(Sobs.)

Liss. So, now the Jade wants a little Coaxing; why, what dost thou weep for now, my Dear? Ha!

Inis. I suppose Flora gave you that Ring; but I'll—

Liss. No, the Devil take me if she did, you make me swear now—So, they are All for the Ring, but I shall bob 'em: I did but joke, the Ring is none of mine, it is my Master's; I am to give it to be new set, that's all; therefore, prithee dry thy Eyes, and kiss me, come.

Enter Flora.

Inis. And do you really speak Truth now?

Liss. Why do you doubt it?

Flo. So, so, very well! I thought there was an Intrigue between him and Inis, for all he has forsworn it so often. (Aside.)

Inis. Nor han't you seen Flora since you came to Town.

Flo. Ha! How dares she name my Name? (Aside.)

Liss. No, by this Kiss I han't. (Kisses her.)

Flo. Here's a dissembling Varlet. (Aside.)

Inis. Nor don't you love her at all?

Liss. Love the Devil; why did not I always tell thee she was my Aversion?

Flo. Did you so, Villain?

[Strikes him a Box on the Ear.

Liss. Zounds, she here! I have made a fine Spot of Work on't. (Aside.)

Inis. What's that for? Ha.

[Brushes up to her.

Flo. I shall tell you by and by, Mrs. Frippery, if you don't get about your Business.

Inis. Who do you call Frippery, Mrs. Trollop! Pray get about your Business: If you go to that, I hope you pretend to no Right and Title here.

Liss. What the Devil do they take me for, an Acre of Land, that they quarrel about Right and Title to me? (Aside.)

Flo. Pray what Right have you, Mistress, to ask that Question?

Inis. No matter for that, I can show a better Title to him than you, I believe.

Flo. What, has he given thee nine Months earnest for a living Title? Ha, ha.

Inis. Don't fling your flaunting Jests at me, Mrs. Boldface, for I won't take 'em, I assure you.

Liss. So! Now am I as great as the fam'd Alexander. But my dear Statira and Roxana, don't exert yourselves so much about me: Now, I fancy, if you wou'd agree lovingly together, I might, in a modest Way, satisfy both your Demands upon me.

Flo. You satisfy! No, Sirrah, I am not to be satisfy'd so soon as you think, perhaps.

Inis. No, nor I neither—What, do you make no Difference between us?

Flo. You pityful Fellow, you; what, you fancy, I warrant, that I gave myself the trouble of dogging you, out of Love to your filthy Person; but you are mistaken, Sirrah—It was to detect your Treachery.—How often have you sworn to me that you hated Inis, and only carried fair for the good Chear she gave you; but that you could never like a Woman with crooked Legs, you said.

Inis. How, how, Sirrah, crooked Legs! Ods; I cou'd find in my Heart.

[Snatching up her Petticoat a little.

Liss. Here's a lying young Jade now! Prithee, my Dear, moderate thy Passion. (Coaxingly.)

Inis. I'd have you to know, Sirrah, my Legs was never—your Master, I hope, understands Legs better than you do, Sirrah. (passionately.)

Liss. My Master, so, so.

[Shaking his Head and winking.

Flo. I am glad I have done some Mischief, however. (Aside.)

Liss. (To Inis.) Art thou really so foolish to mind what an enrag'd Woman says? Don't you see she does it on purpose to part you and me? (runs to Flora) cou'd not you find the Joke without putting yourself in a Passion! You silly Girl you? why I saw you follow us plain enough, Mun, and said all this, that you might not go back with only your Labour for your Pains—But you are a revengeful young Slut tho'. I tell you that, but come kiss, and be Friends.

Flo. Don't think to coax me, hang your Kisses.

Fel. (Within) Lissardo.

Liss. Od'sheart, here's my Master; the Devil take both these Jades for me, what shall I do with them?

Inis. Ha! 'Tis Don Felix's Voice; I wou'd not have him find me here, with his Footman, for the World. (Aside.)

