2 Con. Well, well, why don't you then? [As they are going out, enter firft Conftantia, and just then Antonio feixes

upon her.

John. Who's this, my old new friend has got

there?

Ant. O, have I caught you gentlewoman at laft? Come, give me my gold.

1 Con. I hope he takes me for another, I won't anfwer, for I had rather he should take me for any one than who I am.

John. Pray, Sir, who is that you have there by

the hand?

Ant. A perfon of honour, Sir, that has broke open my trunks, and run away with all my gold; yet I'll hold ten pound I'll have it whip'd out of her again.

2 Con. Done, I'll hold you ten pounds of that

now.

Ant. Ha! by my troth you have reafon; and, lady, I ask your pardon; but I'll have it whipp'd out of you then, goffip.

John. Hold, Sir, you must not meddle with my goods.

Ant. Your goods! how came fhe to be yours?

I'm fure I bought her of her mother for five hundred good pieces of gold, and fhe was a-bed with me all night too; deny that if you dare.

2 Con. Well, and what did you do when I was a-Bed with you all night? confess that if you dare.

Ant. Umph, fay you fo?

1 Con. I'll try if this lady will help me, for I know not whether elfe to go.

Ant. I fhall be afham'd I fee utterly, except I make her hold her tongue. Pray, Sir, by your leave, I hope you will allow me the speech of one word with your goods here, as you call her; 'tis but a finall request.

John. Ay, Sir, with all my heart. ftantia! Madam, now you have seen

How, Conthat lady, I

hope you will pardon the hafte you met me in a little while ago; if I committed a fault, you must

thank her for it.

1 Con. Sir, if you will, for her fake, be perfuaded to protect me from the violence of my brdther, I fhall have reason to thank you both.

John. Nay, madam, now that I am in my wits again, and my heart's at eafe, it fhall go very hard but I will fee yours fo too; I was before di

ftracted,

tracted, and it is not ftrange the love of her fhould hinder me from remembring what was due to you, fince it made me forget myself.

1 Con. Sir, I do know too well the power of love, by my own experience, not to pardon all the effects of it in another.

Ant. Well, then, I promise you, if you will but help me to my gold again, (I mean that which you and your mother ftole out of my trunk) that I'll never trouble you more.

2 Con. A match; and 'tis the best that you and I could ever make.

John. Pray, madam, fear nothing; by my love I'll stand by you, and fee that your brother shall do 'you' no harm. ›

2 Con. Hark you, Sir, a word; how dare you talk of love, or ftanding by any lady but me, Sir.

John. By my troth that was a fault; but I did not mean in your way, I meant it only civilly.

2 Con. Ay, but if you are so very civil a gentleman, we shall not be long friends: I fcorn to fhare your love with any one whatsoever; and for my part, I'm refolv'd either to have all or nothing. John. Well, my dear little rogue, thou shalt VOL. I.

R

have

have it all presently, as foon as we can but get rid

of this company.

2 Con. Phoo, you are always abufing me.

Enter Frederick and Mother.

Fred. Come now, madam, let not us speak one word more, but go quietly about our business; not but that I think it the greatest pleasure in the world to hear you talk, but---

Mo. Do you indeed, Sir? I fwear then, good wits jump, Sir; for I have thought fo myself a very great while.

Fred. You've all the reafon imaginable. O! Don John, I ask thy pardon: but I hope I fhall make thee amends, for I have found out the mother, and she has promised me to help thee to thy mistress again.

John. Sir, you may fave your labour, the bufinefs is done, and I am fully satisfied.

Fred. And doft thou know who the is?3 John. No faith, I never ask'd her name. ; . Fred. Why then, I'll make thee yet more fatisfy'd this lady here is that very Conftantia---John. Ha! thou haft not a-mind to be knock'd o'er the pate too, haft thou?

Fred.

Fred. No, Sir, nor dare you do it neither; but for certain this is that very felf-fame Conftantia that thou and I fo long look'd after.

John. I thought fhe was fomething more than ordinary; but shall I tell thee now a ftranger thing than all this?

Fred. What's that?

John. Why, I will never more touch any other woman for her fake.

Fred. Well, I fubmit that indeed is stranger.

2 Con. Come, mother, deliver your purse; I have deliver'd myself up to this young fellow, and the bargain's made with that old fellow, fo he may have his gold again, that all fhall be well.

Mo. As I'm a chriftian, Sir, I took it away only to have the honour of restoring it again; for, my hard fate having not bestow'd upon me a fund which might capacitate me to make you prefents of my own, I had no way left for the exercife of my generofity, but by putting myself into a condition of giving back what was yours.

Ant. A very generous defign indeed. So, now I'll e'en turn a fober perfon, and leave off this wenching, and this fighting, for I begin to find it does not agree with me.