ACT THE SECOND,

SCENE I.

A Library in DoN JEROME'S House.

Enter DON JEROME and ISAAC.

Jerome. Ha! ha! ha! run away from her father! has she given him the slip? Ha! ha! ha! poor Don Guzman!

Isaac. Ay; and I am to conduct her to Antonio; by which means you see I shall hamper him so that he can give me no disturbance with your daughterthis is trap, isn't it? a nice stroke of cunning, heh ? Jerome. Excellent! excellent! yes, yes, carry her to him, hamper him by all means, ha! ha! ha! poor Don Guzman! an old fool! imposed on by a girl! Isaac. Nay, they have the cunning of serpents, that's the truth on't.

Jerome. Psha! they are cunning only when they have fools to deal with-why don't my girl play me such a trick-let her cunning overreach my caution, I say-heh, little Isaac!

Isaac. True, true; or let me see any of the sex make a fool of me—No, no, egad, little Solomon, (as my aunt used to call me) understands tricking a little too well.

Jerome. Ay, but such a driveller as Don Guzman. Isaac. And such a dupe as Antonio.

Jerome. True; sure never were seen such a couple of credulous simpletons; but come, 'tis time you should see my daughter-you must carry on the siege by yourself, friead Isaac.

Isaac. Sir, you'll introduce

Jerome. No-I have sworn a solemn oath not to see or speak to her till she renounces her disobedience; win her to that, and she gains a father and a husband

at once.

Isaac. Gad, I shall never be able to deal with her alone; nothing keeps me in such awe as perfect beauty-now there is something consoling and encouraging in ugliness.

SONG.

Give Isaac the nymph who no beauty can boast,
But health and good humour to make her his toast,
If straight, I don't mind whether slender or fat,
And six feet or four-we'll ne'er quarrel for that.

Whate'er her complexion, I vow I don't care,
If brown it is lasting, more pleasing if fair;
And though in her face I no dimples should see,
Let her smile, and each dell is a dimple to me.

Let her locks be the reddest that ever were seen,
And her eyes may be e'en any colour but green,
Be they light, grey or black, their lustre and hue,
I swear I've no choice, only let her have two.

'Tis true I'd dispense with a throne on her back,
And white teeth, I own, are genteeler than black,
A little round chin too's a beauty, I've heard,
But I only desire she mayn't have a beard.

Jerome. You will change your note, my friend, when you've seen Louisa.

Isaac. Oh, Don Jerome, the honour of your alli

ance

Jerome. Ay, but her beauty will affect you-she is, though I say it, who am her father, a very prodigythere you will see features with an eye like mineyes i'faith, there is a kind of wicked sparklingsomething of a roguish brightness, that shows her to be my own.

Isaac. Pretty rogue!

Jerome. Then, when she smiles, you'll see a little dimple in one cheek only; a beauty it is certainly, yet you shall not say which is prettiest, the cheek with the dimple, or the cheek without.

Isaac. Pretty rogue !

Jerome. Then the roses on those cheeks are shaded with a sort of velvet down, that gives a delicacy to the glow of health.

Isaac. Pretty rogue!

Jerome. Her skin pure dimity, yet more fair, being spangled here and there with a golden freckle.

Isaac. Charming pretty rogue! pray how is the tone of her voice?

Jerome. Remarkably pleasing-but if you could prevail on her to sing, you would be enchanted-she is a nightingale-a Virginian nightingale-but come, come; her maid shall conduct you to her antichamber.

Isaac. Well, egad, I'll pluck up resolution, and meet her frowns intrepidly.

Jerome. Ay! woo her briskly-win her and give me a proof of your address, my little Solomon.

Isaac. But hold-I expect my friend Carlos to call on me here-If he comes will you send him to me? Jerome. I will-Lauretta, come-she'll show you to the room-what! do you droop? here's a mournful face to make love with! [Exeunt.

SCENE II.

LOUISA's Dressing Room.

Enter MAID and Isaac.

Maid. Sir, my mistress will wait on you presently. [Goes to the Door.

Isaac. When she's at leisure-don't hurry her. [Exit MAID.] I wish I had ever practised a love scene -I doubt I shall make a poor figure-I couldn't be more afraid, if I was going before the Inquisition-so! the door opens-yes, she's coming-the very rustling of her silk has a disdainful sound.

Enter DUENNA, dressed as Louisa.

Now dar'n't I look round for the soul of me-her beauty will certainly strike me dumb if I do. I wish she'd speak first.

Duenna. Sir, I attend your pleasure.

Isaac. So! the ice is broke, and a pretty civil beginning too! hem! madam-miss-I'm all attention. Duenna. Nay, sir, 'tis I who should listen, and you propose.

Isaac, Egad, this isn't so disdainful neither-I believe I may venture to look-no-1 dar'n't-one glance of those roguish sparklers would fix me again. Duenna. You seem thoughtful, sir-let me persuade you to sit down.

Isaac. So, so; she mollifies apace-she's struck with my figure! this attitude has had its effect. Duenna. Come, sir, here's a chair.

Isaac. Madam, the greatness of your goodness over

powers me that a lady so lovely should deign to turn her beauteous eyes on me so.

[She takes his Hand, he turns and sees her. Duenna. You seem surprised at my condescension. Isaac. Why, yes, madam, I am a little surprised at it.-Zounds! this can never be Louisa-she's as old as my mother! [Aside. Duenna. But former prepossessions give way to my father's commands.

Isaac. [Aside.] Her father! Yes, 'tis she thenLord, lord; how blind some parents are!

Duenna. Signor Isaac.

Isaac. Truly, the little damsel was right-she has rather a matronly air indeed! ah! 'tis well my affections are fixed on her fortune, and not her person. Duenna. Signor, won't you sit ?

[She sits. Isaac. Pardon me, madam, I have scarce recovered my astonishment at your condescension, madamshe has the devil's own dimples to be sure! [Aside.

Duenna. I do not wonder, sir, that you are surprised at my affability-I own, signor, that I was vastly prepossessed against you, and being teased by my father, I did give some encouragement to Antonio; but then, sir, you were described to me as a quite different person.

Isaac. Ay, and so you were to me, upon my soul, madam.

Duenna. But when I saw you, I was never more truck in my life.

Isaac. That was just my case too, madam: I was struck all on a heap, for my part.

Duenna. Well, sir, I see our misapprehension has been mutual-you expected to find me haughty and averse, and I was taught to believe you a little, black, snub-nosed fellow, without person, manners, or address.

Isaac. Egad, I wish she had answer'd her picture as well.

Duenna. But, sir, your air is noble-something so