ftorm loofe-and you fhall fee me weather it, like the ofier in the fable- -It may bend, but not break me. Rofet. Nay, it fhall come in a breeze per it. Bel. Colonel! I'll whif [Whispers Faddle. Col. Now I could cut my throat, for being vexed at this puppy and yet the devil, jealoufy, will have it fo. [Apart to Belmont. Fad. Oh, what a creature have you named, child!Heh, heh, heh! -May grace renounce me, and darknefs feal my eye-lids, if I would not as foon make love to a millener's doll. Bel. Pr'ythee, what mistress has fhe found out for thee, Faddle ? Fad. By all that's odious, Charles, Mifs Gargle, the 'pothecary's daughter: the toad is fond of me, that's pofitive: but fuch a mefs of water-gruel!-Ugh! To all purposes of joy, fhe's an armful of dry fhavings! And then the's fo jealous of one! Lord, fays fhe, Mr. Faddle, you are eternally at Sir Roger's; one can't fet eyes upon you in a whole day---Heh, heh! And then the tears do fo trickle down thofe white-wafh cheeks of hers, that if he could but warm me to the least fit of the heart-burn, I believe I fhould be tempted to take her, by way of chalk and water.---Heh, heh, heh! Rof. Ifn't he a pleasant creature, Colonel? Col. Certainly, Madam, of infinite wit, with abun. dance of modefty. Fad. Pugh!-Pox of modefty, Colonel! But do you know, you flim toad you, [To Rofet.] what a battle I had last night, in a certain company, about you, and that ugly gipfy there? Fid. Meaning me, Sir? Fad. Pert, and pretty!-You must know, there was Jack Taffety, Billy Cruel, Lord Harry Gymp, and I, at Jack's lodgings, all in tip-top fpirits, over a pint of Burgundy-A pox of all drinking though! I fhall never get it out of my head.-Well, we were toasting a round of beauties, you must know: the girl of your heart, Faddle, fays fays my Lord. Rofetta Belmont, my Lord, fays I-and, faith, down you went, you delicate devil you, in almost half a glafs.Rot your toaft, fays my Lord, I was fond of her laft winter.- She's a wit, fays Jack; and a fcold, by all that's noify, fays Billy.Ifn't the a little freckled, fays my Lord? Damnationly padded, fays Jack; and painted like a Dutch doll, by Jupiter, fays Billy. She's very unfufceptible, fays my Lord. No more warmth than a fnow-ball, fays Jack.-A mere cold-bath to a lover, curfe catch me, fays Billy.---Heh, heh, heh ↳ Says I, that's because you want heart to warm her, my dears to me now, fhe's all over combustibles; I can electrify her by a look: touch but her lip, and fnap she goes off in a flash of fire. Rof. Oh, the wretch! what a picture has he drawn of me! [To Fidelia. · Bel. Ha, ha! But you forget Fidelia, Faddle. Fid. You must be curious, my dear. Fad. Oh! And there's the new face, fays Billy--Fidelia, I think they call her. If he was an appurte nance of mine, fays my Lord, I'd hang her upon a peg in my wardrobe, amongst my caft clothes.-With thofe demure looks of hers, fays Jack, I'd fend her to my aunt in Worcestershire, to fet her face by, when he went to church. Or what think you, fays Billy, of keeping herin a fhow-glafs, by way of---Gentlemen and Ladies, walk in, and fee the curiofity of curiofities the perfect Pamela in high life! Obferve, gentlemen, the blushing of her cheeks, the turning up of her eyes, and her tongue, that fays nothing but fie! fie!-Ha, ha, ha!-Incomparable! faid all three-Pugh, pox, fays I, not fo bad as that neither: the little toad has not feen much of the town indeed: but she'll do in time; and a glass of Preniac may ferve one's turn, you know, when Champaign is not to be had. [Bowing to Rofetta. All. Ha, ha, ha! Bel. Why, thou didst give it them, faith, bully. Fid. I think, Rofetta, we were mighty lucky in an • advocate. Rof. Prodigious! Fad. Poor toads !---Oh!---I had forgot: you left 'the rehearsal of the new opera this morning in the most C 2 un • unlucky time! The very moment you were gone, foufe came into the pit, my friend the alderman and his fat wife, tricked out in fun-fhine: you must know, I drank ⚫ chocolate with them in the morning, and heard all the ceremony of their proceedings---Sir Barnaby, fays my Lady, I fhall wear my pink and filver, and my best jewels; and, d'ye hear? Do you get Betty to tack on your Drefdens, and let Pompey comb out the white tie, ⚫ and bring down the blue coat lined with buff, and the brown filk breeches, and the gold-headed cane: I think as you always wear your coat buttoned, that green waistcoat may do; but 'tis fo befmeared, that I vow it's a filthy fight with your night-gown