Love. Why, you're a very Machiavel-nothing was ever better contriv'd. Here's a fellow pimping for his own horns. [Aside.

Sir Bash. Here, here, here-take the moneyhere it is in Bank Notes-One, two, three-there's three hundred pounds-give her that-give her that, Mr. Lovemore

Love. I will. This is the rarest adventure!

[Aside. Sir Bash. I'll do any thing for your wife in re

turn

Love. Why I may have occasion for your friendship, Sir Bashful-that is, to forgive me, if ever you find me [Aside.

out.

Sir Bash. You may always command me; well, lose no time, she's above stairs; step to her now, and make her easy.

Love. I'll do my endeavour, that you may rely upon; I'll make her easy, if possible.

Sir Bash. That's kind, that's kind! Well, ha! ha! ha! Mr. Lovemore, is not this a rare scheme! Ha! ha! ha!

Love. "Tis the newest way of making a wife easyHa ha ha!

Sir Bash. Ay, ay, let this head of mine alone. Ha! ha!

Love. (R.) That I won't if I can help it.

[Exit LOVEMORE, R. D. Sir Bash. (c.) Prosper you, prosper you, Mr. Lovemore! it is the luckiest thing in the world to have so good a friend; make me thankful! he is a true friend. [SIR BRILLIANT within, L.] Hist-did not I hear a noise? Is not that Sir Brilliant's voice? I hope they won't let him in: I gave orders I would not be at home -zookers! they are letting him in. He sha'n't see my lady for all that-sha'n't interrupt business.

Enter SIR BRILLIANT, L. D.

Sir Bril. (L.) joice to see you. at home?

Sir Bashful, I kiss your hand; I re-
And my lady, how does she do? Is she

Sir Bash. (c.) Do you think I have nothing to do but to know whether she is at home or not? I don't trouble my head about her, sir.

Sir Bril. Po! never talk so slightingly of so agreeable a woman. My Lady Constant has spirit, taste, sense, wit, beauty

Sir Bash. (R.) Spirit, taste, sense, wit, beauty! She has all that sure enough. [Aside.] Sir, I am no sworn appraiser to take an inventory of her effects, and set a just value upon them-I don't know what she has.

Sir Bril. Is her ladyshlp visible this morning?

Sir Bash. No, sir, she is invisible this morning-and unintelligible this morning-and incomprehensible this morning. She is not well-she has the vapours-she can't be spoke to.

Sir Bril. (L. c.) I'm sorry for it; I came to tell her the rarest piece of news--such a discovery!

Sir Bash. Ay, what's that?

Sir Bril. You know Sir Amorous La Fool?.
Sir Bash. Mighty well.

Sir Bril. Poor devil! he has got into such a scrape!
Sir Bash. What's the matter? Has he been bubbled

at play?

Sir Bril. Worse, much worse.

Sir Bash. He is not dead?

Sir Bril. Why that's a scrape, indeed! But it is not that; almost as bad though.

Sir Bash. He's fallen in love with some coquet, may be ? Sir Bril. No.

Sir Bash. With some prude?

Sir Bril. Nor that.

Sir Bash. An actress, may be; or an opera singer? Sir Bril. No, you'll never guess; like a silly devil, he has fallen in love with his own wife! Ha! ha!

Sir Bash. In love with his own wife! [Stares at him. Sir Bril. Ha! ha! In love with his own wife. I heard it at my Lady Betty Scandal's; there was such laughing, and so much raillery ;-my dear Sir Bashful, don't you enjoy it? Ha! ha! It's so ridiculous an affair; is it not, Sir Bashful?

Sir Bash. Ha! ha! Oh, ay, very ridiculous indeed! Ha ha! Nothing can be more pleasant! Zoons! it's my own case directly! [Aside.

Sir Bril. The man is lost, abandoned, ruin'd, dead, and buried. You don't laugh, Sir Bashful.

Sir Bash. Who, I?-I-I-I laugh as heartily as I possibly can.

Sir Bril. I want to find Lovemore; he'll be so divert

ed. You know he does not care a pinch of snuff for his wife.

Sir Bash. No, not in the least, he does not care for her-no to be sure he does not. [Aside.] Not he; he no more cares for his wife than I do for mine.

Sir Bril. Much the same. Poor Sir Amorous! what a ridiculous figure does he make at last: adieu for him all the joys of life! the side-box whisper, the soft assignation, and the joys of freedom! He is retired with his Penelope, to love most heartily for a month, grow indifferent to each other in two, and hate most cordially in three. Poor devil! Ha! ha!

Sir Bash. Do you think it will end so?

Sir Bril. Most certainly. But I have not told you the worst of his case; our friend, Sir Charles Wildfire, you know, was about a comedy-now what has he done, but drawn the character of Sir Amorous La Fool, and made him the hero of his piece.

Sir Bash. What! put him into a comedy?

