p. 213. _greasing._ Flattery. Settle’s post as City Poet, it is well known, did not bring him in any great emoluments. He was, in fact, desperately poor, and even volunteered to join King James’ army at Hounslow Heath. In old age he was reduced to writing drolls performed in a 448 Bartholomew Fair booth kept by one Mrs. Minns and her daughter, Mrs. Leigh. He himself acted in these wretched farces, and on one occasion, in _St. George for England_, appeared as a dragon in a green leather case. Eventually he obtained admission to the Charterhouse, where he died 24 February, 1724. 215 THE DUTCH LOVER. 216 Scenes described in (parentheses) are unnumbered. Argument. Source. Theatrical History. Epistle to the Reader Dramatis Personæ. Act I. Scene I. _A Street._ Scene II. _Ambrosio’s House._ Scene III. _A Grove._ Act II. Scene I. _The Street._ Scene II. _A Chamber._ Scene III. _A Street._ Scene IV. _A dark Hall._ Scene V. _The Street._ Scene VI. _Chamber of Cleonte._ Scene VII. _The Street._ Act III. Scene I. _House of Carlo._ Scene II. _A flat Grove._ Scene III. _A Grove._ Scene IV. _The Garden._ (_A fine Arbour._) Act IV. Scene I. _Carlo’s House._ Scene II. _The Street._ Scene III. _A deep Grove._ Act V. Scene I. _A Garden._ Scene II. _Carlo’s House._ (_A Chamber._) Epilogue. Notes to _The Dutch Lover_ 217 ARGUMENT. Roderigo—the natural son of the great Count d’ Olivarez, minister to Philip IV of Spain—was, upon his father’s disgrace, given over when very young to the care of a certain Don Ambrosio, and by him brought up as his own child. Ambrosio has one son, Marcel, and two daughters, Hippolita and Cleonte. Marcel, whilst in Flanders, promised Hippolita to his friend Alonzo. This Alonzo is the son of a lady Octavia and Don Manuel. But Manuel’s rival in Octavia’s love, Alonzo, stole their boy when an infant and brought him up to arms, giving him his own name. Pedro, an old servant, who is cognizant of this, is sworn to secrecy. Alonzo arrives in Madrid purposing to wed Hippolita as he desires to ally himself with so ancient and powerful a family as Ambrosio’s. Hippolita, however, having been betrayed by a German named Antonio, has fled, and now resides in a house of pleasure in the town, having assumed the habit of a Venetian courtezan. Alonzo meeting Euphemia, sister to his friend Lovis, becomes enamoured of her, and the lady grants him a rendezvous at a house where they will be uninterrupted—it happens this house is the bagnio where Hippolita is secreted. Marcel, on his way to visit Clarinda, whom he loves, recognizes Alonzo and follows him to his rendezvous, Olinda, Euphemia’s maid, mistakenly introduces Marcel to her mistress. Euphemia is veiled and Marcel, who has heard that his sister is living in that house, in his turn mistakes the lady for Hippolita, more especially as he meets Antonio there. The two men fight, but Alonzo entering interferes. Antonio escapes, bearing away Hippolita.