_Elv._ I have seen this man, father, and have encouraged his addresses; he's a young gentleman, a soldier, of a most winning carriage: and what his courtship may produce at last, I know not; but I am afraid of my own frailty. _Dom._ 'Tis he, for certain;--she has saved the credit of my function, by speaking first; now must I take gravity upon me. [_Aside._ _Gom._ This whispering bodes me no good, for certain; but he has me so plaguily under the lash, that I dare not interrupt him. [_Aside._ _Dom._ Daughter, daughter, do you remember your matrimonial vow? _Elv._ Yes, to my sorrow, father, I do remember it; a miserable woman it has made me: but you know, father, a marriage-vow is but a thing of course, which all women take when they would get a husband. _Dom._ A vow is a very solemn thing; and 'tis good to keep it: but, notwithstanding, it may be broken upon some occasions. Have you striven with all your might against this frailty? _Elv._ Yes, I have striven; but I found it was against the stream. Love, you know, father, is a great vow-maker; but he's a greater vow-breaker. _Dom._ 'Tis your duty to strive always; but, notwithstanding, when we have done our utmost, it extenuates the sin. _Gom._ I can hold no longer.--Now, gentlewoman, you are confessing your enormities; I know it, by that hypocritical downcast look:--enjoin her to sit bare upon a bed of nettles, father; you can do no less, in conscience. _Dom._ Hold your peace; are you growing malapert? will you force me to make use of my authority? your wife's a well disposed and a virtuous lady; I say it, _In verbo sacerdotis._ _Elv._ I know not what to do, father; I find myself in a most desperate condition; and so is the colonel, for love of me. _Dom._ The colonel, say you! I wish it be not the same young gentleman I know. 'Tis a gallant young man, I must confess, worthy of any lady's love in Christendom,--in a lawful way, I mean: of such a charming behaviour, so bewitching to a woman's eye, and, furthermore, so charitably given; by all good tokens, this must be my colonel Hernando. _Elv._ Ay, and my colonel too, father:--I am overjoyed!--and are you then acquainted with him? _Dom._ Acquainted with him! why, he haunts me up and down; and, I am afraid, it is for love of you; for he pressed a letter upon me, within this hour, to deliver to you. I confess I received it, lest he should send it by some other; but with full resolution never to put it into your hands. _Elv._ Oh, dear father, let me have it, or I shall die! _Gom._ Whispering still! A pox of your close committee! I'll listen, I'm resolved. [_Steals nearer._ _Dom._ Nay, if you are obstinately bent to see it, use your discretion; but, for my part, I wash my hands of it.--What makes you listening there? get farther off; I preach not to thee, thou wicked eaves dropper.