Fid. What is it you told, Sir?

Fad. What I fhan't tell here, Madam. Her angry Ladyship muft excufe me, faith.

Rof. 'Tis very well, Sir!

Fid. Indeed, Rofetta, he knows nothing.

Fad. Nothing in the world, Madam, as I hope to be faved. Mine is all hear-fay. And, curfe upon them! the whole town may be in a lie, for any thing I know. So they faid of Lady Bridget, that he went off with her footman; but 'twas all flander, for 'twas a horse grenadier, that he bought a commiffion for last week.

Ref. What has Lady Bridget, or the town, to do with Fidelia, Sir?

Fad. So I faid, Madam-the very words. Says I, a woman of the town? Does a flip or two with particu lars make a lady a woman of the town? Or if it did, fays I, many a one has taken up, and lived honestly afterwards. A woman of the town indeed!

Fid. Hold your licentious tongue, Sir! Upon my life, Rofetta, 'tis all malice. 'Tis his own contrivance. I dare him to produce another villain, that's bafe enough to fay this of me.

Fad. Right, Madam! Stick to that, and 'egad, I'll be of your fide. [Aloud in her ear. Fid. Infolence! [Strikes him.] Oh, I am huit beyond all bearing!

Ref. And I, loft in perplexity. If thou art linked with any wretch bafe enough to contrive this paper, or art thyfelf the contriver, may poverty and a bad heart, be thy companions: but if thou art privy to any thing, that concerns the honour of this family, give it breath, and I'll infure thee both protection and reward.

Fid. I dare him to discovery.

Fad. Ladies, I have had the honour of a blow conferred on me by one of you, and am favoured with the offer of protection and reward from the other; now to convince both, that, in fpite of indignities, or obligations, I can keep a fecret, if ever I open my lips upon this matter, may plague, famine, and the horned devil confume and feize me. And fo, ladies, I take my leave. [Exit finging.

Rof. What can this fellow mean, Fidelia? Has he not abused you?

Fid. Is it a doubt then?

fpeak!

Would I had leave to

Rof. And why not, Fidelia? Promifes unjustly extorted, have no right to obfervance. You have deceived me, by your own acknowledgment, aid methinks, at fuch a time, matters of punctilio fhould give place to rea fon and neceffity.

Fid. I dare not, Rofetta. 'Twould be a crime to your brother, and I owe him more than all the world.

Rof. And what are thofe obligations, Fidelia ? Fid. Not for me to mention. Indeed, I dare not, Ros fetta.

Rof. 'Tis well, Madam! And when you are inclined to admit me to your confidence, I fhall perhaps know better how to conduct myfelf. (Going

Enter Young Belmont, meeting her.

Oh, are you comẹ, brother! Your friend's fifter, your ward there, has wanted you, Sir.

Bel. What is it, Fidelia ?

Fid. I have no breath to fpeak it. Your fifter, Sir, can better inform you.

Ref. Read that, Sir.

[Gives him the letter, which he reads to himself. Fid Now, Rofetta, all fhall be fet right. Your brother will do me justice, and account for his own conduct.

Rof. I expect fo, Fidelia,

Bel. Impertinent [Gives back the letter.] I met Faddle as I cante in, and I fuppofe in pure love of mifchief, he has made my believing fifter here, a convert to the villainy of that letter. But I'll make the rafcal unfay every thing he has faid, or his bones fhall ake for't.

[Going. Fid. Stay, Sir, I entreat you. That I am a counterfeit, in part, I have already confeffed.

Bel. You have done wrong then.

Fid. But am I a creature of the town, Sir? Your fifter must learn that from you. You have been once my Tell her, I am poor and miferaThat I have only confented to

deliverer be so now.

le, but not dishonest.

deceive her, not defired it. Tell her, I deserve her pity, not her anger. 'Tis my only request. Can you deny it me?

Bel. You have said too much, Fidelia. And for your own fake, I fhall forbear to mention what I know of your ftory. How far your own honour is bound, you are the best judge. But a breach of the most folemn promises, let me tell you, Madam, will be a wretched vindication of the innocence you contend for.

Fid. And is this all, Sir?

Bel. For my own part, I must have better authority than Faddle, or a nameless writer, to believe any thing to your dishonour. And for you, fifter, I must not have this lady ill-treated. While I am fatisfied of her innocence, your fufpicions are impertinent. Nor will I confent to her removal, Madam, mark that, whatever you, in your great wisdom, may have privately determined. [Exit.

