But the most popular play of this great writer, and one which is always received with the most rapturous applause, is _Gil de las Calzas Verdes_, (_Gil of the Green Trousers_.) A lady has been abandoned by her lover for a rich beauty of Madrid. She calls herself Don Gil--follows him thither, dresses herself in male attire, of which the green trousers are the most conspicuous part--torments him with letters from the convent where he supposes her to be, describing her suffering, her illness, and at last her death; interrupts his remittances, destroys his credit, carries off his mistress, who falls desperately in love with her; thwarts him at every turn; obliges him to believe that he is really haunted by the ghost of her whom he has wronged; and at last causes him to be arrested for her murder. The rage, amazement, confusion, repentance and despair of the faithless lover are portrayed in the most brilliant colours. Do what he will, mean what he will, attempt what he will, Gil of the Green Trousers, though invisible, has been beforehand with him. He goes to his bankers: the check is paid to Don Gil of the Green Trousers. He endeavours to mislead his intended father-in-law: the plot is unravelled by Don Gil of the Green Trousers. He tries to soften his mistress: she raves of nothing but Don Gil of the Green Trousers. As Don Gil is so successful with his green trousers, other suitors of the Madrid lady dress in green trousers, and assume his name in the dark under her window. There are at one time four persons in the street, each calling himself Gil with the Green Trousers. The faithless suitor of the true Gil is one of them. His rival challenges him; but no sooner does the challenged see the fatal garment, than his conscience smites him, and he addresses his furious rival as the ghost of his injured mistress. "O soul most innocent! by that sweet love Which once thou cherished for me, and which now Delights my memory, I charge thee, rest My punishment, thy rigour, are complete If haply to disturb my present love, Thou hast assumed a body here on earth, And at Madrid calling thyself Don Gil, In such attire, and bearing such a name, Dost meditate to wreak revenge on me, * * * * * O cease, blest spirit! from thy fierce pursuit." The other lover, who hears this grotesque invocation, thinks it a mere trick of his rival to escape a duel, and overwhelms him with every epithet of abuse.