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Show ij8 The F A L S E FRIEND. Jacin. I come to ask you, how you cou'd fo far for. get that infinite Regard you have profefs'd, to make an attempt fo dangerous both to your felf and m e ; and which, with all the Efteem and Love I have ever borne you, you fcarce cou'd hope I ever fhou'd forgive you. D o n GUT^. Alas 1 my Hopes and Fears were vanifh'd too. My Counfel, was m y Love and m y Defpair. if they advis'd m e wrong, of them complain, for i* was you who made 'em m y Directors. D o n Ped. afide.) T h e Villain owns the Fact. It feems he thinks he has not much to fear, from her Re-fentment. O Torture! Enter Leonora. Jacin. afide.) So, She's here \ that's as I expected: now w e are blown up. (Leo. afide, not feeing them.) If I don't mittake, I heard D o n Guzman's call. I can't refufe to anfwer it; forgive m e , Gods, and let m y Woman's Weaknefs plead m y Caufe.-. How! M y Husband here ! Kay then. Don Ped. You feem diforder'd, Madam; pray what may be the Caufe ? (Leo. confus'd.) I don't k n o w really j I'm n o t - I don't know that* D o n Ped. You did not know that I was here, I guefs. Leo. Yes I did, and came to fpeak with you. D o n Ped. I'm not at prefent in a talking Humour, but if your Tongue is fet to Convention, there's one behind the Wall will entertain you. D o n Guz. But is it poffible, lair Leonora, that you can pardon m y Attempt ? [Don Ped. to Leo.] Yrou hear him, Madam, he dares o w n it to you. Leo. afide.] Jacinta winks; I guefs what Scene they have been acting here. My Part is n ow to play. [To DonVeL] I fee, Sir, he dares own it: Nor is he the firft Lover has prefum'd beyond the Countenance he ever has receiv'd. Pray draw near, and hear what he has more to fay : It is m y Intereft you fhou'd know the Depth of all has ever paft between us. The F A L S E FRIEND. I$9 [Leo. to Don Guz.] I fain wou'd know, Don GUT. roan, whether in the whole Conduct: of m y Life you have known one flep, that cou'd encourage you to'hope I ever cou'd be yours, but on the terms of Honour which you fought m e ? Don Gux. Not one. Leo. W h y then fhou'd you believe I cou'd forgive the taking that by force, which you already were con-vine'd I valu'd more the keeping, than m y Life ? Don Guz. Had m y Love been as temperate as yours, I with your Reafon had perhaps debated. But not in Reafon, but in Flames, I flew to Leonora. Leo. If ftrong Temptation be allow'd a Plea, Vice, in the worft of fhapes, has much to urge : N o , cou'd any thing have fhaken m e in Virtue, it muft have been the ftrength of it in you. Had you fhone bright enough to dazzle me, I blindly might have mift the Path I meant to tread: But n o w you have clear'd m y fight for ever. If therefore from this moment more, you dare to let m e know one Thought of Love, tho in the humbleft Stile, expect to be a Sacrifice to him you attempt to wrong. Farewel. [She retires from him. Don GUT. O ftay and hear me, I have wrong'd m y felf, I'm innocent ; by all that's Sacred, Juft and Good, I'm innocent. Don Ped. afide.] What does he mean ? Don Gu%. I have own'd a Fact I a m not guilty of; Jacinta can inform you, fhe knows I never Jacin. I know ! The Man's mad; Pray be gone, Sir, m y Lady will hear no more. I'll fhut him out, Madam, fhan't I? [She fhuts the Hole. Leo. I have no farther Bufinefs with him. Enter Ifabella hafiily. Ifab. O Heavens, Leonora, where are you ? D on fedro, you can affift m e better. Leo. What's the matter ? Don Ped. What is it, Madam, I can ferve you in ? Ifab. In what the Peace of m y whole Life confifts, the Safety of m y Brother ; D o n John's Servant has this moment left m e a Letter for him, which I have open'd, knowing |