L. P. Oh, I yield myfelf all up to your uncontroulable embraces -Say, thou dear dying man, when, where, and how ?- -Ah, there's Sir Paul.'

This

Care. 'Slife, yonder's Sir Paul, but if he were not come, I am fo tranfported I cannot fpeaknote will inform you.

[Gives her a note. Enter Sir Paul and Cynthia.

Exit.

Sir P. Thou art my tender lambkin, and fhalt do what thou wilt-But endeavour to forget this Mellefont.

Cyn. I would obey you to my power, Sir; but if I have not him, I have fworn never to marry.

Sir P. Never to marry! Heavens forbid! Muft I neither have fons nor grandfons? Must the family of the Plyants be utterly extinct for want of iffue male. Oh, impiety! But did you fwear, did that fweet creature fwear ha? How durft you fwear without my confent, ah? Gads-bud, who am I?

Cyn. Pray don't be angry, Sir; when I fwore I had your confent, and therefore I fwore.

Sir P. Why then the revoking my confent does annul, or make of none effect your oath; fo you may unswear it again The law will allow it.

Cyn. Ay, but my confcience never will.

Sir P. Gads-bud, no matter for that; confcience and law never go together; you must not expect that.

L. P. Ay, but Sir Paul, I conceive if the has fworn, d'ye mark me, if fhe has once fworn, it is most unchriftian, inhuman, and obfcene that the should break it.I'll make up the match again, because Mr. Careless faid it would oblige him. [Afide.

Sir P. Does your Ladyship conceive fo?Why, I was of that opinion once too- Nay, if your Ladyfhip conceives fo, I am of that opinion again; but I can neither find my Lord nor my Lady, to know what they intend.

L. P. I am fatisfied that my cousin Mellefont has been much wronged.

Cyn. [Afide.] I am amazed to find her of our fide, for I am fure the loved him.

L. P. I know my Lady Touchwood has no kindness for him; and befides, I have been informed by Mr. Careless, that Mellefont had never any thing more than

a pro

a profound respect-That he has owned himself to be my admirer, 'tis true, but he was never fo prefumptuous to entertain any dishonourable notions of things; fo that if this be made plain-I don't fee how my daughter can in confcience, or honour, or any thing in the world

Sir P. Indeed if this be made plain, as my Lady your mother fays, child.

L. P. Plain! I was informed of it by Mr. CarelessAnd I affure you Mr. Careless is a perfon-that has a moft extraordinary respect and honour for you, Sir Paul.

Cyn. [Afide.] And for your Ladyship too, I believe, or elfe you had not changed fides fo foon; now I begin

to find it.

Sir P. I am much obliged to Mr. Careless, really, he is a perfon that I have a great value for, not only for that, but because he has a great veneration for your Ladyship.

L.P. O la, no indeed, Sir Paul, it is upon your ac

count.

Sir P. No, I protest and vow I have no title to his efteem, but in having the honour to appertain in fome measure to your Ladyship, that's all.

L. P. O la, now, I fwear and declare, it shan't be fo, you are too modest, Sir Paul.

Sir P. It becomes me, when there is any comparison made between

L. P. O fy, fy, Sir Paul, you'll put me out of coun Your very obedient and affectionate wife, that's all And highly honoured in that title.

tenance

Sir P. Gads-bud I am transported! Give me leave to kifs your Ladyfhip's hand.

Cyn. That my poor father should be so very filly!'

[Afide.

L. P. My lip, indeed, Sir Paul, I fwear you fhall.
[He kiffes ber, and bows very low.

Sir P. I humbly thank your Ladyfhip-I don't know whether I fly on ground, or walk in air- Gads-bud, fhe was never thus before- Well, I must own myself beholden to Mr. Carelefs-As fure as can be this is all his doing-fomething that he has faid; well, 'tis a rare thing to have an ingenious friend. Well, your Lady fhip is of opinion that the match may go forward. E 3 L. P.

L. P. By all means-Mr. Careless has fatisfied me of the matter.

Sir P. Well, why then, lamb, you may keep your oath, but have a care of making rafli vows; come hither to me, and kiss papa.

: L. P. Ifwear and declare, I am in fuch a twitter to read Mr. Careless's letter, that I cannot forbear any longer-But though I may read all letters first by prerogative, yet I'll be fure to be unfufpected this time. Sir Paul.

Sir P. Did your Ladyship call?

L. P. Nay, not to interrupt you, my dear--Only lend me your letter, which you had from your steward to-day: I would look upon the account again; and may be increase the allowance.

Sir P. There it is, Madam. Do you want a pen and ink? [Bows and gives the letter. L. P. No, no, nothing elfe, I thank you, Sir PaulSo now I can read my own letter under the cover of his. [Afide.

