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letter that he wrote. That your defign was, by vilifying Fidelia, to get her difmiffed, and the difmiffion to prepare her ruin in private lodgings. Was this your open behaviour, Sir?

Bel. Go on with your upbraidings, Sir. Speak to me as you will, and think of me as you will. I have deferved fhame, and am taught patience.

Sir Cha. Was this well done? Did her innocence, and her undiffembled love deferve this treatment?

Bel. Proceed, Sir.

Sir Cha. No, Sir, I have done. If you have fense of your past conduct, you want not humanity to heal the wounds it has given. Something must be done, and speedily.

Bel. What reparation can I make her ?

Sir Cha. Dry up her tears, by an immediate acknowledgment of her wrongs.

Bel. I would do more.

Sir Cha. Bid her farewel, then, and confent to her removal.

Bel. I cannot, Sir.

Sir Cha. Her peace demands it: but we'll talk of that hereafter. If you have honour, go and do her juftice, and undeceive your abused fifter. Who waits there?Indeed, you have been to blame, Mr. Belmont.

Enter Servant.

Show me to the bearer of this letter.

[Exit with the Servant. -But 'tis the trick

Bel. Why, what a thing am I!of Vice to pay her votaries with fhame; and I am rewarded amply. To be a fool's fool too! to link myself in villainy with a wretch below the notice of a man! and to be outwitted by him!-So, fo! I may have abused Sir Charles too- -Let me think a little-I'll to Fidelia inftantly, and tell her what a rogue I have been. But will that be reparation ?-I know but of one way; and there my pride ftops me -And then I lofe her-Worfe and worfe! I'll think no more on't; but away to her chamber, and bid her think for me.

END of the FOURTH ACT.

[Exit.

E 2

ACT

A CT V.

SCENE continues.

Enter Sir Roger and Servant. Sir Roger with a letter in

V

his hand.

SIR ROGER.

ERY fine doings, indeed! But I'll teach the dog to play his tricks upon his father. A man had better let a lion loofe in his family, than a town-rake.

is Sir Charles, I fay?

Serv. This moment come in, Sir.

Where

Sir Ro. And why did not you fay fo, blockhead? Tell him I must speak with him this moment.

Serv. The fervant says, he waits for an answer to that -letter, Sir.

Sir Ro. Do as I bid you, rafcal, and let him wait. Fly, I fay. [Exit Servant. The riotous young dog! to bring his harlots home with him! But I'll out with the baggage.

Enter Sir Charles.

Oh, Sir Charles, 'tis every word as we faid this morning! The boy has ftolen her, and I am to be ruined by a law fuit.

Sir Cha. A law-fuit! With whom, Sir?
Sir Ro. Read, read, read!

[Gives the letter. Sir Cha. [Reads.] "I am guardian to that Fidelia, whom your fon has stolen from me, and you unjustly detain. If you deny her to me, the law fhall right me. I wait your answer by the bearer, to affert my claim, in the perfon of George Villiard.”

Why, then my doubts are at an end. But I muft conceal my tranfports, and wear a face of coolnefs, while my heart overflows with paffion. [Afide.

Sir Ro. What, not a word, Sir Charles ?-There's a piece of work for you!-And fo I am to be ruined.

Sir Cha. Do you know this Villiard, Sir Roger? Sir Ro. Whether I do or not, Sir, the flut fhall go to him this moment.

Sir Cha. Hold a little. This gentleman must be heard, Sir, and, if his claim be good, the lady restored.

Sir Ro. Why, e'en let her go as it is, Sir Charles.

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Str Cha. That would be too hafty. Go in with me, Sir, and we'll confider how to write to him.

Sir Ro. Well, well, well-I wish she was gone,

SCENE, another apartment.

Enter Young Belmont and Fidelia.

tho'.

[Exeunt.

Bel. Afk me not why I did it, but forgive me. Fid. No, Sir, 'tis impoffible. I have a mind, Mr. Belmont, above the wretchedness of my fortunes; and, helpless as I am, I can feel in this breast a sense of inju ries, and fpirit to resent them.

Bel. Nay, but hear me, Fidelia.

Fid. Was it not enough to defert me in my diftreffes, to deny me the poor request I made you, but muft you own yourself the contriver of that letter? Tis infupportable! If I confented to affume a rank that belonged not to me, my heart went not with the deceit. You would have it fo, and I complied. 'Twas fhame enough," that I had deceived your fifter; it needed not, that I fhould bring a prostitute to her friendship. This was too much, too much, Mr. Belmont,

Bel. Yet hear me, I say.