Fel. (Within) Why, Lissardo, Lissardo!

Liss. Coming Sir! What a Pox will you do?

Flo. Bless me, which Way shall I get out!

Liss. Nay, nay, you must e'en set your Quarrel aside, and be content to be mew'd up in this Cloaths Press together, and stay where you are, and face it out—there is no help for it!

Flo. Put me any where, rather than that; come, come, let me in.

[He opens the Press, and she goes in.

Inis. I'll see her hang'd, before I'll go into the Place where she is.—I'll trust Fortune with my Deliverance: Here us'd to be a Pair of back Stairs, I'll try to find them out.

[Exit.

Enter Felix and Frederick.

Fel. Was you asleep, Sirrah, that you did not hear me call?

Liss. I did hear you, and answer'd you, I was coming, Sir.

Fel. Go get the Horses ready, I'll leave Lisbon to Night, never to see it more.

Liss. Hey dey! What's the Matter now?

[Exit.

Fred. Pray tell me, Don Felix! What has ruffled your Temper thus?

Fel. A Woman—Oh Friend, who can name Woman, and forget Inconstancy!

Fred. This from a Person of mean Education were excusable, such low Suspicions have their Source from vulgar Conversation; Men of your politer Taste never rashly censure.—Come, this is some groundless Jealousy—Love raises many Fears.

Fel. No, my Ears convey'd the Truth into my Heart, and Reason justifies my Anger: Violante's false, and I have nothing left, but thee, in Lisbon, which can make me wish ever to see it more, except Revenge upon my Rival, of whom I am ignorant. Oh, That some Miracle would reveal him to me, that I might thro' his Heart punish her Infidelity.

Enter Lissardo.

Liss. Oh! Sir, here's your Father Don Lopez coming up.

Fel. Does he know that I am here?

Liss. I can't tell, Sir, he ask'd for Don Frederick.

Fred. Did he see you?

Liss. I believe not, Sir, for as soon as I saw him, I ran back to give my Master Notice.

Fel. Keep out of his Sight then.—And dear Frederick, permit me to retire into the next Room, for I know the old Gentleman will be very much displeased at my Return without his Leave.

[Exit.

Fred. Quick, quick, be gone, he is here.

Enter Don Lopez, speaking as he enters.

Lop. Mr. Alguazil, wait you without till I call for you. Frederick, an Affair brings me here—which—requires Privacy—So that if you have any Body within Ear-shot, pray order them to retire.

Fred. We are private, my Lord, speak freely.

Lop. Why then Sir, I must tell you, that you had better have pitch'd upon any Man in Portugal to have injur'd, than myself.

Fel. (Peeping) What means my Father?

Fred. I understand you not, my Lord!

Lop. Tho' I am old, I have a Son.—Alas! Why name I him? He knows not the Dishonour of my House.

Fel. I am confounded! The Dishonour of his House.

Fred. Explain yourself my Lord! I am not conscious of any dishonourable Action to any Man, much less to your Lordship.

Lop. 'Tis false! you have debauched my Daughter.

Fel. Debauch'd my Sister! Impossible! He cou'd not, durst not be that Villain.

Fred. My Lord, I scorn so foul a Charge.

Lop. You have debauch'd her Duty at least, therefore, instantly restore her to me, or by St. Anthony I'll make you.

Fred. Restore her my Lord! Where shall I find her?

Lop. I have those that will swear she is here in your House.

Fel. Ha! In this House?

Fred. You are misinform'd, my Lord, upon my Reputation I have not seen Donna Isabella, since the Absence of Don Felix.

Lop. Then, pray Sir—If I am not too inquisitive, what Motive had you for those Objections you made against her Marriage with Don Guzman Yesterday?

Fred. The Disagreeableness of such a Match, I fear'd, wou'd give your Daughter cause to curse her Duty, if she comply'd with your Demand, that was all, my Lord!

