Col. Your humble servant, mistress. Pray, be careful of the lady. [Gives her two moidores, and exit. Flo. Two moidores! Well, he is a generous fellow. This is the only way to make one careful. I find all countries understand the constitution of a chambermaid. Enter VIOLANTE, Isa. I know not; I desired the stranger to convey me to the next monastery; but, ere I reached the door, I saw, or fancied that I saw, Lissardo, my brother's man; and the thought that his master might not be far off, flung me into a swoon; which is all that I can remember.Ha! What's here? [Takes up a letter.] For 'Colonel Briton, to be left at the post-house in 'Lisbon.' This must be dropt by the stranger which brought me hither. Vio. Thou art fallen into the hands of a soldier; take care he does not lay thee under con Vio. Was you distracted, Flora! to tell my name to a man you never saw! Unthinking wench! who knows what this may turn to?What, is the lady dead? Ah! defend me, Hea-tribution, girl. ven! 'tis Isabella, sister to my Felix. What has befallen her? Pray Heaven he's safe.-Run and fetch some cold water.-Stay, stay, Flora.Isabella, friend, speak to me; Oh! speak to me, or I shall die with apprehension! Flo. See, she revives! Isa. I find he is a gentleman; and if he is but Vio. What makes you sigh, Isabella? Isa. Oh! hold, my dearest father! do not clutches again. force me; indeed, I cannot love him. Vio. How wild she talks ! Isa. Ha! where am I? Vio. With one as sensible of thy pain, as thou thyself canst be. Isa. Violante! what kind star preserved and lodged me here? Flo. It was a terrestrial star, called a man, madam; pray Jupiter he proves a lucky one! Isa. Oh! I remember now. Forgive me, dear Violante! my thought ran so much upon the danger I escaped, I forgot. Vio. May I not know your story? Isab. Thou are no stranger to one part of it. I have often told thee, that my father designed to sacrifice me to Don Guzman, who, it seems, is just returned from Holland, and expected ashore to-morrow, the day that he has set to celebrate our nuptials. Upon my refusing to obey him, he locked me into my chamber, vowing to keep me there till he arrived, and force me to consent. I know my father to be positive, never to be won from his design; and having no hope left me to escape the marriage, I leaped from the window into the street. Vio. You have not hurt yourself, I hope? Isa. No; a gentleman, passing by accident, caught me in his arms: at first, my fright made me apprehend it was my father, till he assured me to the contrary. Flo. He is a very fine gentlemen, I promise you, madam, and a well-bred man I warrant him. I think I never saw a grandee put his hand into his pocket with a better air in my whole life-time; then he opened his purse with such a grace, that nothing but his manner of presenting me with the gold could equal. Vio. There is but one common road to the heart of a servant, and 'tis impossible for a generous person to mistake it.- -Go, leave us, Flora.bella? Vio. Can I be serviceable to you? Isa. Yes, if you conceal me two or three days. Vio. I'll send her to you.-I must watch if dad be still asleep, or here will be no room for Felix. [Exit. Isa. Well, I don't know what ails me; methinks I wish I could find this stranger out. Enter FLORA. Flo. Does your ladyship want me, madam? Isa. Ay, Mrs Flora: I resolve to make you my confidante. Flo. I shall endeavour to discharge my duty, madam. Isa. I doubt it not, and desire you to accept this as a token of my gratitude. Flo. Oh, dear Seniora! I should have been your humble servant without a fee Isa. I believe it-But to the purpose-Do you think, if you saw the gentleman who brought me hither, you should know him again? Flo. From a thousand, madam; I have an excellent memory, where a handsome man is concerned. When he went away, he said he would return again immediately. I admire he comes not. Isa. Here, did you say? You rejoice methough I'll not see him, if he comes. Could not you contrive to give him a letter? Flo. With the air of a duennaIsa. Not in this house-you must veil and follow him-He must not know it comes from me. Flo. What, do you take me for a novice in love affairs? Though I have not practised the art since I have been in Donna Violante's ser-But how came you hither, Isa-vice, yet I have not lost the theory of a chambermaid-Do you write the letter and leave the [Sits down to write. Flo. So this is a business after my own heart.Love always takes care to reward his labourers, and Great Britain seems to be his favourite country.