this instant are forgotten! Long-parted friends, that pass through easy voyages of life, receive but common gladness in their meeting: but from a shipwreck saved, we mingle tears with our embraces.

[Run into each other's arms. Lady T. (c.) What words-what love-what duty can repay such obligations?

Lord T. (c.) Preserve but this desire to please, your power is endless.

Lady T. (L. C.) Oh! till this moment, never did I know, my lord, I had a heart to give you!

Lord T. (L. c.) By heaven, this yielding hand, when first it gave you to my wishes, presented not a treasure more desirable! Oh, Manly! sister! as you have often shared in my disquiet, partake of my felicity-my newborn joy! See here! the bride of my desires! This may be called my wedding-day.

Lady G. (c.) Sister, (for now methinks that name is dearer to me than ever) let me congratulate the happiness that opens to you.

Manly. (c.) Long, long, and mutual may it flow!

Lord T. To make our happiness complete, my dear, join here with me to give a hand, that amply will repay the obligation.

Lady T. Sister, a day like this

Lady G. (1.c.) Admits of no excuse against the general joy. [Gives her hand to Manly. Manly. A joy, like mine- despairs of words to speak it.

Lord T. (R.) Oh, Manly, how the name of friend endears the brother! [Embracing him. Manly. (L.) Your words, my lord, will warm me to deserve them.

Lady T. (R. C.) Sister, to your unerring virtue I now commit the guidance of my future days.

Never the paths of pleasure more to tread,
But where your guarded innocence shall lead ;
For, in the marriage state, the world must own,
Divided happiness was never known.

To make it mutual, nature points the way:

Let husbands govern; gentle wives obey. [Exeunt.

THE END.

METHINKS I hear some powdered critics say,
"Damn it! this wife reform'd has spoil'd the play!
The coxcomb should have drawn her more in fashion,
Have gratify'd her sober inclination,

Have tipp'd her a gallant, and clinch'd the provocation."
But there our bard stopp'd short; for 'twere uncivil
T' have made a modern belle all o'er a devil!
He hoped, in honour of the sex, the age

Would bear one mended woman-on the stage.
From whence, you see, by common sense's rules,
Wives might be governed, were not husbands fools.
Whate'er by nature dames are prone to do,
They seldom stray but when they govern you.
When the wild wife perceives her deary tame,
No wonder then she plays him all the game.
But men of sense meet rarely that disaster;
Women take pride where merit is their master :
Nay, she that with a weak man wisely lives,
Will seem t' obey the due commands he gives!
Happy obedience is no more a wonder,
When men are men, and keep them kindly under.
But modern consorts are such high-bred creatures,
They think a husband's pow'r degrades their features;
That nothing more proclaims a reigning beauty,
Than that she never was reproach'd with duty,
And that the greatest blessing heav'n c'er sent
Is in a spouse incurious and content.

To give such dames a different cast of thought,
By calling home the mind, these scenes were wrought.
If with a hand too rude, the task is done,

We

We hope the scheme by Lady Grace laid down,
With all such freedom with the sex atone,
That virtue there, unsoil'd by modish art,
Throws out attraction for a Manly's heart.
You, you, then, ladies, whose unquestion'd lives
Give you the foremost fame of happy wives,
Protect, for its attempt, this helpless play,
Nor leave it to the vulgar taste a prey;
Appear the frequent champions of its cause,
Direct the crowd, and give yourselves applause.

London: Printed by G. H. Davidson, Ireland Yard, Doctors' Commons

Sir Bashful Constant. Hush! hush! I should like to see how she receives it. See, the door is conveniently open-yes, yes, I can see her-there she sits. [Peeping.]

Act IV. Scene 1.

THE WAY TO KEEP HIM;

A COMEDY,

In Five Acts,

BY ARTHUR MURPHY, 1727 -18057

PRINTED FROM THE ACTING COPY, WITH REMARKS,
BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL,

To which are added,

A DESCRIPTION OF THE COSTUME,-CAST OF THE CHARACTERS,
ENTRANCES AND EXITS, RELATIVE POSITIONS OF THE PER-
FORMERS ON THE STAGE, AND THE WHOLE OF THE STAGE
BUSINESS."

As now performed at the

THEATRES ROYAL, LONDON.

EMBELLISHED WITH A WOOD ENGRAVING,

By Mr. WHITE, from a Drawing by Mr. R. CRUIKSHANK.

LONDON:

JOHN CUMBERLAND, 19, LUDGATE HILL.