bid! Oh, sir, she has the dreadfullest unlucky eyes- -Pray, don't look upon them; I made her keep her hood shut on purpose.——Oh, oh, oh, oh! Ped. Eyes!Why, what's the matter with her eyes? Flo. My poor mother, sir, is much afflicted with the colic; and, about two months ago, she had it grievously in her stomach, and was overpersuaded to take a dram of filthy English Geneva -which immediately flew up into her head, and caused such a defluxion in her eyes, that she could never since bear the day-light. Ped. Say you so?-Poor woman!- -Well, make her sit down, Violante, and give her a glass of wine. Vio. Let her daughter give her a glass below, sir :- -For my part, she has frighted me so, I shan't be myself these two hours—I am sure her eyes are evil eyes. Fel. Well hinted. Ped. Well, well; do so.- -Evil eyes! there are no evil eyes, child. Flo. Come along, mother-[Speaks loud.]— [Exeunt FELIX and FLORA. [Aside. Flo. I would tell him I had as good a right and title to the law of nature, and the end of the creation, as he had. Ped. You would, mistress! who the devil doubts it ?-A good assurance is a chambermaid's coat of arms, and lying and contriving the supporters.--Your inclinations are on tiptoe, it seems.— -If I were your father, housewife, I'd have a penance enjoined you so strict, that you should not be able to turn you in your bed for a month.-You are enough to spoil your lady, housewife, if she had not abundance of de votion. Vio. Fy, Flora! are you not ashamed to talk thus to my father?--You said, yesterday, you would be glad to go with me into the monastery. Flo. Did I! I told a great lie, then. Ped. She go with thee! no, no; she's enough to debauch the whole convent.——Well, child, remember what I said to thee: next week Vio. Ay; and what I am to do this, too. [Aside.] I am all obedience, sir; I care not how soon change my condition. Flo. But little does he think what change she means. Ped. Well said, Violante !—I am glad to find her so willing to leave the world; but it is wholly owing to my prudent management. Did she know that she might command her fortune when she came at age, or upon day of marriage, perhaps she'd change her note.But I have always told her, that her grandfather left it with this proviso, that she turned nun. Now, a small part of this twenty thousand pounds provides for her in the nunnery, and the rest is my own.Ped. Why, Vasquez tells me, that Don Lopez' There is nothing to be got in this life without podaughter, Isabella, is run away from her father!licy.-[Aside.]-Well, child, I am going into the that lord has very ill fortune with his children. -Well, I'm glad my daughter has no inclination to mankind, that my house is plagued with no suitors. [Aside. Vio. I'm glad he's gone. Vio. This is the first word ever I heard of it! I pity her frailty country for two or three days, to settle some affairs with thy uncle; and, when I return, we'll proceed for thy happiness, child.-Good bye, Violante; take care of thyself. [Exeunt DON PEDRO and VIOLANTE. Flo. So, now for the colonel!—————Hist, hist, Ped. Well said, Violante. Next week, I in- colonel! tend thy happiness shall begin. Enter FLORA. Vio. I don't intend to stay so long, thank you, papa. [Aside. Ped. My lady Abbess writes word she longs to see thee, and has provided every thing in order for thy reception. Thou wilt lead a happy life, my girl-fifty times before that of matrimony- -where an extravagant coxcomb might make a beggar of thee, or an ill-natured surly dog break thy heart. Flo. Break her heart! she had as good have her bones broke, as to be a nun; I am sure I had rather of the two. You are wondrous kind, sir: but, if I had such a father, I know what I would do. Ped. Why, what would you do, minx, ha? Enter COLONEL. Col. Is the coast clear? to the door, where the colonel is hid.] Sir, sir,| you may appear. Enter FELIX, following her. Fel. May he so, madam? I had cause for my suspicion, I find. Treacherous woman! Vio. Ha, Felix here! Nay, then, all is discovered. Fel. [Draws.] Villain! whoever thou art, come out, I charge thee, and take the reward of thy adulterous errand. Vio. What shall I say?-Nothing but the sc- Vio. Defend me, Heaven! what shall 1 do Enter FLORA. Flo. I have helped the colonel off clear, madam. Vio. Sayest thou so, my girl?--Then, I am armed. Re-enter FELIX. Fel. Where has the devil, in compliance to your sex, conveyed him from my resentment? Vio. Him! whom do you mean, my dear inquisitive spark? Ha, ha, ha, ha! you will never leave these jealous whims. Fel. Will you never cease to impose upon me? Vio. You impose upon yourself, my dear. Do you think I did not see you? Yes, I did, and resolved to put this trick upon you. Fel. Trick? Vio. And as soon as that man finds his love returned, she becomes as errant a slave as if she had already said after the priest. Fel. The priest, Violante, would dissipate those fears which cause those quarrels. When wilt thou make me happy? Vio. To-morrow I will tell thee: my father is gone for two or three days to my uncle's; we have time enough to finish our affairs.