Lady Bet. Oh! perfectly in that, I own no mortal ever can come up to him. Lady Easy. But now, my dear! now comes the main point-jealousy! Are you sure you have never been touched with it? Tell me that, with a safe conscience, and then I pronounce you clear. Lady Bet. Nay, then, I defy him; for, positively, I was never jealous in my life. Lady Easy. How, madam! you have never been stirred enough, to think a woman strangely forward for being a little familiar in talk with him? Or, are you sure his gallantry to another never gave you the least disorder? Were you never, upon no accident, in an apprehension of losing him? Lady Bet. Ha! Why, madam-Bless me! wh-wh-why sure you don't call this jealousy, my dear? Lady Easy. Nay, nay, that is not the business -Have you ever felt any thing of this nature, madam? Lady Bet. Lord! don't be so hasty, my dear-any thing of this nature-O Lud! I swear I don't like it: dear creature, bring me off here; for I am half frighted out of my wits! Lady Easy. Nay, if you can rally upon it, your wound is not over deep, I'm afraid. Lady Bet. Well, that's comfortably said, how ever. Lady Easy. But come to the point-How far have you been jealous? Lady Bet. Why, O, bless me! He gave the music one night to my lady Languish here upon the terrace: and (though she and I were very great friends) I remember I could not speak to her in a week for't-Oh! Lady Easy. Nay, now, you may laugh if you can: for, take my word, the marks are upon you But come, what else? Lady Bet. O, nothing else, upon my word, my dear! Lady Easy. At your service, my dear--But, pray, what have you done with my lord Morelove? Lady Bet. Aye, sir Charles; pray, how does your pupil do? Have you any hopes of him? Is he docible? Sir Cha. Well, madam, to confess your triumph over me, as well as him, I own my hopes of him are lost. I offered what I could to his instruction, but he is incorrigibly yours, and undone--and the news, I presume, does not displease your ladyship. Lady Bet. Fye, fye, sir Charles, you disparage your friend; I am afraid you don't take pains with him. Sir Cha. Ha! I fancy, lady Betty, your goodnature won't let you sleep a nights: don't you love dearly to hurt people? Lady Bet. O! your servant: then, without a jest, the man is so unfortunate in his want of patience, that, let me die, if I don't often pity him. Sir Cha. Ha! Strange goodness-O that I were your lover for a month or two! Lady Bet. What then? Sir Cha. I would make that pretty heart's blood of yours ache in a fortnight. Lady Bet. Huh! I should hate you: your assurance would make your address intolerable. Sir Cha. I believe it would, for I'd never address you at all. Lady Betty. O! you clown you! [Hitting him with her fan. Sir Cha. Why, what to do? to feed a diseased pride, that's eternally breaking out in the affectation of an ill-nature, that—in my conscience I believe is but affectation. Lady Bet. You, or your friend, have no great reason to complain of my fondness, I believe.Ha, ha, ha! Sir Cha. [looking earnestly at her.] Thou insolent creature! How can you make a jest of a Lady Easy. Well, one word more, and then I man, whose whole life's but one continued torgive sentence: suppose you were heartily convin-ment, from your want of common gratitude? ced, that he actually followed another woman? Lady Bet. But, pray, my dear, what occasion is there to suppose any such a thing at all? Lady Easy. Guilty, upon my honour! Lady Bet. Pshaw! I defy him to say, that ever I owned any inclination for him. Lady Easy. No, but you have given him terrible leave to guess it. Lady Bet. If ever you see us meet again, you'll have but little reason to think so, I can assure you. Lady Easy. That I shall see presently; for here comes Sir Charles, and I'm sure my lord cannot be far off. Enter SIR CHARLES. Lady Bet. Torment! for my part I really believe him as easy as you are. Sir Cha. Poor intolerable affectation! You know the contrary; you know him blindly yours; you know your power, and the whole pleasure of your life's the poor and low abuse of it. Lady Bet. Pray, how do I abuse it—if I have any power. Sir Cha. You drive him to extremes that make him mad, then puuish him for acting against his reason: you've almost turned his brain, his common judgment fails him; he is now, at this very moment, driven by his despair upon a project, in hopes to free him from your power, that I am sensible, and so must every one be