Trap. Sir, you may take my word it is: I know the lady, and what the neighbours say of her. Hyp. This was a lucky discovery-but hush. D. Ph. What will you do in this case ?

Oa. That I don't yet know: “I am half distrac"ted;" I have just sent my servant to tell her I am come to town, and beg an opportunity to speak with her; I long to see her; I warrant the poor fool will be so soft and so humble, now she's in a fright.

D. Ph. What will you propose at your meeting

her?

Oa. I don't know; may-be another meeting; at least it will come to a kind look, a kiss, good bye, and a sigh-Ah, if I can but persuade her to run away with me!

D. Ph. Consider

Oct. Ah, so I do! What pleasure 'twould be, to have her steal out of her bed in a sweet moonshiny night; to hear her come pat, pat, pat, along in her slippers, with nothing but a thin silk night-gown loose about her, and in this tempting dress, to have her jump into my arms, breathless with fear; " her "panting bosom close to mine, then to stifle her with "kisses, and curl myself about her smooth warm "limbs, that breathe an healing odour from their "pores, enough to make the senses ake, or fancy "mad."

D. Ph. Octavio, I envy thee; thou art the happiest man in thy temper

Oct. And thou art the most altered I ever knew. Pr'ythee, what makes thee so much upon the humdrum? Well, are my sister and you come to a right understanding yet? When do you marry?

Hyp. So, now I shall have my picture by another hand.

D. Ph. My condition, Octavio, is very much like your mistress's; she is going to marry the man she never saw, and I the woman.

O&. 'Sdeath, you make me tremble! I hope 'tis not my mistress.

D. Ph. Thy mistress! that were an idle fear; Madrid's a wide place-or if it were, (she loving you) my friendship and my honour would oblige me to desist.

Oct. That's generous indeed: but still you amaze me! Are you quite broke off with my sister? I hope she has given you no reason to forget her.

Hyp. Now I tremble.

D. Ph. The most severe that ever beauty printed in the heart of man; a coldness unaccountable to

sense.

Od. Psha, dissembled.

Hyp. Ha!

D. Ph. I cann't think it; lovers are soon flattered into hope; but she appeared to me indifferent to so nice a point, that she has ruined me without the trouble of resolving it.

Flo. Well, men are fools.

D

oa. And by this time she's in fits for your leaving her; 'tis her nature; I know her from her bib and baby: I remember, at five years old, the vixen has fasted three days together, in pure spite to her go

verness.

Hyp. So !

Oct. Nothing could ever, in appearance, make her pleased or angry; always too proud to be obliged, too high to be affronted, and thought nothing so low as to seem fond of revenge: she had a stomach that could digest every thing but humility.

Hyp. Good lack, Mr. Wit!

O&. Yet, with all this, I have sometimes seen her good-natured, generous, and tender.

Hyp. There the rogue was civil again.

D. Ph. I have thought so too.

[Sighing.

Hyp. How can he speak of me with so much generosity ?

Oct. For all her usage of you, I'll be racked if she did not love you,

D. Ph. I rather think she hated me: however, now 'tis past, and I must endeavour to think no more of her.

Hyp. Now I begin to hate myself.

Oct. Then you are determined to marry this other lady?

D. Ph. That's my business to Madrid.

Trap. Which shall be done to your hand.

D. Ph. Besides, I am now obliged by contract.

Oa. Then, (though she be my sister) may some jealous, old, ill-natured dog revenge your quarrel

to her.

Hyp. Thank you, sir.

D. Ph. Come, forget it.

Hyp. Come, we have seen enough of the enemy's motions, to know 'tis time for us to decamp.

[Exeunt Hyp. Flo. and Trap. 08. With all my heart; let's go in and drink your new mistress's health. When do you visit her?

D. Ph. I intended it immediately, but an unlucky accident has hindered me one of my servants fell sick upon the road, so that I am forced to make shift with one, and he is the most negligent sottish rogue in nature; has left my portmanteau, where all my writings and letters of concern are, behind him at the last town we lay at, so that I cann't properly visit the lady or her father, till I am able to assure them who I am.

Oa. Why don't you go back yourself to see for them?

D. Ph. I have sent my servant, for I am really, tired: I was loath to appear so much concerned for them, least the rascal should think it worth his while to run away with them.

Enter Servant to OCTAVIO.

Oct. How now ?

Serv. Here's an answer, sir.

[Gives a letter.

Oct. [To D. Ph.] My dear friend, I beg a thousand pardons; I must leave you this minute; the kind creature has sent for me. I am a soldier, you know, and orders must be obeyed; when I come off o' duty I'll immediately wait upon you.

D. Ph. You'll find me hear, or here of me. Adieu. Here, house!

Enter Host,

Pr'ythee, see if my servant be come yet.

[Exit Oct.

Host. I believe he is, sir; is he not in blue ?
D. Ph. Ay, where is the sot ?

Host. Just refreshing himself with a glass at the gate.

D. Ph. Pray, tell the gentleman I'd speak with him.-[Exit Host.] In all the necessaries of life, there is not a greater plague than servants. Hey, Soto!

Enter Soro drunk.

Sot. Did you please to-such !-call, sir?

D. Ph. What's the reason, blockhead, I must always wait upon you thus ?

Sot. Sir, I did not know any thing of it, I-Icame as soon as you se-se-se-sent for me.

D. Ph. And why not without sending, sir? Did you think I expected no answer to the business I sent you about?

Sot. Yes, sir-I did think you would be willing→ that is—to have an account-so I staid to take a glass