-Oh! I long to see the other two moidores with a British air-Methinks there's grace peculiar to that nation in making a present. Isa. So, I have done. Now, if he does but find this house again! Flo. If he should not—I warrant I'll find him, if he's in Lisbon; for I have a strong prepossession that he has two moidores as good as ever was told. [Puts the letter into her bosom. Enter VIOLANTE. Vio. Flora, watch my papa; he's fast asleep in his study: if you find him stir, give me notice. [Colonel taps at the window.] Hark, I hear Felix at the window! admit him instantly, and then to your post. Exit FLORA. Isa. What say you, Violante! is my brother come? Vio. It is his signal at the window. Isa. [Kneels.] Oh, Violante! I conjure you by all the love thou bearest to Felix, by thy own generous nature, nay, more, by that unspotted virtue thou art mistress of, do not discover to my brother I am here. Vio. Contrary to your desire, be assured I never shall. But where's the danger? Isa. Art thou born in Lisbon, and ask that question! He'll think his honour blemished by my disobedience, and would restore me to my father, or kill me; therefore, dear, dear girl! Vio. Depend upon my friendship; nothing shall draw the secret from these lips; not even Felix, though at the hazard of his love. I hear him coming; retire into that closet. Isa. Remember, Violante, upon thy promise my very life depends. [Exit. Vio. When I betray thee, may I share thy fate! Enter FELIX. My Felix, my everlasting love! [Runs into his arms. Fel. My life! my soul! my Violante ! Vio. What hazards dost thou run for me? Oh, how shall I requite thee? Fel. If during this tedious painful exile, thy thoughts have never wandered from thy Felix, thou hast made me more than satisfaction. Vio. Can there be room within this heart for any but thyself? No; if the god of love were lost to all the rest of human-kind, thy image would secure him in my breast: I am all truth, all love, all faith, and know no jealous fears. Fel. My heart's the proper sphere where love resides: could he quit that, he would be no where found; and yet, Violante, I'm in doubt. Vio. Did I ever give thee cause to doubt, my Felix? Fel. True love has many fears, and Fear as many eyes as Fame; yet sure, I think they see no fault in thee. [Colonel taps again.] What's that? [Taps again. [Again. Vio. What? I heard nothing. Fel. Ha! What means this signal at your window? Vio. Somewhat perhaps, in passing by, might. accidentally hit it; it can be nothing else. Col. [Within.] Hist, hist! Donna Violante ! Donna Violante! Fel. They use your name by accident too, do they, madam? Enter FLORA. Flo. There is a gentleman at the window, madam, whom I fancy to be him who brought Isabella hither. Shall I admit him? [Aside to VIOLANTE. Vio. Admit distraction rather! Thou art the cause of this, unthinking wretch! [Aside to FLORA. Fel. What, has Mrs Scout brought you fresh intelligence? Death! I'll know the bottom of this immediately. [Offers to go. Flo. Scout! I scorn your words, senior. Vio. Nay, nay, nay! you must not leave me. [Runs and catches hold of him. Fel. Oh! 'tis not fair not to answer the gentleman, madam; it is none of his fault that his visit proves unseasonable. Pray let me go; my presence is but a restraint upon you. [Struggles to get from her. The Col. pats again.] Vio. Was ever accident so mischievous! [Aside. Flo. It must be the colonel-Now to deliver my letter to him! [Exit. The CoL. taps louder. Fel. Hark! he grows impatient at your delay. Why do you hold the man whose absence would oblige you? Pray, let me go, madam. Consider the gentleman wants you at the window. Confusion ! [Struggles still. Vio. It is not me he wants. Fel. Death! not you! Is there another of your name in the house? But come on, convince me of the truth of what you say; open the window; if his business does not lie with you, your conversation may be heard. This, and only this, can take off my suspicion.