Don A. Hold, Octavio! though thy injurious error
 May transport thee, it shall not me, beyond
 The bounds of honour. Heaven knows I thought
 Of nothing less than what I find—Octavio
 In this place.
Don H. What pause is this, Antonio? All your fervour
 In the concernments of a brother-in-law
 Reduc'd to a tame parley with our enemy?
 Do all the promises you have made to me,
 T' assist my just revenge, conclude in this?
Don O. Do all the promises you have made to me,
 T' assist my virtuous love, conclude in this?
Don H. Where is your wonted bravery?
 Where your kindness to such a near ally?
Don O. Where is your former honour? where your firmness
 To such an ancient friend?
Don A. What course shall my distracted honour steer,
 Betwixt these equal opposite engagements? [Aside.
Don H. What, demur still? nay, then I'll right myself.

[Don Henrique makes at Don Octavio; Don Antonio turns on Don Octavio's side.

Don A. Who attacks Octavio must pass through me.
Don C. I must lay hold on this occasion. [Aside.
 Good cousin, I conjure you to restrain
 Your passion for awhile. There lies conceal'd
 Some mystery in this which, once unfolded,
 May reconcile this difference.
Don H. Sweetly propos'd, sir; an accommodation!
 Think'st thou my anger's like a fire of straw,
 Only to blaze and then expire in smoke?
 Think'st thou I can forget my name and nation,
 And barter for revenge, when honour bleeds?
 His life must pay this insolence, or mine.

[He makes at Don Octavio again; Don Antonio interposes.

Don A. Mine must protect his, or else perish with him.
Don H. Since neither faith nor friendship can prevail,
 'Tis time to try what proof you are, Antonio,
 Against your own near interest. Know that the man,
 Whom you protect against my just revenge,
 Has seconded his insolence to me
 By foul attempts upon my sister's honour,
 Your Porcia's, sir. If this will not inflame you——

[Don Antonio turns from Don Octavio and beholds him with a stern countenance.

Don O. How! I attempt your sister's honour, Henrique?

[Don Antonio turns and looks sternly upon Don Henrique.

The parent of your black designs, the devil,
 Did ne'er invent a more malicious falsehood;
 'Tis true that I have serv'd the virtuous Porcia
 With such devotion and such spotless love,
 That, though unworthy, yet she has been pleas'd
 To recompense my passion with esteem;

[Don Antonio turns and looks sternly upon Don Octavio.

By which she has so chain'd me to her service,
 That here I vow either to live her prize,
 Or else in death to fall love's sacrifice.
Don A. O heavens! what's that I hear? Thou blessed angel,
 Guardian of my honour, I now implore
 Thy powerful assistance, to preserve
 That reputation which I hitherto
 By virtuous actions have maintain'd unblemish'd.
 In vain, Don Henrique, you design to change

[He pauses a little, and rubs his forehead.

My resolutions: it must ne'er be said
 That passion could return Antonio
 From the strict rules of honour. Sir, I tell you,
 Nothing can make me violate my first
 Engagement.
Don H. Nay, then, thou shalt die too, perfidious man.
 Ho! Geraldo, Pedro, Leonido!

Enter Geraldo, Pedro, and Leonido, with their swords drawn; they join with Don Henrique; Don Carlos interposes.

Don C. For heaven's sake, cousin, draw not on yourself
 The horrid infamy of assassinating
 Persons of noble blood by servile hands!
Don H. Do you defend them too? Kill 'em, I say.
Don A. Retire, Octavio, I'll sustain their shock.
Don O. Octavio retire!
Don A. Trust me, you must, they will surround us else;
 Through that narrow passage they'll assail us
 With less advantage.

[They retire, fighting, off the stage, Don Henrique and his men pursuing them, and Don Carlos endeavouring to stop Don Henrique.

Don H. What, d'ye give back, ye mighty men of fame?
Don A. Don Henrique, you shall quickly find 'tis honour,
 Not fear, makes me retire. [Exeunt.

Enter presently Don Antonio and Don Octavio at another door, which Don Antonio bolts.

Don A. Now we shall have a breathing while at least,
 Octavio, and time to look about us.
 Pray, see yon other door be fast.

[Don Octavio steps to the door where they went out, and Don Henrique bounces at the door they came in at.

Don H. Geraldo, fetch an iron bar to force
 The door.

[Within, aloud. Don Antonio goes to both the doors, to see if they be fast.