Sir Bril. Ha! ha! Yes he has. It is called, "The Amorous Husband; or the Man in love with his own Wife." I must send in time for places-Sir Bashful, you shall be of the party.

Sir Bash. With great pleasure: you may be sure it will be a very agreeable party to me; you may depend— I shall enjoy the joke prodigiously.

Sir Bril. It will be the highest scene in nature-well, a good day! I must drive to a thousand places and put it about-farewell! Apropos, be sure you let my lady know-it will appear to her so ridiculous.

Sir Bash. Do you think it will?

Sir Bril. Certainly! Well, your servant, your servant, your servant. Poor Sir Amorous La Fool, he'll have his horns added to his coat of arms in a very little time. Ha! ha! [Exit, L. D.

Sir Bash. (c.) I see how it is; I shall get lampooned, berhymed, and niched into a comedy. Make me thankful! nobody knows of my affair, but Mr. Lovemore.— He can't discover against me for his own sake.

Enter LOVEMORE, R.

Well, Mr. Lovemore, well; how have you manag'd? Love. Just as I could wish. She is infinitely obliged to me, and will never forget this civility.

Sir Bash. Ten thousand thanks to you! She suspects nothing of my being privy to it?

Love. Not the least inkling of it. She talk'd at first something about delicacy; and thought it rather an indecorum to accept of money even from a friend. But that argument was soon silenced. I told her, I could not but see what a bad husband you was.

Sir Bash. That was right, that was right!

Love. And then I talked a few sentences to her-As, that the person receiving a civility confers the obligation; and that I was sure of wheedling you, in some good-natured moment, to repay me. It was but making you my banker for a short time: and with more jargon to that purpose. And so, with some reluctance, she complied, and things are upon the footing I would have them. -Death and fury! there's my wife!

Sir Bash. Ay, and here comes my wife, too.
Love. What the devil brings her here?

[Aside. Sir Bash. This is the rarest circumstance. Now let me see how he will carry it before Mrs. Lovemore. Walk in, walk in, Mrs. Lovemore,

Enter MRS. LOVEMORE, L. and LADY CONSTANT, R. Lady Con. (R.) Mrs. Lovemore, I'm glad to see you abroad, madam.

Mrs. Love. (L.) I am highly fortunate in meeting your ladyship at home. Mr. Lovemore, I am glad to see you too, sir.

Love. (L.) Mrs. Lovemore, I thank you.

Sir Bash. Mind him now, mind him now-My Lady Constant seems quite pleas'd-She has got the money. [Aside.

Mrs. Love. (L. c.) I thought you were gone into the city, Mr. Lovemore?

Love. Why will you mind me, Mrs. Lovemore-I deferred going till evening. What the devil business had she here! [Aside.

Mrs. Love. Then I may hope you'll dine at home, sir?

Love. O lord! how can you tease a man so? Sir Bash. Ay, ay, I see how it is-he won't let her have the least suspicion of his regard.

[Aside. Lady Con. (R. c.) No doubt Mr. Lovemore will dine at home, if it gives you any satisfaction-And Sir

Bashful, I reckon, will dine at home, for the contrary

reason.

Sir Bash. Madam, I'll dine at home, or I'll dine abroad, for what reason I please: I am my own master, I hope, madam.-Lovemore, Lovemore! Ha! ha! [Aside.

Love. Bravo! What a silly blockhead it is!

[Aside. Mrs. Love. (L.) I see your chariot at the door, Mr. Lovemore-I'll send away my chair, and you may set me down.

Love. (R) Ma'am, I have several places to call at. Sir Bash (R. c.) Cunning! cunning! He would not be seen in a chariot with her for the world. [Aside. Lady Con. I am to have a rout to-morrow evening, Mrs. Lovemore: I wish you would favour us with your company.

Sir Bash. A rout to-morrow evening! You have a rout every evening, I think. I wish, madam, you would learn to imitate Mrs. Lovemore, and not make a fool of me as you do. Hip, Lovemore! Ha! ha!

[Aside.

Love. Ha ha! Bravo! -Well, I must be gone -My Lady Constant, I have the honour to wish your ladyship a good morning. Ma'am, your most obedient; Sir Bashful, yours-Madam, you know I am yours.

[Bows gravely to MRS. LOVEMORE, and exit L. singing.

Sir Bash. He carries it off finely- Make me thankful! I have kept my own secret too, and she shall never know a word of the matter. Mrs. Lovemore, your humble servant, madam! Madam, you know I am yours.

[Bows gravely to LADY CONSTANT, and exit L. singing.

Mrs. Love. Two such husbands!

Lady Con. (c.) As to my swain, Mrs. Lovemore, I grant you-but you may set your mind at rest; Mr. Lovemore is at least well bred; whereas, Sir Bashful never qualifies his disrespect with the least tincture of civility.

Mrs. Love. (L. c.) Well, if there is any pleasure in being made miserable with civility, I must allow Mr. Lovemore a most skilful hand. I have found out another of his intrigues, and I came on purpose to consult with