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Show ic8 The F A L S E FRIEND. If ah. I wou'd not have you too pofitive in that, Madam, for I a m very fure that Leo. Madam, I a m very fure that he's the trouble-fome Gueft I juft n o w complain'd of: And you may believe- J fab. Madam, I can never believe he s trcublefome to any body. Leo. O dear Madam : But I'm fure 1 m forc'd to keep m y Windows (hut, till I'm almoft dead with Heat, and that I think is troublefome. ifab. This miftake is eafily fet right, Leonora; our Houfes join, and when he looks at m y Window, you fancy 'tis at yours. Leo. But when he attacks m y Door, Madam, and almoft breaks it down, I don't know how in the World to fancy 'tis yours. Ifab. A M a n may do that to difguife his real Inclination. Leo. Nay, if you pleafe, believe he's dying for you, I wifh he were •, then 1 fhou'd be troubled no more with him. Be fure, Jacinta, you don't open a Window tonight. If ah. Not while I'm here at leaft; for if he knows that, he may chance to prefs in. Leo. Look you, Ifabella, 'tis entirely alike to me, who he's fond of; but I'm fo much your Friend, I can't endure to fee youdeceiv'd. Ifab. A n d fince I have the fame Kindnefs for you, Leonora, know in mort, that m y Brother is fo alarm'd at his Pafllon for m e , that he has forbid him the Street. Leo. Blefs m y Soul! and don't yon plainly fee by that he's jealous of him upon m y account ? Ifab. fmiling] He's jealous of his Honour, Madam, leaft he fhou'd debauch his Sifter. Leo. I fay, he's jealous of his Love, left he ihoud corrupt his Miftrefs. Ifab. But why all this Heat I If you love m y Brother, whv are vou concem'd D o n John fhou'd love m e ? Leo. I'm not concern'd j I have no Defigns upon him, I care not w h o he loves. T The FALSE FRIEND. 109 ifab. W h y then are you angry ? Leo. W h y do you fay he does not care for me? Ifab .Weil to content you then 5 1 know nothing certain but that I love him. ° Leo, And to content you ; I know nothing To certain,- as that I neither love him, nor never can love him : And fo I hope w e are Friends again. Ifab. Kifs m e then, and let us never be otherwife. Leo. Agreed : [They kifs. ] And n o w m y Dear, as my Misfortune's neareft, I a m firft to be pity'd. 1 a m the moft wretched W o m a n living. My Father every moment experts a Gentleman from Flanders, to w h o m he has refolv'd to marry me. But neither Duty, nor Prudence, nor Danger, nor Refolution, nor all I can fummon to m y Aid, can drive your Brother from m y Heart; but there he's flxt to ruin me. Jacin. Madam, here's D o n Guzman at the Chamber- Door ; he begs fo paillonately to come in, fure you can't refufe him. Leo. Heav'ns ; but does he confider to what he ex-pofes m e ? Jacin. Madam, he confiders nothing ; if he did, I'd fay he were an impudent Fellow to pretend to be in love with you. Leo. Shall I venture, ifabella / Ifab. You know beft. Enter Don Guzman. Jacin. Marry, methinks he knows beft of us all, for here he comes. Don Qu%* Forgive me, lovely Leonora", 'tis the laft time perhaps that I may beg your Pity. My Rival is not far; Excefs of Modefty is n o w our Ruin. Break through it, for this moment you have left, and o w n to your old Father how you love. He once did fo himfelf ; our .Scene of Sorrow may perhaps recall fome fmall remembrance of his tender Years, and melt him into Mercy. Leo. Alas, D o n Guzman Jacin. O Heav'ns, Madam • Leo. What's the matter ? Jacin. Y'are undone, here's your Father. Ifab. |