—But, prithee leave me now, lest some accident should bring my father. Fel. To-morrow, then— Fly swift, ye hours, and bring to-morrow on! Fel. Oh, rapturous sounds! Charming wo- Thy words and looks have filled my heart move, And all to come be confidence and love. Enter ISABELLA. Isa. I am glad my brother and you are reconciled, my dear; and the colonel escaped without his knowledge; I was frighted out of my wits when I heard him return. I know not how to express my thanks, woman, for what you suffered for my sake; my grateful acknowledgement shall ever wait you, and to the world proclaim the faith, truth, and honour of a woman. Vio. Prithee, don't compliment thy friend, Isabella. You heard the colonel, I suppose? Isa. Every syllable; and am pleased to find I do not love in vain. Vio Yes, trick! I knew you'd take the hint, and soon relapse into your wonted error. How easily your jealousy is fired! I shall have a bless-made hasty work on't, girl. ed life with you. Vio. Thou has caught his heart, it seems, and an hour hence may secure his person. Thou hast Fel. Was there nothing in it, then, but only to try me? Vio. Won't you believe your eyes? Fel. My eyes! No, nor my ears, nor any of my senses, for they have all deceived me.Well, I am convinced that faith is as necessary in love as in religion; for, the moment a man lets a woman know her conquest, he resigns his senses, and sees nothing but what she would have him. Isa. From thence I draw my happiness; we shall have no accounts to make up, after consummation. She who for years protracts her lover's pain, To be his wife, when late she gives consent, [Exeunt. SCENE L-FREDERICK's house. Enter FELIX and FREDERICK. ACT V. Fel. This hour has been propitious; I am reconciled to Violante, and you assure me Antonio is out of danger. Fred. Your satisfaction is doubly mine. Fel. What haste you made, sirrah, to bring me word if Violante went home! Lis. I can give you very good reasons for my stay, sir. Yes, sir, she went home. Fred. Oh! your master knows that, for he has been there himself, Lissardo. Lis. Sir, may I beg the favour of your ear? [Whispers, and FELIX seems uneasy. Fred. Ha! Felix changes colour at Lissardo's news! What can it be? Fel. A Scots footman, that belongs to colonel Briton, an acquaintance of Frederick's, say you? The devil! if she be false, by Heaven I'll trace her. Prithee, Frederick, do you know one colonel Briton, a Scotsman ? Fred. Yes; why do you ask me? Fel. Nay, no great matter; but my man tells me that he has had some little differences with a servant of his, that's all. : Fred. He is a good, harmless, innocent fellow I am sorry for it. The colonel lodges in my house; I knew him formerly in England, and met him here by accident last night, and gave him an invitation home. He is a gentleman of good estate, besides his commission; of excellent principles, and strict honour, I assure you. Fel. Is he a man of intrigue? Fred. Like other men, I suppose. Here he comes. Enter COLON el. you. Colonel, I began to think I had lost Col. And not without some reason, if you knew all. Fel. There's no danger of a fine gentleman's being lost in this town, sir. Col. That compliment don't belong to me, sir; but, I assure you, I have been very near being run away with. Fred. Who attempted it? Col. Faith, I know not-only, that she is a charming woman; I mean as much as I saw of her. Fel. My heart swells with apprehensionsome accidental encounter? Fred. A tavern, I suppose, adjusted the mat ter? Col. A tavern! no, no, sir; she's above that rank, I assure you; this nymph sleeps in a velvet bed, and lodgings every way agreeable. Fel. Ha! a velvet bed! I thought you said but now, sir, you knew her not. Col. No more I don't, sir. Fel. How came you, then, so well acquainted with her bed? Fred. Aye, aye, come, come, unfold. Col. Why, then, you must know, gentlemen, that I was conveyed to her lodgings by one of Cupid's emissaries, called a chambermaid, in a chair, through fifty blind alleys, who, by the help of a key, let me into a garden. Fel. 'Sdeath! a garden! this must be Violante's garden. [Aside. Col. From thence conducted me into a spacious room, then dropt me a curtsey; told me her lady would wait on me presently; so, without unveiling, modestly withdrew. Fel. Damn her modesty! this was Flora. [Aside. Fred. Well, how then, colonel? Col. Then, sir, immediately from another door issued forth a lady, armed at both eyes, from whence such showers of darts fell around me, that had I not been covered with the shield of another beauty, I had infallibly fallen a martyr to her charms; for, you must know, I just saw her eyes-Eyes! did I say? no, no, hold; I saw but one eye, though I suppose it had a fellow equally as killing. Fel. But how came you to see her bed, sir?