Hyp. Flora, madam; he knows her yet by no other

name.

Ros. Well, if Don Philip does not think you deserve him, I am afraid he won't find another woman that will have him in haste.-But this last escape of yours was such a masterpiece!

Hyp. Nay, I confess, between fear and shame, I would have given my life for a ducat.

"Ros. Though I wonder, when you perceived him "so sensibly touched with his old passion, how you "had patience to conceal yourself any longer.

Hyp. Indeed I could not easily have resisted it, "but that I knew, if I had been discovered before my "marriage with you, your father, to be sure, would “have insisted then upon his contract with him, "which I did not know how far Don Philip might “be carried in point of honour to keep; I knew too "his refusing it would but the more incense the old "gentleman against my brother's happiness with you; "and I found myself obliged, in gratitude, not toj "build my own upon the ruin of yours.

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“Ros. This is an obligation I never could deserve. Hyp. Your assistance, madam, in my affair has "overpaid it."

Ros. What's become of Don Philip? I hope you have not kept him prisoner all this while ?

Hyp. Oh, he'll be released presently; Flora has her orders.-Where's your father, madam?

Ros. I saw him go towards his closet; I believe

he's gone to fetch you part of my fortune-he seemed in mighty good humour.

Hyp. We must be sure to keep it up as high as we can, that he may be the more stunned when he falls.

Ros. With all my heart: methinks I am possessed with the very spirit of disobedience-Now could I, in the humour I am in, consent to any mischief that would but heartily plague my old gentleman, “for "daring to be better than his word to Octavio."

Hyp. And if we don't plague him- But here he

comes.

Enter Don MANUEL.

D. Man. Ah, my little conqueror! let me embrace thee!That ever I should live to see this day!— this most triumphant day! this day of all days in my life!

Hyp. Ay, and of my life too, sir. [Embracing him.

D. Man. Ay, my cares are over-now I have nothing to do but to think of the other world, for I've done all my business in this; got as many children as I could, and now I'm grown old, have set a young couple to work that will do it better.

Hyp. I warrant ye, sir, you'll soon see whether your daughter has married a man or no.

D. Man. Ah, well said! and that you may never be out of humour with your business, look you here, children, I have brought you some baubles that will

make you merry as long as you live; twelve thousand pistoles are the least value of them; the rest of your fortune shall be paid in the best Barbary gold to-morrow morning.

Hyp. Ay, sir, this is speaking like a father! this is encouragement indeed!

D. Man. Much good may do thy heart and soul with them-and Heaven bless you together!—I have had a great deal of care and trouble to bring it about, children, but thank my stars 'tis over-'tis over now-now I may sleep with my doors open, and never have my slumbers broken with the fear of rogues and rivals.

Ros. Don't interrupt him, and see how far his hu mour will carry him.

[To Hyp. D. Man. But there is no joy lasting in this world; we must all die, when we have done our best, sooner or later; old or young, prince or peasant, high or low, kings, lords, and-common whores, must die! nothing certain; we are forced to buy one comfort with the loss of another. Now I have married my child, I have lost my companion-I have parted with my girl-her heart's gone another way now- -She'll forget her old father-I shall never have her wake me more, like a cheerful lark, with her pretty songs in a morning-I shall have nobody to chat at dinner with me now, or take up a godly book, and read me to sleep in an afternoon. Ah! these comforts are all gone now. [Weeps. Hyp. How very near the extreme of one passion is

to another! Now he is tired with joy till he is downright melancholy.

Ros. What's the matter, sir?

D. Man. Ay, my child! now it comes to the test, methinks I don't know how to part with thee.

Ros. Oh, sir! we [shall be better friends than ever. D. Man. Uh, uh! shall we? wilt thou come and see the old man now and then? Well, Heaven bless thee! give me a kiss—I must kiss thee at parting: be a good girl, use thy husband well, make an obedient wife, and I shall die contented.

Hyp. Die, sir! Come, come, you have a great while to live-Hang these melancholy thoughts! they are the worst company in the world at a wedding-Consider, sir, we are young; if you would oblige us, let us have a little life and inirth, a jubilee to-day at least: stir your servants; call in your neighbours; let me see your whole family mad for joy, sir.

D. Man. Ha! shall we! shall we be merry thɔn? Hyp. Merry, sir! ay, as beggars at a feasr. What! shall a dull Spanish custom tell me, when I am the happiest man in the kingdom, I sha'n't be as mad as I have a mind to? Let me see the face of nothing today but revels, friends, feasts, and music, sir.

D. Man. Ah! thou shalt have thy humour-thou shalt have thy humour! Hey, within there! rogues! dogs! slaves! where are my rascals? Ah, my joy flows again I can't bear it.

Enter several Servants.

Serv. Did you call, sir?

D. Man. Call, sir! ay, sir. are not all out of your wits, sir!

What's the reason you

don't you know that your young mistress is married, scoundrels?

1st. Serv. Yes, sir; and we are all ready to be mad as soon as your honour will please to give any distracted orders.

Hyp. You see, sir, they only want a little encou ragement.

D. Man. Ah, there shall be nothing wanting this day, if I were sure to beg for it all my life afterHere, sirrah, cook! look into the Roman history, see what Mark Antony had for supper when Cleopatra first treated him cher entire: rogue, let me have a repast that will be six times as expensive and provoking -Go.

2d. Serv. It shall be done, sir.

D. Man. And, d'ye hear? one of you step to Monsieur Vendevin, the king's butler, for the same wine that his majesty reserves for his own drinking; tell him he shall have his price for it.

1st. Serv. How much will you please to have, sir? D. Man. Too much, sir; I'll have every thing on the outside of enough to day.. Go you, sirrah, run to the theatre, and detach me a regiment of fiddlers, and singers, and dancers; and you, sir, to my nephew, Don Louis, give my service, and bring all his family along with him.

Hyp. Ay, sir, this is as it should be; now it begins to look like a wedding.

L