Sof. No, fweet creature, the promise shall not be broken: but what I have undertaken, I will perform like a man of honour.

Phed. Then you remember the preliminaries of the prefent.-

Sof. Yes, yes, in grofs I do remember fomething; but this disturbance of the family has fomewhat ftupify'd my memory: fome pretty quelque chofe, I warrant thee; fome acceptable toy of small value.

Phad. You may call a gold goblet a toy: but I put a greater value upon your presents.

Sof. A gold goblet, fay't thou! Yes, now, I think on't, it was a kind of a gold goblet, as a gratuityPhad. No, no; I had rather make sure of one bribe before-hand, than be promis'd ten gratuities. Sol. Yes, now I remember, it was, in fome sense, a gold goblet, by way of earneft; and it contain❜dPhad. One large

Sof. How, one large

Phad. Gallon.

Sof. No, that was fomewhat too fcience: it was not a whole gallon; tain, reasonably speaking, one large But gallons and thimble-fulls are fo fpeaking, I might eafily mistake them.

large, in con but it may con thimble-full. like, that, in

Phad. Is it come to this? Out, traitor!

Sof. I had been a traitor, indeed, to have betray'd thee to the fwallowing of a gallon; but a thim⚫ble-full of cordial-water is easily fipt off: and then, this fame goblet is fo very light too, that it will be no burden to carry it about with thee in thy pocket. Phad. O apoftate to thy love! O perjur'd villain! [Enter Bromia.] What are you here, Bromia! I was telling him his own: I was giving him a rattle for his treacheries to you, his love: you fee I can be a friend, upon occafion.

Brom. Ay chicken, I never doubted of thy kindnefs but for this fugitive-this rebel-this mif

creant

Sof. A kind welcome to an abfent lover, as I have been.

Brom,

Brom. Ay, and a kind greeting you gave me, at your return; when you us'd me fo barbaroufly this morning.

Sof. Ay, the t'other Sofia has been with her too; and has us'd her barbarouíly: barbarously, that is to fay uncivilly; and uncivilly, I am afraid that means too civilly. [Afide. Phad. You had beft deny you were here this morning! And by the fame token

Sof. Nay, no more tokens, for Heav'n's fake, dear Phædra. Now muft I again ponder with myfelf a little, whether it be better for me to have been here, or not to have been here this morning. [Afide. Enter a Servant.

Serv. Phædra, my lord's without; and will not enter till he has firft fpoken with you. [Exit Servant. Phad. [To him in private.] O, that I cou'd ftay, to help to worry thee for this abufe; but the beft on't is, I leave thee in good hands-Farewel thimbleTo him, Bromia. [Exit Phædra.

Brom. No, to be fure you did not beat me, and put me into a fwoon, and deprive me of the natural ufe of my tongue, for a long half hour: you did not beat me down with your little wand: but I shall teach you to use your rod another time--I shall

Sof. Put her into a fwoon with my little wand, and fo forth that's more than ever I could do. These are terrible circumftances, that fome Sofia or other has been here. [Afide.] Well, but Bromia-if I did beat thee down with my little wand, I warrant, I was monstrous kind to thee afterwards.'

Brom. Yes, monftrous kind indeed! You never faid a truer word; for when I came to kiss you, you pull'd away your mouth, and turn'd your cheek to

me.

do

Sof. Good.

Brom. How, good! Here's fine impudence: what, you infult upon me too?.

Sof. No, I do not infult upon you-but for a certain reafon, that I beft know, I am glad that matter ended fo fairly and peaceably betwixt us.

Brom.

Brom. Yes, 'twas very fair and peaceably; to ftrike a woman down, and beat her most outrageously. Sof. Is it poffible that I drubb'd thee?

Brom. I find your drift- You wou'd fain be provoking me to a new trial now: but i'faith, you shall bring me to no more handy-blows-I fhall make bold to trust to my tongue hereafter. You never durft have offer'd to hold up a finger against me, till you went a trooping.

Sof. Then I am conqueror; and I laud my own courage. This renown I have atchiev'd by foldiership and ftratagem. Know your duty, fpoufe, henceforward, to your fupreme commander. [Strutting.

Enter Jupiter and Phædra.