Don A. So, 'tis now as I could wish it.
Don O. What do you mean, generous Antonio?
Don A. To kill thee now myself:—having perform'd
 What my engagement did exact from me
 In your defence 'gainst others, my love now
 Requires its dues, as honour has had his.
 There's no protection for you from my sword
 But in your own, or in your frank renouncing
 All claim to Porcia; she is so much mine,
 That none must breathe and have the vanity
 Of a pretension to her whilst I live.
Don O. I never will renounce my claims to Porcia,
 But still assert them by all noble ways:
 Yet, sir, this hand shall never use a sword
 (Without the last compulsion) 'gainst that man
 Who has so much oblig'd me. No, Antonio,
 You are securely guarded by the favours
 Which you so frankly have conferr'd upon me.
Don A. Pray, sir, let not your pretended gratitude
 Enervate your defence: 'tis not my custom
 To serve my friends with prospects of return.
Don O. And, sir, 'tis not my custom to receive
 An obligation, but with a purpose,
 And within the power of my return.
 Friendship, Antonio, is reciprocal.
 He that will only give, and not receive,
 Enslaves the person whom he would relieve.
Don A. Your rule is right; but you apply it wrong.
 It was Octavio, my camerade in arms
 And ancient friend, whom I design'd to serve;
 Not that disloyal man who has invaded
 My honour and my love. 'Tis the intent
 Which forms the obligation, not th' event.
Don O. I call those pow'rs, which both discern and punish,
 To witness for me that I never knew
 You e'er pretended to Don Henrique's sister,
 Before I came within these fatal walls:
 This I declare only to clear myself
 From th' imputation of disloyalty,
 And to prevent the progress of your error.
Don A. How can I think you should speak truth to me
 Who am a witness y' have been false to her,
 To whom you now profess so high devotion?
Don O. I false to Porcia! take heed, Antonio,
 So foul an injury provokes too much.
 But, sir, I must confess I owe you more
 Than the forgiveness of one gross mistake.
Don A. Rare impudence! I must not trust my senses.
Don O. If we cannot adjust this competition,
 Let's charge our envious fortunes, not our passions,
 With this fatal breach of friendship.
Don A. Leave your discourses, and defend yourself;
 Either immediately renounce all claims
 To Porcia, or this must speak the rest. [Shaking his sword.
Don O. Nay, then I must reply.

[They fight. A noise, as if the door were broken open.

Enter Don Henrique, Don Carlos, Leonido, and Geraldo, with their swords drawn.

Don H. What's this! Antonio fighting with Octavio?
 This bravery is excessive, gallant friend,
 Not to allow a share in your revenge
 To him who's most concern'd: he must not fall
 Without some marks of mine.

[Don Henrique makes at Don Octavio, and Don Antonio turns to Don Octavio's side.

Don A. Nay, then my honour you invade anew,
 And, by assaulting him, revive in me
 My pre-engagements to protect and serve him
 Against all others.
Don H. Why, were not you, Antonio, fighting with him?
 Were you not doing all you could to kill him?
Don A. Henrique, 'tis true; but finding in my breast
 An equal strife 'twixt honour and revenge,
 I do, in just compliance with them both,
 Preserve him from your sword, to fall by mine.
Don C. Brave man, how nicely he does honour weigh!
 Justice herself holds not the scales more even.
Don H. My honour suffers more as yet than yours,
 And I must have a share in the revenge.
Don A. My honour, sir, is so sublim'd by love,
 'Twill not admit comparison or rival.
Don H. Either he must renounce all claims to Porcia,
 Or die immediately.
Don A. Y' are i' the right: that he must do, or die;
 But by no other hand than mine.
Don O. Cease your contention, and turn all your swords
 Against this breast! whilst Porcia and I have breath,
 She must be mine, there's no divorce but death.
Don H. I'll hear no more, protect him if thou canst:
 Kill the slave, kill him, I say!

[Don Henrique makes at him, and Don Carlos endeavours to interpose.

Don C. For heaven's sake, hold a moment! certainly
 There's some mistake lies hidden here, which (clear'd)
 Might hinder these extremes.

[Don Henrique and his servants press Don Antonio and Don Octavio. Flora peeps out, and, seeing them fight, cries out Camilla! Porcia! Camilla and Porcia looking out, both shriek, and then run out upon the stage.

Enter Porcia and Camilla from the inner room.

Por. Don Henrique!
Cam. Antonio! Carlos!
Por. Octavio!
Cam. and Por. together. Hear us but speak! hear us but speak!
Don H. By heavens, 'tis Porcia! why, how came she here?
Don C. Why, did not I tell you she was brought hither
 By my directions? you would not believe me.
Don H. But how then could Octavio come hither?
Don C. Nay, that heaven knows, you heard as well as I
 Your man's relation.
Don H. Ah, thou vile woman, that I could destroy
 Thy memory with thy life!

[He offers to run at Porcia: Don Antonio interposes.

