When no thought brings me comfort?

Enter NURSE, L.

Nurse. (L.) Oh, madam! you are utterly ruined and undone; your creditors of all kinds are come in upon you; they have mustered up a regiment of rogues, that are come to plunder your house, and seize upon all you have in the world: they are below. What will you do, madam?

Isa. Do nothing! no, for I am born to suffer.

Enter CARLOS, L. hastily.-NURSE goes back.

Car. (L. c.) Oh, sister! can I call you by that name, And be the son of this inhuman man,

Inveterate to your ruin?

Do not think I am akin to his barbarity.
I must abhor my father's usage of you.
Can you think

Of any way that I may serve you in?

But what enrages most my sense of grief,

My sorrow for your wrongs, is, that my father,

Foreknowing well the storm that was to fall,

Has ordered me not to appear for you.

Isa. (R. C.) I thank your pity; my poor husband fell For disobeying him; do not you stay

To venture his displeasure too for me.
Car. You must resolve on something
Isa. Let my fate

Determine for me; I shall be prepared.
The worst that can befall me is to die.

Hark, they are coming: let the torrent roar :
It can but overwhelm me in its fall;

And life and death are now alike to me.

[Exit, L.

[Exit, R.--NURSE follows, leading the Child.

SCENE II.-Antichamber in Isabella's House.

Enter CARLOS and VILLEROY, with Officers, L.
Vil. (c.) No farther violence-

The debt in all is but four thousand crowns;
Were it ten times the sum, I think you know

My fortune very well can answer it.

You have my word for this: I'll see you paid.

Offi. (L.) That's as much as we can desire: so we have the money, no matter whence it comes.

Vil. (L. c.) To-morrow you shall have it.
Car. Thus far all's well-

And now my sister comes to crown the work.

[Pointing R.

Isa. [Without, R.] Where are these rav'ning bloodhounds, that pursue

In a full cry, gaping to swallow me?

Enter ISABELLA, NURSE, and CHILD, R.-NURSE and
CHILD stand R. a little back.

I meet your rage, and come to be devoured;
Say, which way are you to dispose of me;
To dungeons, darkness, death?

Car. (c.) Have patience.

Isa. (R. c.) Patience!

Offi. (L.) You'll excuse us, we are but in our office. Debts must be paid.

Isa. My death will pay you all.

[Distractedly.

Offi. While there is law to be had, people will have their own.

Vil. 'Tis very fit they should; but pray be gone. To-morrow certainly

Isa. What of to-morrow?

[Exeunt OFFICERS, L.

Must I be reserved for fresh afflictions?

Vil. For long happiness of life, I hope.
Isa. There is no hope for me.

The load grows light, when we resolve to bear:
I'm ready for my trial.

Car. Pray, be calm,

And know your friends.

Isa. My friends! Have I a friend?

Car. A faithful friend; in your extremest need,

Villeroy came in to save you—

Isa. Save me! How?

Car. By satisfying all your creditors.

Isa. Which way? for what?

Vil. (L.) Let me be understood,

And then condemn me: you have given me leave

To be your friend; and in that only name

I now appear before you [c. CARLOS goes L.] I could wish
There had been no occasion of a friend,
Because I know you hate to be obliged;
And still more loth to be obliged by me.

Isa. "Twas that I would avoid-
Vil. I'm most unhappy that my services
Can be suspected to design upon you;

PAside.

I have no farther ends than to redeem you
From fortune's wrongs; to shew myself at last,
What I have long profess'd to be, your friend:
Allow me that; and to convince you more,
That I intend only your interest,

Forgive what I have done, and in amends
(If that can make you any, that can please you)
I'll tear myself for ever from my hopes,
Stifle this flaming passion in my soul,
And mention my unlucky love no more.
Isa. This generosity will ruin me.

[Aside.

Vil. Nay, if the blessing of my looking on you
Disturbs your peace, I will do all I can
To keep away, and never see you more.
Car. [Stopping him.] You must not go.
Vil. (L.) Could Isabella speak

[Going, L.