open: and as you go in the coach with me, you may get your white ftockings aired- -But you are determined never to oblige me with a pair of roll-ups upon thefe occafions, notwithstanding all I have faid. We are to mix with quality this morning, Mr. Faddle, and it may be proper to let them know as how, there are people in the city, who live of the Westminster fide of Wapping. Your Ladyfhip's perfectly in the right, Madam, fays I [Stifling a laugh.] and for fear of a horfe-laugh in her face, flap-dah, I made a leg, and brufhed off like light⚫ning. All. Ha, ha, ha!' Enter Servant, and whispers Rofetta. Rof. Come, gentlemen, dinner waits We fhall have all your companies, I hope. Bel. You know, you dine with me at the King's-Arms, Faddle. [Apart to Faddle. Fad. Do I? I am forry, my dear creature, that a particular appointment robs me of the honour. [To Rofetta. Rof. Pihah! you are always engaged, I think. Come, Fidelia. [Exeunt Rofetta and Fidelia. Col. Why then, thank heaven, there's fome refpite!. [Exit. Bel. Hark you, Faddle; I hope you are not in the least ignorant, that upon particular occafions, you can be a very great rascal? Fad. Who I, Charles?-Pugh!-Pox!-Is this the dinner I am to have? Bel. Courage, boy! And becaufe I think fo well of thee, thee, there: [Gives him a purfe.] 'twill buy thee a new laced coat, and a feather. Fad. Why ay, this is fomething, Charles. But what am I to do, hah? I won't fight, upon my foul, I won't fight. Bel. Thou canst lie a little. Fad. A great deal, Charles, or I have spent my time among women of quality to little purpose. Bel. I'll tell thee then. This fweet girl, this angel, this ftubborn Fidelia, flicks fo at my heart, that I muft either get the better of her, or run mad. Fad. And fo thou wouldst have me aiding and abetting, hah, Charles? Muft not be tucked up for a rape. neither. Bel. Peace, fool! About three months ago, by a very extraordinary adventure, this lady dropped into my arms. It happened that our hearts took fire at first fight -But as the devil would have it, in the hurry of my first thoughts, not knowing where to place her, I was tempted, for fecurity, to bring her to this haunted houfe here, where, between the jealoufy of Sir Charles, the gravity of the Colonel, the curiofity of a fifter, and the awkward care of a father, fhe muft become a vestal, or I-a husband. Fad. And fo, by way of a little fimple fornication, you want to remove her to private lodgings, hah, Charles? Bel. But how, how, how-thou dear rafcal? her guardian, Charles? And fo, you are not Bel. Nor the the woman fhe pretends, boy-I tell thee, fhe was mine by fortune- I tilted for her at midnight-But the devil tempted me, I fay, to bring her hitherThe family was in bed, which gave me time for contrivance- I prevailed upon her to call me guardian-that by pretending authority over her, I might remove her at pleasure- But here too I was deceivedMy fifter's fondnefs for her has rendered every plot of mine to part them impracticable And without thy wicked affistance, we must both die in our virginity. Fad. Hum! That would be a pity, CharlesBut let me fee-Ay-I have it. Within these three hours, we'll contrive to fet the house in such a flame, that the devil himself may take her if he stand at the street-door- -To dinner, to dinner, boy! 'Tis here, here, here, Charles! Bel. If thou dost Fad. And if I don't-why no more purfes, Charles. I tell thee, 'tis here, here, boy! To dinner, to dinner! END of the SECOND ACT. [Exeunt. IS all 'TIS SCENE continues. Enter Rofetta and Fidelia. FIDELIA. your own doing, my dear. You first teize him into madness, and then wonder to hear his chains rattle. Rof. And yet how one of my heavenly fmiles fobered him again! Fid. If I were a man, you should use me so but once, Rofetta. Rof. Pfhah!-If you were a man, you would do, as men do, child--Ha, ha, ha ! -They are creatures of robust constitutions, and will bear a great deal. Befides, for my part, I can't see what a reasonable fellow ought to expect before marriage, but ill usage.. You can't imagine, my dear, how it fweetens kindness afterwards- "Tis bringing a poor ftarved creature to a warm fire, after a whole night's wandering through froft and fnow. Fid. But, to carry on the image, my dear-won't ⚫he be apt to curfe the tongue that mifguided him; and • take up with the first fire he meets with, rather than ⚫ perish in the cold ?- I could fing you a fong, • Rofetta, that one would fwear was made o' purpose ⚫ for you. • Rof. |