cases

The wisest can propose unto themselves;
His fortune 's strait, 'tis true.

D. Ped. That's what I least regard in this
occasion,

So honour be but safe: the less they have,
The more will be her penance for her folly.
But should Don Zancho, upon any umbrage
From what has pass'd between them, prove so
insolent

As to reject the marriage, then I trust

D. Jul. O say no more of that, rely upon 't. Should he be guilty of that horrid outrage, This sword should pierce his heart, tho' th' only friend

I have i' the world should interpose his own; And, sir, to let you see my frank proceeding, Come along with me, I'll bring you to a place Where, jointly overhearing all that passes

D. Zan. Good. madam, what's the matter? for I see

Disorder in you; put me out of pain.

Blan. That I shall quickly do

Know then, Don Zancho,

In the first place, you must not interrupt me,
Whatever you shall hear; I'll take it ill else;
When I have done, then speak your mind at
leisure;

I come not to argue, but conclude.
D. Zan. Your will 's a law to me-
But whither tends all this?

[Aside.

Blan. I do for once allow you to remember All that has pass'd between us; The folly of my love, the falshood of your's; That done and never to be thought on more— D. Zan. For Heaven's sake, madamBlan. Break not the rule was setKnow, I instructed am in all your story, And am so far grown mistress of myself, That I who th' other day could scarce o'ercome The sense of a slight failure at Madrid, Can here at home suffer indignities,

And tell you calmly, and with unconcern'dness,
Be you Elvira's, and Elvira your's?

I come to do a part you little look'd for
From Blanca's spirit; I must make the marriage;
All things are ready, and her father here.
Now you may speak, Don Zancho, but the thing
Admits of no delay.

D. Zan. But can this be in earnest? sure it

It is not in the power of fate to alter
The resolutions taken. [Don ZANCHO pauses.
D. Fer. She has put it home. Aside.

D. Zan. Madam, you use me hardly; this demeanour

Passes my skill, to judge from whence it springs.
You say it is not in the power of fate

To change your resolutions; but I'm sure
If they be such, 't will less be in its power
To alter mine; but yet before I die
You must be left without excuse, by knowing
The truth of all.

D. Fer. Here it imports indeed to be atten-
tive.
[Aside.

D. Zan. Madam, 'tis true, that absent at
Madrid,

The custom of the court, and vanity,
Embark'd me lightly in a gallantry

With the most fam'd of beauties there, Elvira;
Those, and no other, the true motives were,
To all my first addresses, till her scorns,
Which should have stopp'd them, had engag'd

D. Fer. Blest gods! what do I hear? [Aside.
D. Zan. [continuing.] I, scarce believing
the thing possible,
Urged my intelligencer to do for me
That which her lady for another did,
And to admit me to her chamber, where,
By being eye-witness of her lady's actions,
I might transfer my entire love to herself-
She granted my request, and late one night,
Somewhat before the gallant's usual hour,
She brought me a back way up into her chamber,
Within Elvira's; my stay had not been long,
When, having found the truth of what she had

told me,
Converting rage into appearing kindness.
To my informer, and expressing it
Uncautiously, we made a sudden noise,
With which, Elvira aların'd, and coming in,
Followed by Don Fernando, that fell out
Which you have heard before.

[Don JULIO beckoning Don PEDRO after
him, passing over one corner of the
stage.

D. Jul. By this time, I suppose, she will have made

The proposition to the full, and we Shall come at the just time to hear his answer. [Exeunt Don PEDRO and Don JULIO.

Or thought upon ber, till last night's surprize,
May I for ever perish; and methinks
The use of that, to your advantage,

Might challenge from you a more just construction.

Blan. I told you at first, I came not here to argue,

But to conclude-Say, will you marry ber? [Don JULIO and Don PEDRO peep out as from behind the hanging.

D. Jul. W' are come, you see, just as we could have wish'd.

D. Ped. His fate hangs on his lips,

D. Zan. You are mistress of your words and actions, madam,

And may use me as you please; but this hand Shall sooner pierce this heart, than e'er be given In marriage to Elvira.

[Don PEDRO and Don JULIO rush in with their swords and daggers drawn, and Don ZANCHO draws too.

D. Ped. Then, villain, die! Heav'n is too weak to save thee

Blan. For Heaven's sake, gentlemen!

[BLANCA runs in between. Chi. Now by my grandame's pantable 'tis [From behind. I'll brush their coats, if once it come to fighting, Fernando 's of our side.

pretty!

[FRANCISCA, and CHICHON with a long broom, run out also from behind the hanging.

D. Jul. What frenzy 's this, Fernando? was 't

not you [all Engaged me to effect the marriage? sure w'are Bewitch'd.