Those few short words, I should be rooted here,
And never move but upon her commands.

Car. [Goes to her, R. c.] Speak to him, sister; do not throw away

A fortune that invites you to be happy.
In your extremity he begs your love;
And has deserved it nobly. Think upon
Your lost condition, helpless and alone.

Though now you have a friend, the time must come
That you will want one; him you may secure
To be a friend, a father, a husband to you.

Isa. A husband!

Car. You have discharged your duty to the dead, And to the living! 'tis a wilfulness

Not to give way to your necessities,

That force you to this marriage.

Nurse. [Leading forward the Child.] What must become of this poor innocence ?

[To the Child.

Car. He wants a father to protect his youth,
And rear him up to virtue: you must bear
The future blame, and answer to the world,
When you refuse the easy, honest means
Of taking care of him.

Isa. Do not think I need

Your reasons to confirm my gratitude.-
I have a soul that's truly sensible

Of your great worth, and busy to contrive,

If possible, to make you a return.

[TO VILLEROY,

Vil. Oh, easily possible!

Isa. It cannot be your way: my pleasures are Buried, and cold in my dead husband's grave; And I should wrong the truth, myself, and you, To say that I can ever love again.

I owe this declaration to myself:

But as a proof that I owe all to you,

If, after what I have said, you can resolve

To think me worth your love-[VILLEROY advances to her.]-Where am I going?

You cannot think it; 'tis impossible.

Vil. Impossible!

[CARLOS crosses towards L.

Isa. You should not ask me now, nor should I grant ; I am so much obliged, that to consent

Would want a name to recommend the gift:

"Twould show me poor, indebted, and compelled,
Designing, mercenary and I know

You would not wish to think I could be bought.
Vil. Be bought! where is the price that can pretend
To bargain for you? Not in Fortune's power.
The joys of Heav'n, and love, must be bestowed;
They are not to be sold, and cannot be deserved.
Isa. Some other time I'll hear you on this subject.
Vil. Nay, then there is no time so fit for me.

[Following her. Since you consent to hear me, hear me now;

That you may grant: you are above [Takes her hand, The little forms which circumscribe your sex;

We differ but in time, let that be mine.

Isa. You think fit

To get the better of me, and you shall;
Since you will have it so I will be yours.

[CARLOS exults apart, L.

Vil. I take you at your word.
Isa. I give you all,

My hand and would I had a heart to give:

But if it ever can return again,

'Tis wholly yours.

Vil. Oh ecstacy of joy!

Leave that to me. If all my services,

If all that man can fondly say or do,
Can beget love, love shall be born again,
Oh, Carlos! now my friend and brother too:
And, Nurse, I have eternal thanks for thee.

[Exeunt NURSE and Child, R.

This night you must be mine.

Let me command in this, and all my life
Shall be devoted to you.

Isa. On your word,

Never to press me to put off these weeds,
Which best become my melancholy thoughts,
You shall command me.

Vil. Witnes, Heaven and earth,
Against my soul, when I do any thing
To give you a disquiet.

Car. [Goes to c.] I long to wish you joy. Vil. You'll be a witness of my happiness? Car. For once I'll be my sister's father, And give her to you.

Vil. Next my Isabella,

Be near my heart: I am for ever yours.

[Exeunt, R.

END OF ACT II.

ACT III.

SCENE 1.-Count Baldwin's House.

Enter COUNT BALDWIN, R. and CARLOS, L.
C. Bald. (c.) Married to Villeroy, say'st thou?
Car. (c.) Yes, my lord.

Last night the priest perform'd his holy office,
And made them one.

C. Bald. (L. c.) Misfortune join them!
And may her violated vows pull down
A lasting curse, a constancy of sorrow
On both their heads.

Car. (R. c.) Soon he'll hate her;

Though warm and violent in his raptures now,
When full enjoyment palls his sicken'd sense,
And reason with satiety returns,

Her cold constrain'd acceptance of his hand

Will gall his pride, which (though of late o'erpower'd
By stronger passions) will, as they grow weak,
Rise in full force, and pour its vengeance on her.