Scow'ring the watch grows out-of-fashion wit: THE SPANISH FRYAR. The lines diftinguished by inverted comas, thus,' are omitted in the reprefentation. A C T I. Alphonfo and Pedro meet, with Soldiers on each fide, Drums, &c. Ped. The queen of Arragon. Alph. Pedro;-how goes the night? Ped. She wears apace. Alph. Then welcome, day-light; we shall have warmn The Moor will gage His utmost forces on this next affault, To win a queen and kingdom. [work on't: Ped. Pox o' this lion-way of wooing, though: Is the queen ftirring yet? Alph. She has not been a-bed, but in her chapel All night devoutly watch'd, and brib'd the faints With vows for her deliverance. Ped. Oh, Alphonfo, I fear they come too late: her father's crimes In bondage held, debarr'd the common light; Alph. Heav'n avert it. Ped. Ped. Then heav'n must not be heav'n. Judge the event Hence, you well know, this fatal war arose; Alph. Well, we are soldiers, Pedro, and, like lawyers, Plead for our pay. Ped. A good caufe would do well though; It gives my fword an edge. You fee this Bertran Alph. He's a fuccessful warrior, And has the foldiers hearts. Upon the skirts I Ped. It must be swift, or it will come too late. -Duke Bertran. Enter Bertran attended. Bert. Relieve the centries that have watch'd all night, [To Ped,] Now, Colonel, have you difpos'd your men, you Iftand idle here? That Ped. Mine are drawn off, To take a short repofe. Bert. Short let it be, For, from the Moorish camp, this hour and more, Our walls are thinly mann'd: our best men flain : The reft, an heartlefs number, fpent with watching, • And harrafs'd out with duty." Bert. Good-night all then. Ped. 3 Ped. Nay, for my part, 'tis but a fingle life The next fair bullet. 6 Alph. Never was known a night of fuch diftraction; • Ped. I met a reverend, fat, old, gouty fryar; Enter a Captain. Capt. To arm's, my Lord, to arms! From the Moors' camp the noife grows louder still: They're all corrupted with the gold of Barbary To carry over, and not hurt the Moor. Enter a fecond Captain. [fhame, 2d Capt. My Lord, here's fresh intelligence arriv'd; Our army, led by valiant Torrifmond, Is now in hot engagement with the Moors; 'Tis faid, within their trenches. Bert. I think all fortune is referv'd for him. He might have fent us word though; And then we could have favour'd his attempt With fallies from the town Alph. It could not be : We were fo close block'd up, that none could peep Upon the walls and live; but yet 'tis time Bert. No, 'tis too late; I will not hazard it: On pain of death, let no man dare to fally. Ped. [Afide.] Oh, envy, envy, how it works within How now! what means this fhow? Alph. 'Tis a proceffion : The queen is going to the great cathedral, [him! Ped. Very good: the ufurps the throne; keeps the old king in prifon; and, at the fame time, is praying for a bleffing: Oh, religion and roguery, how they go together! [Shout and a flourish of trumpets. Aproceffion of priests and chorifters in white, with tapers, followed by the queen and ladies, goes over the ftage: the chorifters finging. Look down, ye bless'd above, look down, • Behold our weeping matrons tears, 1 Behold our tender virgins fears, And with fuccefs our armies crown. Look down, ye blefs'd above, look down: [The proceffion goes off, and fbout within. Enter Lorenzo, who kneels to Alphonzo. Bert. [To Alph.] A joyful cry; and fee your fon, Lorenzo: good news, kind Heav'n! Alph. [To Lor.] Oh, welcome, welcome! Is the Gene- How near our army? When shall we be fuccour'd ? Lor. Yes, when I have a thousand tongues, I will. As victory can make them: the Moors' king Is fafe enough, I warrant him, for one. At |