posed your happiness, when, my own, perhaps, depended upon it.

Dr. Cant. Spare me, spare me: you kill me with this kindness.

Lady Lamb. But, now that I have discovered my weakness, be secret ;-for the least imprudence

Dr. Cant. It is a vain fear.

Lady Lamb. Call it not vain: my reputation is dearer to me than life.

Dr. Cant. Where can it find so sure a guard; the grave austerities of my life will dumb-found suspicion, and yours may defy detraction.

Lady Lamb. Well, doctor, tis you must answer for my_folly.

of.

Dr. Cant. I take it all upon myself.

Lady Lamb. But there's one thing still to be afraid

Dr. Cant. Nothing, nothing,

Lady Lamb. My husband, Sir John.

Dr. Cant. Alas, poor man! I will answer for him. Be tween ourselves, madam, your husband is weak: I can lead him by the nose any where.

[SIR JOHN LAMBERT advances between them. Sir J. Lamb. (c.) No, caitiff, I'm to be led no farther.

Dr. Cant. (L. c.) Ah! woman.

Sir J. Lamb. Is this your sanctity? this your doctrine? these your meditations?

Dr. Cant. Is then my brother in a conspiracy against

me?

Sir J. Lamb. Your brother! I have been your friend indeed, to my shame; your dupe; but your spell has lost its hold; no more canting; it will not serve your turn any longer.

Lady Lamb. (R. C.) Now heaven be praised.

Dr. Cant. It seems you want an excuse to part with

me.

Sir J. Lamb. Ungrateful wretch! but why do I reproach you? Had I not been the weakest of mankind, you never could have proved so great a villain. Get out of my sight; leave my house: of all my follies, which is it tells you, that if you stay much longer, I shall not be tempted to wrest you out of the hands of law, and punish you as you deserve!

Dr. Cant. Well; but first let me ask you, sir, who it is you menace? consider your own condition, and where you are.

Sir J. Lamb. What would the villain drive at? leave me; I forgive you ; but once more I tell you, seek some other place; out of my house. This instant be gone, and see my face no more.

Dr. Cant. Nay, then, 'tis my duty to exert myself, and let you know that I am master here. Turn you out, sir, this house is mine; and now, sir, at your peril, dare to insult me.

Sir J. Lamb. Oh, heavens! 'tis true; whither shall I fly to hide me from the world?

Lady Lamb. Whither are you going, sir?

Sir J. Lamb. I know not-but here, it seems, I am a trespasser-the master of the house has warned me hence-and, since the right is now in him, 'tis just I should resign it.

Lady Lamb. You shall not stir. He dares not act with such abandoned insolence. No, sir, possession still is yours. If he pretends a right, let him. by open course of law, maintain it.

Dr. Cunt. Ha! Here! Seyward!

Enter MAWWORM, L. D.

[Exit, L. D.

Sir J. Lamb. Who is this fellow? what do you want, man?

Maw. [Returning to L. D.] My lady! come up.

Enter OLD LADY LAMBERT, L. D.

Old Lady Lamb. (L.) How now!
Maw. (L.) He wants to know who I be.

son.

Old Lady Lamb. The gentleman is a friend of mine, I was carrying him in a coach to attend a controversy that's to be held this evening, at the Reverend Mr. Scruple's, about an affair of simony, and called to take up the doctor. But what strange tales are these I hear below?

Sir J. Lamb. (c.) The doctor is a villain, madam: I have detected him; detected him in the horrible design of seducing my wife.

Maw. (L. c.) It's unpossible.

Sir J. Lamb. What do you say, man?

Mam. I say it's unpossible. He has been locked up with my wife, for hours together, morning, noon, and night, and I never found her the worse for him.

[Retires up the Stage.

Old Lady Lamb. (L. c.) Ah, son! son!

Sir J. Lamb! What is your

ladyship going to say

now?

Old Lady Lamb. The doctor is not in fault.
Sir J. Lamb. 'Slife, madam!

Old Lady Lamb. Oh, he swears! he swears! Years in growing good, we become profligate in a moment. If you swear again, I won't stay in the house.

Maw. [Advances to c.] Nor I neither: aren't you ashamed of yourself? have you no commenseration on your souls?-Ah! poor wicked sinner! I pity you. Sir J. Lamb. 'Sdeath! and the devil.

Maw. If you swear any more, I'll inform against you.

Sir J. Lamb. Why would you bring this idiot, madam?

Maw. Ay, do despise me, I'm the prouder for it; I likes to be despised. [Retires again up the Stage.

Enter CHARLOTTE, L.

Charl. (L.) Oh, dear papa, I shall faint away! there's murder doing.

Sir J. Lamb. Who! where! what is it?

Charl. The doctor, sir, and Seyward, were at high words just now in the garden; and upon a sudden there was a pistol fired between them. Oh! I'm afraid poor Seyward is killed.