that has his sense, of course must ruin him with you for ever. Sir Cha. Servant, lady Betty--my dear, I almost blush to think of it; yet your unreasonhow do you do? able disdain has forced him to do it; and should he now suspect I offered but a hint of it to you, and in contempt of his design, I know he'd call my life to answer it: but I have no regard to men in madness; I rather choose, for once, to trust in your good-nature, in hopes the man, whom your unwary beauty had made miserable, your generosity would scorn to make ridiculous. Lady Bet. Sir Charles, you charge me very home; I never had it in my inclination to make any thing ridiculous that did not deserve it.Pray, what is this business you think so extravagant in him? Sir Cha. Something so absurdly rash and bold, you'll hardly forgive even me that tell it you. Lady Bet. O fie! If it be a fault, sir Charles, I shall consider it as his, not yours. Pray, what Sir Cha. Nay, grudge not, since 'tis past, to hear what was (though you contemned it) once his merit: but now, I own, that merit ought to be forgotten. vainly ruffled to a storm, which the least gentle look from you can reconcile at will, and laugh into a calm again. Lady Bet. Indeed, Sir Charles, I shan't give myself that trouble, I believe. Sir Cha. So I told him, madam: are not all your complaints, said I, already owing to her pride? and can you suppose this public defiance of it (which you know you can't make good, too) won't incense her more against you?-That's what I'd have, said he, staring wildly; I care not what becomes of me, so I but live to see her piqued at it. Lady Bet. Upon my word! I fancy my lord will find himself mistaken-I shan't be piqued, I believe-I must first have a value for the thing I lose, before it piques me: piqued! ha, ha, ha! [Disordered. Sir Cha. Madam, you've said the very thing I urged to him. I know her temper so well, said I, that though she doated on you, if you once stood out against her, she'd sooner burst, than shew the least motion of uneasiness. Lady Bet. I can assure you, sir Charles, my lord won't find himself deceived in your opinion -piqued! Sir Cha. She has it. [Aside. Lady Easy. Alas, poor woman! how little do our passions make us! Lady Bet. Not but I would advise him to have a little regard to my reputation in this business; I would have him take heed of pub Lady Bet. Pray, sir, be plain. Sir Cha. This man, I say, whose unhappy pas-licly affronting me. sion has so ill succeeded with you, at last has forfeited all his hopes (into which, pardon me, I confess my friendship had lately flattered him) his hopes of even deserving now your lowest pity or regard. Lady Bet. You amaze me! For I can't suppose his utmost malice dares assault my reputation-and what Sir Cha. No, but he maliciously presumes the world will do it for him; and, indeed, he has taken no unlikely means to make them busy with their tongues; for he is this moment upon the open terrace, in the highest public gallantry with my lady Graveairs. And to convince the world and me, he said, he was not the tame lover we fancied him, he'd venture to give her music to-night: nay, I heard him, before my face, speak to one of the hautboys to engage the rest, and desired they would all take their directions only from my lady Graveairs Lady Bet. My lady Graveairs! truly I think my lord's very much in the right on't-for my part, sir Charles, I don't see any thing in this that's so very ridiculous, nor indeed that ought to make me think either the better or the worse of him for't. Sir Cha. Pshaw! pshaw! madam, you and I know 'tis not in his power to renounce you; this is but the poor disguise of a resenting passion, Sir Cha. Right, madam; that's what I strictly warned him of; for, among friends, whenever the world sees him follow another woman, the malicious tea-tables will be very apt to be free with your ladyship. Lady Bet. I'd have him consider that, methinks. Sir Cha. But, alas! madam, 'tis not in his power to think with reason; his mad resentment has destroyed even his principles of common honesty: he considers nothing but a senseless proud revenge, which, in his fit of lunacy, 'tis impossible that either threats or danger can dissuade him from. Lady Bet. What! does he defy me, threaten me! then he shall see, that I have passions, too, and know, as well as he, to stir my heart against any pride that dares insult me. Does he suppose I fear him? Fear