-What, do you pause? Oh, guilt, guilt!-Have I caught you? Nay, then, I'll leap the balcony. If I remember, this way leads to it. [Breaks from her, and goes to the door where ISABLLLA is. Vio. Oh, heaven! what shall I do now! Hold, hold, hold, hold; not for the world—you enter there. Which way shall I preserve his sister] ceived ?— Vio. I fear for none but you.-For goodness' sake, do not speak so loud, my Felix! If my father hear you, I am lost for ever; that door opens into his apartment.- -What shall I do, if he enters? There he finds his sister.-If he goes out, he'll quarrel with the stranger.-Felix, Felix!- -Nay, do not struggle to be gone, my Felix.If Ï open the window, he may discover the whole intrigue; and yet, of all evils, we ought to chuse the least.--Your curiosity shall he satisfied. [Goes to the window, and throws up the sash.] Whoe'er you are, that, with such insolence, dare use my name, and give the neighbourhood pretence to reflect upon my conduct, I charge you instantly to be gone; or expect the treatment you deserve. Col. I ask pardon, madam, and will obey: but when I left this house to-night Fel. Good! Vio. It is, most certainly, the stranger. What will be the event of this, Heaven knows! [Aside.] You are mistaken in the house, I suppose, sir? Fel. No, no; he's not mistaken.-—Pray, madam, let the gentleman go on. Vio. Wretched misfortune! Pray, begone, sir; I know of no business you have here. Col. I wish I did not know it neither- -But this house contains my soul; then, can you blame my body for hovering about it? Fel. Excellent! Vio. Distraction! he will infallibly discover Isabella.-I tell you again you are mistaken; however, for your own satisfaction, call to-mor row. Fel. Matchless impudence! an assignation before my face!-No, he shall not live to meet your wishes. [Takes out a pistol, and goes towards the window. She catches hold of him. Vio. Ah! [Shrieks.] Hold, I conjure you! Col. To-morrow's an age, madam! may I not be admitted to-night? with me? Vio. If you be a gentleman, I command your absence.--Unfortunate! what will my stars do [Aside. Col. I have done-only this- -be careful of my life; for it is in your keeping. [Exit from the window. Fel. Pray, observe the gentleman's request, [Walking off from her. madam. Vio. I am all confusion. [Aside. Fel. You are all truth, all love, all faith! eh, thou all woman!-How have I been de -'Sdeath! could you not have im posed upon me for this one night? Could neither Vio. Can I bear this from you! Fel. Not false! not injured me! Oh, Violante! lost and abandoned to thy vice! Not false! Oh, monstrous! Vio. Indeed, I am not.-There is a cause which I must not reveal.-Oh, think, how far honour can oblige your sex-then allow a woman may be bound by the same rule to keep a secret. Fel. Honour! what hast thou to do with honour, thou that canst admit plurality of lovers? A secret! ha, ha, ha! his affairs are wondrous safe, who trusts his secret to a woman's keeping. But you need give yourself no trouble about clearing this point, madam; for you are become so indifferent to me, that your truth and falsehood are the same. Vio. My love! [Offers to take his hand. Fel. My torment! [Turns from her. Flo. So, I have delivered my letter to the colonel, and received my fee. [Aside.] Madam, your father bade me see what noise that was.-For goodness sake, sir, why do you speak so loud? Fel. I understand my cue, mistress; my absence is necessary; I'll oblige you. [Going, she takes hold of him. Vio. Tis very possible, if I durst. Vio. Now it cannot be. Fel. Then it shall never be-Thou most ungrateful of thy sex, farewell! [Breaks from her, and exit. Vio. Oh, exquisite trial of my friendship! Yet, not even this shall draw the secret from me. That I'll preserve, let fortune frown or smile; ACT III. SCENE I-A chamber in DoN LOPEZ's house. Enter DON LOPEZ. Lop. Was ever man thus plagued? Odsheart, I could swallow my dagger for madness. I know not what to think: sure Frederick had no hand in her escape.