Bel. Why, faith, the certainty of a little money would fet him at work the fame way-But I'll have. one trial of skill with them yet. -As I brought her in by one lie, I'll take her out by another-l'll swear fhe's a whore- that I may get an opportunity to make

her one.

Col. Moft religiously refolved, upon my word!

Bel. Between you and me, Colonel, has not your old gentleman, Sir Charles, a liquorish look out for Fide

delia himself?

Col. No, upon my honour. I believe his affiduities there, are more to prevent the defigns of another, than to forward any of his own.

Bel. As who fhould fay, because I have no teeth for a cruft, I'll muzzle the young dog that has. A pox of every thing that's old, but a woman!-for 'tis but varying her vocation a little, and you may make her as ufeful at fifty-five, as fifteen. But what fay you to a little chat with the girls this morning? I believe we shall find them in the next room.

Gol. Not immediately—

White's.

I have an appointment at

Bel. For half an hour, I am your man there too.D'ye return fo foon?

Col. Sooner, if you will.

Bel. With all my heart. Alons!

SCENE, Another Apartment.

Enter Rofetta and Fidelia meeting.

[Exeunt

Ref. O, my dear! I was juft coming to fee if you were dreffed. You look as if you had pleasant dreams last night.

Fid. Whatever my dreams were, they can't difturb the morning's happiness, of meeting my dear Rofetta so gay and charming. But what were your

Rof. My fweet creature!

dreams?

Fid. O, nothing-A confufion of gay castles, built by Hope, and thrown down by Disappointment.

Ref. O barbarous! Well, for my part, I never built a castle in my fleep, that would not laft till doomf day. Give me a dream, and I am mistress of the crea

4

tion.

tion. I can do what I will with every man in it-And power, power, my dear, fleeping or waking, is a charming thing!

Fid. Now, in my opinion, a woman has no bufinefs with power Power admits no equal, and dismisses friendship for flattery. Befides, it keeps the men at a distance, and that is not always what we wish.

Rof. But then, my dear, they'll come when we call them, and do what we bid them, and go when we fend them There's fomething pretty in that, fure And for flattery-take my word for't, 'tis the higheft proof of a man's esteem-'Tis only allowing one what one has not, because the fellow admires what one has And fhe, that can keep that, need not be afraid of believing the has more.

Fid. Ay, if the can keep that. But the danger is, in giving up the fubftance for the shadow. Come, come, my dear, we are weak by nature; and 'tis but knowing that we are so, to be always upon our guard. Fear may make a woman ftrong, but confidence un.. does her.

Rof. Ha ha! How different circumstances direct different opinions! You are in love with a rake of a fellow, who makes you afraid of yourself And I hold in chains a mighty Colonel, who's afraid of me. And fo, my dear, we both go upon right principles. Your weakness keeps you upon your guard, and my power leaves me without danger.

Fid. And yet you must forgive me, if I tell you, that you love this Colonel.

Rof. Who told you fo, my dear creature?

Fid. I know it by the pains you take to vex him. Be fides, I have feen you look as if you did,

Rof. Look, child! Why don't I look like other people?

Fid. Ay, like other people in love. Oh, my dear, I have feen juft fuch looks in the glafs, when my heart has beat at my very lips.

Rof. Thou art the most provoking creature

Fid. You must pardon me, Rofetta—I have a heart but little inclined to gaiety; and am rather wondering, that when happiness is in a woman's power, the should

neglect

neglect it for trifles or how it fhould ever enter her thoughts, that the rigour of a mistress can endear the fubmiffion of a wife.

Rof. As certain, my dear, as the repentance of a finner out-weighs in opinion the life of a faint. But, to come to ferious confeffion, I have, befides a woman's in clination to mifchief, another reafon for keeping off a little I am afraid of being thought mercenary.

Fid. Hey day!-why, are you not his equal every way?

Rof. That's not it-I have told you, that before his father's return from exile-You know his unhappy attachments to a fuccefslefs party-This Colonel (brought up in our family, and favoured by Sir Roger and my brother) laid violent fiege to me for a whole year. Now, tho' I own I never difliked him, in all that time, either thro' pride, folly, or a little mischief, I never gave him the leaft hint, by which he could guess at my inclinations.

Fid. Right woman, upon my word!

