o sooner conjure, but the
devil's in the circle.

_Dom._ Son of a what, Don Gomez?

_Gom._ Why, a son of a church; I hope there's no harm in that, father?

_Dom._ I will lay up your words for you, till time shall serve; and
to-morrow I enjoin you to fast, for penance.

_Gom._ There's no harm in that; she shall fast too: fasting saves
money. [_Aside._

_Dom._ [_To_ ELVIRA.] What was the reason that I found you upon your
knees, in that unseemly posture?

_Gom._ O horrible! to find a woman upon her knees, he says, is an
unseemly posture; there's a priest for you! [_Aside._

_Elv._ [_To_ DOM.] I wish, father, you would give me an opportunity of
entertaining you in private: I have somewhat upon my spirits that
presses me exceedingly.

_Dom._ This goes well: [_Aside._] Gomez, stand you at a
distance,--farther yet,--stand out of ear shot;--I have somewhat to
say to your wife in private.

_Gom._ Was ever man thus priest-ridden? would the steeple of his
church were in his belly: I am sure there's room for it. [_Aside._

_Elv._ I am ashamed to acknowledge my infirmities; but you have been
always an indulgent father, and therefore I will venture to--and yet I
dare not!--

_Dom._ Nay, if you are bashful;--if you keep your wound from the
knowledge of your surgeon,--

_Elv._ You know my husband is a man in years; but he's my husband, and
therefore I shall be silent; but his humours are more intolerable than
his age: he's grown so froward, so covetous, and so jealous, that he
has turned my heart quite from him; and, if I durst confess it, has
forced me to cast my affections on another man.

_Dom._ Good:--hold, hold; I meant abominable.--Pray heaven this may be
my colonel! [_Aside._

_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 re