SCENE I.--_A Dressing-chamber.

_The Masking-habits of_ LUCRETIA _and_ HIPPOLITA _laid in a Chair.--Enter_ FREDERICK _and_ ASCANIO.

_Fred._ I never thought I should have loved her. Is't come to this, after all my boastings and declarations against it? Sure I loved her before, and did not know it, till I feared to lose her: There's the reason. I had never desired her, if my father had not. This is just the longing of a woman: She never finds the appetite in herself, till she sees the meat on another's plate. I'm glad, however, you took the impression of the key; but 'twas not well to fright them.

_Asca._ Sir, I could not help it; but here's the effect on't: the workman sat up all night to make it. [_Gives a key._

_Fred._ This key will admit me into the seraglio of the godly. The monastery has begun the war, in sallying out upon the world; and therefore 'tis but just that the world should make reprisals on the monastery.

_Asca._ Alas, sir, you and Lucretia do but skirmish; 'tis I and Hippolita that make the war: 'Tis true, opportunity has been wanting for a battle, but the forces have been stoutly drawn up on both sides. As for your concernment, I come just now from the monastery; and have orders from your Platonic mistress to tell you, she expects you this evening in the garden of the nunnery; withal, she delivered me this letter for you.

_Fred._ Give it me.

_Asca._ O, sir, the duke your father! [_The Prince takes the letter, and, thinking to put it up hastily, drops it._

_Enter Duke._

_Duke._ Now, Frederick, not abroad yet?

_Fred._ Your last night's entertainment left me so weary, sir, that I overslept myself this morning.

_Duke._ I rather envy you than blame you: Our sleep is certainly the most pleasant portion of our lives. For my own part, I spent the night waking and restless.

_Fred._ Has any thing of moment happened to discompose your highness?

_Duke._ I'll confess my follies to you: I am in love with a lady I saw last night in masquerade.

_Fred._ 'Tis strange she should conceal herself.

_Duke._ She has, from my best search; yet I took exact notice of her masking habit, and described it to those whom I employed to find her.

_Fred._ [_Aside._] 'Sdeath, it lies there unremoved, and, if he turns himself, full in his eye. Now, now, 'twill be discovered.

_Duke._ For 'twas extremely remarkable. I remember very well, 'twas a loose long robe, streaked black and white, girt with a large silver ribband, and the vizor was a Moor's face.

_Fred._ [_Running to the chair where the habits are sits down._] Sir, I beg pardon of your highness for this rudeness; I am--O, Oh!--

_Duke._ What's the matter?

_Fred._ I am taken so extremely ill o' the sudden, that I am forced to sit before you.

_Duke._ Alas, what's your distemper?

_Fred._ A most violent griping, which pulls me together on a heap.

_Duke._ Some cold, I fear, you took last night. [_Runs to the door._] Who waits there? Call physicians to the prince.

_Fred._ Ascanio, remove these quickly. [ASCANIO _takes away the habits, and Exit._

_Duke._ [_Returning._] How do you find yourself?

_Fred._ [_Arising._] Much better, sir: That which pained me is removed. As it came unexpectedly, so it went as suddenly.

_Enter_ VALERIO.

_Duke._ The air, perhaps, will do you good. If you have health, you may see those troops drawn out, which I design for Milan.

_Fred._ Shall I wait your highness?

_Duke._ No, leave me here with Valerio; I have a little business, which dispatched, I'll follow you immediately.--Well, what success, Valerio? [_Exit_ FREDERICK.

_Val._ Our endeavours are in vain, sir; there has been inquiry made about all the palaces in Rome, and neither of the masking habits can be discovered.

_Duke._ Yet it must be a woman of quality. What paper's that at my foot?

_Val._ [_Taking up the letter._] 'Tis sealed, sir, and directed to the prince.

_Duke._ [_Taking the letter._] 'Tis a woman's, hand. Has he got a mistress in town so soon? I am resolved to open it, though I do not approve my own curiosity. [_Opens and reads it._

_Now my fear is over, I can laugh at my last night's adventure. I find that at fifty all men grow incorrigible, and lovers especially; for, certainly, never any creature could be worse treated than your father;_ [How's this, Valerio? I am amazed.] _and yet the good, old, out-of-fashion gentleman heard himself rallied and bore it with all the patience of a Christian prince._ [Now, 'tis plain, the lady in masquerade is a mistress of my son's, and the undutiful wretch was in the plot to abuse me.] _Ascanio will tell you the latter part of our misfortune, how hardly we got into the cloister._ [A nun, too! Oh, the devil!] _When we meet next, pray provide to laugh heartily; for there is subject sufficient for a plentiful fit, and fop enough to spare for another time._ LUCRETIA.

_Val._ Lucretia! now the mystery is unfolded.

_Duke._ Do you know her?

_Val._ When I was last at Rome I saw her often; she is near kinswoman to the present Pope; and, before he placed her in this nunnery of Benedictines, was the most celebrated beauty of the town.

_Duke._ I know I ought to hate this woman, because she has affronted me thus grossly; but yet, I cannot help it, I must love her.

_Val._ But, sir, you come on too much disadvantage to be your son's rival.

_Duke._ I am deaf to all considerations: Pr'ythee do not think of giving a madman counsel. Pity me, and cure me, if thou canst; but remember, there's but one infallible medicine,--that's enjoyment.

_Val._ I had forgot to tell you, sir, that the governor, Don Mario, is without, to wait on you.

_Duke._ Desire him to come in.

_Enter Don_ MARIO.

_Mar._ I am come, sir, to beg a favour from your highness; and 'tis on the behalf of my sister Sophronia, abbess of the Torr' di Specchi.

_Val._ Sir, she's abbess of that very monastery where your mistress is inclosed. [_Aside to the Duke._

_Duke._ I should be glad to serve any relation of yours, Don Mario.

_Mar._ Her request is, that you would be pleased to grace her chapel this afternoon. There will be music, and some little ceremony, in the reception of my two nieces, who are to be placed on pension there.

_Duke._ Your nieces, I hear, are fair, and great fortunes.

_Mar._ Great vexations, I'm sure they are; being daily haunted by a company of wild fellows, who buzz about my house like flies.

_Duke._ Your design seems reasonable: women in hot countries are like oranges in cold; to preserve them, they must be perpetually housed. I'll bear you company to the monastery.--Come, Valerio; this opportunity is happy beyond our expectation. [_Exeunt._