I must take care of thee Child, (takes hold of her, and pulls out of his Pocket a Key) I shall make bold to secure thee, my Dear: I'll see if Locks and Bars can keep thee till Guzman comes; go, get you into your Chamber.

There I'll your boasted Resolution try,
And see who'll get the better, you or I.

[Pushes her in, and locks the Door.

ACT II.

SCENE, a Room in Don Pedro's House.

Enter Donna Violante reading a Letter, and Flora following.

Flora. What, must that Letter be read again?

Vio. Yes, and again, and again, and again, a thousand Times again; a Letter from a faithful Lover can ne'er be read too often; it speaks such kind, such soft, such tender Things— (Kisses it.)

Flo. But always the same Language.

Vio. It does not charm the less for that.

Flo. In my Opinion nothing charms that does not change; and any Composition of the four and twenty Letters, after the first Essay, from the same Hand, must be dull, except a Bank Note, or a Bill of Exchange.

Vio. Thy Taste is my Aversion—(Reads)

My all that's charming, since Life's not Life exil'd from thee, this Night shall bring me to thy Arms. Frederick and thee are all I trust: These six Weeks Absence has been in Love's Accompt six hundred Years; when it is dark, expect the wonted Signal at thy Window, till when, adieu, thine more than his own.

Felix.

Flo. Who wou'd not have said as much to a Lady of her Beauty, and twenty thousand Pounds.—Were I a Man, methinks I could have said a hundred finer Things; I wou'd have compar'd your Eyes to the Stars, your Teeth to Ivory, your Lips to Coral, your Neck to Alabaster, your Shape to—

Vio. No more of your Bombast, Truth is the best Eloquence in a Lover.—What Proof remains ungiven of his Love? When his Father threatned to disinherit him, for refuting Don Antonio's Sister, from whence sprung this unhappy Quarrel, did it shake his Love for me? And now, tho' strict Enquiry runs thro' every Place, with large Rewards to apprehend him, does he not venture all for me?

Flo. But you know, Madam, your Father Don Pedro designs you for a Nun, and says your Grandfather left you your Fortune upon that Condition.

Vio. Not without my Approbation, Girl, when I come to one and Twenty, as I am inform'd. But however, I shall run the Risk of that; go call in Lissardo.

Flo. Yes, Madam; now for a Thousand Verbal Questions.

[Exit, and enter with Lissardo.

Vio. Well, and how do you do, Lissardo?

Liss. Ah, very weary, Madam—Faith thou look'st wondrous pretty, Flora. (Aside to Flora.)

Vio. How came you?

Liss. En Cavalier, Madam, upon a Hackney-Jade, which they told me formerly belong'd to an English Colonel. But I should have rather thought she had been bred a good Roman Catholick all her Life-time; for she down on her Knees to every Stock and Stone we came along by. My Chaps waters for a Kiss, they do, Flora. (Aside to Flora.)

Flo. You'd make one believe you are wondrous fond, now.

Vio. Where did you leave your Master?

Liss. Od, if I had you alone House-Wife, I'd show you how fond I cou'd be—(Aside to Flora) At a little Farm-House, Madam, about five Miles off; he'll be at Don Frederick's, in the Evening—Od, I will so revenge myself of those Lips of thine. (to Flora.)

Vio. Is he in Health?

Flo. Oh, you counterfeit wondrous well. (to Liss.)

Liss. No, every Body knows I counterfeit very ill. (to Flora.)

Vio. How say you? Is Felix ill? What's his Distemper? Ha!

Liss. A pies on't, I hate to be interrupted—Love, Madam, Love—In short, Madam, I believe he has thought of nothing but your Ladyship ever since he left Lisbon. I am sure he cou'd not, if I may judge of his Heart by my own.

[Looking lovingly upon Flora.

Vio. How came you so well acquainted with your Master's Thoughts, Lissardo?

Liss. By an infallible Rule, Madam; Words are the Pictures of the Mind, you know; now to prove he thinks of nothing but you, he talks of nothing but you—for Example, Madam, coming from shooting t'other Day, with a Brace of Partridges, Lissardo, said he, go bid the Cook roast me these Violante's—I flew into the Kitchin, full of Thoughts of thee, cry'd, here Cook, roast me these Florella's. (to Flora.)

Flo. Ha, ha, excellent—You mimick your Master then it seems.

Liss. I can do every Thing as well as my Master, you little Rogue:—Another Time, Madam, the Priest came to make him a Visit, he call'd out hastily, Lissardo, said he, bring a Violante for my Father to sit down on;—then he often mistook my Name, Madam, and call'd me Violante; in short, I heard it so often, that it became as familiar to me as my Prayers.

