Rod.

I have given 'em the slip—But where can I fly?—A lucky Fellow now wou'd escape, but he that's to be oppress'd by the malice of a Judge, has no chance—Ha!—[without—stop Thief] 'll p etend to be Drunk, and so far at least shall look like an honest fellow—Ti roll doll—

Mob.

That's he! That's he! Knock him down, while I call the Captain—

Rod.

Quarter Brother Souldier! Quarter!

1. Soul.

Brother Souldier Dog! What to a Thief?

Rod.

Ay! ay! We both live upon Plunder, and are both Men of Honour—there's no difference.

2. Soul.

How Rascal! no difference 'twixt Souldiers and Robbers?

Rod.

None in the World Sir—Only we Rob for our selves, and you for another body, that's all.

2. Soul. [Strikes him]

Dog! must you be Jokeing with Gentlemen?

Rod.

Sir. I'm your humble Servant.

1. Soul.

Harkee Tom! let's inquire into his Pockets before the Captain comes, the Rogue wont feel—

Rod.

No Sir, no more than hear.

2. Soul. [Strikes him]

Why you Eves-dropping Rascal, must you be listening to Gentlemen's discourse.

1. Soul.

What wont a Rogue do, that makes no difference between Robbing a House, and Plundering like a Souldier?

Rod.

I confess it is not to compare to Robbing a whole Country—But I thought Gentlemen, it show'd a Genious for it—A Man may come to Play at Chess in time, that begins at One and Thirty

1. Soul.

You are merry Sir.

Rod.

So says every dull Fellow, when he can't put the Mirth about himself—But come Rascals, I'll make you merry to—[Takes a Box out of his Pocket] I know your too much Courtiers to take Bribes, but every thing is yours that you fight for: So here's a Jewel in this Box—for him that can win it—

Capt.

Well met Rodoregue.

Rod.

O! Barbarous Fortune.

Capt.

She's kind to me, who had been lost had you escap'd—The Duke is here—[Aside] And must not know my negligence.

Enter Moreno, Cæsario, Rodoregue, and Officers.

Offi.
An't please your Highness!
This is that Rodoregue! who with hostile keels,
So long has plough'd our Adriatick Seas:
We found him quarrelling in the Streets of Venice,
Without concern or shame.

Cæs.
Sir, let not that be in his Accusation!
My Danger brought him there;
He Rescu'd me from the Insults of Two Ruffians;
Drew on my side, and sav'd my life.

Mor.
For that I am oblig'd to him.

Cæs.
But when he was apprehended,
He put a strange behaviour on;
And spoke to me as his old Acquaintance;
With grave and orderly distraction.

Mor.
Rodoregue! what strang design
Cou'd thus expose you single to their mercy's:
“Whom thou in terms so bloody and so dear,
“Hast made thy Enemies?

Rod.
Noble Moreno!
No publick cause or enmity to you.
“A Witchcraft drew me hither;
“That most ungrateful Youth there by your side.
“From you rude Seas, enrag'd and foamy mouth
“Did I redeem, a Wretch past hope!—For whose sole sake

Known as I was, a publick Foe to Venice:
I lay'd aside the cares of my own safety,
And here expos'd me to this adverse Town,
Where not an hour ago beset with Villains;
I drew my ready Sword in his defence,
And sav'd a second time his Life:
But soon as the publick Officers had seiz'd me,
And I became the Wreck of Fortune's spite,
And in my turn his doubtless succour needed!
Instead of a stretch'd out Arm to save me,
Instead of drawing to relieve his Friend;
He grew a stranger to my very Name!
And basely vow'd he saw me not before;
Deny'd me my own Purse with pitty, for his fate
Had made me recommend this morning to his use.

Cæs.
With wonder and with shame I hear him speak,
I scorn to lesson what is done for me:
He sav'd me from Two Ruffians, and my breast
Is big with Gratitude for the Generous deed:
But I am still a stranger to the rest,
And still must vow I saw him not before.

Rod.

Exquisite Impudence! This Boy wou'd make his Fortune in a Court—'Tis pitty they shou'd loose so promising a Villain!

Mor.
Hold Rodoregue! you say you brought him hither:
When came he to this Town?

Rod.
To day my Lord, and for a Month before,
(Kept back by Storms from making of the Land)
Both day and night did we keep Company.