-She must get out of the window; and she could not do that, without a ladder; and who could bring it to her but him? Ay, it must be so. The dislike he shewed to Don Guzman, in our discourse to-day, confirms my suspicion; and I will charge him home with it. Sure children were given me for a curse! Why, what innumerable misfortunes attend us parents! when we have employed our whole care to educate and bring our children up to years of matu-rity, just when we expect to reap the fruits of our labour, a man shall, in the tinkling of a bell, see one hanged, and t'other whored. This graceless baggage! But I'll to Frederick immediately; I'll take the Alguazil with me, and search his house; and if I find her, I'll use herby St Anthony, I don't know how I'll use her! [Erit. SCENE II.—Changes to the Street. Enter COLONEL with ISABELLA's letter in his hand, and GIBBY following. Col. Well, though I could not see my fair iucognita, Fortune, to make me amends, has flung another intrigue in my way. Oh, how I love these pretty, kind, coming females, that won't give a man the trouble of racking his invention to deceive them.-Oh, Portugal! thou dear garden of pleasure--where love drops down his mellow fruit, and every bough bends to our hands, and seems to cry, Come, pull, and eat! how deliciously a man lives here, without fear of the stool of repentance!-This letter I received from a lady in a veil– -some duenna, some necessary implement of Cupid, I suppose. The style is frank and easy; I hope, like her that writ it. [Reads.] Sir, I have seen your person, and like it-very concise!-' and if you'll meet me at four o'clock in the morning, upon the Terriero de passa, half an hour's conversation will let me into your mind.'-Ha, ha, ha! a philosophical wench! This is the first time I ever knew a woman had any business with the mind of a man! < If your intellects answer your outward appearance, the adventure may not displease you. I expect you'll not attempt to see my face, nor offer any thing unbecoming the gentleman I 'take you for.'-Humph, the gentleman she takes me for! I hope she takes me to be flesh and blood, and then I'm sure I shall do nothing unbecoming a gentleman. Well, if I must not Gib. The deel an mine eyn gin I ken her, sir. Col. But you will, when you come there, sirrah. Gib. Like eneugh, sir; I have as sharp an eye tull a bonny lass, as ere a lad in aw Scotland. And what mun I dee wi' her, sir? Col. Why if she and I part, you must watch her home, and bring me word where she lives. Gib. In troth sall I, sir, gin the deel tak her not. Col. Come along, then; it is pretty near the time.-I like a woman that rises carly to pursue her inclination. Thus we improve the pleasures of the day, While tasteless mortals sleep their time away. [Exit. SCENE III.-Changes to FREDERICK's house. Enter INIS and LISSARDO. Lis. Your lady run away, and you know not whither, say you? Inis. She never greatly cared for me, after finding you and I together. But you are very grave, methinks, Lissardo. Lis. [Looking on the ring.] Not at all-I have some thoughts, indeed, of altering my course of living: there is a critical minute in every man's life, which if he can but lay hold of, he may make his fortune. Inis. Ha! what do I see? a diamond ring! Where the deuce had he that ring?—You have got a very pretty ring there, Lissardo? -but Lis. Ay, the trifle is pretty enoughthe lady who gave it to me is a bona roba in beauty, I assure you. [Cocks his hat, and struts. Inis. I can't bear this.- -The lady! what lady, pray? Lis. O fy! there's a question to ask a gentleman! Inis. A gentleman! why, the fellow's spoiled! Is this your love for me? Ungrateful man! you'll break my heart; so you will. [Bursts into tears. Liss. Poor tender-hearted fool! Inis. If I knew who gave you that ring, I'd tear her eyes out; so I would. [Sobs. Lis. So, now, the jade wants a little coaxing. Why, what dost weep for now, my dear? ha! Inis. I suppose Flora gave you that ring; but I'll Lis. No; the devil take me if she did! you make me swear now. So, they are all for the ring; but I shall bob them.