Fran. I think he's lost.

Gaz. 'Tis ten to one of that;

I ne'er knew citizen turn courtier yet,

But he lost his credit though he saved himself.
Why look you, sir, there are so many lobbies,
Out-offices, and dispartations here,
Behind these Turkish hangings, that a Christian
Hardly gets off but circumcised.

Enter VITELLI richly habited, CARAZIE, and MANTO.
Fran. I am troubled,

Troubled exceedingly. Ha! what are these?

Gaz. One, by his rich suit, should be some French embassador:

For his train, I think they are Turks.

Fran. Peace! be not seen.

Car. You are now past all the guards, and, undiscover'd,

You may return.

Vitel. There's for your pains; forget not My humblest service to the best of ladies.

Mant. Deserve her favour, sir, in making haste For a second entertainment.

[Exeunt CARAZIE and MANTO.

Vitel. Do not doubt me;

I shall not live till then.

Gaz. The train is vanish'd:

They have done him some good office, he's so free
And liberal of his gold.-Ha! do I dream,

Or is this mine own natural master?
Fran. 'Tis he:

But strangely metamorphosed.-You have made, sir,

A prosperous voyage; heaven grant it be honest, I shall rejoice then too.

Gas. You make him blush,

To talk of honesty :-you were but now
In the giving vein, and may think of Gazet,
Your worship's prentice.

Vitel. There's gold: be thou free too,
And master of my shop, and all the wares
We brought from Venice.

I have considered you from head to foot,
And can find nothing in that wainscot face,
That can teach me to dote; nor am I taken

With your grim aspéct, or tadpole-like complexion.

Those scars you glory in, I fear to look on;
And had much rather hear a merry tale,
Than all your battles won with blood and sweat,
Though you belch forth the stink too in the service,
And swear by your mustachios all is true.

You are yet too rough for me: purge and take

Not to firk your belly up, flounder-like, but never To rise again. Offer but to unlock

These doors that stop your fugitive tongue, (observe me,)

And, by my fury, I'll fix there this bolt

[Draws his scimitar.

To bar thy speech for ever. So! be safe now;
And but resolve me, not of what I doubt,
But bring assurance to a thing believed,
Thou makest thyself a fortune; not depending
On the uncertain favours of a mistress,
But art thyself one. I'll not so far question
My judgment and observance, as to ask
Why I am slighted and contemn'd; but in
Whose favour it is done? I, that have read
The copious volumes of all women's falsehood,
Commented on by the heart-breaking groans
Of abused lovers; all the doubts wash'd off
With fruitless tears, the spider's cobweb veil
Of arguments alleged in their defence,
Blown off with sighs of desperate men, and they
Appearing in their full deformity;

Know that some other hath displanted me,
With her dishonour. Has she given it up?
Confirm it in two syllables.

Appear an hypocrite. But, when you impose
A penance on me beyond flesh and blood'
To undergo, you must instruct me how
To put off the condition of a man:
Or, if not pardon, at the least, excuse
My disobedience. Yet, despair not, sir;
For, though I take mine own way, I shall do
Something that may hereafter, to my glory,
Speak me your scholar.

Fran. I enjoin you not
To go, but send.

Vitel. That were a petty trial;

Not worth one, so long taught, and exercised,
Under so grave a master. Reverend Francisco,
My friend, my father, in that word, my all !
Rest confident you shall hear something of me,
That will redeem me in your good opinion;
Or judge me lost for ever. Send Gazet
(She shall give order that he may have entrance)
To acquaint you with my fortunes.
[Exit.

Fran. Go, and prosper.

Holy saints guide and strengthen thee! however, As thy endeavours are, so may they find Gracious acceptance.

Snatch me into the air, and I hang there,
Perpetual plagues would dwell upon the earth;
And those superior bodies, that pour down
Their cheerful influence, deny to pass it,
Through those vast regions I have infected.
The sea? ay, that is justice: there I plough'd up
Mischief as deep as hell: there, there, I'll hide
This cursed lump of clay. May it turn rocks,
Where plummet's weight could never reach the
sands,

And grind the ribs of all such barks as press
The ocean's breast in my unlawful course!
I haste then to thee; let thy ravenous womb,
Whom all things else deny, be now my tomb!