Mor.
Distraction all, or vain design,
To raise the merit of your Friendship!

Rod.
No gallant spirit has so mean a drift:
I wou'd not Lye, as well Moreno knows,
I wou'd not run away—And 'tis

A meaner Cowardice to shrink from Truth,
Than fly the face of Man.

Mor.
Then thou art Mad, Rodoregue! for this Youth
Has been these Six days in my Family,
The constant Servant of my wishes.

Rod.
You too Moreno! Enter Villaretta.

Mor.
Hold this anon! Here comes Villaretta!
Now Heav'n walks on Earth, and Beauty round
Invades us all! Each glance devotes a Slave,
And every step, she treads upon a heart,
All of the Skies, but pitty you have brought. She draws near.

Vill.
These Gallantries, my Lord, are lost on me;
So long you've play'd this old forbidden tune,
If I had ever lov'd it, 'twou'd a cloy'd me.

Mor.
“Still so cruel, Lady!

Vill.
“Still so constant, Lord!

Mor.
For ever scorn'd!—Injoy the sullen pow'r
Of blessing none—I will resume my heart,
Which all the Heav'n about you shan't recall.

Vill.
My Lord, I have no Heav'n or Stars to boast off;
If I'm allay'd to any thing above,
'Tis in the Raptures of Cæsario's Love!

Mor.
Cæsario! ha! Hast thou betray'd me?
And am I made a Sacrifice to thee! [Draws.]

Cæs. [Kneels]
Oh! no my Lord, I have not done you wrong,
But I wou'd die to give you quiet.

Vill.
Cæsario fear him not! 'Tis I command you.
“Be what thou know'st thou art, and then
“Thou art as great as he thou shrink'st from.

Mor. [Looking on him]
How has this smiling slave deceiv'd me;
And Rodoregue's wrongs are now too Evident:
But thou shalt pay for all. Offers to Stab her, Vill. steps between, and Laura Enters and holds his Arm.

Laur.
O hold my Lord, a moment hold!

Mor.

Ha!

Laur.

Cæs—sa—rio—

Mor.

What?

Laur.

Is a Woman!

Mor.

How?

Laur.

A poor unhappy Woman!

Vill.

A Woman Wench! Thou art distracted!

Mor.

What mistery is this? A Woman?

Laur.

Yes my good Lord, I know it to be so.

Vill.

But I who know better, say he is a Man, and my Husband—'Twou'd be strange if I did not know.

Mor.

Ha! Is this true?

Cæs.
No my wrong'd Lord, I never yet was Wed,
Nor ever cou'd to her.

Mor.
This cloud grows darker.

Vill.
'Tis but the baseness of his fear before you:
Call in the Priest.
He soon will clear it to your Highness;
And show the strangeness of that Woman's Story.

Laur.
Madam, I'll die by what I say.

Mor.
I am confounded.

Enter Priest.

Vill.
Most wellcome holy Sir—
Father, I charge Thee by the reverence
Thou bearst to Truth, here to unfold
What newly's past, between this Youth and me?

Priest.
A contract of Eternal Bond of Love,
“Confirm'd by mutual Joinder of your hands, Vill. looks pleas'd, Cæs. Astonish'd, Mor. Enrag'd.
“Strengthen'd by Interchangment of the Rings,
“And all the Ceremony of this compact,
“Seal'd in my Function by my Testimony:
“Since which, my Watch has told me t'ward my Grave,
“I've Travell'd but two Hours.

Mor.
Now the Visor's off abandon'd Hypocrite.

Vill.
Nay you shan't Kill him for his fear;
'Tis me he wrongs.

Mor.
He shan't another, Madam— Offering to strike, Laura holds him kneelling.

Laur.

Hold my Lord, don't Kill her, let her be search'd first, and you'll be satisfy'd.

Cæs.
O save me from his Rage— [To Rodoregue.

Rod.
Begone Villain, and think not I'll protect thee more. Enter Sebastian, and Draws.

Seb.
Rodoregue! My Friend in Danger?

Cæs. [Aside]
My Brother!

Rod.
Sebastian, then are you?

Seb.
“Do'st thou fear that Rodoregue?

Rod.
“How have you made Division of your self
“An Apple cleft in two is not more Twin!
Which is Sebastian?