Don A. Hold, sir, that must not be!
Don H. What, may not I do justice upon her
 Neither?
Don A. No, sir: although I have not yet the honour
 To know who this lady is, I have this night
 Engag'd myself both to secure and serve her.
Don C. He knows not Porcia. Who was i' the right,
 Don Henrique, you or I?
Don H. He not know Porcia! why, 'tis not an hour
 Since I saw him entertaining her at home,
 Sure w' are enchanted, and all we see's illusion.
Cam. Allow me, Henrique, to unspell these charms.
 Who is't, Octavio, you pretend to? speak.
Don O. You might have spar'd that question, madam: none
 Knows so well as you, 'tis Porcia I adore.
Don A. Porcia's my wife! disloyal man, thou diest.

[Offers to make at Don Octavio.

Cam. Hold, sir! which is the Porcia you lay claim to?
Don A. Can you doubt of that? why, sure, you know too well
 The conquest that you made so long ago[70]
 Of my poor heart in Flanders.
Don C. Conquest! poor heart! Flanders! what can this mean?
Don H. New riddles every moment do arise,
 And mysteries are born of mysteries.
Don C. Sure, 'tis the pastime of the destinies
 To mock us for pretending to be wise.
Cam. Thanks be to heaven, our work draws near an end.
 Cousin, it belongs to you to finish it.
Por. To free you from that labyrinth, Antonio,
 In which a slight mistake, not rectifi'd,
 Involv'd us all, know the suppos'd Porcia,
 Whom you have lov'd, is the true Camilla.
Cam. And you, Don Henrique, know that Don Octavio
 Has always been your sister's faithful lover,
 And only feign'd a gallantry to me
 To hide his real passion for my cousin
 From your discerning eyes.
Don A. Generous Octavio!
Don O. Brave Antonio! how happy are we both. [They embrace.
 Both in our loves and friendships!
Don A. Ah, how the memory of our crosses pass'd
 Heightens our joys when we succeed at last!
Don O. Our pleasures in this world are always mix'd:
 'Tis in the next where all our joys are fix'd.

[Camilla takes Don Antonio by the hand, and leads him to Don Carlos.

Cam. This, my dear brother, is that brave commander
 To whom you owe your life and liberty;
 And I much more—the safety of my honour.
Don C. Is this that gallant leader who redeem'd us
 With so much valour from the enemy?
Cam. The very same.
Don C. Why did you not acquaint me with it sooner?
 'Twas ill done, Camilla.
Cam. Alas! my dearest brother, gratitude,

[Drawing Don Carlos aside.

Conspiring with the graces of his person,
 So soon possess'd him of my heart, that I,
 Asham'd of such a visionary love,
 Durst never trust my tongue with my own thoughts.
Don C. 'Tis enough. Here, sir, take from me her hand,

[Addressing to Don Antonio.

Whose heart your merit has long since made yours.

[Don Antonio takes Camilla's hand and kisses it.

Don A. Sir, with your leave and hers, I seal the vows
 Of my eternal faith unto you both.
Don C. But let's take heed, Antonio, lest, whilst we
 Are joying in our mutual happiness,
 Don Henrique's scarcely yet composed distemper
 Revive not, and disorder us afresh:
 I like not his grim posture.
Don A. 'Tis well thought on; let's approach him.

[Don Octavio, holding Porcia by the hand, advances towards Don Henrique.

Don O. Here with respect we wait your confirmation
 Of that which seems to be decreed above,
 Though travers'd by unlucky accidents.
 This lady, your incomparable sister,
 Can witness that I never did invade
 Your passion for Camilla; and Pedro's death
 Happen'd by your mistaken jealousy.
 The causes of your hate being once remov'd,
 'Tis just. Don Henrique, the effects should cease.
Don H. I shall consult my honour——
Don C. You cannot take a better councillor
 In this case than your own and sister's honour;
 What, to secure them both, could have been wish'd
 Beyond what fate has of itself produc'd?
Don H. How hard it is to act upon constraint!
 That which I could have wish'd, I now would fly,
 Since 'tis obtruded by necessity.
 'Tis fit that I consent, but yet I must
 Still seem displeas'd, that m' anger may seem just [Aside.
Don A. Noble Don Henrique, you may reckon me
 To be as truly yours by this alliance,
 As if a brother's name subsisted still.
Don H. Well, I must yield, I see, or worse will follow. [Aside.
 He is a fool who thinks by force or skill
 To turn the current of a woman's will:
 Since fair Camilla is Antonio's lot,
 I Porcia yield to Don Antonio's friend.
 Our strength and wisdom must submit to fate:
 Stripp'd of my love, I will put off my hate.
 Here take her hand, and may she make you, sir,

[Don Henrique takes Porcia by the hand, and gives her to Don Octavio.

Happier than she has done me.

Diego and Flora advance.