Asam. To the point, and quickly :

These winding circumstances in relations,
Seldom environ truth.

Musta. Truth, Asambeg!

Asam. Truth, Mustapha. I said it, and add more, You touch upon a string that, to my ear, Does sound Donusa.

Musta. You then understand

Who 'tis I aim at.

Asam. Take heed, Mustapha ;

Remember what she is, and whose we are:
'Tis her neglect, perhaps, that you complain of;
And, should you practice to revenge her scorn,
With any plot to taint her in her honour,-

Must. Hear me.

Asam. I will be heard first,-there's no tongue
A subject owes, that shall out-thunder mine.
Musta. Well, take your way.
Asam. I then again repeat it;

If Mustapha dares with malicious breath,
On jealous suppositions, presume
To blast the blossom of Donusa's fame,
Because he is denied a happiness

Which men of equal, nay, of more desert,
Have sued in vain for-

Musta. More !

Asam. More. "Twas I spake it.

The basha of Natolia and myself

Were rivals for her; either of us brought
More victories, more trophies, to plead for us

To our great master, than you dare lay claim to;
Yet still, by his allowance, she was left

To her election: each of us owed nature
As much for outward form and inward worth,

To make way for us to her grace and favour,

As you brought with you. We were heard, repulsed;

Yet thought it no dishonour to sit down
With the disgrace, if not to force affection
May merit such a name.

Musta. Have you done yet?

Asam. Be, therefore, more than sure the ground You raise your accusation, may admit [on which No undermining of defence in her:

For if, with pregnant and apparent proofs,
Such as may force a judge, more than inclined,
Or partial in her cause, to swear her guilty,
You win not me to set off your belief;
Neither our ancient friendship, nor the rites
Of sacred hospitality, to which

I would not offer violence, shall protect you:
-Now, when you please.

Musta. I will not dwell upon

Much circumstance; yet cannot but profess,
With the assurance of a loyalty

Equal to yours, the reverence I owe

The sultan, and all such his blood makes sacred;
That there is not a vein of mine, which yet is
Unemptied in his service, but this moment
Should freely open, so it might wash off
The stains of her dishonour. Could you think,
Or, though you saw it, credit your own eyes,
That she, the wonder and amazement of
Her sex, the pride and glory of the empire,
That hath disdain'd you, slighted me, and boasted
A frozen coldness, which no appetite

Or height of blood could thaw; should now so far
Be hurried with the violence of her lust,
As, in it burying her high birth, and fame,
Basely descend to fill a Christian's arms;

Whom do you think she made her scout, nay bawd, To find him out, but me? What place make choice of

To wallow in her foul and loathsome pleasures,
But in the palace? Who the instruments
Of close conveyance, but the captain of
Your guard, the aga, and that man of trust,
The warden of the inmost port?-I'll prove this;
And, though I fail to shew her in the act,
Glued like a neighing gennet to her stallion,
Your incredulity shall be convinced
With proofs I blush to think on.

And will talk to himself; he cannot hold :
The poor fool's ravish'd.

Gaz. I am in my master's clothes,
They fit me to a hair too; let but any
Indifferent gamester measure us inch by inch,
Or weigh us by the standard, I may pass :

I have been proved and proved again true metal.
Car. How he surveys himself!

Gaz. I have heard, that some

Have fooled themselves at court into good fortunes,
That never hoped to thrive by wit in the city,
Or honesty in the country. If I do not
Make the best laugh at me, I'll weep for myself,
If they give me hearing: 'tis resolved-I'll try
What may be done. By your favour, sir, I pray
Were you born a courtier ?
[you,

Car. No, sir; why do you ask? Gaz. Because I thought that none could be preBut such as were begot there. [ferr'd,