D. Phi. Expect no more from me; either comply this moment, or my sword shall force thee. Hyp. Consider, sir D. Phi. Thou liest, villain! 'tis thy fear that holds thee. Hyp. Ah! let me go, I say. Trap. Help, ho! I'm not able to hold him. D. Man, Force him out of the room there; call an officer; in the mean time, secure him in the cellar. D. Phi. Hear me but one word, sir. D. Man. Stop his mouth- Out with him. [They hurry him off. Come, dear son! be pacified. Hyp. A villain! [Walking in a heat. Flo. Why should he be concerned, now he's secure? such a rascal would but contaminate the D. Phi. Nay, then, discover quick; tell me thy sword of a man of honour. name and family. Hyp. Hold, sir. D. Phi. Speak, or thou diest. [A noise at the door. Hyp. Sir, I will-Ha! they are entering-0, for a moment's courage! Come on, sir! [She breaks from him, and draws, retiring, till DON MANUEL, FLORA, and TRAPPANTI, with servants, rush in, and part them.] D. Man. Knock him down. Flo. Part them. Hyp. Away, rascal! [To TRAP. who holds her. Trap. Hold, sir! dear sir! hold; you have given him enough. Hyp. Dog! let me go; or I'll cut away thy hold. D. Man. Nay, dear son! hold, we'll find a better way to punish him. Hyp. Pray, sir, give me way-a villain, to assault me in the very moment of my happiness! [Struggling. D. Phi. By heaven, sir, he this moment has confessed his villany, and begged my pardon upon his knees. Hyp. D'ye hear him, sir! I beg you let me go; this is beyond bearing. D. Man. Ay, son, leave him to me and the law, Hyp. I am sorry, sir, such a fellow should have it in his power to disturb me———) -But Enter RoSARA. D. Man. Look; here's my daughter in a fright to see for you. Hyp. Then, I'm composed again. [Runs to ROSARA. Ros. I heard fighting here; I hope you are not wounded, sir? Hyp. I have no wound but what the priest can heal! D. Man. Ay! well said, my little champion! Hyp. Oh, madam, I have such a terrible escape to tell you! [Aside. Ros. Truly, I began to be afraid I should lose my little husband! [Aside. Hyp. Husband, quotha! Get me but once safe out of these breeches, if ever I wear them again[Aside. D. Man. Come, come, children, the priest stays for us. Hyp. Sir, we wait on you. [Exeunt SCENE I-Continues. Enter TRAPPANTI. ACT V. Trap. WHAT, in the name of roguery, can this new master of mine be? he's either a fool or bewitched, that's positive.-First, he gives me fifty pieces for helping him to marry the lady, and, as soon as the wedding is over, claps me twenty more into the other hand, to help him to get rid of her-Nay, not only that, but gives me a strict charge to observe his directions in being evidence against him as an impostor, to refund all the lies I have told in his service; to sweep him clear out of my conscience; and, now, to swear the robbery against him. What the bottom of this can be, I must confess, does a little puzzle my wit-There's but one way in the world I can solve it He must certainly have some reason to hang himself, that he's ashamed to own; and so was resolved first to be married, that his friends might not wonder at the occasion! But, here he comes, with his noose in his hand. Enter HYPOLITA and ROSARA. Hyp. Trappanti, go to Don Pedro; he has business with you. Trap. Yes, sir. [Exit TRAP. Ros. Who's Don Pedro, pray? Hyp. Flora, madam; he knows her yet by no other name. Ros. Well, if Don Philip does not think you deserve him, I'm afraid he won't find another woman that will have him in haste. But this last | of them; the rest of your fortune shall be paid escape of yours was such a master-piece! Hyp. Nay, I confess, between fear and shame, I would have given my life for a ducat. Ros. Though I wonder, when you perceived him so sensibly touched with his old passion, how you had patience to conceal yourself any longer. Hyp. Indeed, I could not easily have resisted it, but that I knew, if I had been discovered before my marriage with you, your father, to be sure, would have insisted then upon his contract with him, which I did not know how far Don Philip might be carried in point of honour to keep; I knew, too, his refusing it would but the more incense the old gentleman against my brother's happiness with you; and I found myself obliged, in gratitude, not to build my own upon the ruin of yours. Ros. This is an obligation I never could de serve. Hyp. Your assistance, madam, in my affair has overpaid it. Ros. What's become