Lop. And so you help'd her thro' the Window to make her disobey.

Fel. Ha, my Sister gone! Oh Scandal to our Blood!

Fred. This is insulting me, my Lord, when I assure you I have neither seen, nor know any thing of your Daughter—If she is gone, the Contrivance was her own, and you may thank your Rigour for it.

Lop. Very well, Sir; however, my Rigour shall make bold to search your House: Here, call in the Alguazil.—

Flo. (Peeping) The Alguazil? What in the Name of Wonder will become of me!

Fred. The Alguazil! My Lord, you'll repent this.

Enter Alguazil and Attendants.

Lop. No Sir, 'tis you that will repent it, I charge you, in the King's Name, to assist me in finding of my Daughter.—Be sure you leave no Part of the House unsearch'd; come, follow me.

[Goes towards the Door where Felix is; Frederick draws, and plants himself before the Door.

Fred. Sir, I must first know by what Authority you pretend to search my House, before you enter here.

Alg. How! Sir, dare you presume to draw your Sword upon the Representative of Majesty! I am, Sir, I am his Majesty's Alguazil, and the very Quintessence of Authority—therefore put up your Sword, or I shall order you to be knock'd down—for know, Sir, the Breath of an Alguazil, is as dangerous as the Breath of a Demy-Culverin.

Lop. She is certainly in that Room, by his guarding the Door—if he disputes your Authority, knock him down, I say.

Fred. I shall show you some Sport first! The Woman you look for is not here, but there is something in this Room, which I'll preserve from your Sight at the Hazard of my Life.

Lop. Enter, I say, nothing but my Daughter can be there—Force his Sword from him.

[Felix comes out and joins Frederick.

Fel. Villains, stand off! Assassinate a Man in his own House?

Lop. Oh, oh, oh, Misericordia, what do I see, my Son!

Alg. Ha, his Son! Here's five hundred Pounds good, my Brethren, if Antonio dies, and that's in the Surgeon's Power, and he's in love with my Daughter, you know—Don Felix! I command you to surrender yourself into the Hands of Justice, in order to raise me and my Posterity, and in Consideration you lose your Head to gain me five hundred Pounds, I'll have your Generosity recorded on your Tomb-stone—at my own proper Cost and Charge—I hate to be ungrateful.

Fred. Here's a generous Dog now—

Lop. Oh that ever I was born—Hold, hold, hold.

Fred. Did I not tell you, you wou'd repent, my Lord. What ho! Within there (Enter Servants) Arm yourselves, and let not a Man in, nor out, but Felix—Look ye, Alguazil, when you wou'd betray my Friend for filthy Lucre, I shall no more regard you as an Officer of Justice, but as a Thief and Robber thus resist you.

Fel. Generous Frederick! Come on, Sir, we'll show you Play for the five hundred Pounds.

Alg. Fall on, seize the Money right or wrong, ye Rogues.

[They fight.

Lop. Hold, hold, Alguazil! I'll give you the five hundred Pounds, that is, my Bond to pay it upon Antonio's Death, and twenty Pistoles however Things go, for you and these honest Fellows to drink my Health.

Alg. Say you so, my Lord! Why look ye, my Lord, I bear the young Gentleman no ill Will, my Lord, if I get but the five hundred Pounds, my Lord—Why, look ye, my Lord—'Tis the same Thing to me whether your Son be hanged or not, my Lord.

Fel. Scoundrels.—

Lop. Ay, well, thou art a good-natur'd Fellow, that is the Truth on't—Come then, we'll to the Tavern, and sign and seal this Minute: Oh Felix! be careful of thyself, or thou wilt break my Heart.

[Exit Lopez, Alguazil and Attendants.

Fel. Now Frederick, tho' I ought to thank you for your Care of me, yet, till I am satisfied about my Father's Accusation, I can't return the Acknowledgments I owe you: Know you aught relating to my Sister?