Sir P. He and wilt thou bring a grandfon at nine months end---He? A brave chopping boy.-I'll fettle a thousand pounds a year upon the rogue as foon as ever he looks me in the face, I will Gads-bud. I am overjoyed to think I have any of my family that will bring children into the world. For I would fain have fome refemblance of myself in my pofterity, he, Thy! Cannot you contrive that affair, girl? Do; Gads-bud think on thy old father;' heh! Make the young rogue as like as you can.

Cyn. I am glad to fee you fo merry, Sir.

Sir P. Merry Gads-bud I am ferious! I'll give thee gool. for every inch of him that refembles me; ah, this eye, this left eye! A thoufand pounds for this left eye. This has done execution in its time, girl; why, thou haft my leer, huffy, just thy father's leer.-Let it be transmitted to the young rogue by the help of imagination---Why 'tis the mark of our family, Thy; our house is diftinguished by a languifhing eye, as the house of Austria is by a thick lip Ah! when I was of your age, huffy, I would have held fifty to one I could have drawn my own pictureGads-bud, but I could have done

not

not fo much as you neither, but

blush.

-

-nay, don't

Cyn. I don't blush, Sir, for I vow I don't understand." Sir P. Pihaw, pfhaw, you fib, you baggage, you do understand, and you fhall understand: Come, don't be fo nice; Gads-bud don't learn after your mother-in-law, my Lady here-Marry Heaven forbid that you fhould follow her example, that would spoil all indeed. Blefs us, if you should take a vagary, and make a rash refolution on your wedding-night to die a maid, as fhe did, all were ruined, all my hopes loft-My heart would break, and my estate would be left to the wide world, he! I hope you are a better Christian than to think of living a nun, he? Answer me.

Cyn. I am all obedience, Sir, to your commands.

L. P. [Having read the letter.] O dear Mr. Careless, I fwear he writes charmingly, and he looks charmingly, and he has charmed me as much as I have charmed him and fo I'll tell him in the wardrobe when 'tis dark. Crimine! I hope Sir Paul has not feen both letters[Puts the wrong letter haftily up, and gives him her own.] Sir Paul, here's your letter, to-morrow morning I'll fettle accounts to your advantage.

Enter Brifk.

Brisk. Sir Paul, Gad's-bud you are an uncivil perfon, let me tell you, and all that; and I did not think it had been in you.

Sir P. O la, what's the matter now? I hope you are not angry, Mr. Brisk ?

Brisk. Deuce take me, I believe you intend to marry your daughter yourself; you are always brooding over her like an old hen, as if fhe were not well hatched,’egad, he? Sir P. Good ftrange! Mr. Brifk is fuch a merry tious perfon, he, he, he. No, no, I have done with her,

I have done with her now.

face

Brisk. The fiddles have stayed this hour in the hall, and my Lord Froth wants a partner; we can never begin without her.

be

Sir P. Go, go, child, go, get you gone and dance, and merry; I will come and look at you by and by.Where is my fon Mellefont?

L. P.

L. P. I'll fend him to them, I know where he is Brisk. Sir Paul, will you fend Careless into the hall if you meet him.

Sir P. I will, I will, I'll go and look for him on pur.pose. [Ex. all but Brifk. Brisk. So now they are all gone, and I have an opportunity to practife-Ah! my dear Lady Froth! She's a most engaging creature, if he were not fo fond of that damned coxcombly Lord of hers; and yet I am forced to allow him wit too, to keep in with him. -No matter, fhe's a woman of parts, and 'egad parts will carry her. She faid, fhe would follow me into the gallery

-Now

to make my approaches-Hem, hem! Ah, Ma- [Bows] dam!-Pox on't, why fhould I difparage my parts by thinking what to fay; None but dull rogues think: witty men, like rich fellows, are always ready for all expences, while your blockheads, like poor needy fcoundrels, are forced to examine their stock, and forecast the charges of the day. Here the comes; I'll feem not to fee her, and try to win her with a new airy invention of my own,

hem!

Enter Lady Froth.

[Brifk fings, walking about.] I'm fick with love, ha, ha, ha, pr'ythee come cure me.

I'm fick with, &c.

O ye powers! O my Lady Froth, my Lady Froth! My Lady Froth! Heigho! Break heart; Gods I thank you. [Stands mufing with his arms acrofs. L. F. O Heavens, Mr. Brifk! What's the matter? Brisk. My Lady Froth! Your Ladyship's most humble fervant The matter, Madam? Nothing, Madam, nothing at all'egad. I was fallen into the most agreeable amufement in the whole province of contemplation: That is all- (I'll feem to conceal my paffion, and that will look like refpect,)

[Afide. L. F. Blefs me, why did you call out upon me fo loud?

Brisk. O lord, I Madam! I befeech your Ladyfhip

When?

L. F. Juft now as I came in; blefs me, why don't you know it?