Mor.

Ha!

Vill.

Which is Cæsario? I don't know my Husband!

Seb.

Madam, this holy Man will answer for me.

Vill.

That's more than you can tell, for he has already answer'd for another.

Priest.

I verily don't know what to say!

Mor.

“One Face! One Voice! One Habit! and Two Persons!

Ped.

Terol dol! dol!

Vill.

Here's his Man, I'll ask him—Harkee Friend, which is your Master?

Ped.

My Master Madam! Why you're the only Woman in Venice, by this time that don't know my Master.

Vill.

Worse and worse!—

Ped.

He's very open hearted Madam, and if you'll tell me where you Lodge, you shan't live in Ignorance half an hour.

Vill. [Aside]

This is another Death to me.

Ped.

But now I think on't, he has Marry'd a Widow to day, and she'll take care of him the first Night, my dear.

Vill.

Begone Rascal!

Ped.

Nay, if there's such danger in your fingers, I'll keep my Master out of your Arms.

Seb. [Who has been viewing Cæs.]

Forgive me Sir, this freedom, it concerns me:

Cæs.
What memory afflects you Sir,

Seb.
A Sister's! whose very features yours;
Tender and good as Angels!
Whom Neptune blindly in his rage devour'd:
For had he seen, he had himself been lost—
But curteous Sir, what Nation are you of?
Did France receive the honour of your Birth?
“What Kin are you to me?

Cæs.
You call up all my shame into my Cheeks;
I've strove to hide that secret from the World,
For what I do, dishonours what I am,
My Family is Noble, and my Country
The most Civiliz'd—
But least you shou'd discredit my account,
Behold this evidence of what I say— Shows the Mole on her Arm.

Seb. [Imbraces her]
My Sister! my Viola!

Cæs.
Sebastian!

Seb.
Are you then living! how has Heaven preserv'd you?
I'm all astonishment and joy.

Cæs.
These weeds upbraid me now too much,
To let me speak—The Duke of Venice
Owns me for his Page.

Vill.
And I thought too you were my Husband?

Seb.
Nature forbid the unfruitful Knot;
She wou'd not, Madam, fill such Arms in vain,
And kindly brought me in my Sister's Room.

Vill. [To the Priest]

Why Doctor, we don't know what we have done here!

Mor.
“Be not amaz'd! Right noble is his Blood:
I now recall Sebastian's Family,
And if Cæsario be his Sister,
I must claim a part in this days fortune—
Cæsario, you have often said you lov'd me.

Cæs.
I have my Lord, and now this Lady is dispos'd of:
I here confirm whatever I have said.

Mor.
You make me more your Slave, than you was mine;
The merit of your Breast I lov'd before;
And if mine, Madam, does not appear
Less worthy for the Love it bore another—

Cæs.
My Lord, it rather adds unto its value:
Your generous carriage to that cruel Beauty;
Your tender Passion! and your constant Faith,
Increas'd at once my Love and my Dispair;
But since my Rival has another Blest,
That noble Honour, and that matchless Truth,
May now reward a heart that Loves you.

Mor.
In that alone, I shall deserve it:
My Heav'n! my Viola! my Cæsario!
Let the dear Name survive—tho' I discharge
The service—And now you are
“Your Masters Mistress!

Cæs.
My Lord, I'll exercise the power you give me
In one command; that you wou'd succour Rodoregue.

Mor.
If I had look'd that way, I had prevented you;
Rodoregue shall share the blessings of this hour,
My present Service, and my future Friendship.

Vill.
And now our Families are thus United,
Let's Celebrate our general Joy together:
A Mask was made to Adorn Cæsario's Nuptials;
It will agree, to which so e'er apply'd,

For I Marry'd Cæsario, my Lord, as well as you;
Sebastian is my second Husband—

Mor.
Then to Cæsario dedicate the Day;
Since 'twas Cæsario that has blest us all. [Let the Mask begin. After the Mask.

Mor.
Now the Adventures of the Day are over;
We may look back with pleasure on our Toils,
And thro' the various turns this truth observe;
That Honesty is still the care of Providence!

By Rodoregue, we see that good will wait upon a worthy action—By Sebastian, that Fortune can't long stain an honest Friendship.