of Don Philip? I hope you have not kept him prisoner all this while? Hyp. Oh, he'll be released presently; Flora has her orders. Where's your father, madam? Ros. I saw him go towards his closet; I believe he's gone to fetch you part of my fortune; he seemed in mighty good humour. Hyp. We must be sure to keep it up as high as we can, that he may be the more stunned when he falls. D. Man. Ah, my little conqueror! let me embrace thee! -That ever I should see this day! this most triumphant day! this day of all days in my life! Hyp. Aye, and of my life, too, sir. [Embracing him. D. Man. Aye, and my cares are over-now, I have nothing to do but to think of the other world, for I've done all my business in this; got as many children as I could; and, now I'm grown old, have set a young couple to work that will do it better. Hyp. I warrant ye, sir, you'll soon see whether your daughter has married a man or no. D. Man. Ah, well said! and that you may never be out of humour with your business, look you here, children, I have brought you some baubles that will make you merry as long as you live; twelve thousand pistoles are the least value in the best Barbary gold to-morrow morning. Hyp. Aye, sir, this is speaking like a father! this is encouragement, indeed! D. Man. Much good may do thy heart and soul with them-and Heaven bless you together! I have had a great deal of care and trouble to bring it about, children; but thank my stars 'tis over- -'tis over now-now, I may sleep with my doors open, and never have my slumbers broken with the fear of rogues and rivals. Ros. Don't interrupt him, and see how far his humour will carry him. [To HYPOLITA. D. Man. But there is no joy lasting in this world; we must all die, when we have done our best, sooner or later; old or young, prince or peasant, high or low, kings, lords, and-common whores must die! nothing certain; we are forced to buy one comfort with the loss of another. Now I have married my child, I have lost my companion-I have parted with my girl-her heart's gone another way now-She'll forget her old father-I shall never have her wake me more, like a cheerful lark, with her pretty songs in a morning---I shall have nobody to chat at dinner with me now, or take up a godly book, and read me to sleep in an afternoon. Ah! these comforters are all gone now! [Weeps. Hyp. How very near the extreme of one passion is to another! Now he is tired with joy, till he is downright melancholy. Ros. What's the matter, sir? D. Man. Ay, my child! now it comes to the test, methinks, I don't know how to part with thee. Ros. Oh, sir! we shall be better friends than ever. D. Man. Uh, uh! shall we? wilt thou come and see the old man, now and then? Well, Heaven bless thee! give me a kiss—I must kiss thee at parting: be a good girl, use thy husband well, make an obedient wife, and I shall die contented. Hyp. Die, sir! Come, come, you have a great while to live-Hang these melancholy thoughts! they are the worst company in the world at a wedding-Consider, sir, we are young; if you would oblige us, let us have a little life and mirth, a jubilee to-day at least; stir your servants; call in your neighbours; let me see your whole family mad for joy, sir. D. Man. Ha! shall we shall we be merry, then? Hyp. Merry, sir! aye, as beggars at a feast. What! shall a dull Spanish custom tell me, when I am the happiest man in the kingdom, I shan't be as mad as I have a mind to? Let me see the face of nothing to-day but revels, friends, feasts, and music, sir. D. Man. Ah! thou shalt have thy humourthou shalt have thy humour! Hey, within there! rogues! dogs! slaves! where are my rascals? | he made his escape; I saw him very busy in the Ah, my joy flows again-I can't bear it. street with Octavio and another gentleman; Hyp. [Aloud.] Sir, I have offered you very fair; if you don't think so, I have married the lady, and take your course. Flo. Sir, our contract was a full third;, a third part's my right, and I'll have it, sir. D. Man. Hey! Hyp. Then, I must tell you, sir, since you are pleased to call it your right, you shall not have it. Flo. Not, sir! Hyp. No, sir! Look ye, don't put on your pert airs to me-'egad I shall use you very scur D. Man. Ah, there shall be nothing wanting this day, if I were sure to beg for it all my life after Here, sirrah, cook! look into the Roman history; see what Mark Antony had for supper when Cleopatra first treated