D. Fer. Stay, my Don Julio, stay, And let Don Pedro have patience but to hear me'Tis true, but you know well upon what grounds; Those are quite chang'd, by my having overheard All that hath pass'd; for my Elvira, Julio, Proves spotless in her faith, as in her beauty, And I the only guilty, to have doubted: What have I then to do, but here to prostrate Myself at her offended father's feet, And beg his pardon?, that obtain'd, t' implore His help to gain me her's, as to a person In whom respect for him hath always held Proportion with my passion for his daughter.

D. Ped. You know, Don Julio, when I spake with you,

The terms of estimation and respect
Wherewith I mention'd t' ye. this gentleman;

And therefore, since in his address t' Elvira
There was no other fault, but making it
Unknown to me, and that I see his thoughts
Are truly noble; honour thus engaged,
That ought to be forgot, and I to think
Myself most happy in such a son-in-law.
But where 's Elvira?

D. Fer. She's there within, where I dare not

appear

Before her, knowing now such guilt upon me.
If Blanca would employ her interest
And eloquence, perhaps she might prevail
To get her hither, when she shall have told her
What changes a few minutes' time have wrought.
Blan. I never went on a more pleasing errand.
[Exeunt BLANCA and FRANCISCA.

Fran. I am struck dumb with wonder.
[As she goes out.
D. Fer. Now Blanca is away, I'll take this
-time

To spare her blushes, Julio, and tell you,
Though I have broke one marriage for Don
Zancho,

You needs must give me leave to make another; To which, unless I'm very much deceiv'd, You'll find on neither part repugnancy.

[gods D. Jul. I understand you; and I thank the They did not make me understand the wrong, Till they have made it none, since I observe Don Zancho's looks joining in your desires.

D. Zun. A heart so full of love as mine for
Blanca,

Does best express itself when it speaks least.

Elv. Now that the justice of the gods, at length Hath clear'd me from suspicions derogatory To th' honour of your blood, I hope a cloister May expiate my fault as to a father.

you to

D. Ped. Rise, child; the inclosure I condemn [Raising her. Is Don Fernando's arms; give him your hand. Elo. 'Tis yours, sir, to dispose of, I confess, And if it be your will, I must submit ; But let him know, who could suspect Elvira, She never could be his, but by obedience. D. Fer. I am thunder-struck.

[ELVIRA giving him her hand, Elv. Be not dismay'd, Fernando, Since I profess this a mere act of duty; Another duty may Elvira move,

To re-inflame on better grounds her love.
D. Jul. [ironically.] Blanca, I fear you'll
hardly be persuaded

To give your's to Don Zancho; but a brother
For once may play the tyrant-Give it him,
It must be so.
[They join hands.
D. Fer. I now renounce old maxims: having

Fran. I bring you the same luck still.
Mar. What, you do not?

I hope, sir, you are not come for another warrant?

Fran. Yes, faith, for another warrant.

Mar. Why there's my dream come out then; I never dream'd of a buttock, but I was sure to have money for a warrant. It is the luckiest part of all the body to me: Let every man speak as he finds. Now your usurer is of opinion, that to dream of the devil is your wealthier dream; and I think if a man dream of that part that brings many to the devil, 'tis as good; and has all one smatch indeed; for if one be the flesh, the other 's the broth: so 'tis in all his members, and we mark it; if gluttony be the meat, letchery is the porridge; they're both boil'd together, and we clerks will have our modicum too, tho' it conclude in the two-penny chop: Why sir. Signior Francisco.

Fran. 'Twas her voice sure,
Or my soul takes delight to think it was,
And makes a sound like her's.

Mar. Sir, I beseech you.

Fran. There's like to be a good house kept then, when fire and water 's forbidden to come into the kitchen.

Not yet a sight of her? This hour's unfortunate. And what's that yonder, pr'ythee? O love's famine,

There's no affliction like thee. Aye, I hear you,

sir.

Mar. You 're quicker ear'd than I then you

hear me

Before I heard myself.

Fran. A gift in friendship; Some call it an instinct. Mar. It may be,

:

Th' other's the sweeter phrase though: Look you, sir,

Mine own wit this, and 'tis as true as turtle; A goose-quill and a clerk, a constable and a lanthorn,

Bring many a bawd from coach to cart, and many a thief to one turn.

Fran. That one turn help'd you well.

Mar. It has helped me to money indeed for many a warrant. I am forty dollars the better for that one turn; and 't would come off quicker 't were ne'er a whit the worse for me. But indeed when thieves are taken, and break away twice or thrice one after another, there's my gains; then go out more warrants to fetch 'em again: one fine nimble villain may be worth a man ten dollars, in and out o' that fashion; I love such a one with my heart. Aye, and will help him to 'scape too, and I can; hear you me that: I'll have him in at all times at a month's

this:

Fran. Aye, that, sir, that.

nag all the vacation; see you these blanks, I'll send him but one of these bridles, and bring him in at Michaelmas with a vengeance: nothing kills my heart, but when one of 'em dies, sir,. then there's no hope of more money: I had ra

amiss,

Deliver the house of an honest justice.

than an excellent thief; for he 's a gentleman I'm more beholden to.