blank verse, it would serve for a tragedy. Why, thou hast more wit than I thought thou hadst, child. I fancy this was all extempore; I don't believe thou didst ever think one word on't before.

Inis. Yes, but she has, my lord; for I have heard her say the same things a thousand times.

Lop. How, how! What, do you top your secondhand jests upon your father, hussy, who knows better what's good for you than you do yourself? Remember, 'tis your duty to obey.

Isah. [Rising.] I never disobeyed before, and I wish I had not reason now; but nature hath got the better of my duty, and makes me loath the harsh commands you lay. Lop. Ha ha!--Very fine! ha! ha!

Isab. Death itself would be more welcome.
Lop. Are you sure of that?

Isab. I am your daughter, my lord, and can boast as strong a resolution as yourself. I'll die before I'll marry Guzman.

Lop. Say you so? I'll try that presently. [Draws.] Here, let me see with what dexterity you can breathe a vein now. [Offers her his Sword.] The point is pretty sharp-Twill do your business, I warrant you.

Inis. [Going between them] Bless me, sir! What do you mean, to put a sword into the hands of a desperate

woman?

Lop. Desperate! ha, ha, ha! you see how desperate she is. What, art thou frighted, little Bell?-Ha?

Isab. (R.) I confess I am startled at your morals, sir. Lop. Ay, ay, child, thou hadst better take the man; he'll hurt the least of the two.

Isab. I shall take neither, sir: death has many doors; and, when I can live no longer with pleasure, I shall find one to let him in at without your aid.

Lop. Say'st thou so, my dear Bell? Ods, I'm afraid thou art a little lunatic, Bell. I must take care of thee, child. (Takes hold of her, and pushes her to R. D.] I shall make bold to secure thee, my dear; I'll see if locks and bars can keep thee till Guzman come. Go, get into your chamber : [Locks her in.

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

[Drives off Inis, L., and exit, L.

END OF ACT I.

ACT II.

SCENE I.-A Room in Don Pedro's House.

Enter DONNA VIOLANTE, R., reading a Letter, and FLORA following.

Flora. (L.) What, must that letter be read again? Vio. (c.) Yes, and again, and again, and again, a thousand times again; a letter from a faithful lover can never be read too often; it speaks such kind, such soft, such tender things[Kisses it.

Flora. But always the same language.

Vio. (c.) It does not charm the less for that.

Flora. (L. C.) 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, exiled from thee, this night shall bring me to thy arms. Frederick and thee are all I trust. These six weeks' absence have been in love's account six hundred years. When it is dark, expect the wonted signal at thy window: till when, adieu. Thine, more than his own,

"FELIX."

Flora. Who would 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.

Vio. What would you have said?

Flora. I would have compared 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 threatened to disinherit him for refusing Don Antonio's sister, from whence sprung this unhappy quarrel, did it shake his love for me? and now, though strict inquiry runs through every place, with large rewards to apprehend him, does he not venture all for me?,

Flora. But you know, madam, your father, Don Pedro, designs you for a nun-to be sure, you look very like 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 informed. But, however, I shall run the risk of that. Go, call in Lissardo. Now for a thousand verbal

Flora. Yes, madam,

questions.

Re-enter FLORA, with LISSARDO, Ļ.

[Exit, L.

Vio. (R.) Well, and how do you do, Lissardo? Liss. (c.) Ah, very weary, madam.-'Faith, thou look'st wondrous pretty, Flora. [Aside to Flora.

Vio. (R. C.) How came you?

Liss. En chevalier, madam, upon a hackney jade, which they told me formerly belonged to an English colonel; but I should have rather thought she had been bred a good Roman Catholic all her lifetime-for she down'd on her knees to every stock and stone we came along by.-My chops water for a kiss; they do, Flora. [Aside to Flora.

Flora. (L. C.) You'd make one believe you are wond'rous fond, now.

Vio. Where did you leave your master?

Liss. Odd, if I had you alone, housewife, I'd show you how fond I could be! [Aside to Flora.

Vio. Where did you leave your master?

Liss. 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?

Flora. Oh, you counterfeit wond'rous well.

[To Lissardo. Liss. No; e ery body knows I counterfeit very ill.

[To Flora. Vio. How say you? Is Felix ill? What's his distemper? ha?

Liss. A prize 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 could not, if I may judge of his heart by [Looking lovingly upon Flora. Vio. How came you so well acquainted with your master's thoughts, Lissardo?

my own.

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 Violantes.-I flew into the kitchen, full of thoughts of thee, cried, here, cook, roast me these Floras.

[To Flora. Flo. Ha ha! excellent!-You mimic 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 called out hastily, Lissardo, said he, bring a Violante for my father to sit down on.Then he often mistook my name, madam, and called me Violante in short, I heard it so often, that it became as familiar to me as my prayers.

Vio. You live 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.

Flora. 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! Odslife, 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 lain them, just when he asked 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 unbraced 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, R.

Liss. (R.) 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. Flora. (L. C.) That ring must be mine.-Well, Lissardo, what haste you make to pay off arrears now! Look how the fellow stands !

Liss. [Still on the R., admiring his hand.] Egad, methinks I have a very pretty hand-and very whiteand the shape-'Faith, I never minded it so much before. In my opinion, it is a very fine-shaped handand becomes a diamond ring as well as the first grandee's in Portugal.

Flora. 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. Flora. Sweet Mr. Lissardo! [Courtesying.] 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?

Flora. Madam! Good lack! how much a diamond ring improves one!

Liss. Why, though I say it, I can carry myself as well as any body.-But what wert thou going to say, child?

Flora. 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 sha'n't marry yet awhile.

Flora. You sh'an'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 came to a right understanding-but then, like all other mortal things, it would return from whence it came.

you.

Flora. Insolent!-Is that your manner of dealing? Liss. With all but thee-Kiss me, you little rogue, [Hugging her. Flora. Little rogue! Pr'ythee, 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 chambermaid.

1

Flora. Replied with the spirit of a serving-man.

Liss. (L. c.) Pr'ythee, Flora, don't let you and I fall