Oliv. But to what purpose do I get rid of them, whilst they rise in succession like monthly pinks ? Was there ever any thing so provoking ?—After some quiet, and believing the men had ceased to trouble themselves about me, no less than two proposals have been made to my inexorable father this very day— What will become of me?

Min. What should become of you? You'll chuse one from the pair, I hope. Believe me, madam, the only way to get rid of the impertinence of lovers, is to take one, and make him a scarecrow to the

rest.

Oliv. Oh, but I cannot!—Invention assist me this one day!

Min. Upon my word, madam, invention owes you nothing; and I am afraid you can draw on that bank no longer. You must trust to your established.character of vixen.

Oliv. But that won't frighten them all, you know, though it did its business with sober Don Garcia. The brave General Antonio would have made a property of me, in spite of every thing, had I not luckily discovered his antipathy to cats, and so scared the hero, by pretending an immoderate passion for young kittens.

Min. Yes, but you was still harder pushed by the Castilian Count, and his engraved genealogy from Noah.

Oliv. Oh, he would have kept his post as immovably as the griffins at his gate, had I not very seriously imparted to him, that my mother's great uncle sold oranges in Arragon.

Min. And pray, madam, if I may be so bold, who is the next gentleman?

Oliv. Oh, Don Vincentio, who distracts every body with his skill in music. He ought to be married to a Viol de Gamba. I bless my stars I have never yet had a miser in my list--on such a character

all art would be lost, and nothing but an earthquake, to swallow up my estate, could save me.

Min. Well, if some one did but know, how happy would some one be, that for his sake

Oliv. Now, don't be impertinent, Minette. You have several times attempted to slide yourself into a secret, which I am resolved to keep to myself. Continue faithful, and suppress your curiosity. [Exit.

Min. Suppress my curiosity, madam !—why, I am a chambermaid, and a sorry one too, it should seem, to have been in your confidence two years, and never have got the master-secret yet. I never was six weeks in a family before, but I knew every secret they had in it for three generations; ay, and I'll know this too, or I'll blow up all her plans, and declare to the world, that she is no more a vixen than other fine ladies--they have most of them a touch on't. [Exit.

ACT THE SECOND.

SCENE I.

An Apartment at DONNA LAURA's.

Enter LAURA, followed by CARLOS.

Car. Nay, madam, you may as well stop here, for I'll follow you through every.apartment, but I will be [Seizing her Hand. Laura. This insolence is not to be endured; within my own walls to be thus

heard.

Car. The time has been, when within might be master.

Laura: Yes, you were then master of my heart; that gave you a right which——

Car. You have now transferred to another.

Laura. Well, sir!

[Flinging away her Hand.

Car." Well, sir!"-Unblushing acknowledgment! False, fickle woman!

Laura. Because I have luckily got the start of you; in a few weeks I should have been the accuser, and you the false and fickle.

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Car. And to secure yourself from that disgrace, you prudently looked out in time for another lover. Laura. I can pardon your sneer, because you are mortified.

Car. Mortified!

Laura. Yes, mortified to the soul, Carlos !
Car. [Stamping.] Madam! madam!

Laura. This rage would have been all cool insolence, had I waited for your change-Scarcely would you have deigned to form a phrase of pity for me; perhaps have bid me forget a man no longer worthy my attachment, and recommended me to hartshorn and my women.

Car. Has any hour, since I have first known you, given you cause for such unjust

Laura. Yes, every hour-Now, Carlos, I bring thee to the test! You saw, you liked, you loved me; was there no fond trusting woman whom you deserted, to indulge the transient passion? Yes, one blessed with beauty, gentleness, and youth; one, who more than her own being loved thee, who made thee rich, and whom thou madest thy wife.

Car. My wife!-here's a turn! So to revenge the quarrels of my wife

Laura. No, do not mistake me-what I have done was merely to indulge myself, without more regard to your feelings, than you had to her's.

Car. And you dare avow to my face, that you have a passion for another?

Laura, I do, and--for I am above disguise, I confess, so tender is my love for Florio, it has scarcely left a trace of that I once avowed for Carlos.

Car. Well, madam, if I hear this without some sudden vengeance on the tongue which speaks it, thank the annihilation of that passion, whose remembrance is as dead in my bosom as in yours. Let us, however, part friends, and with a mutual acquittal of every obligation-so give up the settlement of that estate, which left me almost a beggar.

Laura. Give it up!-ha! ha!--no, Carlos, you consigned me that estate as a proof of love; do not imagine then, I'll give up the only part of our connexion, of which I am not ashamed.

Car. Base woman! you know 'twas not a voluntary gift-after having in vain practised on my fondness, whilst in a state of intoxication, you prevailed on me to sign the deed, which you had artfully prepared for the purpose-therefore, you must restore it.

Laura. Never, never.
Car. Ruin is in the word!

Call it back, madam, or I'll be revenged on thee in thy heart's dearest object-thy minion Florio!- -he shall not riot on my

fortune.

Laura. Ha! ha! ha! Florio is safe-your lands are sold, and in another country we shall enjoy the blessing of thy fond passion, whilst that passion is indulging itself in hatred and execrations. [Exit.

Car. My vengeance shall first fall on her. [Following.] No, he shall be the first victim, or 'twill be incomplete.-Reduced to poverty, I cannot live;Oh, folly! where are now all the gilded prospects of my youth? Had I—but 'tis to late to look back,— remorse attends the past, and ruin-ruin waits me in the future!

SCENE II.

DON CESAR'S.

VICTORIA enters, perusing a Letter; enter OLIVIA. Oliv. [Speaks as entering.] If my father should inquire for me, tell him I am in Donna Victoria's apartment. Smiling, I protest! my dear gloomy cousin, where have you purchased that sun-shiny look?

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Vict. It is but April sunshine, I fear; but who could resist such a temptation to smile? a letter from Donna Laura, my husband's mistress, styling me her dearest Florio! her life! her soul! and complaining of a twelve hours absence, as the bitterest misfortune.

Oliv. Ha! ha! ha! most doughty Don! pray, let us see you in your feather and doublet; as a Cavaleiro, it seems, you are formidable. So suddenly to rob your husband of his charmer's heart! you must have used some witchery.

Vict. Yes, powerful witchery-the knowledge of my sex. Oh! did the men but know us, as well as we do ourselves;-but, thank fate, they do not— 'twould be dangerous.

Oliv. What, I suppose, you praised her understanding, was captivated by her wit, and absolutely struck dumb by the amazing beauties of her mind.

Vict. Oh, no,-that's the mode prescribed by the essayists on the female heart-ha! ha! ha!-Not a woman breathing, from fifteen to fifty, but would