brought upon you." Had you, as you were obliged, "in conscience and in nature, first given your daugh. "ter with your heart, she had now been honourably "happy, and, if any, I the only miserable person ❝here.

"D. Lou. He talks reason.

"D. Ph. I don't think him in the wrong there, "indeed."

Hyp. Therefore, sir, if you are injured you may thank yourself for it.

D. Man. Nay, dear sir-I do confess my blindness, and could heartily wish your eyes or mine had dropped out of our heads before ever we saw one another.

Hyp. Well, sir, (however little you have deserved it) yet, for your daughter's sake, if you'll oblige yourself by signing this paper to keep your first promise, and give her with her full fortune to this gentleman, I'm still content, on that condition, to disannul my own pretences, and resign her.

"O. Ha! what says he?

"D. Lou. This is strange !"

D. Man. Sir, I don't know how to answer you, for I can never believe you'll have good nature enough to hang yourself out of the way to make room for him.

Hyp. Then, sir, to let you see I have not only an honest meaning but an immediate power to make good my word, I first renounce all title to her fortune; these jewels which I received from you I give him

free possession of; and now, sir, the rest of her for

tune you owe him with her person.

"0. I am all amazement !

"D. Lou. What can this end in ? "D. Ph. I am surprised, indeed !"

D. Man. This is unaccountable, I must confess But still, sir, if you disannul your pretences, how you'll persuade that gentleman, to whom I am obliged to contract, to part with his

D. Ph. That, sir, shall be no let; I am too well acquainted with the virtue of my friend's title to entertain a thought that can disturb it.

Hyp. "Then my fears are over." [Aside.] Now, sir, it only stops at you,

D. Man. Well, sir, I see the paper is only conditional, and since the general welfare is concerned I won't refuse to lend you my helping hand to it; but if you should not make your words good, sir, I hope you won't take it ill if a man should poison you ?

D. Ph. And, sir, let me too warn you how you execute this promise; your flattery and dissembled penitence has deceived me once already, which makes me, I confess, a little slow in my belief; therefore, take heed, expect no second mercy; for, be assured of this, I never can forgive a villain.

Hyp. If I am proved one spare me not-I ask but this-Use me as you find me.

D. Ph. That you may depend on.

D. Man. There, sir. [Gives Hyp. the writing signed Ros. Now I tremble for her.

M

[Aside.

Hyp. And now, Don Philip, I confess you are the only injured person here.

D. Ph. I know not that-do my friend right and I shall easily forgive thee.

Hyp. His pardon, with his thanks, I am sure I shall deserve; but how shall I forgive myself? Is there in nature left a means that can repair the shameful slights, the insults, and the long disquiets you have known from love?

D. Ph. Let me understand thee.

Hyp. Examine well your heart; and if the fierce resentment of its wrongs has not exstinguished quite the usual soft compassion there, revive at least one spark, in pity of my woman's weakness.

"D. Man. How! a woman!

"D. Ph. Whither wouldst thou carry me?

"Hyp. Not but I know you generous as the heart "of Love; yet let me doubt if even this low sub"mission can deserve your pardon-Don't look on " me: I cannot bear that you should know me yet." -The extravagant attempt I have this day run through, to meet you thus justly, may subject me to your contempt and scorn, unless the same forgiving goodness that used to overlook the failings of Hy. polita prove still my friend, and soften all with the excuse of love.

"O. My sister! Oh, Rosara! Philip!”

[All seem amazed.

D. Ph. Oh, stop this vast effusion of my tran

"their prison through my eyes, and surfeit on for "bidden hopes again : or if my tears are false, if "your relenting heart is touched at last in pity of my “enduring love, be kind at once, speak on, and "awake me to the joy, while I have sense to hear

Hyp. "Nay, then I am subdued indeed! Is it "possible, 'spite of my follies, still your generous "heart can love? 'Tis so! your eyes confess it, and 66 my fears are dead.-Why then should I blush, to "let at once the honest fullness of my heart gush "forth?"

Oh, Philip! Hypolita is-yours for ever.

[They advance slowly, and at last rush into one anothers arms.]

D. Ph. "Oh, ecstasy! distracting joy !-Do I then "live to call you mine? Is there an end at last of 66 my repeated pangs, my sighs, my torments, and "my rejected vows? is it possible—is it she?—Oh, "let me view thee thus with aching eyes, and feed "my eagar sense upon the transport of thy love "confessed! What, kind! and yet," it is, it is Hypolita! and yet 'tis she! I know her by the busy pulses at my heart, which only love like mine can feel, and she alone can give. [Eagerly embracing her.

"Hyp. Now, Philip, you may insult our sex's “pride, for I confess you have subdued it all in me; "I plead no merit but my knowing yours: I own the "weakness of my boasted power, and now am only "proud of my humility.

"D. Ph. Oh, never! never shall thy empire "cease! 'Tis not in thy power to give thy power "L away: this last surprise of generous love has "bound me to thy heart, a poor indebted wretch for

"ever.

"Hyp. No more; the rest the priest should say— "But now our joys grow rude-Here are our friends "that must be happy too.

“D. Ph. Louis! Octavio! my brother now! oh, "forgive the hurry of a transported heart."

·D. Man. A woman! and Octavio's sister!

"O. That heart that does not feel, as 'twere its own, a joy like this ne'er yet confessed the power "of friendship nor of love." [Embracing him.

D. Man. Have I then been pleased, and plagued, and frighted out of my wits by a woman all this while? Odsbud! she is a notable contriver! Stand clear, ho! for if I have not a fair brush at her lips, nay, if she does not give me the hearty smack too, odswinds and thunder she is not the good humoured girl I took her for.

Hyp. Come, sir, I won't baulk your good humour. [He kisses her.] And now I have a favour to beg of you: you remember your promise; only your blessing here, sir. [Octavio and Rosara kneel. D. Man. Ah, I can deny thee nothing, and since I find thou art not fit for my girl's business thyself, Odzooks! it shall never be done out of the familyand so, children, Heaven bless you together!-Come, I'll give you her hand myself, you know the way to