Gom. Ay, there’s your remedy; when you receive condign punishment, you run with open mouth to your confessor; that parcel of holy guts and garbadge:  he must chuckle you and moan you; but I’ll rid my hands of his ghostly authority one day, [Enter DOMINICK.] and make him know he’s the son of a—­[Sees him.] So;—­no 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?