— 'Sdeath! this expectation gives a thousand racks. [Aside. Col. Why, upon her maid's giving notice her father was coming, she thrust me into the bedchamber. Fel. Upon her father's coming! Col. Aye, so she said; but putting my ear to the key-hole of the door, I found it was another lover. Fel. Confound the jilt! 'twas she without dispute. [Aside. Fred. Ah, poor colonel! Ha, ha, ha! Col. I discovered they had had a quarrel, but whether they were reconciled or not I can't tell; for the second alarm brought her father in good earnest, and had like to have made the gentleman and I acquainted, but she found some other stratagem to convey him out. Fel. Contagion seize her, and make her body ugly as her soul! There is nothing left to doubt of now- -Tis plain 'twas she. Sure he knows me, and takes this method to insult me. 'Sdeath! I cannot bear it. [Aside. Fred. So, when she had dispatched her old lover, she paid you a visit in her bed-chamber— ha! colonel? Col. Nay, what was worse- - But, sir, dear sir, do hearken to this: [To FELIX.] The nymph that introduced me, conveyed me out again over the top of a high wall, where I ran the danger of having my neck broke, for the father, it seems, had locked the door by which I entered. Fel. That way I missed him. Damn her invention!-[Aside.]-Pray, colonel-Ha, ha, ha ! 'tis very pleasant, ha, ha, ha! Was this the same lady you met upon the Terriero de Passa this morning? Col. Faith, I cannot tell, sir; I had a design to know who that lady was; but my dog of a footman, whom I had ordered to watch her home, fell fast asleep. I gave him a-good beating for his neglect, and I have never seen the rascal since. Fred. Here he comes. Enter GIBBY. Col. Where have you been, sirrah? Gib. Troth, Ise been seeking ye, an like yer honour, these twa hoors and mair. I bring ye glad teedings, sir. Col. What! Have you found the lady? Gib. Geud faith ha I, sir-and she is called Donna Violante, and her parent Don Pedro de Mendosa; and, gin ye will gang wi' me, an like yer honour, Ise mak ye ken the hoose right weel. Fel. Oh, torture! torture! [Aside. Col. Ha! Violante! that's the lady's name of the house where my incognita is: sure, it could not be her; at least, it was not the same house, I'm confident. [Aside. Fred. Violante! 'tis false; I would not have you credit him, colonel. Gib. The deel burst my bladder, sir, gin I lee. Fel. Sirrah, I say you do lie, and I'll make you eat it, you dog;-[Kicks him.]—and, if your master will justify you Fel You'd very much oblige me, sir, if you'd let me know these reasons. Col. Sir! Fel. Sir, I say I have a right to inquire into these reasons you speak of. Col. Ha, ha! Really, sir, I cannot conceive how you, or any man, can have a right to inquire into my thoughts. Fel. Sir, I have a right to every thing that relates to Violante-and he that traduces her fame, and refuses to give his reasons for't, is a villain. [Draws. Col. What the devil have I been doing? now, blisters on my tongue by dozens ! [Aside. Fred. Prithee, Felix, don't quarrel till you know for what: this is all a mistake, I'm positive. Col. Look ye, sir; that I dare draw my sword, I think, will admit of no dispute. But, though fighting's my trade, I'm not in love with it, and think it more honourable to decline this business, than pursue it. This may be a mistake: however, I'll give you my honour never to have any affair, directly or indirectly, with Violante, provided she is your Violante; but, if there should happen to be another of her name, I hope you would not engross all the Violante's in the kingdom? Fel. Your vanity has given me sufficient reasons to believe I'm not mistaken. I'll not be imposed upon, sir. Col. Nor I be bullied, sir. Fel. Bullied! 'Sdeath! such another word, and I'll nail thee to the wall. Col. Are you sure of that, Spaniard? [Draws. Gib. [Draws.]-Say na mair, mon. O' my saul, here's twa to twa. Dinna fear, sir; Gibby stonds by ye, for the honour of Scotland. [Vapours about. Fred. By St Anthony, you shan't fight—| Interposes.]-on bare suspicion: be certain of the injury, and then Fel. That I will, this moment; and then, sirI hope you are to be found Col. Whenever you please, sir. Col. Not I, faith, sir- -I answer for nobody's [Exit FELIX. lies but my own if you please, kick him again. Gib. 