him cher en-vily. tire rogue, let me have a repast that will be six times as expensive and provoking-Go. 2d Ser. It shall be done, sir. D. Man. And d'ye hear? one of you step to Monsieur Vendevin, the king's butler, for the same wine that his majesty reserves for his own drinking; tell him he shall have his price for it. 1st Ser. How much will you please to have, sir? Flo. Use me! You little son of a whore, draw. [They fight, DoN MANUEL interposes. D. Man. Friends, and quarrel? for shame! Flo. Friends! I scorn his friendship; and since he does not know how to use a gentleman; I'll do a public piece of justice, and use him like villain. D. Man. Too much, sir: I'll have every thing on the outside of enough to day. Go you, sirrah, run to the theatre, and detach me a regi-a ment of fiddlers, and singers, and dancers; and you, sir, to my nephew, Don Lewis; give my service, and bring all his family along with him. Hup. Aye, sir, this is as it should be; now, it begins to look like a wedding. D. Man. Ah, we'll make all the hair in the world stand an end at our joy. Hyp. Here comes FloraNow, madam, observe your cue. Hyp. Let me go. D. Man. Better words, sir. [TO FLORA. Flo. Why, sir, d'ye take this fellow for Don Philip? D. Man. What do you mean, sir? Flo. That he has cheated me as well as youbut I'll have my revenge immediately. [Exit FLORA. [HYPOLITA walks about, and Dox MANUEL stares.] D. Man. Hey! what's all this? what is itmy heart misgives me. Hyp. Hey! who waits there? Here you ! [To a servant.] bid my servant run, and hire me a coach and four horses immediately. Ser. Yes, sir. D. Man. A coach! Enter VILETTA. ́ [Exit Servant. promised thee-begone. What can this be now! Oh, my heart! this letter was not designed to fall into my hands-I am affrighted-I dare not think on't. Re-enter Servant. Ser. Sir, your man is not within. Hyp. Careless rascal! to be out of the way when my life's at stake-Prithee, do thou go and see if thou canst get me any post-horses. D. Man. Post horses! Enter ROSARA. Ros. Oh, dear sir, what was the matter? Ros. What made them quarrel, sir? D. Man. Child! Enter DON LOUIS. D. Lou. Uncle, I am your humble servant. D. Man. I am glad to see you, nephew. D. Lou. I received your invitation, and am come to pay my duty: but here I met with the most surprizing news. D. Man. Pray what is it? D. Lou. Why, first your servant told me my young cousin was to be married to-day to Don Philip de las Torres; and, just as I was entering your doors, who should I meet but Don Philip, with the Corrigidore and several witnesses, to provc, it seems, that the person whom you were just going to marry my cousin to, has usurped his name, betrayed you, robbed him, and is, in short, a rank impostor! Hyp. So, now, its come home to him. D. Man. Dear nephew! don't torture me. Are you sure you know Don Philip when you see him? D. Lou. Know him, sir! were we not schoolfellows, fellow-collegians, and fellow-travellers? D. Man. But are you sure you may not have forgot him, neither? D. Lou. You might as well ask me if I had not forgot you, sir. D. Man. But one question more, and I am Ros. What was it about, sir? You look con- dumb for ever-is that he? cerned. D. Man. Concerned ! Ros. I hope you are not hurt, sir. [To HYP. who minds her not.] What's the matter with him, sir? he won't speak to me. [To D. MAN. D. Man. A speak!-a-go to him againtry what fair words will do, and see if you can pick out the meaning of all this. Ros. Dear sir! what's the matter? [To HYP. D. Man. Ay, sir, pray what's the matter? Hyp. I'm a little vexed at my servant's being out of the way, and the insolence of this other rascal. D. Man. But what occasion have you for post-horses, sir? Hyp. Something happens a little cross, sir. Hyp. I'll tell you another time, sir. me now. -pray, satisfy D. Lou. That, sir! no, nor in the least like him-But, pray, why this concern? I hope we are not come too late to prevent the marriage? D. Man. Oh, oh, oh, oh! my poor child! Ros. Oh! [Seems to faint. D. Lou. That, sir, I presume, my oath will bear to see the light, after this heap of ruin thou prove. Oct. Or mine, Flo. And mine. Trap. Ay, and mine, too, sir. D. Man. Where shall I hide this shameful head? Flo. And for the robbery, that I can prove upon him; he confessed to me at Toledo he stole this gentleman's portmanteau there to carry on his design upon this lady, and agreed to give me a third part of her fortune, for my assistance, which he refusing to pay as soon as the marriage was over, I thought myself obliged, in honour, to discover him. Hyp. Well, gentlemen, you may insult me if you please; but, I presume, you'll hardly be able to prove that I'm not married to the lady, or have not the best part of her fortune in my pocket: so, do your worst; I own my ingenuity, and am proud on't. D. Mun. Ingenuity, abandoned villain !