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Theo. This rudeness to a person of my quality may cost you dear. Pray, when did I give you encouragement for so much familiarity?

Bel. When you scorned me in the chapel.

Theo. The truth is, I denied you as heartily as I could, that I might not be twice troubled with

you.

Bel. Yet you have not this aversion for all the world: However, I was in hope, though the day frowned, the night might prove as propitious to me as it is to others.

Theo. I have now a quarrel both to the sun and moon, because I have seen you both by their lights. Bel. Spare the moon, I beseech you, madam; she is a very trusty planet to you.

Beat. O, Maskall, you have ruined me!
Mask. Dear sir, hold yet!

Bel. Away!

Theo. Pray, sir, expound your meaning; for, I confess, I am in the dark.

Bel. Methinks you should discover it by moonlight. Or, if you would have me speak clearer to you, give me leave to wait on you at a midnight assignation; and, that it may not be discovered, I'll feign a voyage beyond sea, as if I were going a captaining to Flanders.

Mask. A pox on his memory! he has not forgot one syllable!

Theo. Ah, Beatrix! you have betrayed and sol1 me!

Beat. You have betrayed and sold yourself, n dam, by your own rashness to confess it; hea knows I have served you but too faithfully.

Theo. Peace, impudence! and see my face no more!

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sir?

me.

Mask. Do you know what work you have made,

Bel. Let her see what she has got by slighting

Mask. You had best let Beatrix be turned away for me to keep: If you do, I know whose purse shall pay for't.

Bel. That's a curse I never thought on: Cast about quickly, and save all yet.. Range, quest, and spring a lie immediately!

Theo. [To BEAT.] Never importune me farther; you shall go; there's no removing me.

Beat. Well; this is ever the reward of inno

cence

[Going. Mask. Stay, guiltless virgin, stay; thou shalt not go!

Theo. Why, who should hinder it?

Mask. That will I, in the name of truth,-if this hard-bound lie would bút come from me. [Aside. Madam, I must tell you it lies in my power to appease this tempest with one word.

Beat. Would it were come once!

Mask. Nay, sir, 'tis all one to me, if you turn me away upon't; I can hold no longer.

Theo. What does the fellow mean?

Mask. For all your noddings, and your mathematical grimaces-in short, madam, my master has been conversing with the planets; and from them has had the knowledge of your affairs.

Bel. This rogue amazes me!

Mask. I care not, sir, I am for truth; that will shame you, and all your devils: In short, madam, this master of mine, that stands before you, without a word to say for himself, so like an oaf, as I might say, with reverence to him

Bel. The rascal makes me mad!

Mask. Is the greatest astrologer in Christendom.

Theo. Your master an astrologer?

Mask. A most profound one.

Bel. Why, you dog, you do not consider what an improbable lie this is; which, you know, I can never make good! Disgorge it, you cormorant! or I'll pinch your throat out.

[Takes him by the throat. Mask. 'Tis all in vain, sir! you are, and shall be an astrologer, whatever I suffer; you know all things; see into all things; foretell all things; and if you pinch more truth out of me, I will confess you are a conjurer.

Bel. How, sirrah! a conjurer?

Mask. I mean, sir, the devil is in your fingers: Own it--you had best, sir, and do not provoke me farther. [While he is speaking, BELLAMY stops his mouth by fits.] What! did not I see you an hour ago turning over a great folio, with strange figures in it, and then muttering to yourself, like any poet; and then naming Theodosia, and then staring up in the sky, and then poring upon the ground; so that, betwixt God and the devil, madam, he came to know your love.

Bel. Madam, if ever I knew the least term in astrology, I am the arrantest son of a whore breathing.

Beat. O, sir, for that matter, you shall excuse my lady Nay, hide your talents if you can, sir. Theo. The more you pretend ignorance, the more we are resolved to believe you skilful.

Bel. You'll hold your tongue yet. [TO MASK. Mask. You shall never make me hold my tongue, except you conjure me to silence: What! did you not call me to look into a crystal, and there shewed me a fair garden, and a Spaniard stalking in his

narrow breeches, and walking underneath a window? I should know him again amongst a thousand.

Beat. Don Melchor, in my conscience, madam. Bel. This rogue will invent more stories of me, than e'er were fathered upon Lilly!

Mask. Will you confess, then? do you think I'll stain my honour to swallow a lie for you?

Bel. Well, a pox on you, I am an astrologer.
Beat. O, are you so, sir?

Theo. I hope then, learned sir, as you have been curious in enquiring into my secrets, you will be so much a cavalier as to conceal them.

in

Bel. You need not doubt me, madam; I am more your power than you can be in mine: Besides, if I were once known in town, the next thing, for aught I know, would be to bring me before the fathers of the inquisition.

Beat. Well, madam, what do you think of me now? I have betrayed you, I have sold you! how can you ever make me amends for this imputation? I did not think you could have used me so

[Cries, and claps her hands at her. Theo. Nay, pr'ythee, Beatrix, do not cry; I'll leave off my new gown to-morrow, and thou shalt have it.

Beat. No, I'll cry eternally! you have taken away my good name from me; and you can never make me recompence- -except you give me your

new gorget too.

Theo. No more words; thou shalt have it, girl. Beat. O, madam, your father has surprised us!

Enter Don ALONZO, and frowns.

Bel. Then, I'll begone, to avoid suspicion.
Theo. By your favour, sir, you shall stay a little;

the happiness of so rare an acquaintance ought to be cherished on my side by a longer conversation. Alon. Theodosia, what business have you with this cavalier?

Theo. That, sir, which will make you as ambitious of being known to him as I have been: Under the habit of a gallant, he conceals the greatest astrologer this day living.

Alon. You amaze me, daughter!

Theo. For my own part, I have been consulting with him about some particulars of my fortunes past and future; both which he has resolved me with that admirable knowledge

Bel. Yes, faith, sir, I was foretelling her of a disaster that severely threatened her: And-one thing I foresee already by my stars, that I must bear up boldly, or I am lost. [Aside. Mask. [To BEL.] Never fear him, sir; he's an ignorant fellow, and credulous, I warrant him.

Alon. Daughter, be not too confident in your belief; there's nothing more uncertain than the old prophecies of these Nostradamusses; but of what nature was the question which you asked him?

Theo. What should be my fortune in marriage. Alon. And, pray, what did you answer, sir?

Bel. I answered her the truth, that she is in danger of marrying a gentleman without a fortune. Theo. And this, sir, has put me in such a frightAlon. Never trouble yourself about it, daughter; follow my advice, and I warrant you a rich hus

band.

Bel. But the stars say she shall not follow your advice: If it happens otherwise, I'll burn my folio volumes, and my manuscripts too, I assure you that, sir.

Alon. Be not too confident, young man; I know somewhat in astrology myself; for, in my young

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