Rightly our Author does her judgment shew,
That for her safety she relies on you.

Your approbation, Fair Ones! cann't but move
Those stubborn hearts which first you taught to love.
The men must all applaud this play of ours,
For who dare see with other eyes than yours?

A j

THE WONDER.

ACT I. SCENE 1.

A Street. Enter DON LOPEZ meeting FREDERICK.

Frederick.

My lord, Don Lopez.

Lop. How d'ye, Frederick?

Fred. At your lordship's service. I am glad to see you look so well, my lord. I hope Antonio's out of danger?

Lop. Quite contrary; his fever increases they tell me; and the surgeons are of opinion his wound is mortal.

Fred. Your son, Don Felix, is safe I hope.

Lop. I hope so too; but they offer large rewards to apprehend him.

Fred. When heard your lordship from him?

Lop. Not since he went: I forbad him writing till the public news gave him an account of Antonio's health. Letters might be intercepted, and the place of his abode discovered.

"Fred. Your caution was good, my lord. Tho' I

"am impatient to hear from Felix, yet his safety is my chief concern. Fortune has maliciously struck a bar between us in the affairs of life, but she has "done me the honour to unite our souls.

"Lop. I am not ignorant of the friendship "between my son and you: I have heard him com"mend your morals, and lament your want of noble "birth.

"Fred. That's nature's fault, my lord. It is some "comfort not to owe one's misfortunes to one's self; 66 yet it is impossible not to regret the want of noble "birth.

"Lop. 'Tis a pity indeed such excellent parts "as you are master of, should be eclipsed by mean "extraction.

"Fred. Such commendation would make me vain, 66 my lord; did you not cast in the allay of my ex

"traction.

"Lop. There's no condition of life without its ❝cares, and it is the perfection of a man to wear 'em "as easy as he can: this unfortunate duel of my son's "does not pass without impression; but since it is

past prevention, all my concern is now how he may 66 escape the punishment." If Antonio dies, Felix shall for England. You have been there; what sort of people are the English ?

Fred. My lord, the English are by nature, what the ancient Romans were by discipline, courageous, bold, hardy, and in love with liberty. Liberty is the idol of the English, under whose banner all the nation

2

ists: give but the word for liberty, and straight nore armed legions would appear, than France and Philip keep in constant pay.

Lop. I like their principles: who does not wish For freedom in all degrees of life? though common prudence sometimes makes us act against it, as I am now obliged to do; for I intend to marry my daughter to Don Guzman, whom I expect from Holland every day, whither he went to take possession of a large estate left him by his uncle.

Fred. You will not surely sacrifice the lovely Isabella to age, avarice, and a fool; pardon the expression, my lord, but my concern for your beauteous daughter, transports me beyond that good manners which I ought to pay your lordship's presence.

Lop. I cann't deny the justness of the character, Frederick; but you are not insensible what I have suffered by these wars; and he has two things which render him very agreeable to me for a son-in-law, he is rich and well born: as for his being a fool, I don't conceive how that can be any blot in a husband, who is already possessed of a good estate.-A poor fool indeed is a very scandalous thing, and so are your poor wits in my opinion, who have nothing to be vain of but the inside of their sculls. Now for Don Guz. man, I know I can rule him as I think fit. This is acting the politick part, Frederick, without which, it is impossible to keep up the port of this life.

Fred. But have you no consideration for your daughter's welfare, my lord?