to free me by the hands of virtue. Here, on my knees, I humbly beg my fair preferver's pardon; my thanks are needlefs, for myself I owe. And now for ever do protest me yours.

Old Mir. Tall, all, di, dall. [Sings.] Kifs me, daughter -No, you fhall kifs me first, [To Lamorce.] for you're the caufe on't. Well, Bifarre, what fay you to the Captain?

Bif. I like the beast well enough, but don't understand his paces fo well as to venture him in a strange road.

Old Mir. But marriage is fo beaten a path that you can't go wrong.

Bif. Ay, 'tis fo beaten that the way is fpoiled.

Dur. There is but one thing should make me thy hufband-I could marry thee to-day for the privilege of beating thee to-morrow.

Old Mir. Come, come, you may agree for all this. Mr. Dugard, are not you pleafed with this?

Dug. So pleafed, that if I thought it might fecure your fon's affection to my fifter, I would double her fortune. Mir. Fortune! has the not given me mine, my life, eftate, my all, and what is more, her virtuous felf?

Virtue, in this fo advantageous life, has her own sparkling charms, more tempting far than glittering gold or glory. Behold the foil [Pointing to Lamorce.] that fets this brightnefs off! [To Oriana.] Here view the pride [To Oriana.] and scandal of the fex. [To Lam.] There [To Lam.] the falfe meteor, whofe deluding light leads. mankind to deftruction. Here [To Oriana.] the bright fhining ftar that guides to a fecurity of happinefs. A garden, and a fingle fhe, [To Oriana.] was our first father's blifs; the tempter, [To Lam.] and to wander, was his curfe.'

What liberty can be fo tempting there,
As a foft, virtuous, am'rous bondage here?

END of the FIFTH ACT.

[To Lam.

[To Ori.

FROM

Written by NATHANIEL ROWE, Efq.

ROM Fletcher's great original, to-day We took the hint of this our modern play: Our author, from his lines, has ftrove to paint A witty, wild, inconftant, free gallant : With a gay foul, with fenfe, and will to rove, With language, and with foftness fram'd to move, With little truth, but with a world of love. Such forms on maids in morning flumbers wait, When fancy firft inftructs their hearts to beat, When firft they wish, and figh for what they know not yet. Frown not, ye fair, to think your lovers may Reach your cold hearts by fome unguarded way; Let Villeroy's misfortune make you wife, There's danger ftill in darkness and furprife; Though from his rampart he defy'd the foe, Prince Eugene found an aqueduct below. With caly freedom, and a gay address, A preffing lover feldom wants fuccefs: Whilft the respectful, like the Greek, fits down, And waftes a ten years fiege before one town. For her own fake, let no forfaken maid, Our wanderer, for want of love, upbraid; Since 'tis a fecret, none fhould c'er confefs, That they have loft the happy pow'r to please. If you fufpect the rogue inclin'd to break, Break firft, and fwear you've turn'd him off a week; As princes, when they refty ftatesmen doubt, Before they can furrender, turn them out. Whate'er you think, grave ufes may be made, And much even for inconftancy be faid Let the good man for marriage-rites defign'd, With ftudious care, and diligence of mind, Turn over every page of womankind; Mark every fenfe, and how the readings vary, And, when be knows the worst on't,—let him marry.

}

N

ODLI

N

the Character of LORD FROTH.

(laugh, I always laugh alone.

THE

DOUBLE DEALER.

A COMEDY,

As written by CONGREVE.

DISTINGUISHING ALSO THE

VARIATIONS OF THE THEATRE,

AS PERFORMED AT THE

Theatre Ropal in Dury Lane.

Regulated from the Prompt-Book.

By PERMISSION of the MANAGERS.

By Mr. HOPKINS, Prompter.

IB

LONDON:

Printed for JoHN BELL, near Exeter Exchange, in the Strand.

MDCCLXXVII.