Vio. You liv'd very merrily then it seems.

Liss. Oh, exceeding merry, Madam.

[Kisses Flora's Hand.

Vio. Ha! exceeding merry; had you Treats and Balls?

Liss. Oh! Yes, yes, Madam, several.

Flo. You are mad, Lissardo, you don't mind what my Lady says to you. (Aside to Lissardo.)

Vio. Ha! Balls—Is he so merry in my Absence? And did your Master dance, Lissardo?

Liss. Dance Madam! Where Madam?

Vio. Why, at those Balls you speak of.

Liss. Balls! What Balls Madam?

Vio. Why, sure you are in Love, Lissardo; did not you say, but now, you had Balls where you have been?

Liss. Balls, Madam! Od'slife, I ask your Pardon, Madam! I, I, I, had mislaid some Wash-Balls of my Master's t'other day; and because I could not think where I had laid them, just when he ask'd for them, he very fairly broke my Head, Madam, and now it seems I can think of nothing else. Alas! He dance, Madam! No, no, poor Gentleman, he is as melancholy as an unbrac'd Drum.

Vio. Poor Felix! There, wear that Ring for your Master's Sake, and let him know, I shall be ready to receive him.

[Exit Vio.

Liss. I shall Madam—(puts on the Ring) methinks a Diamond Ring is a vast Addition to the little Finger of a Gentleman. (admiring his Hand.)

Flo. That Ring must be mine—Well Lissardo! What Haste you make to pay off Arrears now? Look how the Fellow stands!

Liss. Egad, methinks I have a very pretty Hand—and very white—and the Shape!—Faith, I never minded it so much before!—In my Opinion it is a very fine shap'd Hand—and becomes a Diamond Ring, as well as the first Grandee's in Portugal.

Flo. The Man's transported! Is this your Love! This your Impatience!

Liss. (Takes Snuff.) Now in my Mind—I take Snuff with a very Jantee Air—Well, I am persuaded I want nothing but a Coach, and a Title, to make me a very fine Gentleman. (Struts about.)

Flo. Sweet Mr. Lissardo, (curtesying) if I may presume to speak to you, without affronting your little Finger.—

Liss. Odso Madam, I ask your Pardon—Is it to me, or to the Ring—you direct your Discourse, Madam?

Flo. Madam! Good lack! How much a Diamond Ring improves one!

Liss. Why, tho' I say it—I can carry myself as well as any Body—But what wer't thou going to say Child?

Flor. Why I was going to say, that I fancy you had best let me keep that Ring; it will be a very pretty Wedding-Ring, Lissardo, would it not?

Liss. Humph! Ah! But—but—but—I believe I shan't marry yet a while.

Flo. You shan't you say—Very well! I suppose you design that Ring for Inis.

Liss. No, no, I never bribe an old Acquaintance—Perhaps I might let it sparkle in the Eyes of a Stranger a little, till we come to a right Understanding—But then like all other mortal Things, it would return from whence it came.

Flor. Insolent—Is that your Manner of dealing?

Liss. With all but thee—Kiss me, you little Rogue you. (Hugging her.)

Flor. Little Rogue! Prithee Fellow, don't be so familiar, (pushing him away) if I mayn't keep your Ring, I can keep my Kisses.

Liss. You can, you say! Spoke with the Air of a Chamber-maid.

Flor. Reply'd with the Spirit of a serving Man.

Liss. Prithee, Flora, don't let you and I fall out, I am in a merry Humour, and shall certainly fall in somewhere.

Flor. What care I, where you fall in.

Enter Violante.

Vio. Why do you keep Lissardo so long, Flora? When you don't know how soon my Father may awake, his Afternoon Naps are never long.

Flor. Had Don Felix been with her, she wou'd not have thought the Time long; these Ladies consider no Body's Wants but their own. (Aside.)

Vio. Go, go, let him out, and bring a Candle.

Liss. I fly, Madam.

[Exit Liss. and Flora.

Vio. The Day draws in, and Night,—the Lover's Friend—advances. Night more welcome than the Sun to me, because it brings my Love.

Flor. (Shrieks within) Ah Thieves, Thieves! Murder, Murder!

Vio. (Shrieks) Ah! defend me Heaven! What do I hear? Felix is certainly pursu'd, and will be taken.

Enter Flora running.

Vio. How now! Why dost stare so? Answer me quickly! What's the Matter?

Flo. Oh Madam! as I was letting out Lissardo, a Gentleman rushed between him and I, struck down my Candle, and is bringing a dead Person in his Arms into our House.

Vio. Ha! a dead Person! Heaven grant it do's not prove my Felix.