Rof. You are a villain, brother, Fid. Now I have loft you, Rofetta! Rof. When you incline to be a friend to yourself, Fidelia, you may find one in me. But while explanations are avoided, I must be allowed to act from my own opinion, and agreeable to the character I am to fupport.

[Exit.

Fid. Then I am wretched! But that's no novelty. I have wandered from my cradle, the very child of mif, fortune. To retire and weep, must now be my only in dulgence.

Enter Belmont.

[Exit.

Bel. Why, what a rogue am I ! Here have I thrown a whole family, and that my own too, into perplexities, that innocence can't oppofe, nor cunning guard against. And all for what? Why, a woman- -Take away that excufe, and the devil himself would be a faint to me; for all the rest is finning without temptation. In my commerce with the world, I am guarded against the mercenary vices. I think, I have honour above lying, courage above cruelty, pride above meanness, and honefty above deceit; and yet, throw but coy beauty in my way, and all the vices, by turns, take poffeffion of

me.

me. Fortune, Fortune, give me fuccefs this onceand I'll build churches!

Enter Faddle.

Fad. What, Charles-Is the coaft clear, and the finishing stroke given to my embaffy, hah?

Bel. Thou hast been a most excellent rascal, and faith, matters feem to be in a promifing condition. For I have flung that in Rofetta's way, which if the keeps her womanhood, will do the bufinefs.

Fad. Pr'ythee, what's that, Charles?

Bel. Why, I have bid her not to think of parting with Fidelia.

Fad. Nay, then, tip fhe goes headlong out at window. But haft thou no bowels, Charles for, methinks, I begin to feel fome twitches of compunction

about me.

Bel. I understand you, Sir; but I have no more purfes.

Fad. Why, look you, Charles, we muft find a way to Jull this confcience of mine-here will be the devil to do elfe. That's a very pretty ring, Charles.

Bel. Is it fo, Sir? Hark you, Mr. Dog, if you demur one moment to fetching and carrying in this bufinefs, as I bid you, you shall find my hand a little heavy upon you.

Fad. Pugh, pox, Charles! can't a body fpeak? People may be in good-humour, when they want people to do things for people, methinks.

Bel. Troop this moment, with your rafcally confcience to the King's Arms, and wait there till I come,

Sir

Fad. Why fo I will, Charles-A pox of the fwaggering fon of a-Not fo big neither, if one had but a little courage. [Afide and going. Bel. Hark you, Faddle-Now I think on't, there is a way yet for thee to make another purfe out of this bufinefs.

Fad. Why, one would not be a rogue for nothing, methinks.

Bel. I faw Sir Charles going into Fidelia's chamberthou mayeft steal upon them unobferved-they'll have their plots too, I suppose.

D 2

Fad.

Fad. And where am I to come and tell thee, hah?
Bel. At the King's Arms, boy,

Fad. But you'll remember the purfe, Charles.

Bel. Softly, rafcal! [Exit Fad.] Why there it is again now! I am a fellow of principle! and to I will be, fome time or other. But these appetites are the devil, and at prefent I am under their direction. [Exit.

SCENE, Another Apartment.

Sir Charles and Fidelia difcovered fitting.

Sir Cha. He durft not fay, directly, you were that creature the letter called you!

Fid Not in terms, Sir; but his concealments ftruck deeper than the fharpeft accufations.

Sir Cha. And could Mr. Belmont be filent to all this ?

Fid. He faid he had his reafons, Sir, and it was my part to fubmit. I had no heart to disoblige him.

Sir Cha. You are too nice, Madam. Rofettä loves you, and should be trusted.

Fid. Alas, Sir! if it concerned me only, I fhould have no concealment.

Sir Cha. It concerns you moft, Madam. I must deal plainly with you. You have deceived your friend; and, tho' I believe it not, a feverer reproach refts upon you. And fhall an idle promife, an extorted one too, and that from a man who folicits your undoing, forbid your vindication? You must think better of it.

Fid. 'Tis not an extorted promife, Sir, that feals my lips but I love him and tho' he purfues me to my ruin, I will obey him in this, whatever happens. He may defert me, but never fhall have reason to upbraid

me.

Sir Cha. 'Tis your own caufe, Madam, and you must act in it as you think proper. Yet ftill, if I might advife

Fid. Leave it to time, Sir Charles. And if you believe me innocent, your friendly thoughts of me, and my own confcience, fhall keep me chearful.

Enter Faddle, liftening.

Fad. O, pox, is it fo! Now for a fecret worth twenty pieces!