Vil. So here will be fine work!

D. Man. Octavio! the devil!

[Aside.

Oct. You'll find me one, unless you do me speedy justice: since not the bonds of honour, nature, nor submissive reason can oblige you, I am reduced to take a surer, shorter way, and force you to be just I leave you, sir, to think on't. [Walks about angrily. D. Man. Ah! here's a confessor! ah! that jade of mine -and that other jade of my jade's!. Here has been rare doings!-Well! it sha'n't hold long; madam shall be noosed to-morrow morning-Ha! Sir's in a great passion here, but it won't do-those long strides, don, will never bring you the sooner to your mistress.. -Rosara step into that closet, and fetch my spectacles off o' the table there. Tum! tum! [Sings.

Vil. I don't like the old gentleman's looks. [Aside. Ros. This obstinacy of yours, my dear father, you shall find runs in the family.

[Exit Rosara, and Don Man. locks her in.

D. Man. Tum! dum! dum!

[Sings. O&. Sir, I would advise you, as your nearest friend,

to defer this marriage for three days.

D. Man. Tum! dum! dum!

Vil. Sir, you have locked my mistress in. [Pertly. D. Man. Tum! dum! dum!

Vil. If you please to lend me the key, sir, I'll let

her out.

D. Man. Tum! dum! dum!

08. You might afford me at least, as I am a gentleman, a civil answer, sir.

D. Man. Why then, in one word, sir, you shall not marry my daughter; and, as you are a gentleman, I'm sure you won't think it good manners to stay in my house, when i submissively beg of you to walk out.

Oct. You are the father of my mistress, and something, sir, too old to answer as you ought this wrong, therefore I'll look for reputation where I can with honour take it; and since you have obliged me to leave your house, I'll watch it carefully; I'll know who dares enter it. This, sir, be sure of, the man that offers at Rosara's love shall have one virtue, courage at least; I'll be his proof of that, and ere he steps before me, force him to deserve her. [Exit Oct.

D. Man. Ah! poor fellow he's mad now, and does not know what he would be at.But, however, 'twill be no harm to provide against himWho waits there?

Enter a Servant.

Run you for an alguazil, and bid your fellows arm themselves; I expect mischief at my door immedi ately if Octavio offers any disturbance, knock him down, and bring him before me. [Exit Serv. Vil. Hist! don't I hear my mistress's voice?

Res. [Within.] Viletta!

Vil. Here, here, madam-Bless me! what's this? [Viletta listens at the closet door, and Rosara thrusts a billet to her through the key-hole.

Ha a billetto Octavio-a-hem.

[Puts it into her bosom.

D. Man. How now, hussy? What are you fumbling about that door for ?

Vil. Nothing, sir; I was only peeping to see if my mistress had done prayers yet.

D. Man. Oh! she had as good let them alone, for she shall never come out till she has stomach enough to fall to upon the man I have provided for her. But hark you, Mrs. Modesty, was it you, pray, that let in that able comforter for my babe of grace there? Vil. Yes, sir, I let him in. [Pertly. D. Man. Did you so ?-Ha! then if you please, madam,—I'll let you go out-go-go-get a sheet of brown paper, pack up your things, and let me never see that damn'd ugly face of thine as long as I live.

Vil. Bless me! Sir, you are in a strange humour, that you won't know when a servant does as she should do.

D. Man. Thou art strangely impudent.

Vil. Only the farthest from it in the world, sir. D. Man. Then I am strangely mistaken; didst not thou own just now thou lett'st him in?

Vil. Yes-but 'twas in disguise—for I did not design you should see him, because I know you did not care my mistress should see him.

D. Man. Hal

Vil. And I knew, at the same time, she had a mind to see him.

D. Man. Ha!

Vil. And you know, sir, that the sin of loving him had laid upon her conscience a great while; so I

thought it high time she should come to a thorough confession.

D. Man. Ha!

Vil. So upon this, sir, as you see-I-I-I let him in, that's all.

D. Man. Nay, if it be so as thou sayest, he was a proper confessor indeed.

Vil. Ay, sir, for you know this was not a spiritual father's business.

D. Man. No, no, this matter was utterly carnal. Vil. Well, sir, and judge you now if my mistress is not beholden to me?

D. Man. Oh! extremely; but you'll go to hell, my dear, for all this, though, perhaps, you'll choose that place: I think you never much cared for your husband's company; and if I don't mistake, you sent him to Heaven in the old road. Hark! what noise is that? [Noise without. "Vil. So, Octavio's pushing his fortune-he'll have a wife or a halter, that's positive-I'll go see." [Exit Viletta.

Enter a Servant hastily.

D. Man. How now?

Serv. O, sir, Octavio has set upon a couple of gentlemen just as they were alighting out of a coach at the door; one of them, I believe, is he that is to marry my young mistress; I heard them name her name; I'm afraid there will be mischief, sir: there they are, all at it, helter skelter.

D. Man. Run into the hall, take down my back, breast, and head-piece; call an officer; raise the

neighbours; give me my great gun; I'll shoot him out of the garret window. [Exit Don Manuel.

Enter HYPOLITA and FLORA, putting up their Swords, OCTAVIO in the Alguazil's Hands, and TRAPPANTI,

Hyp. Bring him along-This is such an insolence! damn it! at this rate no gentleman can walk the

streets.

Flo. I suppose, sir, your business was more with our pockets than our persons. Are our things safe? Trap. Ay, sir, I secured them as soon as ever I saw his sword out; I guessed his design, and scowered off with the portmanteau.

Hyp. I'll know now who set you on, sir.

Oct. Pr'ythee, young man, don't be troublesome, but thank the rascal, that knocked me down, for your escape.

Hyp. Sir, I'd have you know if you had not been knocked down, I should have owed my escape to the same arm you would have owed the reward for your insolence. Pray, sir, what are you? who knows you? Oct. I'm glad, at least, to find it is not Don Philip that's my rival.

[Aside Serv. Sir, my master knows the gentleman very well; he belongs to the army.

Hyp. Then, sir, if you'd have me use you like a gentleman, I desire your meaning of those familiar questions you asked me at the coach side.

Oa. Faith, young gentleman, I'll be very short: I love the lady you are to marry, and if you don't quit