Phed. Indeed I wonder'd at your quick return. Jup. Ev'n fo, Almighty Love wou'd have it, Phædra;

And the ftern Goddess of sweet-bitter cares, 'Who bows our necks beneath her brazen yoke,' I wou'd have mann'd my heart, and held it out: But, when I thought of what I had poffeft; Thofe joys, that never end but to begin, My duty foon was overborne: I fcorn'd The bufy malice of cenforious tongues, And, carelefs to conceal my ftolen journey, Determin'd one day more to spend in Thebes. Phad. And yet a fecond time you left Alcmena, With looks unkind, that threaten'd longer abfence. 'Twas but ev'n now

Jup. Wou'd it had never been !

I die to make my peace.

Phad. 'Tis difficult.

Jup. But nothing is impoffible to love:

To love like mine: for I have prov'd its force.

If I fubmit, there's hope.

Phed. It is poffible I may folicit for you.

Jup. But wilt thou promise me to do thy best? Phed. Nay, I promise nothing-unless you begin

To promise first.

Jup. I wo'not be ungrateful.

[Curt'fying.

Jup.

Ph.d. Well, I'll try to bring her to you.

Jup. That's all I ask:

And I will fo reward thee, gentle Phædra

Phed. What with the sweet sound of gentle Phædra, and my kind advocate.

Jup. No, there's a found will please thee better.

[Throwing her a purje. Phad. Ay, there's fomething of melody in this

found.

I could dance all day to the mufic of chink, chink. [Exit Phæd.

Jup. Go, Sofia,

To Polidas, to Tranio, and to Gripus,
Companions of our war: invite 'em all

To join their pray'rs to smooth Alcmena's brow;
And, with a folemn feast, to crown the day.

Sof. [Taking Jupiter about the knees.] Let me embrace you, fir.-[Jupiter pushes him away.] Nay, you muft give me leave to exprefs my gratitude. I have not eaten, to fay eating, nor drunk, to fay drinking, never fince our villainous encamping fo near the

enemy.

Jup. You, Bromia, fee that all things be prepar'd With that magnificence, as if Jupiter Were guest or master here.

Sof. Or, rather, as much as if twenty Jupiters were to be guefts, or mafters here.

Brom. That you may eat for to-day and to-morrow. Sof. Or, rather again, for to-day, and yesterday; and as many months backward, as I am indebted to my own ftomach.

Jup. Away, both of you.

[Exeunt Sofia and Bromia feverally. Now I have pack'd him hence, thou other Sofia, (Who, tho' thou art not prefent, hear'st my voice) Be ready to attend me at my call,

And to fupply his place.

Enter Mercury to Jupiter; Alcmena and Phædra also enter, but Alcmena Jeeing Jupiter, turns back, and retires frowning.

Jup. See, the appears!

O ftay.

[Seeing Alcmena

Mere. She's gone, and feem'd to frown at parting.

Jup. Follow, and thou shalt fee her foon appeas'd;
For I, who made her, know her inward state:
No woman, once well-pleas'd, can throughly hate.
I gave 'em Beauty, to fubdue the Strong;
(A mighty empire, but it lafts not long.)
I gave 'em Pride, to make Mankind their flave ;
But, in exchange, to Men I Flattery gave.
Th' offending Lover, when he loweft lies,
Submits to conquer, and but kneels, to rife.
[Exeunt

ACT IV.

Jupiter following Alcmena; Mercury, and Phædra, Stay, my dear Alcmena, hear me fpeak.

Jupic. No, I wou'd fly thee to the ridge

of earth;

And leap the precipice to 'fcape thy fight.
Jup. For pity-

Alc. Leave me, thou ungrateful man
I hate myself, for having lov'd thee once.

Jup. Hate not the best and fairest of your kind
Nor can you hate your lover, tho' you wou'd.
Your tears, that fall fo gently, are but grief:
There may be anger; but there must be love.
The dove that murmurs at her mate's neglect,
But counterfeits a coynefs to be courted.

Alc. Courtship from thee, and after fuch affronts !
Jup. Is this that everlafting love you vow'd, la

night?

Alc. Think what thou wert, and who cou'd fwear too much?

* Think what thou art, and that abfolves the oath. Jup. Can you forfake me for fo fmall a fault? 'Twas but a jeft, perhaps too far purfu'd; 'Twas but, at moft, a trial of your faith, 'How you could bear unkindness:

"Twas but to get a reconciling kiss,

A wanton ftratagem of love.

Akc. See how he doubles, like a hunted hare!

A jeft, and then a trial, and a bait ;

• Jup.'