Flo. Had e'er disorders such a rare come-off?
 Methinks 'twould make a fine plot for a play.
Diego. Faith, Flora, I should have the worst of that;
 For, by the laws of comedy, 'twould be
 My lot to marry you.
Don O. Well thought on, Diego, tho' 'tis spoke in jest:
 We cannot do a better thing in earnest
 Than to join these who seem to have been made
 For one another. What say'st thou to it, Flora?
Flo. Troth, I have had so many frights this night,
 That I am e'en afraid to lie alone.

[Diego takes her by the hand.

Diego. Give me thy hand, sweet Flora, 'tis a bargain,
 I promise thee, dear spouse, I'll do my best
 To make thee first repent this earnest jest.
Flo. You may mistake: we have a certain way,
 By going halves, to match your foulest play.
Don C. Since this last happy scene is in my house,
 You'll make collation with me, ere you part.
Don A. and Don O. Agreed, agreed, agreed!
Don A. Thus end the strange Adventures of Five Hours,
 As sometimes blust'ring storms, in gentle showers.[71]

[Addressing to the Pit.

Don O. Thus, noble gallants, after blust'ring lives,
 You'll end as we have done, in taking wives.
Diego. Hold, sirs, there's not an end as yet; for then
 Come your own brats and those of other men.
Don H. Besides the cares of th' honour of your race
 Which, as you know, is my accursed case. [Addressing to the Boxes.
Cam. You, ladies, whilst unmarried, tread on snares:
 Married, y' are cumber'd with domestic cares.
Por. If handsome, y' are by fools and fame attack'd;
 If ugly, then by your own envy rack'd.
Flo. We by unthrifty parents forc'd to serve,
 When fed are slaves, and when w' are free, we starve.
Don C. Which put together, we must needs confess,
 This world is not the scene of happiness.

FOOTNOTES:

[69] A reward or gratuity given to one that brings good news.—Stevens's "Spanish Dictionary."

[70] All the copies have it so long ago, but Reed followed Dodsley in the absurd error of substituting some days ago.—Collier.

[71] Here the play ended until the third edition which, as has been already noticed, varies materially from those that preceded it. The third edition also omits the original epilogues at the theatre and at court, which, as they are worth preserving, are now inserted in a note.—Collier.

THE EPILOGUE.

Diego comes stealing in, and is followed by Henrique, who stays at the door and listens.

Diego. Come, gentlemen!
 Let the Dons and Monsieurs say what they will,
 For our parts, we are for Old England still.
 Here's a fine Play indeed, to lay the scene
 In three houses of the same town, O mean!
 Why, we have several plays, where I defy
 The devil to tell where the scene does lie:
 Sometimes in Greece, and then they make a step
 To Transylvania, thence at one leap
 To Greece again: this shows a ranging brain,
 Which scorns to be confined t' a town in Spain.

Then for the Plot.

The possible Adventures of Five Hours!
 A copious design! why, in some of ours
 Many of the adventures are impossible,
 Or, if to be achiev'd, no man can tell
 Within what time: this shows a rare invention,
 When the design's above your comprehension;
 Whilst here y' are treated with a romance-tale.
 And a plot cover'd with a Spanish veil.

As for the Style.

It is as easy as a proclamation,
 As if the play were penn'd for the whole nation.
 None of those thund'ring lines, which used to crack
 Our breaths, and set your wits upon the rack.
 Who can admire this piece, or think it good?
 There's not one line but may be understood.

The Raillery.

As innocent as if't had pass'd the test
 Of a full synod: not one bawdy jest!
 Nor any of those words of double sense,
 Which make the ladies, to show their innocence,
 Look so demure, whilst by a simp'ring smile
 The gallant shows he understands the style.
 But here you have a piece so subtly writ,
 Men must have wit themselves to find the wit.
 Faith, that's too much; therefore by my consent,
 We'll damn the play.
Henrique. Think'st thou, impertinent,
 That these, who know the pangs of bringing forth

[Pointing to the Pit.

A living scene, should e'er destroy this birth?
 You ne'er can want such writers, who aspire
 To please the judges of that upper tier.
 The knowing are his peers, and for the rest
 Of the illiterate crowd (though finely dress'd),
 The author hopes he never gave them cause
 To think he'd waste his time for their applause.
 You then (most equal judges) freely give
 Your votes, whether this play should die or live.

THE EPILOGUE AT COURT.

We've pass'd the lords and commons, and are come
 At length, dread sir, to hear your final doom.
 'Tis true your vassals, sir, may vote the laws.
 Their sanction comes from your divine applause.
 This shining circle then will all sit mute
 'Till one pronounce from you Le Roi le veut.[72]

[72] These are the words still used by ancient usage whenever the royal assent is given to any bill that has passed through both Houses of Parliament.—Collier.