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dore and several witnesses, to prove, it seems, that the person whom you were just going to marry my cousin to, has usurped his name, betrayed you, robbed him, and is in short a rank impostor!

Hyp. So, now it's come home to him.

D. Man. Dear nephew! don't torture me. Are ye sure you know Don Philip when you see him?

D. Lou. Know him, sir! were we not school-fellows, fellow-collegians, and fellow-travellers?

D. Man. But are you sure you may not have forgot him, neither?

D. Lou. You might as well ask me if I had not forgot you, sir.

D. Man. But one question more, and I am dumb for ever- -is that he

D. Lou. That, sir! no, nor in the least like himBut, pray, why this concern? I hope we are not come too late to prevent the marriage?

D. Man. Oh, oh, oh, oh! my poor child!

Ros. Oh!

Enter VILETTA.

[Seems to faint.

Vil. What's the matter, sir?

D. Man. Ah! look to my child.

D. Lou. Is this the villain, then, that has imposed on you?

Hyp. Sir, I'm this lady's husband, and while I'm sure that name cann't be taken from me, I shall be contented with laughing at any other you or your party dare give me.

2

D. Man. Oh!

D. Lou. Nay then, within there!-such a villain ought to be made an example.

Enter Corrigidore and Officers, with DON PHILIP, OCTAVIO, FLORA, and TRAPPANTI.

Oh gentlemen, we're undone! all comes too late! my poor cousin's married the impostor!

D. Ph. How !

Oct. Confusion !

D. Man. Oh, oh!

D. Ph. That's the person, sir, and I demand your justice.

Oct. And I.

Flo. And all of us.

D. Man. Will my cares never be over?

Cor. Well, gentlemen, let me rightly understand what 'tis you charge him with, and I'll commit him immediately-First, sir, you say these gentlemen all know you to be the true Don Philip?

D. Lou. That, sir, I presume, my oath will prove. Od. Or mine.

Flo. And mine.

Trap. Ay, and mine too, sir.

D. Man. Where shall I hide this shameful head? Flo. And for the robbery, that I can prove upon him; he confessed to me at Toledo he stole this gentleman's portmanteau there to carry on his design upon this lady, and agreed to give me a third part of her fortune for my assistance, which he refusing

to pay as soon as the marriage was over, I thought myself obliged in honour to discover him.

Hyp. Well, gentlemen, you may insult me if you please; but I presume you'll hardly be able to prove that I'm not married to the lady, or have not the best part of her fortune in my pocket; so do your worst ; I own my ingenuity, and am proud on't.

D. Man. Ingenuity, abandoned villain-But, sir, before you send him to gaol I desire he may return the jewels I gave him as part of my daughter's portion.

Cor. That cann't be, sir-since he has married the lady her fortune's lawfully his. All we can do is to prosecute him for robbing this gentleman.

D. Man. Oh that ever I was born!

Hyp. Return the jewels, sir! If you don't pay me the rest of her fortune to-morrow morning you may chance to go to gaol before me.

D. Man. Oh that I were buried will my cares never be over?

Hyp. They are pretty near, it, sir; you cann't have much more to trouble you.

Cor. Come, sir, if you please, I must desire to take your affidavit in writing. [Goes to the table with Flora. D. Ph. Now, sir, you see what your own rashness has brought ye to. "How shall I be stared at when "I give an account of this to my father, or your "friends in Seville; you'll be the public jest; your "understanding or your folly will be the mirth of "every table.”

D. Man. Pray forbear, sir.

Hyp. Keep it up, madam.

[Aside to Ros.

Ros. Oh, sir! how wretched have you made me! Is this the care you have taken of me for my blind obedience to your commands this my reward for filial duty?

D. Man. Ah, my poor child!

Ros. But I deserve it all for ever listening to your barbarous proposal, when my conscience might have told me my vows and person, in justice and honour, were the wronged Octavio's.

D. Man. Oh, oh 1

Oct. Can she repent her falsehood then at last } Is't possible then I'm wounded too! Oh, my poor undone Rosara! [Goes to her.] Ungrateful! cruel! perjured man! "how canst thou bear to see the light "after this heap of ruin thou hast raised, by tearing "thus asunder the most solemn vows of plighted "" love?"

D. Man. Oh, don't insult me; I deserve the worst you can say—I'm a miserable wretch, and I repent

me.

"O. Repent canst thou believe whole years of "sorrow will atone thy crime? no; groan on, sigh " and weep away thy life to come, and when the stings "and horrors of thy conscience have laid thy tortured "body in the grave-then, then-as thou dost me, "when it is too late, I'll pity thee."

Vil. So here's the lady in tears, the lover in rage, the old gentleman out of his senses, most of the com

pany distracted, and the bridegroom in a fair way to be hanged-the merriest wedding that ever I saw in my life. [To Hyp. Cor. Well, sir, have you any thing to say before I make your warrant ?

Hyp. A word or two, and I obey ye, sir.-Gentlemen, I have reflected on the folly of my action, and foresee the disquiets I am like to undergo in being this lady's husband; therefore, as I own myself the author of all this seeming ruin and confusion, so I am willing (desiring first the officers may withdraw) to offer something to the general quiet.

O. What can this mean?

D. Ph. Psha! some new contrivance—Let's begone. D. Lou. Stay a moment; it can be no harm to hear him--Sir, will you oblige us?

Cor. Wait without

Vil. What's to be done now, trow?

[Exeunt Officers.

Trap. Some smart thing I warrant ye: the little gentleman hath a notable head, faith t

Ilo. Nay, gentlemen, thus much I know of him, that if you can but persuade him to be honest, 'tis still in his power to make you all amends, and in my opinion 'tis high time he should propose it.

D. Man. Ay, 'tis time he were hanged, indeed, for I know no other amends he can make us.

Hyp. Then I must tell you, sir, I owe you no reparation; the injuries which you complain of, your sordid avarice and breach of promise here have justly

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