'Sbleed, sir! there ne'er was a Scotsman Gib. But gin he does, Ise na tak it, sir, gin heyet, that shamed to shew his face. was a thousand Spaniards. [Walks about in a passion. Col. I owed you a beating, sirrah, and I'm obliged to this gentleman for taking the trouble off my hands; therefore, say no more: d'ye hear, [Aside to GIBBY. sir? Gib. Troth de I, sir, and feel tee. Fred. This must be a mistake, colonel; for I know Violante perfectly well, and I am certain she would not meet you upon the Terriero de Passa. Col. Don't be too positive, Frederick: now I have some reasons to believe it was that very lady. [Strutting about. Fred. So, quarrels spring up like mushrooms, in a minute. Violante and he were but just reconciled, and you have furnished him with fresh matter for falling out again; and I am certain, colonel, Gibby is in the wrong. Gib. Gin I be, sir, the mon that told me, leed; and, gin he did, the deel be my landlord, hell my winter-quarters, and a rape my winding-sheet, gin I dee not lick him as lang as I can haud a stick in my houd, now see ye. Col. I am sorry for what I have said, for the lady's sake: but who could divine that she was his mistress? Prithce, who is this warm spark? Fred. He is the son of one of our grandees, named Don Lopez de Pimentell, a very honest gentleman, but something passionate in what relates to his love. He is an only son, which may, perhaps, be one reason for indulging his passion. Col. When parents have but one child, they either make a madman or a fool of him. Enter FLORA. Flo. Don Felix is coming up, madam. Vio. I will. Enter FELIX, in a surly humour. Felix, what brings you home so soon? Did I not to-morrow? Fred. He is not the only child; he has a sister; Col. Ha! How long has she been missing? Fred. Nobody can tell; they conjecture through the window. Col. I'm transported! This must be the lady I caught. What sort of a woman is she? Fred. Middle-sized, a lovely brown, a fine pouting lip, eyes that roll and languish, and seem to speak the exquisite pleasure her arms could give. Col. Oh! I am fired with this description'tis the very she. What's her name? Fred. Isabella.You are transported, colonel. Fel. My passion chokes me; I cannot speak. -Oh, I shall burst! [Aside. Throws himself into a chair, Vio. Bless me! Are you not well, my Felix? Fel. Yes-no-I don't know what I am. Vio. Hey-day! What's the matter, now? Another jealous whim! Fel. With what an air she carries it! I sweat at her impudence. [Aside. Vio. If I were in your place, Felix, I'd choose to stay at home when these fits of spleen are upon me, and not trouble such persons as are not obliged to bear with them. [Here he affects to be careless of her. Fel. I am very sensible, madam, of what you mean: I disturb you, no doubt; but, were I in a better humour, I should not incommode you less: I am too well convinced you could easily dispense with my visit. Col. I have a natural tendency in me to the flesh, thou knowest, and who can hear of charms Vio. When you behave yourself as you ought so exquisite, and yet remain unmoved?-Oh, to do, no company so welcome-but when you how I long for the appointed hour! I'll to the reserve me for your ill-nature, I wave your merit, Terriero de Passa, and wait my happiness: if she and consider what's due to myself.—And Í fails to meet me, I'll once more attempt to find must be free to tell you, Felix, that these humher at Violante's, in spite of her brother's jea-ours of yours will abate, if not absolutely deslousy.-[Aside.]-Dear Frederick! I beg your troy, the very principles of love. pardon; but I had forgot I was to meet a gentleman upon business, at five: I'll endeavour to dispatch him, and wait on you again as soon as possible. Fel. [Rising.] And I must be so free to tell you, madam, that since you have made such ill returns to the respect that I have paid you, all you do shall be indifferent to me for the future; and you shall find me abandon your empire with so little difficulty, that I'll convince the world your chains are not so hard to break as your vanity would tempt you to believe. I cannot brook the provocation you give. Fred. Your humble servant, colonel. [Exit FREDERICK. Col. Gibby, I have no business with you at present. [Exit COLONEL. Gib. That's weel. Now will I gang and seek this loon, and gar him gang with me to Don Pe- Vio. This is not to be borne-insolent! you dro's house. Gin he'll no gang of himself, Ise abandon! you! whom I have so often forbad gar him gang by the lug, sir. Godswarbit! Gib-ever to see me more! Have you not fallen at by hate's a leer. my feet? implored my favour and forgiveness? did you not trembling wait, and wish, and sigh, and swear yourself into my heart? Ungrateful man! if my chains are so easily broke as you pretend, then you are the silliest coxcomb living, you did not break them long ago; and I must think him capable of brooking any thing, on whom such usage could make no impression. [Exit. SCENE II.-Changes to VIOLANTE's lodgings. Enter VIOLANTE and ISABELLA. Isa. The hour draws on, Violante, and now my heart begins to fail me; but I resolve to venture for all that. Vio. What, does your courage sink, Isabella? Isa. Only the force of resolution a little retreated; but I'll rally it again, for all that. Isa. [Peeping.] A deuce take your quarrels ! she'll never think on me. Fel. I always believed, madam, my weakness was the greatest addition to your power; you would be less imperious had my inclination been |