the little malice of a slighted passion, that my own scorn has stung into a despised resentment! Fear him! O! it provokes me to think he dare have such a thought! Lady Easy. Dear creature, don't disorder yourself so. Lady Bet. Let me but live to see him once more within my power, and I'll forgive the rest of fortune. Lady Easy. Well, I am certainly very ill-natu red; for though I see this news has disturbed my friend, I can't help being pleased with my hopes of my lady Graveairs being otherwise disposed of. [Aside.] My dear, I am afraid you have pro voked her a little too far. Sir Cha. Oh! not at all--You shall seeI'll sweeten her, and she'll cool like a dish of tea. Lady Bet. I may see him with his complaining face again commit Sir Cha. I am sorry, madam, you so wrongly judge of what I've told you; I was in hopes to have stirred your pity, not your anger : I little thought your generosity would punish him for faults, which you yourself resolved he should -Yonder he comes, and all the world with him: might I advise you, madam, you should not resent the thing at allI would not so much as stay to see him in his fault; nay, I'd be the last that heard of it: nothing can sting him more, or so justly punish his folly, as your utter neglect of it. Lady Easy. Come, dear creature, be persuaded, and go home with me? Indeed it will shew more indifference to avoid him. Lady Bet. No, madam, I'll oblige his vanity for once, and stay to let him see how strongly he has piqued me. Sir Cha. [Aside.]O not at all to speak of; you had as good part with a little of that pride of yours, or I shall yet make it a very troublesome companion to you. [Goes from them, and whispers LORD MORELOVE. Enter LORD FOPPINGTON; a little after, LORD MORELOVE, and LADY GRAVEAIRS. Lord Fop. Ladies, your servant-O! we have wanted you beyond reparation-such diversion! Lady Bet. Well! my lord! have you seen my lord Morelove? Lord Fop. Seen him! ha, ha, ha!-O! I have such things to tell you, madam- -you'll die Lady Bet. O, pray let's hear them! I was never in a better humour to receive them. Lord Fop. Hark you. [They whisper. Lord Mor. So, she's engaged already. [To SIR CHA. Sir Cha. So much the better; make but a just advantage of my success, and she's undone. Lord Fop. Lady Bet. Ha, ha, ha! Sir Cha. You see already what ridiculous pains she is taking to stir your jealousy, and cover her own. Lady Bet. And so the widow was as full of airs as his lordship? Sir Cha. Only observe that, and it is impossi ble you can fail. [Aside. Lord Mor. Dear Charles, you have convinced me, and I thank you. Lady Grave. My lord Morelove! What, do you leave us? Lord Mor. Ten thousand pardons, madam! I was but just Lady Grave. Nay, nay, no excuses, my lord, so you will but let us have you again. Sir Cha. [Aside to LADY GRAVEAIRS.]-1 see you have good humour, madam, when you like your company. Lady Grave. And you, I see, for all your mighty thirst of dominion, could stoop to be obedient, if one thought it worth one's while to make you so. Sir Cha. Ha! power would make her an admirable tyrant. [Aside. Lady Easy. [Observing SIR CHARLES and LaDY GRAVEAIRS.-So! there's another couple have quarrelled, too, I find-Those airs to my lord Morelove look as if designed to recover sir Charles into jealousy: I'll endeavour to join the company, and, it may be, that will let me into the secret.-[Aside.]-My lord Foppington, I vow this is very uncomplaisant, to engross so agreeable a part of the company to yourself. Sir Cha. Nay, my lord, this is not fair, indeed, to enter into secrets among friends! Ladies, what say you? I think we ought to declare against it. Lady Bet. Well, ladies, I ought only to ask your pardon my lord's excuseable, for I would haul him into a corner. Lord Fop. I swear 'tis very hard; ho! I observe, two people of extreme condition can no sooner grow particular, but the multitude of both sexes are immediately up, and think their properties invaded Lady Bet. Odious multitude !- Lady Grave. Oh, my lord, we women have all reason to be jealous of lady Betty Modish's power. Lord More. [To LADY BETTY.]