take courage a little. [Aside.] Is this usage for your daughter, sir? must my virtue and conduct be suspected for every trifle? You immure me like some dire offender here, and deny me all the recreations which my sex enjoy, and the custom of the country, "and_modesty," allow; yet not content with that, you make my confinement more intolerable by your mistrusts and jealousies. Would I were dead so I were free from this.

Sir Jeal. To-morrow rids you of this tiresome load: Don Diego Babinetto will be here, and then my care ends and his begins.

Isab. Is he come then ?-Oh, how shall I avoid this hated marriage!

Enter servants with supper.

Sir Jeal. Come, will you sit down?
Isab. I cann't eat, sir.

[Aside.

Patch. No, I dare swear he has given her supper enough. I wish I could get into the closet. [Aside. Sir Jeal. Well, if you cann't eat, then give me a song whilst I do.

Isab. I have such a cold I can scarce speak, sir, much less sing. How shall I prevent Charles coming in? [Asiae. Sir Jeal. I hope you have the use of your fingers, madam. Play a tune upon your spinnet whilst your woman sings me a song.

Patch. I'm as much out of tune as my lady, if he

knew all.

[Aside.

Isab. I shall make excellent music.

[Sits down to play.

Patch. Really, sir, I am so frighted about your opening this charm that I cann't remember one song. Sir Jeal. Pish! hang your charm! come, come, sing any thing.

Patch. Yes, I'm likely to sing truly. [Aside.] Humph, humph; bless me! I cann't raise my voice, my heart pants so.

Sir Jeal. Why, what, does your heart pant so that you cann't play neither? Pray what key are you in, ha?

Patch. Ah, would the key was turn'd on you once.

Sir Jeal. Why don't you sing, I say?

[Aside.

Patch. When madam has put her spinnet in tune, sir; humph, humph

Isab. I cannot play, sir, whatever ails me. [Rising. Sir Jeal. Zounds! sit down and play me a tune, or I'll break the spinnet about your ears.

Isab. What will become of me? [Sits down and plays. Sir Jeal. Come, mistress.

Patch. Yes, sir.

[To Patch. [Sings, but horridly out of tune. Sir Jeal. Hey, hey! why, you are a-top of the house, and you are down in the cellar. What is the meaning of this? is it on purpose to cross me, ha? Patch. Pray, madam, take it a little lower; I cannot reach that note-nor any note I fear.

Isab. Well, begin-Oh, Patch, we shall be discover'd.

Patch. I sink with apprehension, madam.-Humph, humph-[Sings.]

[Charles opens the closet door.

Cha. Music and singing!

'Tis thus the bright celestial court above

Beguiles the hours with music and with love.

Death! her father there! [The women shriek.] then I must fly—[Exit into the closet.] [Sir Jealous rises up hastily seeing Charles slip back into the closet.]

Sir Jeal. Hell and Furies! a man in the closet !—

Patch. Ah! a ghost! a ghost!—He must not enter the closet-[Isabinda throws herself down before the closet door as in a swoon.

Sir Jeal. The devil! I'll make a ghost of him I warrant you. [Strives to get by. Patch. Oh, hold, sir, have a care; you'll tread upon my lady-Who waits there? bring some water. Oh! this comes of your opening the charm.

oh !

Oh, oh, oh, [Weeps aloud. Here lies the

Sir Jeal. I'll charm you, housewife. charm that conjur'd this fellow in I'm sure on't. Come, out, you rascal, do so. Zounds! take her from the door or I'll spurn her from it, and break your neck down stairs.

Isab. He's gone; I heard him leap down.

[Aside to Patch.

Patch. Nay then, let him enter-" Here, here, ma"dam, smell to this: come, give me your hand; "come nearer to the window; the air will do you "good."

Sir Jeal. I wou'd she were in her grave. Where are you, sirrah? Villain! robber of my honour! I'll pull you out of your nest. [Goes into the closet.

Patch. You'll be mistaken, old gentleman; the bird is flown.

Isab. I'm glad I have 'scap'd so well; I was almost dead in earnest with the fright.

Re-enter Sir JEALOUS out of the closet.

Sir Jeal. Whoever the dog were he has escap'd out of the window, for the sash is up: but tho' he is got out of my reach you are not. And first, Mrs. Pander, with your charms for the tooth-ache, get out of my house, go, troop; yet hold, stay, I'll see you out of my doors myself; but I'll secure your charge ere I go.

Isab. What do you mean, sir? was she not a creature of you own providing?

Sir Jeal. She was of the devil's providing for ought I know.

Patch. What have I done, sir, to merit you displeasure?

Sir Jeal. I don't know which of you have done it, but you shall both suffer for it, till I can discover whose guilt it is. Go, get in there; I'll move you from this side of the house. [Pushes Isabinda in at the door and locks it, puts the key in his pocket.] I'll keep the key myself; I'll try what ghost will get into that room and now forsooth I'll wait on you down stairs.

79

Patch. Ah, my poor lady!-Down stairs, sir! but I won't go out, sir, till I have lock'd up my

clothes.

Sir Jeal. If thou wert as naked as thou wert born thou shouldst not stay to put on a smock. Come along, I say. When your mistress is marry'd you shall have your rags and every thing that belongs to you; but till then[Exit pulling her out. Patch. Oh, barbarous usage for nothing!

Re-enter at the lower end.

of

Sir Jeal. There, go, and come no more within sight my habitation these three days I charge you. [Slaps the door after her. Patch. Did ever any body see such an old monster!

Enter CHARLES.

Oh, Mr. Charles! your affairs and mine are in an ill posture.

Cha. I am inur'd to the frowns of fortune; but what has befall'n thee?

Patch. Sir Jealous, whose suspicious nature is always on the watch, này, even while one eye sleeps the other keeps centinel, upon sight of you flew into such a violent passion, that I cou'd find no stratagem to appease him, but in spite of all arguments he lock'd his daughter into his own apartment, and turn'd me out of doors.