Cam. Losses of opportunity are fatal in war, you know, and love's a kind of warfare.

Vio. I shall keep you yet a while from close fighting.

Cam. But, do you know what an hour in love is worth? Tis more precious than an age of ordinary life; 'tis the very quintessence and extract of it.

Vio. I do not like your chemical preparation of love; yours is all spirit, and will fly too soon; I must see it fixed, before I trust you. But we are near the arbour: Now our out-guards are set, let us retire a little, if you please; there we may walk more freely. [Exit. Aur. [To LAU.] My lady's woman, methinks you are very reserved to-night: Pray, advance into the lists; though I have seen your countenance by day, I can endure to hear you talk by night. Be cunning, and set your wit to show, which is your best commodity: It will help the better to put off that drug, your face.

Lau. The coarsest ware will serve such customers as you are: Let it suffice, Mr Serving-man, that I have seen you too. Your face is the original of the ugliest vizors about town; and for wit, I would advise you to speak reverently of it, as a thing you are never like to understand.

Aur. Sure, Beatrix, you came lately from looking in your glass, and that has given you a bad opinion of all faces; but since when am I become so notorious a fool?

Lau. Since yesterday; for t'other night you talked like a man of sense: I think your wit comes to you, as the sight of owls does, only in the dark. Aur. Why, when did you discourse by day with me?

Lau. You have a short memory. This afternoon

in the great street. Do you remember when you talked with Laura?

Aur. But what was that to Beatrix?

Lau. [Aside.] 'Slife, I had forgot that I am Beatrix. But pray, when did you find me out to be so ugly? Aur. This afternoon, in the chapel.

Lau. That cannot be; for I well remember you were not there, Benito; I saw none but Camillo, and his friend, the handsome stranger.

Aur. [Aside.] Curse on't, I have betrayed myself.

Lau. I find you are an impostor: you are not the same Benito: your language has nothing of the serving-man.

Aur. And yours, methinks, has not much of the waiting-woman.

Lau. My lady is abused, and betrayed by you: But I am resolved, I'll discover who you are. [Holds out a lanthorn to him.] How! the stranger?

Aur. Nay, madam, if you are good at that, I'll match you there too. [Holds out his lanthorn.] O prodigy! Is Beatrix turned to Laura?

Lau. Now the question is, which of us two is the greatest cheat?

Aur. That's hardly to be tried, at so short warning: Let's marry one another, and then, twenty to one, in a twelvemonth we shall know.

Lau. Marry! Are you at that so soon, signior? Benito and Beatrix, I confess, had some acquaintance; but Aurelian and Laura are mere strangers.

Aur. That ground I have gotten as Benito, I am resolved I'll keep as Aurelian. If you will take state upon you, I have treated you with ceremony already; for I have wooed you by proxy.

Lau. But you would not be contented to bed me so; or give me leave to put the sword betwixt us. Aur. Yes, upon condition you'll remove it.

Lau. Pray let our friends be judge of it; if you please, we'll find them in the arbour.

Aur. Content; I am then sure of the verdict, because the jury is bribed already.

SCENE VI.

[Exeunt.

BENITO meeting FREDERICK, ASCANIO, LUCRETIA, and HIPPOLITA.

Ben. Knowing my own merits, as I do, 'tis not impossible, but some of these harlotry nuns may love me. Oh, here's my master! now if I could but put this into civil terms, so as to ask his leave, and not displease him

Asca. I hear one talking, sir, just by us.

Ben. I am stolen from my post, sir, but for one minute only, to demand permission of you, since it is not in our articles, that if any of these nuns should cast an eye, or so

Fred. 'Slife, we are betrayed; but I'll make this rascal sure. [Draws and runs at him.

Ben. Help! murder, murder!

[Runs off.

Enter AURELIAN and CAMILLO; LAURA and V10LETTA after them.

Aur. That was Benito's voice: We are ruined. Cam. O, here they are, we must make our way. [AUR. and the Prince make a pass or two confusedly, and fight off the stage. The Women shriek.

Asca. Never fear, ladies.-Come on, sir; I am your man.

Cam. [Stepping back.] This is the prince's page, I

know his voice.-Ascanio?

Asca. Signior Camillo?

Cam. If the prince be here, 'tis Aurelian is engaged with him. Let us run in quickly, and prevent the mischief.

[All go off. A little clashing within. After which they all re-enter.

Fred. [To AUR.] I hope you are not wounded. Aur. No, sir; but infinitely grieved, that

Fred. No more; 'twas a mistake: But which way can we escape? the abbess is coming; I see the lights.

Luc. You cannot go by the gate, then. Ah me, unfortunate!

Cam. But over the wall you may: We have a ladder ready.-Adieu, ladies.—Curse on this ill luck, when we had just persuaded them to go with

us!

Fred. Farewell, sweet Lucretia.

Lau. Good-night, Aurelian.

Aur. Ay, it might have proved a good one: Faith, shall I stay yet, and make it one, in spite of the abbess, and all her works?.

Lau. The abbess is just here; you will be Caught in the spiritual trap, if you should tarry. Aur. That will be time enough, when we two marry. [Exeunt severally.

ACT V. SCENE I.

Enter SOPHRONIA, LUCRETIA, LAURA, and V10

LETTA.

Soph. By this, then, it appears you all are guilty; Only your ignorance of each others crimes Caused first that tumult, and this discovery. Good heavens, that I should live to see this day! Methinks these holy walls, the cells, the cloisters,

Should all have struck a secret horror on you:
And when, with unchaste thoughts,

You trod these lonely walks, you should have looked,
The venerable ghost of our first foundress

Should, with spread arms, have met you in her shroud, And frighted you from sin.

Luc. Alas! you need not aggravate our crimes; We know them to be great beyond excuse, And have no hope, but only from your mercy.

Lau. Love is, indeed, no plea within these walls; But, since we brought it hither, and were forced, Not led by our own choice, to this striet life

Vio. Too hard for our soft youth, and bands of love,

Which we before had knit

Lau. Pity your blood,

Which runs within our veins; and since heav'n puts it
In your sole power to ruin or to save,
Protect us from the sordid avarice

Of our domestic tyrant, who deserves not
That we should call him uncle, or your brother.
Soph. If, as I might, with justice I should punish,

No penance could be rigorous enough;

But I am willing to be more indulgent.

None of you are professed: And, since I see

You are not fit for higher happiness,

You may have what you think the world can give

you.

Luc. Let us adore you, madam!

Soph. You, Lucretia,

I shall advise within.

Vio. But for us, madam?

Soph. For you, dear nieces, I have long consi

dered

The injuries you suffer from my brother,

And I rejoice it is in me to help you :