-But I am sure there's na sick honest people here, or there wud na be sa mickle sculdudrie.

Enter a Soldier, passing along.

Geud mon, did ye see a woman, a lady, ony gate here awa e'en now?

Sol. Yes, a great many. What kind of a woman is it you inquire after?

Gibby. Geud troth, she's na kenspekle; she's aw in a cloud.

Sol. What, 'tis some Highland monster, which you brought over with you, I suppose. I see no such, not I. Kenspekle, quotha!

Gibby. Huly, huly, mon; the deel pike out yer een, and then ye'll see the bater, ye Portiguise tike. Sol. What says the fellow?

[Turns to Gibby. Gibby. Say? I say I am a better fellow than e'er stude upon yer shanks-and gin I heer mair o'yer din, deel o'my saul, sir, but Ise crack yer croon.

Sol. Get you gone, you Scotch rascal, and thank your heathen dialect, which I don't understand, that you han't your bones broke.

Gibby. Ay, an ye dinna understond a Scotsman's tongue, Ise see gin ye can understond a Scotsman's gripe. Wha's the better mon now,

sir?

[Lays hold of him, strikes up his Heels, and gets astride over him.

Enter VIOLANTE, who crosses the Stuge; GIBBY jumps from the Soldier, and brushes up to her.

I vow, madam, but I am glad that ye and I are foregather'd. [Exit Soldier.

Vio. What would the fellow have?

Gibby. Nothing away, madam, wo worth yer heart, what a muckle deal o'mischief had you like to bring upon poor Gibby!

Vio. The man's drunk.

Gibby. In troth am I not.- -And gin I had no found ye, madam, the Laird knows when I should; for my maister bad me ne'er gang hame without tidings of ye, madam.

Vio. Sirrah, get about your business, or I'll have your bones drubb'd.

Gibby. Geud faith, my maister has e'en done that t'yer honds, madam.

Vio. Who is your master, sir?

Gibby. Mony a ane speers the gate they ken right weel. It is no sa lang sen ye parted wi' him. I wish he ken ye hafe as weel as ye ken him.

Vio. Poh, the creature's mad, or mistakes me for somebody else; and I should be as mad as he, to talk to him any longer. [Enters Don Pedro's House.

Enter LISSARDO, at the upper end of the Stage. Lis. So, she's gone home I see. What did that Scotch fellow want with her? I'll try to find it out; perhaps I may discover something that may make my master friends with me again.

Gibby. Are ye gone, madam? A deel scope in yer company; for I'm as weese as I was. But I'll bide and see wha's house it is, gin I can meet with ony civil body to speer at. [Turns and sees Lissardo] My lad, wot ye wha lives here?

Lis. Don Pedro de Mendosa.

Gibby. And did you see a lady gang in but now:
Lis. Yes, I did.

Gibby. And d'ye ken her tee?

Lis. It was donna Violante, his daughter.

?

-What

the devil makes him so inquisitive? Here is something

it it, that's certain. [Aside]-Tis a cold morning, brother; what think you of a dram?

Gibby. In troth, very weel, sir.

Lis. You seem an honest fellow; pr'ythee, let's drink to our better acquaintance.

Gibby. Wi aw my heart, sir, gang your gate to the next house, and Ise follow ye.

Lis. Come along then.

Gibby. Don Pedro de Mendosa

[Exit. -Donna Violante,

his daughter-That's as right as my leg, now-Ise need na mare; I'll tak a drink, and then to my maister.

Ise bring him news will mak his heart full blee;
Gin he rewards it not, deel pimp for me. [Exit.

SCENE I. VIOLANTE'S Lodgings.

Enter ISABELLA, in a gay temper, and VIOLANTE out of humour.

1sa. My dear, I have been seeking you this half hour, to tell you the most lucky adventure.

Vio. And you have pitched upon the most unlucky hour for it, that you could possibly have found in the whole four-and-twenty.

Isa. Hang unlucky hours, I won't think of them; I hope all my misfortunes are past.

Vio. And mine all to come.

Isa. I have seen the man I like.

Vio. And I have seen the man that I could wish to hate.

Isa. And you must assist me in discovering whether he can like me or not.

Vio. You have assisted me in such a discovery already, I thank ye.

Isa. What say you, my dear?

Vio. I say I am very unlucky at discoveries, Isabella; I have too lately made one pernicious to my ease; your brother is false.

Isa. Impossible!

Vio. Most true.

Isa. Some villain has traduced him to you.

Vio. No, Isabella, I love too well to trust the eyes of others; I never credit the ill-judging world, or form suspicions upon vulgar censures; no, I had ocular proof of his ingratitude.

Isa. Then I am most unhappy. My brother was the only pledge of faith betwixt us; if he has forfeited your favour, I have no title to your friendship.

Vio. You wrong my friendship, Isabella; your own merit entitles you to every thing within any power.

Isa. Generous maid-But may I not know what grounds you have to think my brother false?

Vio. Another time-But tell me, Isabella, how can I serve you?

Isa. Thus, then-The gentleman that brought me hither, I have seen and talked with upon the Terriero de Passa this morning, and I find him a man of sense, generosity, and good humour; in short, he is every thing that I could like for a hushand, and I have dispatched Mrs. Flora to bring him hither; I hope you'll forgive the liberty I have taken.

Vio. Hither! to what purpose?

Isa. To the great universal purpose, matrimony. Vio. Matrimony! Why, do you design to ask him? Isa. No, Violante, you must do that for me.

Vio. I thank you for the favour you design me, but desire to be excused: I manage my own affairs too ill, to be trusted with those of other people; I can't, for my life, admire your conduct, to encourage a person altogether unknown to you.- 'Twas very imprudent to meet him this morning, but much more so to send for him hither, knowing what inconveniency you have already drawn upon me.

Isa. I am not insensible how far my misfortunes

have embarrassed you; and, if you please, will sacrifice my quiet to your own.

Vio. Unkindly urged! -Have 1 not preferr❜d your happiness to every thing that's dear to me?

Tsa. I know thou hast-Then do not deny me this last request, when a few hours perhaps may render my condition able to clear thy fame, and bring my brother to thy feet for pardon.

Vio. I wish you don't repent of this intrigue. I suppose he knows you are the same woman that he brought in here last night?

Isa. Not a syllable of that; I met him veil'd, and to prevent his knowing the house, I order'd Mrs. Flora to bring him by the back-door into the garden.

Vio. The very way which Felix comes; if they should meet, there would be fine work-Indeed, my

dear, I can't approve of your design.

Enter FLORA.

Flora. Madam, the colonel waits your pleasure. Vio. How durst you go upon such a message, mistress, without acquainting me?

Flora. So, I am to be huff'd for every thing.

Isa. "Tis too late to dispute that now, dear Violante; I acknowledge the rashness of the action-But consider the necessity of my deliverance.

Vio. That indeed is a weighty consideration: well, what am I to do?

Isa. In the next room I'll give you instructions-In the mean time, Mrs. Flora, show the colonel into this. [Exit Flora one way, Isabella and Violante another.

Re-enter FLORA, with COLONEL BRITON. Flora. The lady will wait on you presently, sir.

[Exit. Col. B. Very well-This is a very fruitful soil. I have not been here quite four-and-twenty hours, and I have three intrigues upon my hands already; but I hate the chase without partaking of the game.