Th' entry, I've come up more than once that way,
During my happy days.

Blanca. I think y' have reason: since I must have patience,

Light us in thither.

[Francisca takes the lights, and going before them, exeunt omnes.

SCENE changes to the prospect of Valencia.

Enter DON JULIO, as in the portal of his own House. Don Julio. The light was in the farther window, therefore

He went up this way: now if Fernando
Have not forgot to bolt the entry-door,
He cannot 'scape us, sure, whoe'er he be.
'Tis the only comfort,

In such misfortunes, when a man hath means
To right his honour, without other help
Than such a friend, as is another self,

And that the shame's even from domestics hid
Until it be reveng'd.

[Exit Don Julio, as going into his own house. Enter CHICHON, as coming out of the porch before Don Julio's house.

Chichon. 'Slight! 'tis Don Julio, that I saw go

My master's like to pass his time but ill;
I'll steal in after and observe: although

My courage cannot stead him, my wit may,

As things may possibly fall out.

in

Exit Chichon, as stealing after Don Julio into his house. SCENE changes to Donna Blanca's Closet.

Enter DON ZANCHO and DONNA BLANCA, as in her closet.

Blanca. As fine a story as may be-No, Don Zancho, I Blanca Rocca am not carta blanca,

Fit to receive whate'er impression

Your art

Enter FRANCISCA hastily.

Francisca. Your brother's in the hall already;

Quick, quick, and let him find you in your chamber Before your glass, I have set it ready there,

Whilst he retires the way it was resolv❜d.

[Pointing to Don Zancho. [Francisca takes the candle, and exeunt she and Donna Blanca; Don Zancho another way.

SCENE changes to Donna Blanca's Bed-chamber. Re-enter Donna Blanca and Francisca, as in Blanca's chamber, she newly seated at her toilet, and beginning to unpin.

Enter DON JULIO.

Don Julio. Blanca, I thought you had been a-bed ere this.

Have you had company to entertain you,
And keep you up beyond your usual hour?

Blanca. What company can I have, you abroad,
At this time of the night?

Don Julio. I fain would find out some such as might

please you.

Francisca, take a candle and light me in

To Blanca's closet.

Blanca. Good brother, what's the matter?

You were not wont to be so curious

As thus to pry into my privacies.

[Ironically.

Don Julio. That you shall know anon-Do as I bid you,

Francisca.

[Francisca takes one of the candles, and going before him stumbles, and falling puts out the light. Don Julio taking it up, lights it again at the other on the table, and going with it himself towards Donna Blanca's closet.

[Exit.

Don Julio. These tricks' are lost on me.
Francisca. Let him go, now we have gain'd time

enough.

Blanca. Thanks to thy timely fall.

1 tricks.] The 4to. reads tropes. The alteration by Mr. Dodsley.

Francisca. Persons employ'd

In such trusts must have their wits about them.
"Tis clear that he suspects, but know he cannot.
When once you see all safe, 'twill then import you
To play the tyrant over him, with reproaches
For this his jealousy.

Blanca. Let me alone for that.

But let us follow him in, that we may mark
His whole demeanour.

Enter DON ZANCHO in disorder.

[Exeunt.

Don Zancho. Curse on't, the entry door's bolted

within,

What shall I do?

I must seek a way

[He pauses.

[Exit.

Through the perfuming-room, into the garden.

Enter DON JULIO, with a candle in his hand, and passing hastily over the stage. Don Julio. He must be gone this way,

other,

The entry door was bolted.

there is no

Enter DONNA BLANCA and FRANCISCA, who pass over the stage, as stealing after Don Julio,

Francisca. All's safe, he takes that way: let him a God's name

Follow his nose to the perfuming-room.

Blanca. He'll fright poor Silvia out of her wits; But I'll come to her succour, with a peal

I'll ring him. [Exeunt Donna Blanca and Francisca. SCENE changes to the Laboratory.

[Here is to open a curious scene of a laboratory in perspective, with a fountain in it, some stills, many shelves, with pots of porcelain and glasses, with pictures above them: the room paved with black and white marble, with a prospect through pillars at the end, discovering the full moon, and by its light a perspective of orange-trees; and towards that farther end Elvira appears at a table, shifting flowers, her back turned.

Enter DON ZANCHO hastily: Elvira turning about, they

both startle, and stand awhile as it were amazed. Don Zancho. O heavens! what is't I see? 'Tis mere illusion,

Or 'tis the devil in that angel's form,
Come here to finish, by another hand,
The fatal work that she began upon me
By Don Fernando's.

Elvira. Good gods! Don Zancho here! it cannot be,
Or 'tis his ghost, come to revenge his death
On its occasioner; for were he alive,

He could not but have more humanity
Than (having been my ruin at Madrid,
And robb'd me of my home and honour there)
To envy me an obscure shelter here.

[Whilst they amazed step back from one another, enter DON JULIO, who seeing Don Zancho with his back towards him, drawing his sword, says: Don Julio. Think not (whoe'er thou art) by flying thus From room to room, to 'scape my just revenge. Shouldst thou retire to th' center of the earth, This sword should find thee there, and pierce thy heart. [Throwing down the candle, he makes towards Don

Zancho; but upon his turning about towards him, he makes a little stop, and says:

Nay then, if it be you, I'm happy yet

In my misfortune, since the gods thus give me
The means at once, and by the self-same stroke,
To right my honour, and revenge my friend;
And, by that action, fully to comply
With what the Duke requires in the behalf
Of wrong'd Don Pedro."

[Don Julio makes at Don Zancho: he draws, and
they begin to fight; Elvira, crying out Help!
help! runs to part them, and they stop upon her
interposing.

Enter DON FERNANDO hastily over the stage, as coming from the private apartment.

Don Fernando. I hear an outcry and clattering of swords.

My friend engag'd, must find me by his side.

[Exit, and re-enters at another door. [As Fernando comes to the door of the perfumingroom, seeing them at a stand, he stops and stands close.

Don Fernando. They are parlying; let's hear. [Aside. [Blanca and Francisca passing over the stage. Blanca. 'Twas Silvia's voice: my heart misgives me somewhat.

Francisca. 'Tis some new accident, or some mistake, Don Zancho cannot but be safe long since. Blanca. However let us in and see.

[Exeunt Blanca and Francisca, and re-enter as at another door of the perfuming-room, and make a stand, as surprised with what they see. Blanca. We are all undone, I fear.

Francisca, A little patience.

[Chichon stealing over the stage. Chichon. The noise is towards the perfuming-room, I know the back-way to it through the garden. [Exit Chichon, and re-enters at the farther end of the laboratory, and stands close.

Don Zancho. Wit must repair the disadvantages
I'm under here, and save my Blanca's honour.
That once secur'd, there will be time enough
To salve Elvira's.

[Aside.

[Whilst this passes, Elvira holds Julio by the arm, he striving to get from her.

Since, by this lady's interposing thus,

You have thought fit our swords should pause awhile, It may, I think, consist enough with honour,

So far to seek your satisfaction, sir,

As to remove mistakes. Know then, Don Julio,
That, though I have presum'd upon your house,
I have not wrong'd your honour: it is she

With whom you find me, that hath brought me hither;
Her I have long ador'd, and, having got
Intelligence that she was here conceal'd,
My passion, I confess, transported me
Beyond that circumspection and regard