_Donna_ AURELIA, _their cousi_. BEATRIX, _woman and confident to the two Sisters_. CAMILLA, _woman to_ AURELIA. _Servants to Don_ LOPEZ _and Don_ ALONZO. SCENE--_Madrid, in the Year 1665_. _The Time, the last Evening of the Carnival_. AN EVENING'S LOVE; OR, THE MOCK ASTROLOGER. ACT I. SCENE I. _Don_ LOPEZ, _and a Servant walking over the stage. Enter another Servant, and follows him_. _Serv._ Don Lopez. _Lop._ Any new business? _Serv._ My master had forgot this letter, Which he conjures you, as you are his friend, To give Aurelia from him. _Lop._ Tell Don Melchor, 'Tis a hard task which he enjoins me: He knows I love her, and much more than he; For I love her alone, but he divides His passion betwixt two. Did he consider How great a pain 'tis to dissemble love, He would never practise it. _Serv._ He knows his fault, but cannot mend it. _Lop._ To make the poor Aurelia believe He's gone for Flanders, whilst he lies concealed, And every night makes visits to her cousin-- When will he leave this strange extravagance? _Serv._ When he can love one more, or t'other less. _Lop._ Before I loved myself, I promised him To serve him in his love; and I'll perform it, Howe'er repugnant to my own concernments. _Serv._ You are a noble cavalier. [_Exit Servant._ _Enter_ BELLAMY, WILDBLOOD, _and_ MASKALL. _2 Serv._ Sir, your guests, of the English ambassador's retinue. _Lop._ Cavaliers, will you please to command my coach to take the air this evening? _Bel._ We have not yet resolved how to dispose of ourselves; but, however, we are highly acknowledging to you for your civility. _Lop._ You cannot more oblige me, than by laying your commands on me. _Wild._ We kiss your hand. [_Exeunt_ LOPEZ _and Serv_. _Bel._ Give the Don his due, he entertained us nobly this carnival. _Wild._ Give the devil the Don, for any thing I liked in his entertainment. _Bel._ I hope we had variety enough. _Wild._ Ay, it looked like variety, till we came to taste it; there were twenty several dishes to the eye, but in the palate, nothing but spices. I had a mind to eat of a pheasant, and as soon as I got it into my mouth, I found I was chewing a limb of cinnamon; then I went to cut a piece of kid, and no sooner it had touched my lips, but it turned to red pepper: At last I began to think myself another kind of Midas, that every thing I touched should be turned to spice. _Bel._ And, for my part, I imagined his Catholic majesty had invited us to eat his Indies. But pr'ythee, let's leave the discourse of it, and contrive together how we may spend the evening; for in this hot country, 'tis as in the creation, the evening and the morning make the day. _Wild._ I have a little serious business.