Fred. I hope my Faith and Truth are known to you—And here by both I swear, I am ignorant of every Thing relating to your Father's Charge.

Fel. Enough, I do believe thee! Oh Fortune! Where will thy Malice end!

Enter Servant.

Ser. Sir, I bring you joyful News; I am told that Don Antonio is out of Danger, and now in the Palace.

Fel. I wish it be true, then I'm at Liberty to watch my Rival, and pursue my Sister? Prithee Frederick, inform thyself of the Truth of this Report.

Fred. I will this Minute—Do you hear, let no body in to Don Felix till my Return.

[Exit.

Ser. I'll observe, Sir.

[Exit.

Flo. (Peeping) They have almost frighted me out of my Wits—I'm sure—Now Felix is alone, I have a good Mind to pretend I came with a Message from my Lady; but then how shall I say I came into the Cupboard. (Aside.)

Enter Servant, seeming to oppose the Entrance of somebody.

Ser. I tell you, Madam, Don Felix is not here.

Vio. (Within) I tell you, Sir, he is here, and I will see him. (breaks in) You are as difficult of Access, Sir, as a first Minister of State.

Flo. My Stars! My Lady here!

[Shuts the Press close.

Fel. If your Visit was designed to Frederick, Madam, he is abroad.

Vio. No, Sir, the Visit is to you.

Fel. You are very punctual in your Ceremonies, Madam.

Vio. Tho' I did not come to return your Visit, but to take that which your Civility ought to have brought me.

Fel. If my Ears, my Eyes and my Understanding ly'd, then I am in your Debt, else not, Madam.

Vio. I will not charge them with a Term so gross, to say they ly'd, but call it a Mistake, nay, call it any thing to excuse my Felix—Cou'd I, think ye, cou'd I put off my Pride so far, poorly to dissemble a Passion which I did not feel? Or seek a Reconciliation, with what I did not love? Do but consider, if I had entertain'd another, shou'd I not rather embrace this Quarrel, pleas'd with the Occasion that rid me of your Visits, and gave me Freedom to enjoy the Choice which you think I have made; have I any Interest in thee but my Love? Or am I bound by aught but Inclination to submit and follow thee—No Law whilst single binds us to obey, but you by Nature and Education, are oblig'd to pay a Deference to all Woman-kind.

Fel. These are fruitless Arguments. 'Tis most certain thou wert dearer to these Eyes than all that Heaven e're gave to charm the Sense of Man; but I wou'd rather tear them out, than suffer 'em to delude my Reason, and enslave my Peace.

Vio. Can you love without Esteem? And where is the Esteem for her you still suspect? Oh Felix! There is a Delicacy—in Love, which equals even a religious Faith; true Love n'eer doubts the Object it adores, and Scepticks there, will disbelieve their Sight.

Enter Servant.

Fel. Your Notions are too refin'd for mine, Madam. How now, what do you want?

Ser. Only my Master's Cloak out of this Press, Sir, that's all—Oh! the Devil, the Devil.

[Opens the Press, sees Flora, and roars out.

Vio. Ha, a Woman conceal'd! Very well, Felix!

Flo. Discover'd! Nay then Legs befriend me. (runs out.)

Fel. A Woman in the Press! (Enter Lissardo.) How the Devil came a Woman there, Sirrah?

Liss. What shall I say now?

Vio. Now Lissardo shew your Wit to bring your Master off.

Liss. Off Madam! Nay, nay, nay, there, there needs no great Wit to, to, to, bring him off Madam, for she did, and she did not come as, as, as, as, a, a, Man may say directly to, to, to, to speak with my Master, Madam.

Vio. I see by your Stammering, Lissardo, that your Invention is at a very low Ebb.

Fel. 'Sdeath, Rascal! speak without Hesitation, and the Truth too, or I shall stick my Stilletto in your Guts.

Vio. No, no, your Master mistakes, he wou'd not have you speak the Truth.