-As the men, madam, all have of my lord Foppington; besides, favourites of great merit discourage those of an inferior class for their prince's service; he has already lost you one of your retinue, madam. Lady Bet. Not at all, my lord; he has only made room for another: one must sometimes make vacancies, or there could be no prefer ments. Lady Easy. IIa, ha, ha! Ladies' favours, my lord, like places at court, are not always held for life, you know. Lady Bet. No, indeed! if they were, the poor fine women would be always used like their wives, and no more minded than the business of the nation. Lady Easy. Have a care, madam: an undeserving favourite has been the ruin of many a prince's empire. Lord Fop. Ha, ha, ha! Upon my soul, lady Betty, we must grow more discreet; for, positively, if we go on at this rate, we shall have the world throw you under the scandal of constancy; and I shall have all the swords of condition at my throat for a monopolist. Lord More. Oh! there's no great fear of that, my lord; though the men of sense give it over, there will be always some idle fellows vain enough to believe their merit may succeed as well as your lordship's. Lady Bet. Or, if they should not, my lord, cast-lovers, you know, need not fear being long out of employment, while there are so many welldisposed people in the world-There are generally neglected wives, stale maids, or charitable widows, always ready to relieve the necessities of a disappointed passion-And, by the way, hark you, sir Charles Lord More. [Aside.]--So! she's stirred, I see; for all her pains to hide it- -She would hardly have glanced an affront at a woman she was not piqued at. Lady Grave. [Aside.]-That wit was thrown at me, I suppose; but I'll return it. Lady Bet. [Softly to SIR CHARLES.-Pray, how come you all this while to trust your mistress so easily? Sir Cha. One is not so apt, madam, to be alarmed at the liberties of an old acquaintance, as perhaps your ladyship ought to be at the resentment of an hard-used, honourable lover. Lady Bet. Suppose I were alarmed, how does that make you easy ? Sir Cha. Come, come, be wise at last; my trusting them together may easily convince you, that (as I told you before) I know his addresses to her are only outward, and it will be your fault now, if you let him go on till the world thinks him in earnest; and a thousand busy tongues are set upon malicious enquiries into your repu tation. Lady Bet. Why, sir Charles, do you suppose, while he behaves himself as he does, that I won't convince him of my indifference? Sir Cha. But hear me, madam Lady Grave. [Aside.]—The air of that whisper looks as if the lady had a mind to be making her peace again: and, 'tis possible, his worship's being so busy in the matter, too, may proceed as much from his jealousy of my lord with me, as friendship to her; at least I fancy so; therefore, I'm resolved to keep her still piqued, and prevent it, though it be only to gall him- Sir Charles, that is not fair to take a privilege you just now declared against in my lord Foppington. Lord More. Well observed, madam. Lady Grave. Besides, it looks so affected to whisper, when every body guesses the secret. Lord More. Ha, ha, ha! Lady Bet. Oh! madam, your pardon in particular: but it is possible you may be mistaken: the secrets of people, that have any regard to their actions, are not so soon guessed, as theirs that have made a confidant of the whole town. Lord Fop. Ha, ha, ha! Lady Grave. A coquette, in her affected airs of disdain to a revolted lover, I'm afraid, must exceed your ladyship in prudence, not to let the world see, at the same time, she'd give her eyes to make her peace with him: ha, ha, ha! Lord More. Ha ha, ha! Lady Bet. Twould be a mortification, indeed, if it were in the power of a ading widow's charms to prevent it; and the man must be miserably reduced, sure, that could bear to live buried in woollen, or take up with the motherly comforts of a swan-skin petticoat. Ha, ha, ha! Lord Fop. Ha, ha, ha! Lady Grave. Widows, it seems, are not so squeamish to their interest; they know their own minds, and take the man they like, though it happens to be one that a froward, vain girl has disobliged, and is pining to be friends with. Lord More. Nay, though it happens to be one that confesses he once was fond of a piece of folly, and afterwards ashamed on't. Lady Bet. Nay, my lord, there's no standing against two of you. Lord Fop. No, faith, that's odds at tennis, my lord: not but, if your ladyship pleases, I'll endeavour to keep your back-hand a little; though, upon my soul, you may safely set me up at the line: for, knock me down if ever I saw a rest of wit better played, than that last, in my life. What say you, madam? shall we engage? Lady