-But, sir, before you send him to gaol, I desire he may return the jewels I gave him as part of my daughter's portion. Cor. That can't be, sir-since he has married the lady, her fortune is lawfully his. All we can do, is to prosecute him for robbing this gentle man. D. Man. Oh, that ever I was born! Hyp. Return the jewels, sir! If you don't pay me the rest of her fortune to-morrow morning, you may chance to go to gaol before me. D. Man. Oh, that I were buried! will my cares never be over? Hyp. They are pretty near it, sir; you can't have much more to trouble you. Cor. Come, sir, if you please, I must desire to take your affidavit in writing. [Goes to the table with FLORA. D. Phi. Now, sir, you see what your own rashness has brought ye to. How shall I be stared at when I give an account of this to my father, or your friends in Seville! you'll be the public jest; your understanding, or your folly, will be the mirth of every table. D. Man. Pray forbear, sir. Hyp. Keep it up, madam. [Aside to ROSARA. Ros. Oh, sir! how wretched have you made me! Is this the care you have taken of me, for my blind obedience to your commands? this my reward for filial duty? D. Man. Ah, my poor child! Ros. But I deserve it all for ever listening to your barbarous proposal, when my conscience might have told me my vows and person, in justice and honour, were the wronged Octavio's. D. Man. Oh, oh! Oct. Can she repent her falsehood then, at last! Is't possible! then I'm wounded, too! Oh, my poor, undone Rosara! [Goes to her.] Ungrateful! cruel! perjured man! how canst thou hast raised, by tearing thus asunder the most solemn vows of plighted love! D. Man. Oh, don't insult me; I deserve the worst you can say—I'm a miserable wretch, and I repent me. Oct. Repent! canst thou believe whole years of sorrow will atone thy crime? No; groan on; sigh and weep away thy life to come, and, when the stings and horrors of thy conscience have laid thy tortured body in the grave-then, then -as thou dost me, when it is too late, I'll pity thee. Vil. So here's the lady in tears, the lover in rage, the old gentleman out of his senses, most of the company distracted, and the bridegroom in a fair way to be hanged-the merriest wedding that ever I saw in my life! Čor. Well, sir, have you any thing to say, before I make your warrant? [To HYPOLITA. Hyp. A word or two, and I obey ye, sir-Gentlemen, I have reflected on the folly of my action, and foresee the disquiets I am like to undergo in being this lady's husband; therefore, as I own myself the author of all this seeming ruin and confusion, so I am willing (desiring first the officers may withdraw), to offer something to the general quiet. Oct. What can this mean? D. Phi. Psha! some new contrivance-Let's be gone. D. Lou. Stay a moment; it can be no harm to hear him-Sir, will you oblige us? Cor. Wait without [Exeunt Officers. Vil. What's to be done now, trow? Trap. Some smart thing, I warrant ye: the little gentleman hath a notable head, faith! Flo. Nay, gentlemen, thus much I know of him, that if you can but persuade him to be honest, 'tis still in his power to make you all amends, and, in my opinion, 'tis high time he should propose it. D. Man. Ay, 'tis time he were hanged, indeed, for I know no other amends he can make us. Hyp. Then, I must tell you, sir, I owe you no reparation; the injuries which you complain of, your sordid avarice, and breach of promise here, have justly brought upon you-Had you, as you were obliged, in conscience and in nature, first given your daughter with your heart, she had now been honourably happy; and, if any, I the only miserable person here. D. Lou. He talks reason. D. Phi. I don't think him in the wrong there, indeed. Hyp. Therefore, sir, if you are injured, you may thank yourself for it. D. Man. Nay, dear sir-I do confess my blindness, and could heartily wish your eyes, or mine, had dropped out of our heads before ever we saw one another. Hyp. Well, sir, (however little you have de |