——Í did but joke; the ring is none of mine; it is my master's; I am to give it to be new set, that's all; therefore, pr'ythec, dry thy eyes, and kiss me; come. Enter FLORA. Inis. And do you really speak truth now? Flo. So, so; very well! I thought there was an intrigue between him and Inis, for all he has forsworn it so often. [Aside. since you my name? [Aside. [Kisses her. [Aside. Inis. Nor ha'nt you seen Flora came to town? Flo. Ha! how dares she name Lis. No, by this kiss I ha'nt. Flo. Here's a dissembling varlet! Inis. Nor don't you love her at all? Lis. Love the devil! Why, did I not always tell thee she was my aversion? Flo. Did you so, villain? [Strikes him a box on the ear. Lis. Zounds, she here! I have made a fine spot of work on't. [Aside. Inis. What's that for? ha! [Brushes up to her. Flo. I shall tell you by and by, Mrs Frippery, if you don't get about your business. Inis. Who do you call Frippery, Mrs Trollop? -Pray get about your business, if you go to that. I hope you pretend to no right and title here? Lis. What the devil! do they take me for an acre of land, that they quarrel about right and title to me? Aside. Flo. Pray, what right have you, mistress, to ask that question? Inis. No matter for that; I can show a better title to him than you, I believe. Flo. What, has he given thee nine months earnest for a living title? ha, ha! Inis. Don't fling your flaunting jests to me, Mrs Boldface, for I won't take them, I assure you. Lis. So now I am as great as the famed Alexander. But, my dear Statira and Roxana, don't exert yourselves so much about me. Now, I fancy if you would agree lovingly together, I might, in a modest way, satisfy both your demands upon me. Flo. You satisfy! No, sirrah; I am not to be satisfied so soon as you think, perhaps. Inis. No, nor I, neither.-What! do you make no difference between us? Flo. You pitiful fellow you! What! you fancy, I warrant, I gave myself the trouble of dogging you out of love to your filthy person; but you are mistaken, sirrah-it was to detect your treachery. How often have you sworn to me, that you bated Inis, and only carried fair for the good cheer she gave you; but that you could never like a woman with crooked legs, you said? VOL. II. Inis. How, how, sirrah? crooked legs! Ods, I could find in my heart [Snatching up her petticoat a little. Lis. Here's a lying young jade now! pr'ythee, my dear, moderate thy passion. [Coaringly. Inis. I'd have you to know, sirrah, my legs were never— -Your master, I hope, understands legs better than you do, sirrah. [Passionately. Lis. My master! so, so! [Shaking his head, and winking. Flo. I am glad I have done some mischief, however. [Aside. Lis. [To INIS.] Art thou really so foolish to mind what an enraged woman says? Don't you see she does it on purpose to part you and I? [Runs to FLORA]. Could not you find the joke, without putting yourself in a passion, you silly girl you? Why, I saw you follow us plain enough, mun, and said all this, that you might not go back with only your labour for your pains.-But you are a revengeful young slut though, I tell you that; but come, kiss and be friends. Flo. Don't think to coax me; hang your kisses! Fel. [Within.] Lissardo! Lis. Ods-heart, here's my master! The devil take both these jades for me! What shall I do with them? Inis. Ha! 'tis Don Felix's voice! I would not have him find me here with his footman for the world. [Aside Fel. [Within.] Why, Lissardo, Lissardo! Lis. Nay, nay, you must e'en set your quarrel aside, and be content to be mewed up in this clothes-press together, or stay where you are and face it out-there is no help for it. Flo. Put me any where rather than that; come, come; let me in. [He opens the press, and she goes in. Inis. I'll see her hanged before I'll go into the place where she is.-I'll trust fortune with my deliverance. Here us'd to be a pair of back stairs, I'll try to find them out. [Erit INIS. Enter FELIX and FREDERICK. Fel. Was you asleep, sirrah, that you did not hear me call? Lis. I did hear you, and answered you I was coming, sir. Fel. Go, get the horses ready; I'll leave Lisbon to-night, never to see it more. Lis. Hey-day! what's the matter now? [Exit LISSARDO. Fred. Pray, tell me, Don Felix, what has ruffled your temper thus? Fel. A woman-Oh, friend! who can name woman, and forget inconstancy! Fred. This, from a person of mean education, were excuseable; such low suspicions have their source from vulgar conversation; men of your 4 A |