Bet. As you please, my lord. Lord Fop. Ha, ha, ha! Allons! tout de bon jouer, milor. Lord More. Oh, pardon me, sir, I shall never think myself in any thing a match for the lady. Lord Fop. To you, madam. Lady Bet. That's much, my lord, when the world knows you have been so many years teasing me to play the fool with you. Lord Fop. Ah, bien-joué- Ha, ha, ha! Lord More. At that game, I confess, your ladyship has chosen a much properer person to improve your hand with. Lord Fop. To me, madam-My lord, I presume, whoever the lady thinks fit to play the fool with, will at least be able to give as much envy as the wise person that had not wit enough to keep well with her when he was so. Lady Grave. O! my lord! Both parties must needs be greatly happy; for, I dare swear, neither will have any rivals to disturb them, Lord More. Ha, ha, ha! Lady Bet. None that will disturb them, I dare] swear. Lord Fop. Ha, ha, ha! Lord More. Lady Grave.Ha, ha, ha! Sir Cha. I don't know, gentlefolks-but you are all in extreme good-humour, methinks; I hope there's none of it affected. Lady Easy. I should be loth to answer for any but my lord Foppington. Lady Bet. Mine is not, I'll swear. [Aside. Lady Grave. Mine's sincere, depend upon't. Lord Fop. And may the eternal frowns of the whole sex doubly demme, if mine is not. Lady Easy. Well, good people, I am mighty glad to hear it. You have all performed extremely well but, if you please, you shall even give over your wit now, while it is well. Lady Bet. [To herself]-Now, I see his humour, I'll stand it out, if I were sure to die for't. Sir Cha. You should not have proceeded so far with my lord Foppington, after what I had told you. [Aside to LADY Betty, Lady Bet. Pray, sir Charles, give me leave to understand myself a little. Sir Cha. Your pardon, madam. I thought a right understanding would have been for both your interest and reputation. Lady Bet. For his, perhaps. Sir Cha. Nay, then, madam, its time for me to take care of my friend. Lady Bet. I never, in the least, doubted your friendship to him, in any thing that was to shew yourself my enemy. Sir Cha. Since I see, madam, you have so ungrateful a sense of my lord Morelove's merit, and my service, I shall never be ashamed of using my power henceforth to keep him entirely out of your ladyship's. Lady Bet. Was ever any thing so insolent! I could find in my heart to run the hazard of a downright compliance, if it were only to convince him, that my power, perhaps, is not infe[To herself. Lady Easy. My lord Foppington, I think you generally lead the company upon these occasions. Pray, will you think of some prettier sort of diversion for us than parties and whispers ? rior to his. Lord Fop. What say you, ladies? shall we step and see what's done at the basset-table? Lady Bet. With all my heart: lady Easy———— Lady Easy. I think 'tis the best thing we can do, and, because we won't part to-night, you shall all sup where you dined-What say you, my lord? Lord Mor. Your ladyship may be sure of me, madam. Lord Fop. Aye! aye! we'll all come. Lady Easy. Then, pray, let's change parties a little. My lord Foppington, you shall 'squire me. Lord Fop. O you do me honour, madam. Lady Bet. My lord Morelove, pray let me speak with you?" Lord Mor. Me, madam? Lady Bet. If you please, my lord. Lord Mor. Ha! that look shot through me. What can this mean? Aside. Lady Bet. This is no proper place to tell you what it is, but there is one thing I'd fain be truly answered in: I suppose you'll be at my lady Easy's by and by, and if you'll give me leave there Lord Mor. If you please to do me that honour, madam, I shall certainly be there. Lady Bet. That's all, my lord. me. Lord Mor. Is not your ladyship for walking? Lady Bet. If your lordship dares venture with Lord Mor. O! madam! [Taking her hand.] How my heart dances! what heavenly music's in her voice, when softened into kindness. [Aside. Lady Bet. Ha! his hand trembles- -Sir Charles may be mistaken. Lord Fop. My lady Graveairs, you won't let sir Charles leave us? [Exeunt. [Manent SIR CHARLES and LADY GRAVEAIRS. Lady Grave. No, my lord, we'll follow you— stay a little. [To SIR CHARLES. Sir Cha. I thought your ladyship designed to follow them. Lady Grave. Perhaps I'd speak with you. Sir Cha. But, madam, consider; we shall certainly be observed. Lady Grave. Lord, sir, if you think it such a [Exit hastily. favour. Sir Cha. Is she gone? let her go, &c. [Exit singing |