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Show l88 rfe MlSTAK E. Lor. Sir, to juftify m y Proceeding, I have little to fay; but to excufe it, I have much ; if any Allowance may be made to a PaflTon, which in your Youth you have your felf been fway'd by : I love your Daughter to that exc e l s - - Alv. You would undo her for a Night's Lodging, Lor. Undo her, Sir ? • Alv. Yes, that's the W o r d ; you knew \t was againfl her Imereft to marry you, therefore you endeavour'd to win her to't in private ; you knew her Friends woufd make a better Bargain for her, therefore you kept your Defigns from their knowledge, and yet you love her to that excefs. •• Lor. I'd readily lay d o w n m y Life to ferve her. Ah. Could you readily lay d o w n fifty thoufand Piftoles to ferve her, your excefiive Love would come with better Credentials ; an Offer of Life is very proper for the Attack of a Counterfcarp, but a thoufand Ducats will fooner carry a Lady's Heart; you are a young Man, but will learn this when you are older. ^ Lop. But fince things have fucceeded better this once Sir, and that m y Mafter will prove a moft incomparable good Husband (for that he'll do, I'll anfwer for him) and that 'tis too late to recall what's already done Sir-.. Alv. What's done, Villain ? Lop. Sir, I mean, that fince m y Mafter and m y Lady are marry'd, and Alv. Thou ly'ft ; they are not marry'd. Lop. Sir !• I fay, that fince they are marry'd, and that they love each other fo pafling dearly, indeed I fancy that ^ Alv. W h y , this Impudence is beyond all bearing': Sir, do you put your Rafcal upon this ? Lor. Sir, I a m in a W o o d ; I don't know what it is you mean. Alv. And I a m in a Plain, Sir, and think I may be underftood; do you pretend you are marry'd to my Daughter ? Lor. ^ M I S T A K E . 189 Lor. Sir, 'tis m y Happinefs on one fide, as it is m y Misfortune on another. Alv. And you do think this idle Project can fucceed? You do believe your affirming you are marry'd to her will induce both her and m e to confent it fhall be fo. Lop. Sir, I fee you make m y Mafter almoft out of his Wits to hear you talk fo: but I, w h o a m but a ftander-by now, as I was at the Wedding, have mine about me, and defire to know, Whether you think this Project can fucceed ? D o you believe your affirming they are not marry'd, will induce both him and I to give up the Lady ? One fhort Queftion to bring this matter to an lfTue, W h y do you think they are not marry'd ? Alv. Becaufe (he utterly renounces it. Lop. And fo (he will her Religion, if you attack it with that dreadful Face. D'ye hear, Sir ? the poor Lady is in love heartily, and i wifh all poor Ladies that are fo, would difpofe ot themfeives fo well as fhe has done ; but you fcare her out of her Senfes: bring her here into the Room, fpeak gently to her, tell her you know the thing is done, .that you have it from a M a n of Honour, Me. That may be you wifh it had been other-wife, but are a Chriftian, and profefs Mercy, and therefore3 have refolv'd to pardon her : Say this, and 1 fhall appear a Man of Reputation, and have Satisfaction made me. Alv. Or an impudent Rogue, and have all your Bones broke. Lop. Content. Alv Agreed. Leonora ! who's there ? call Leonora. Lop'. Alf will go rarely, Sir ; w e fhall have mot the Gulf in a moment. {Afido to Lorenzo. Enter Leonora. Alv. C o m e hither, Leonora. Lop. So, n o w w e fhall fee. Alv. I call'd you to anfwer for your felf; here s a . ftronj? Claim upon you 5 if there be any thing in the preteSded Title, conceal it no farther, it muft be known at laft, it m a v as well be fo now. Nothing is fo un- * * eaiy |