest need. Villeroy came in to save you

Car. By satisfying all your creditors.
Isa. Which way? For what?

Vil. Let me be understood,

[Aside.

And then condemn me: you have given me leave
To be your friend; and in that only name
I now appear before you. I could wish
There had been no occasion of a friend,
Because I know you hate to be oblig'd;
And still more loth to be oblig'd by me.
Isa. 'Twas that I would avoid-
Vil. I'm most unhappy that my services
Can be suspected to design upon you;
I have no farther ends than to redeem you
From fortune's wrongs; to shew myself at last,
What I have long profess'd to be, your friend:
Allow me that; and to convince you more,
That I intend only your interest,

Forgive what I have done, and in amends
(If that can make you any, that can please you)
I'll tear myself for ever from my hopes,
Stifle this flaming passion in my soul,

"That has so long broke out to trouble you,"
And mention my unlucky love no more.

29

Isa. This generosity will ruin me.

[Aside.

Vil. Nay, if the blessing of my looking on you
Disturbs your peace, I will do all I can

To keep away, and never see you more.
Car. You must not go.

Vil. Could Isabella speak

Those few short words, I should be rooted here,
And never move but upon her commands.
Car. Speak to him, sister; do not throw away
A fortune that invites you to be happy.
In your extremity he begs your love;
And has deserv'd it nobly. Think upon
Your lost condition, helpless and alone.

Tho' now you have a friend, the time must come
That
you will want one; him you may secure
To be a friend, a father, husband to you.

Isa. A husband!

Car. You have discharg'd your duty to the dead,

And to the living; 'tis a wilfulness
Not to give way to your necessities,
That force you to this marriage.
Nur. What must become of this

poor innocence ?
[To the Child.

Car. He wants a father to protect his youth, And rear him up to virtue: you must bear The future blame, and answer to the world, When you refuse the

Of taking care of him.

easy

"Nur. Of him and me,

honest means

"And every one that must depend upon you:

D