ously in her stomach, and was over-persuaded 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 frightened me so, I shan't be myself these two hours. I am sure her eyes are evil eyes. Ped. Well, well, do so- -Evil eyes! there are no evil eyes, child.

Flora. Come along, mother.
Ped. Good by, good woman.

Vio. I'm glad he's gone.

[Speaks loud.

[Exeunt Felix and Flora.

Ped. Hast thou heard the news, Violante?
Vio. What news, sir?

[Aside.

Ped. Why, Vasquez tells me, that don Lopez's daughter, Isabella, is run away from her father; 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. This is the first word ever I heard of it: I pity her frailty.-—

Ped. Well said, Violante.thy happiness shall begin.

-Next week I intend

Re-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. Thon 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 beart.

Flora. 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. [Aside] 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?

Flora. 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 tip-toe, it seems--If I were your father, housewife, I'd have a penance enjoin'd you, so strict, that you should not be able to turn in your bed for a month- -You are enough to spoil your lady, housewife, if she had not abundance of devotion.

Vio. Fie, 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.

Flora. 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 I change my_condition.

Ped. Well said, Violante.-Well, child, I am going into the country for two or three days, to settle some affairs with thy uncle; and when I return, we'll provide for thy happiness, child-Good by, Violante ; take care of thyself. [Exeunt Don Pedro and Violante. Flora. So, now for the colonel, Hist, hist, colonel. Re-enter COLONEL BRITON.

Col. B. Is the coast clear?

Flora. Yes, if you can climb; for you must get over the wash-house, and jump from the garden-wall into

the street.

Col. B. Nay, nay, I don't value my neck, if my incognita answers but thy lady's promise.

[Exeunt Colonel Briton and Flora. Re-enter FELIX.

Fel. I have lain perdue under the stairs, till I watched the old man out. [Violante opens the Door] 'Sdeath, I am prevented.

[Exit.

Re-enter VIOLANTE.

Vio. Now to set my prisoner at liberty. [Goes to the Door where the Colonel is hid] Sir, sir, you may appear. Re-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's discover'd. [Aside. 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 secret which I have sworn to keep can reconcile this quarrel.

Aside.

Think

Fel. A coward! Nay, then I'll fetch you out. not to hide thyself; no, by St. Anthony, an altar should not protect thee.

Vio. Defend me, heaven! What shall I do? I must discover Isabella, or here will be murder.

[Exit. [Aside.

Re-enter FLORA..

Flora. I have help'd the colonel off clear, madam. Vio. Say'st thou so, my girl? Then I am arm'd.

Re-enter FELIX.

Fel. Where has the devil, in compliance to your sex, convey'd 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 yon think I did not see you? Yes, I did, and resolved to put this trick upon you.

Fel. Trick!

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 blessed life with you. 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'd have bim.

Vio. And as soon as that man finds his love return'd, 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 these 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 pr'ythee leave me now, lest some accident should bring my father.

Fel. To-morrow then

Fly swift ye hours, and bring to-morrow on
But must I leave you now, my Violante?

Vio. You must, my Felix. We soon shall meet to part no more.

Fel. Oh, rapt'rous sounds! Charming woman!
Thy words and looks have fill'd my heart
With joy, and left no room for jealousy.
Do thou like me each doubt and fear remove,
And all to come be confidence and love.

[Exeunt.

SCENE I.

FREDERIC'S House.

Enter FELIX and FREDERIC.

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.

Enter LISSARDO.

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?
Fel. What have you to say?

[Whispers, and Felix seems uneasy. Fred. Ha! Felix changes colour at Lissardo's news. What can it be?

Fel. A Scotch footman, that belongs to colonel Briton, an acquaintance of Frederic's, say you? The devil!If she be false, by heaven I'll trace her.— [Aside] Pr'ythee, Frederic, do you know one colonel Briton, a Scotchman?