Flor. Here they are, Madam.

Enter Colonel with Isabella in his Arms.

Vio. I'll retire till you discover the Meaning of the Accident.

[Exit.

Col. (Sets Isabella down in the Chair, and addresses himself to Flora.)
Madam. The Necessity this Lady was under, of being convey'd into some House with Speed and Secrecy, will I hope excuse any Indecency I might be guilty of, in pressing so rudely into this—I am an entire Stranger to her Name and Circumstances; wou'd I were so to her Beauty too. (Aside) I commit her Madam, to your Care, and fly to make her Retreat secure, if the Streets be clear; permit me to return and learn from her own Mouth, if I can be farther serviceable; pray Madam, how is the Lady of this House call'd?

Flor. Violante, Senior—He is a handsome Cavalier, and promises well. (Aside.)

Col. Are you she, Madam?

Flor. Only her Woman, Senior.

Col. Your humble Servant, Mrs. Pray be careful of the Lady—(gives her two Moydores.)

[Exit Col.

Flor. Two Moydores! Well he is a generous Fellow. This is the only Way to make one careful; I find all Countries understand the Constitution of a Chamber-maid.

Enter Violante.

Vio. Was you distracted Flora? To tell my Name to a Man you never saw! Unthinking Wench! Who knows what this may turn to—What, is the Lady dead! Ah! defend me Heaven, 'tis Isabella, Sister to my Felix, what has befal'n her? Pray Heaven he's safe—Run and fetch some cold Water, (Exit Flora, and enters with Water) Isabella, Friend, speak to me, Oh! speak to me, or I shall die with Apprehension.

Flor. See, she revives.

Isab. Oh! hold, my dearest Father, do not force me, indeed I cannot love him.

Vio. How wild she talks.—

Isab. Ha! where am I?

Vio. With one as sensible of thy Pain as thou thyself canst be.

Isab. Violante! What kind Star preserv'd, and lodg'd me here?

Flor. It was a Terrestrial Star call'd a Man, Madam; pray Jupiter he proves a lucky one.

Isab. Oh! I remember now, forgive me dear Violante, my Thoughts ran so much upon the Danger I escap'd, I had forgot.

Vio. May I not know your Story?

Isab. Thou art no Stranger to one part of it; I have often told thee that my Father design'd to sacrifice me to the arms of Don Guzman, who it seems is just return'd from Holland, and expected ashore to-morrow, the Day that he has set to celebrate our Nuptials; upon my refusing to obey him, he lock'd me into my Chamber, vowing to keep me there till he arriv'd, and force me to consent. I know my Father to be positive, never to be won from his Design; and having no hope left me, to escape the Marriage, I leap'd from the Window, into the Street.

Vio. You have not hurt yourself I hope.

Isab. No, a Gentleman passing by, by Accident caught me in his Arms; at first my Fright made me apprehend it was my Father, till he assur'd me to the contrary.

Flor. He is a very fine Gentleman I promise you, Madam, and a well bred Man I warrant him. I think I never saw a Grandee put his Hand into his Pocket with a better Air in my whole Life Time; then he open'd his Purse with such a Grace, that nothing but his Manner of presenting me the Gold could equal.

Vio. There is but one common Road to the Heart of a Servant, and 'tis impossible for a generous Person to mistake it.—But how came you hither Isabella?

Isab. I know not, I desir'd the Stranger to convey me to the next Monastery, but e'er I reach'd thy Door, I saw, or fancy'd that I saw, Lissardo, my Brother's Man, and the Thought that his Master might not be far off, flung me into a Swoon, which is all that I remember: Ha! What's here (takes up a Letter) For Colonel Britton, to be left at the Post-House in Lisbon; this must be drop'd by the Stranger which brought me hither.

Vio. Thou art fallen into the Hands of a Soldier, take care he does not lay thee under Contribution, Girl.

Isab. I find he is a Gentleman; and if he be but unmarried I cou'd be content to follow him all the World over.—But I shall never see him more I fear. (Sighs and Pauses.)

Vio. What makes you sigh, Isabella?

Isab. The fear of falling into my Father's Clutches again.

Vio. Can I be serviceable to you?

Isab. Yes, if you'll conceal me two or three Days.

Vio. You command my House and Secrecy.

Isab. I thank you Violante,—I wish you wou'd oblige me with Mrs. Flora a while.

Vio. I'll send for her to you—I must watch if Dad be still asleep, or here will be no room for Felix.

[Exit.

Isab. Well, I don't know what ails me, but methinks I wish I cou'd find this Stranger out.

Enter Flora.

Flor. Does your Ladyship want me, Madam?

Isab. Ay, Mrs.