what I fay is not true, to-morrow you fhall hate what fatisfaction you require. D. Přil. Till then farewel. Sir. Cha. Farewel, till you come to your fentes again- So! I have brought myself to a fine pais indred—I have kill'd one hot-brain'd fool for his jealoufy, and now to compleat my misfortunes. he too has catch'd the infection-What fhall I do! If I ftay here and truft the inquifition, 'tis ten times more unmerciful than a Middlesex jury—A man can never have fair play for his life—to touch cold iron and come off like a gentleman-Shall I then lay hold on this opportunity, and make my picape! No! They shall never fay an Englishman's to base a coward. Let the hot Spaniard boaft his virtue here, ACT ACT IV. SCENE I The governor's house. Enter Leonora and Don Philip. D. Phil. COME, OME, come, Madam, I'm not to be fo impos'd upon! you may deny it as long as you pleafe, but you can't perfuade me out of my fenfes-Did not I, laft night, fee Sir Charles hid under your window in the court-yard? Leo. Suppofe you did, Sir? D. Phil. Then, Madam, I can fuppofe it to be no advantage to your character-S'death, am I to be made a property! a mere pander! to carry on an intrigue against my own honour? Leo. Very well! go on, Sir, go on. D. Phil. So I can, Madam. Is it prudent for a young lady, just upon her marriage, to entertain a cavalier alone at midnight-nay, in her own chamber too! unknown to her father, or any one that fhou'd be the guardian of her honour?-Such conduct is mighty reputable indeed, Madam! Lec. Suppofe fuch a perfon was here, Sir-is there no other place that cou'd entertain him but my apartment? Am I the only perfon he cou'd come to?-Must I be accountable for his being here? D. Phil. No, Madam, by no means-Tis probable to believe a perfon of his quality, might have have an affair with one of your fervants only S'death, d'ye take me for a fool! is there any o ther young lady in the house? Look'e, Madam, I fhou'd not fo tamely take this of Sir Charles, but that I fcorn to infult a man in his misfortunes -however, I can be yet capable of refentmentfor know, I'll immediately demand my contract of your father, and return back to Madrid. [Going Leo. If I let him go, this may give room for fufpicion, and fufpicion will bring a discovery. [Afide.] Hold, Sir-Not that 'tis worth my while to clear my innocence, for your fake, but for my father's: Know then, here is another young lady in this houfe. D. Phil. Aye! who? tell me that pray, Madam? Lea. The prifoner, Sir-I fhall have a fine time to fatisfy your scruples. D. Phil. The prifoner! ha, ha, ha! you are both in the fame ftory, I find-your fcheme is excellently well laid-Were I a zealous dotard, or a British husband, perhaps I might be credulous enough to believe any thing-but this deceit won't take; indeed it won't, Madam. Leo. How! what indecency have I been guilty of to merit this ufage?-but know, fince you are ftill refolv'd to traduce my honour, there are thofe, Sir, that will vindicate it-This is not to be borne with patience! D. Phil. Nay, Madam, don't diforder yourself thus-for you may henceforth meet Sir Charles as often as you please-and expofe your reputation as much as you think fit; it fhall never give me any further upeafinefs I can affure you, you, Madam. Leo Leo, Infolent! before you had refolv'd to treat me after this manner, you might, at least, have afk'd my father if there were no fuch perfon in the houfe!-Is this the return for all his friendfhip? But there comes the lady herfelf, I fhall leave her to give you fatisfaction- Provoking [Exit. man! D. Phil. Ha! what do I fee? Here comes a young lady indeed! I'm afraid jealousy has carry'd me too far-Soft! I'll lay afide this heat a little, if poffible. Enter Fidelia. But ftill methinks my choler rifes fo, I know not how to fupprefs it. Enter Leonora and Flora behind. Leo. Here we may learn their difcourfe. Methinks, tho' I am partly in fault, I am exafperated at fuch treatment. Fide. Ha! who's here? What can be the meaning of this! D. Phil. Nay, Madam, don't ftart-I hope the fight of me does not put you into a confternation, Fide. Sir, I came to meet a friend, and being loft in thought, pardon me, if I was a little furpriz'd. D. Phil. Madam, whoever you came to meet, and however strange it may seem to you, you are the only perfon I cou'd wifh for at prefent. Fide. Me, Sir! I don't know that ever I faw you in my life before! D. Phil. D. Phil. Very like fo, Madam-But however you may be furpriz'd, you have been the caufe that has raised this diforder in my fout, and 'tis in your power alone to appease it. Fide. I the cause of your disorder, Sir!-certainly the man's mad! D. Phil. Pardon me, if my temper's a little ruffled.-Perhaps I may be impertinent-but if you have the leaft compaflion, I beg you answer me to one particular. Fide. With all my heart, Sir, if it lies in my power. -What can the man mean! he looks as if he was diftracted! [Afide. D. Phil. Anfwer me direâly and fincerely, Madam-for my fcruples are of as great a confequence, as thofe of troubled minds, that apply to cafuifts for ease. Fide. Sir, you furprize me wonderfully. What fatisfaction can I, that am a ftranger, give you? D. Phil. The greateft! and only in one trivial answer. Fide. What is it, Sir? D. Phil. D'ye know such a person as Sir Char les Winlove, Madam? Fide. How, Sir! your queftion startles me, indeed. D. Phil. It need not; for, as I am a cavalier, I ask you for no treacherous defign-therefore be kind, and eafe me with an answer. · Fide. How earnest and concern'd he feems! Sure he has no defign to offer love-Perhaps he may come as a spy to betray me-I know not what to think [Afide. D. Phil |