Carlos. I was, lady; but while I have life, will never be again.

Louisa. Was your mistress so cruel?

Carlos. If she had always been so, I should have been happier.

SONG.

O, had my love neʼer smiled on me,
I ne'er had known such anguish ;
But think how false, how cruel she,
To bid me cease to languish.
To bid me hope her hand to gain,
Breathe on a flame half perish'd;
And then with cold and fix'd disdain,
To kill the hope she cherish'd.

Not worse his fate, who on a wreck,
That drove as winds did blow it;
Silent had left the shatter'd deck,
To find a grave below it.

Then land was cried-no more resign'd,
He glow'd with joy to hear it ;
Not worse his fate, his woe to find,

The wreck must sink ere near it.

Louisa. As I live, here is your friend coming with Antonio I'll retire for a moment to surprise him. [Exit.

Enter ISAAC and ANTONIO.

Ant. Indeed, my good friend, you must be mistaken. Clara D'Almanza in love with me, and employ you to bring me to meet her! It is impossible! Isaac. That you shall see in an instant-Carlos, where is the lady? [CARLOS points to the Door.] In the next room is she?

Ant. Nay, if that lady is really here, she certainly wants me to conduct her to a dear friend of mine, who has long been her lover.

Isaac. Pshaw! I tell you 'tis no such thing-you are the man she wants, and nobody but you. Here's ado to persuade you to take a pretty girl that's dying for you!

Ant. But I have no affection for this lady.

Isaac. And you have for Louisa, hey? but take my word for it, Antonio, you have no chance thereso you may as well secure the good that offers itself

oyou.

Ant. And could you reconcile it to your conscience, to supplant your friend?

Isaac. Pish! Conscience has no more to do with gallantry, than it has with politics-why, you are no honest fellow, if love can't make a rogue of you-so come, do go in, and speak to her at last,

Ant. Well, I have no objection to that.

Isaac. [Opens the Door.] There-there she is yonder by the window-get in, do-[Pushes him in, and half shuts the Door.] now, Carlos, now I shall hamper him, I warrant-stay, I'll peep how they go on 'egad, he looks confoundedly posed-now she's coaxing him-see, Carlos, he begins to come to-ay, ay, he'll soon forget his conscience.

Carlos. Look-now they are both laughing!

Isaac. Ay, so they are-yes, yes, they are laughing at that dear friend he talked of-ay, poor devil, they have outwitted him.

Carlos. Now he's kissing her hand.

Isaac. Yes, yes, 'faith, they're agreed-he's caught, he's entangled-my dear Carlos, we have brought it about. Oh, this little cunning head! I'm a Machiavel-a very Machiavel,

Carlos. I hear somebody enquiring for you-I'll see who it is. [Exit CARLOS.

Enter ANTONIO and LOUISA.

Ant. Well, my good friend, this lady has so entirely convinced me of the certainty of your success at Don Jerome's, that I now resign my pretensions there.

Isaac. You never did a wiser thing, believe meand as for deceiving your friend, that's nothing at all -tricking is all fair in love, isn't it, ma'am?

Louisa. Certainly, sir, and i am particularly glad to find you are of that opinion.

Isaac O lud! yes, ma'am-let any one outwit me, that can, I say-but here let me join your handsthere, you lucky rogue! I wish you happily married, from the bottom of my soul!

Louisa And I am sure if you wish it, no one else should prevent it.

Isaac. Now, Antonio, we are rivals no more; so let us be friends, will you ?

Ant. With all my heart, Isaac.

Isaac. It is not every man, let me tell you, that would have taken such pains, or been so generous to a rival.

Ant. No, 'faith; I don't believe there's another beside yourself in all Spain.

Isaac. Well, but you resign all pretensions to the other lady?

Ant. That I do, most sincerely.

Isaac. I doubt you have a little hankering there still.

Ant. None in the least, upon my soul.

Isaac. I mean after her fortune.

Ant. No, believe me You are heartily welcome to every thing she has.

Isaac. Well, i'faith, you have the best of the bargain, as to beauty, twenty to one-now I'll tell you a secret-I am to carry off Louisa this very evening.

Louisa. Indeed!

Isaac. Yes, she has sworn not to take a husband from her father's hand-so, I've persuaded him to trust her to walk with me in the garden, and then we shall give him the slip.

Louisa. And is Don Jerome to know nothing of this?

Isaac. O lud, no! there lies the jest-Don't you see that, by this step, I overreach him? I shall be entitled to the girl's fortune, without settling a ducat on her, ha ha! ha! I'm a cunning dog, an't I? A sly little villain, eh?

Ant. Ha ha! ha! you are indeed!

Isaac. Roguish, you'll say, but keen, eh ?-devilish keen?

Ant. So you are indeed-keen-very keen.

Isaac. And what a laugh we shall have at Don Jerome's, when the truth comes out! hey?

Louisa. Yes, I'll answer for it, we shall have a good laugh when the truth comes out, ha! ha! ha!

Enter CARLOS.

Carlos. Here are the dancers come to practise the fandango, you intended to have honoured Donna Louisa with.

Isaac. O, I sha'n't want them, but as I must pay them, I'll see a caper for my money-will you excuse me?

Louisa. Willingly.

Isaac. Here's my friend, whom you may command for any services. Madam, your most obedient-Antonio, I wish you all happiness.-Oh, the easy blockhead! what a tool I have made of him!-This was a master-piece! [Exit. Louisa. Carlos, will you be my guard again, and convey me to the convent of St Catharine?

Ant. Why, Louisa-why should you go there? Louisa. I have my reasons, and you must not be seen to go with me; I shall write from thence to my father; perhaps, when he finds what he has driven me to, he may relent.

Ant. I have no hope from him-O Louisa! in these arms should be your sanctuary.

Louisa. Be patient but for a little while-my father cannot force me from thence. But let me see you there before evening, and I will explain myself. Ant. I shall obey.

Louisa. Come, friend-Antonio, Carlos has been a lover himself.

Ant. Then he knows the value of his trust.
Carlos. You shall not find me unfaithful.

TRIO.

Soft pity never leaves the gentle breast
Where love has been received a welcome guest,
As wand'ring saints poor huts have sacred made,
He hallows ev'ry heart he once has sway'd;
And when his presence we no longer share,
Still leaves compassion as a relic there.

[Exeunt.