altered my first intention of staying out the whole night; and meeting Leonora's father on the road was at any rate a lucky incident. I will not disturb them, but, since I have let myself in with my master-key, go softly to bed; I shall be able to strike a light, and then I think I may say my cares are over. Good heavens! what a wonderful deal of uneasiness may mortals avoid by a little prudence! I doubt not now, there are some men who would have gone out in my situation, and, trusting to the goodness of fortune, left their house and their honour in the care of an unexperienced girl, or the discretion of a mercenary servant. While he is abroad he is tormented with fears and jealousies; and when he returns home, he probably finds disorder, and perhaps shame. But what do I do?—I put a padlock on my door, then all is safe.

Enter MUNGO, from the Cellar, with a Flask in one Hand, and a Candle in the other.

Diego. Heaven and earth! what do I see?

Mun. Where are you, young massa and missy? Here wine for supper.

Diego. I'm thunder-struck!

Mun. My old massa little tink we be so merryhic-hic-What's the matter with me? the room turn

round.

Diego. Wretch, do you know me?
Mun. Know you?-damn you.

Diego. Horrid creature! what makes you here at this time of night? Is it with a design to surprise the innocents in their beds, and murder them sleeping? Mun. Hush, hush-make no noise-hic-hic. Diego. The slave is intoxicated.

Mun. Make no noise, I say; dere's young gentleman wid young lady; he play on guitar, and she like him better dan she like you. Fal, lal, lal.

Diego. Monster, I'll make an example of you.

Mun. What you call me names for, you old dog? Diego. Does the villain dare to lift his hand against me?

Mun. Will you fight?
Diego. He's mad.

Mun. Dere's one in de house you little tink. 'Gad, he do you business.

Diego. Go, lie down in your sty, and sleep.

Mun. Sleep! sleep you self; you drunk—ha, ha, ha! Look, a padlock you put a padlock on a door again, will you?-Ha, ha, ha!

Diego. Didn't I hear music?

Mun. Hichic

Diego. Was it not the sound of a guitar?

Mun. Yes, he play on de guitar rarely-Give me -an't you?

hand; you're old rascal

Diego. What dreadful shock affects me? a mist comes over my eyes; and my knees knock together as if I had got a fit of the shaking palsy.

Mun. I tell you a word in your ear.

Diego. Has any stranger broke into my house? Mun. Yes, by- -hic-a fine young gentleman, he now in a next room with missy.

Diego. Holy St. Francis! is it possible?

Mun. Go you round softly-you catch them together. Diego. Confusion! Distraction! I shall run mad.

Re-enter URSULA.

[Exit.

Urs. O shame, monstrous; you drunken swab, you have been in the cellar, with a plague to you. Mun. Let me put my hands about you neckUrs. Oh, I shall be ruin'd! Help, help; ruin, ruin! Re-enter LEANDER and LEONORA.

Leon. Goodness me, what's the matter?

Urs. Oh, dear child, this black villain has frighten'd ine out of my wits; he has wanted

Mun. Me, curse a heart, I want noting wid her— what she say I want for

Leon. Ursula, the gentleman says he has some friends waiting for him at the other side of the garden wall,

that will throw him over a ladder made of ropes, which

he got up by.

DUETT.-LEANDER and LEONORA.

Leand. Then I must go?

Leon. Yes, good sir, yes.
Leand. A parting kiss!
Leon. No, good sir, no.
Leand. It must be so.

Leon.

By this, and this,

Here I could for ever grow.
"Tis more than mortal bliss.
Well, now good night;
Pray ease our fright:
You're very bold, sir;
Let loose your hold, sir:

I think you want to scare me quite.

Leand. Oh fortune's spight!

Leon.

Good night, good night.

Hark! the neighb'ring convent's bell,
Tolls the vesper hour to tell;

The clock now chimes;

A thousand times,

A thousand times farewell.

Re-enter DON DIEGO.

Diego. Stay, sir, let nobody go out of the room.
Urs. [Falling down] Ah! ah! a ghost! a ghost!
Diego. Woman, stand up.

Urs. I won't, I wont: murder: don't touch me.
Diego. Leonora, what am I to think of this?
Leon. Oh, dear sir, don't kill me.

Diego. Young man, who are you, who have thus clandestinely, at an unseasonable hour, broke into my house? Am I to consider you as a robber, or how?

Leand. As one whom love has made indiscreet; of one whom love taught industry and art to compass his designs. I love the beautiful Leonora, and she me; but, further than what you hear and see, neither one nor the other have been culpable.

Mun. Hear him, hear him.

Leand. Don Diego, you know my father well, don

Alphonso de Luna; I am a scholar of this university, and am willing to submit to whatever punishment he, through your means, shall inflict; but wreak not your vengeance here.

Diego. Thus then my hopes and cares are at once frustrated; possessed of what I thought a jewel, I was desirous to keep it for myself; I raised up the walls of this house to a great height; I barr'd up my windows towards the street; I put double bolts on my doors; I banished all that had the shadow of man or male kind; and I stood continually sentinel over it myself, to guard my suspicion from surprise: thus secured, I left my watch for one little moment, and in that moment

Leon. Pray, pray, guardian, let me tell you the story, and you'll find I am not to blame.

Diego. No, child, I only am to blame, who should have considered that sixteen and sixty agree ill together. But, though I was too old to be wise, I am not too old to learn; and so, say, send for a smith directly, beat all the grates from my windows, take the locks from my doors, and let egress and regress be given freely.

Leon. And will you be my husband, sir?

Diego. No, child, I will give you to one that will make you a better husband: here, young man, take her: if your parents consent, to-morrow shall see you join'd in the face of the church; and the dowry which I promised her, in case of failure on my side of the contract, shall now go with her as a marriage portion. Leand. Signior, this is so generous—

Diego. No thanks; perhaps I owe acknowledgments to you; but you, Ursula, have no excuse, no passion to plead, and your age should have taught you better. I'll give you five hundred crowns, but never let me see you

more.

Mun. And what you give me, massa?

Diego. Bastinadoes for your drunkenness and infidelity. Call in my neighbours and friends. Oh, man! man! how short is your foresight; how ineffectual your prudence; while the very means you use are destructive of your ends!

FINALE.

Diego. Go forge me felters that shall bind
The rage of the tempestuous wind;
Sound with a needle full of thread
The depth of ocean's steepy bed;
Snap like a twig the oak's tough tree;
Quench Etna with a cup of tea;
In these manoeuvres show your skill,
Then hold a woman if you will.
In these manœuvres, &c.

Cho.

Urs.

Permit me to put in a word:
My master here is quite absurd:
That men should rule our sex is meet,
But art, not force, must do the feat;
Remember what the fable says,

Where the sun's warm and melting rays,
Soon bring about what wind and rain,
With all their fuss, attempt in vain.

Cho. Soon bring about, &c.

Mun. And, massa, be not angry pray,
If neger man a word should say;
Me have a fable pat as she,
Which wid dis matter will agree:
An owl once took it in his head,
Wid some young pretty bird to wed;
But when his worship came to woo,
He could get none but de cuckoo.
But when his worship, &c.

Cho.

Leon. Ye youth select, who wish to taste,
The joys of wedlock pure and chaste,
Ne'er let the mistress and the friend
In abject slave, and tyrant, end.
While each with tender passion burns,
Ascend the throne of rule by turns;
And place (to love, to virtue just)
Security in mutual trust.

Cho. And place, &c.