Sir J. Lamb. How?

Charl. Oh, here he comes himself; he'll tell you

more.

Enter DR. CANTWELL, DARNLEY, SEYWARD, and SERVANTS, L.

Darnley. [Speaking as he enters.] Here, bring in this ruffian; this is villainy beyond example.

Sir J. Lamb. What means this outrage?

Lady Lamb. I tremble.

Seyw. (c.) Don't be alarmed, madam-there is no mischief done; what was intended, the doctor here can best inform you.

Sir J. Lamb. (R. C.) Mr. Darnley, I am ashamed to see you.

Maw. [Advances.] So you ought; but this good man is ashamed of nothing.

[Retires.

Dr. Cant. (L. c.) Alas! my enemies prevail.

Seyn. In short, gentlemen, the affair is circumstan tially this-The doctor called me out into the pavilion in the garden; appeared in great disorder; told me there was a sudden storm raised, which he was not

sufficiently prepared to weather. He said, his dependance was upon me; and, at all events, I must be ready to swear, when he called upon me, I had seen him pay Sir John several large sums of money. He talked confusedly about giving value for an estate; but I boldly refused to perjure myself; and told him, on the contrary, I was satisfied he had fleeced Sir John of several large sums, under pretence of charitable uses, which he secretly converted to his own.-This stung him—and he fastened at my throat. Then, indeed, all temper left me; and, disengaging myself from his hold, with a home-blow, I struck him down. At this, grown desperate, he ran with fury to some pistols that hung above the chimney; but in the instant he reached one, I seized upon his wrist; and as we grappled, the pistol firing to the ceiling, alarmed the family."

Old Lady Lamb. (L. C.) This is a lie, young man, I see the devil standing at your elbow.

Maw. (c.) So do I, with a great big pitch-fork, pushing him on.

Dr. Cant. Well, what have you more against me? Darn. More, sir, I hope is needless-but, if Sir John 18 yet unsatisfied

Sir J. Lamb. (R. C.) Oh! I have seen too much.
Dr. Cant. I demand my liberty.

Sir J. Lamb. Let him go.

Enter COLONEL LAMBERT and ATTENDANTS, L. Col. Lamb. Hold, sir! not so fast; you can't pass Dr. Cant. (L.) Who, sir, shall dare to stop me? Col. Lamb. (L.) Within there.

Enter TIPSTAFF, L.

Tipstaff. Is your name Cantwell, sir?

Dr. Cant. What if it be, sir?

Tipstaff. Then, sir, I have my Lord Chief Justice's warrant against you.

Dr. Cant. Against me?

Tipstaff. Yes, sir, for a cheat and impostor.
Old Lady Lamb. What does he say?

Sir J. Lamb. (L. c.) Dear son, what is this?

Col. Lamb. Only some actions of the Doctor's, sir, which I have affidavits in my hand here to prove, from more than one creditable witness; and I think it my luty to make the public acquainted with them: if he

F

can acquit nimself of them, so; if not, he must take the consequence.

Dr. Cant. Well, but stay; let the accusations against me be what they will, by virtue of this conveyance, 1 am still master here; and, if I am forced to leave the "house myself, I will shut up the doors-nobody shall remain behind.

Sir J. Lamb. There! there! indeed he stings me to the heart! for that rash act, reproach and endless shame will haunt me!

Charl. No, sir!-be comforted. Even there, too, his wicked hopes must leave him; for know, the fatal deed, which you intended to sign, is here, even yet unsealed and innocent!

Sir J. Lamb, What mean you?

Charl. I mean, sir, that this deed, by accident falling into this gentleman's hands, his generous concern for our family discovered it to me; and that, in concert, we procured that other to be drawn exactly like it; which, in your impatience to execute, passed unsuspected for the original. Their only difference is, that wherever here you read the doctor's name, there you'll find my brother's.

Dr. Cant. Come, sir; lead me where you please. [Exit, . guarded. Old Lady Lamb. I don't know what to make of all this.

Maw. Mounts a form behind the screen at R. U. E. and looks over the top toward the stage and audience, throwing about his arms, and delivering the following rhapsody.] Stay! stay, you infatuated wretches, you know not what ye do: the Doctor is innocent. I say he is innocent, touch not a hair of his precious head; rumple not one curl of his gracious wig:-he's a saint! if ever there was a saint he is one; but ye will be the sufferers: I have one great and glorious consolation! I say one glòrious consolation-you'll all go to the devil-I shall go up, but you'll go down. And when you see me mount and leave ye to your fate, you'll want my aid! you'll want me to take you with me! you'll cling to me: you'll attempt to lay hold of the skirts of my coat! but I'll fling ye all, for I'll wear a spencer ! [Exeunt MAWWORM and OLD LADY LAMB. L. Charl. (L. c.) Now, Darnley, I hope I have made seme atonement for your jealousy.