Rof. 'Tis now about three months, fince the king in his goodness recalled Sir Charles; and, by restoring the eftate, made the Colonel heir to a fortune, more than equal to my expectations. And now, to confefs all, the airs that Folly gave me before, Reafon bids me continue

for to furrender my heart at once to this new-made commander, would look as if the poor Colonel had wanted a bribe for the governor. Befides, he has affronted my pride, in daring to imagine I could defcend fo low, as to be fond of that creature, Faddle. A fellow, formed only to make one laugh-a cordial for the fpleen, to be bought by every body; and just as neceffary in a family as a monkey. For which infolence, I muft and will be revenged.

Fid. Well, I confefs, this looks a little like reafon. But are you fure, all this while, the Colonel, in despair, won't raife the fiege, and draw off his forces to another place?

Rof. Phah! I have a better opinion of the men, child. Do but ply them with ill ufage, and they are the gentleft creatures in the world. Like other beasts of prey, you must tame them by hunger-but if once you feed them high, they are apt to run wild, and forget their keepers.

Fid. And are all men fo, Rosetta?

Rof. By the gravity of that question, I'll be whipped now, if you don't expect me to fay fomething civil of my brother---Take care of him, Fidelia, for hunger can't tame him, nor fulness make him wilder.'- -To leave you to his guardianship, was ferting the fox to keep the chicken.

Fid. Wild as he is, my heart can never beat to another And then I have obligations, that would amaze you. Rofet. Obligations !--Let me die, if I would not mar ry my Colonel's papa, and put it out of his power to oblige, or difoblige me.

Fid. Still you banter me with Sir Charles-Upon my life, he has no more defigns upon me than you have-I know no reason for his friendship, but his general humanity, or perhaps the particularity of my circumstances.

Rofit. Why, as you fay, youth and beauty are particular circumstances to move humanity-Ha, ha, ha!-Oh, my dear, time's a great tell-tale, and will difcover allWhat a fweet mamma fhall I have, when I marry the Colonel!

Enter Young Belmont, and the Colonel.

Bel. When you marry the Colonel, fifter !-A match, a match, child!-Here he is, juft in the nick; and, faith, as men go, very excellent ftuff for a husband.

Col. Those were lucky words, Madam.

Rofet. Perhaps not fo lucky, if you knew all, Sir.Now, or never, for a little lying, Fidelia, if you love me. [Apart to Fid.

Fid. I'll warrant you, my dear-You must know, Sir, [To Bel.] that your fifter has taken it into her head, that the Colonel's father is my lover.

Rofet. What is the going to fay now?

[Afide. Fid. And as fhe looks upon herfelf to be as good as married to the Colonel.

Rofet. Who I!—] !—

Fid. She has been fettling fome family affairs with her new mamma here: and upon my word, fhe's a sweet contriver.

Rof. And

Fidelia ?

you think I won't be even with you for this,

Bel. Sifter!

Col.

Col. And was it fo, Madam ?-And may I hope? Ref. Was it fo, Madam ?-And may I hope? [Mocking him.] No, Sir, it was not fo, and you may not hope. -Do you call this wit, Fidelia ?

Fid. My dear creature, you must allow me to laugh a little-Ha, ha, ha!

Ref. 'Tis mighty well, Madam---Oh, for a little devil at my elbow now, to help out invention.

[Afide.

your

Bel. Ha, ha, ha !---Won't it come, fifter? Rof. As foon as your manners, brother. You and grave friend there, have been genteelly employed indeed, in listening at the door of a lady's chamber: and then, because you heard nothing for your purpose, to turn my own words to a meaning, I should hate myself for dreaming of.

Bel. Why, indeed, child, we might have perplexed you a little, if Fidelia had not fo artfully brought you off. Rof. Greatly obliged to her, really.

[Walking in diforder. Col. I never knew till now, Rofetta, that I could find a pleasure in your uneafinefs.

Rof. And you think, Sir, that I fhall easily forgive this infolence? But you may be mistaken, Sir.

Bel. Poor thing, how it pants! Come, it fhall have a hufband! We must about it immediately, Colonel, for fhe's all over in a flame.

Rof. You grow impertinent, brother. Is there no relief?..

[Afide

Bel. Shall I lift up the fash for a little air, child?

Enter Servant.

Rof. So, John!---Have you delivered the card, I gave

you?

Serv. Yes, Madam; and Mr. Faddle defires his compliments to your Ladyfhip, and Madam Fidelia.

Rof. Mr. Faddle, John!Where did you fee him? Serv. He met me in the street, Madam, and made me ftep into a coffee-house with him, 'till he wrote this, Madam. [Delivers a letter, and Exit. Rof. Oh, the kind creature !---Here's a letter from Mr. Faddle, Fidelia !---Fortune, I thank thee for this little refpite. [Afide, and reading the letter. Col. Does the fuffer the fool to write to her too?