Fel. Madam, my Sincerity wants no Excuse.

Liss. I am so confounded between one and the other, that I can't think of a Lye.— (Aside.)

Fel. Sirrah, fetch me this Woman back instantly, I'll know what Business she had here!

Vio. Not a step; your Master shan't be put to the Blush—Come a Truce, Felix! Do you ask me no more Questions about the Window, and I'll forgive this.

Fel. I scorn Forgiveness where I own no Crime, but your Soul, conscious of its Guilt, would fain lay hold of this Occasion to blend your Treason with my Innocence.

Vio. Insolent! Nay, if instead of owning your Fault you endeavour to insult my Patience, I must tell you, Sir, you don't behave yourself like that Man of Honour you wou'd be taken for, you ground your Quarrel with me upon your own Inconstancy; 'tis plain you are false yourself, and wou'd make me the Aggressor—It was not for nothing the Fellow oppos'd my Entrance—This last Usage has given me back my Liberty, and now my Father's Will shall be obey'd without the least Reluctance.

[Exit.

Fel. Oh, stubborn, stubborn Heart, what wilt thou do? Her Father's Will shall be obey'd? Ha! That carries her to a Cloyster, and cuts off all my Hopes at once—By Heaven she shall not, must not leave me! No, she is not false, at least my Love now represents her true, because I fear to lose her: Ha! Villain, art thou here: (turns upon Lissardo) tell me this Moment who this Woman was, and for what Intent she was here conceal'd—Or—

Liss. Ah, good Sir, forgive me, and I'll tell you the whole Truth.

[falls on his Knees.

Fel. Out with it then—

Liss. It, it, it, was Mrs. Flora, Sir, Donna Violante's Woman—you must know, Sir, we have had a sneaking Kindness for one another a great while—She was not willing you should know it, so when she heard your Voice, she ran into the Cloaths-Press; I wou'd have told you this at first, but I was afraid of her Lady's knowing it; this is the Truth, as I hope for a whole Skin, Sir.

Fel. If it be not, I'll not leave you a whole Bone in it, Sirrah—fly, and observe if Violante goes directly home.

Liss. Yes, Sir; yes.

Fel. I must convince her of my Faith: Oh! how irresolute is a Lover's Heart! My Resentment cool'd when hers grew high—Nor can I struggle longer with my Fate; I cannot quit her, no I cannot, so absolute a Conquest has she gain'd—Woman's the greatest sovereign Power on Earth.

In vain Men strive their Tyranny to quit,
Their Eyes command, and force us to submit.
So have I seen a mettled Courser fly,
Tear up the Ground, and toss his Rider high,
Till some experienc'd Master found the Way,
With Spur and Rein to make his Pride obey.

Scene the Terreiro de passa.

Enter Colonel and Isabella veil'd. Gibby at a Distance.

Col. Then you say, it is impossible for me to wait of you home, Madam.

Isab. I say it is inconsistent with my Circumstance, Colonel, and that Way impossible for me to admit of it.

Col. Consent to go with me then—I lodge at one Don Frederick's, a Merchant just by here, he is a very honest Fellow, and I dare confide in his Secrecy.

Isab. Ha, does he lodge there? Pray Heaven I am not discover'd. (Aside.)

Col. What say you, my Charmer? shall we breakfast together; I have some of the best Bohea in the Universe.

Isab. Pu! Bohea! Is that the best Treat you can give a Lady at your Lodgings—Colonel!

Col. Well hinted—No, no, no, I have other Things at thy Service, Child.

Isab. What are those Things pray?

Col. My Heart, Soul, and Body into the Bargain.

Isab. Has the last no Incumbrance upon it; can you make a clear Title, Colonel?

Col. All Freehold, Child, and I'll afford thee a very good Bargain. (embraces her.)

Gib. Au my Sol, they mak muckle Wards about it, Ise seer weary with standing, Ise e'en tak a Sleep.