Fid. And then, to leave me to the malice of that wretch; to have my fuppofed infamy the tavern jeft of his licentious companions!I never flattered myself, Mr. Belmont, with your love; but knew not, till now, that I have been the object of your hatred.

Bel. My hatred !--But I have deserved your hardest thoughts of me. And yet, believe me, Fidelia, when I ufed you worst, I loved you moft.

Fid. Call it by another name; for love delights in acts of kindness. Were yours fuch, Sir?-And yet, must I forget all-for I owe you more than injuries can cancel, or gratitude repay.

Bel. Generous creature! This is to be amiable indeed! But muft we part, Fidelia?

Fid. I have refolved it, Sir, and you must yield to it. Bel. Never, my fweet obftinate.

Fid. That I have loved you, 'tis my pride to acknowledge; but that must be forgot. And the hard task remains, to drive the paffion from my breast, while I cherish

E 3

the

memory of your humane offices. This day, then, fhall be the laft of our meeting. Painful tho' it may be, yet your own, mine, and the family's peace requires it. Heaven, in my diftreffes, has not left me destitute of a friend; or if it had, I can find one in my innocence, to make even poverty fupportable.

Bel. You have touch'd me, Fidelia; and my heart yields to your virtues. Here, then, let my follies have an end; and thus let me receive you as the everlasting partner of my heart and fortune. [Offers to embrace ber.

Fid. No, Sir. The conduct that has hitherto secured my own honour, fhall protect yours. I have been the innocent disturber of your family; but never will consent to load it with difgrace.

Bel. Nor can it be difgraced. I mean to honour it, Fidelia. You must comply.

Fid. And repay generofity with ruin! No, Mr. Belmont; I can forego happiness, but never can consent to make another miferable.

Bel. When I repent, Fidelia !-But fee where my fifter comes, to be an advocate for my wishes.

Enter Rofetta.

Ref. Oh, Sir, you are found! You have done nobly, indeed! But your thefts are difcovered, Sir. This lady's guardian has a word or two for you.

Bel. Her guardian !-Upon my life, Fidelia, Villiard! He comes as I could with him.

Rof. Say fo when you have answered him, brother. Am I to lofe you at laft then, Fidelia? And yet my hopes flatter me, that this too, as well as the letter, is a deceit. May I think fo, Fidelia ?

Fid. As truly as of your own goodness, Rofetta. Your brother will tell you all. Oh, he has made me miserable by his generofity!

Bel. This pretended guardian, fifter, is a villain, and Fidelia the moft abufed of women. Bounteous he has been indeed; but to his vices, not his virtues, fhe stands indebted for the best of educations. The story will amaze you. At twelve years old

Rof. He's here, brother, and with him my papa, Sir Charles, and the Colonel. Now, Fidelia.

Enter Sir Roger, Sir Charles, the Colonel, and Villiard. Sir Cha. If that be the lady, Mr. Villiard, and your

I

claim

claim as you pretend, Sir Roger has told you, she shall be restored, Sir.

Sir Ro. Yes, Sir, and your claim as you pretend.

Vil. 'Tis well, Madam, I have found you. [Going to Fidelia] This, gentlemen, is the lady; and this the robber who stole her from me: [Pointing to Belmont.] By violence, and at midnight he stole her.

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Bel. Stole her, Sir!

Vil. By violence, and at midnight, I fay.

Bel. You fhall be heard, Sir.

Vil. Ay, Sir, and fatisfied. I ftand here, gentlemen, to demand my ward.

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Sir Cha. Give us proofs, Sir, and you shall have justice. Vil. Demand them there, Sir. [Pointing to Bel. and Fid.] I have told you, I am robbed: if you deny me juftice, the law fhall force it.

Sir Cha. A little patience, Sir. [To Villiard.] Do you know this gentleman, Fidelia ?

Fid. Too well, Sir.

Sir Cha. By what means, Sir, did you become her guardian?

Vil. By the will of her who bore her, Sir.

Sir Cha. How will you reply to this, Fidelia ?
Fid. With truth and honesty, Sir.

Bel. Let him proceed, Madam,

[To Vil.

Vil. Ay, Sir, to your part of the story; tho' both are practifed in a damn'd falfhood to confront me.

Bel. Falfhood!-But I am cool, Sir.

Proceed.

Vil. My doors were broke open at midnight by this gentleman, [Pointing to Bel.] myfelf wounded, and Fidelia ravished from me. He ran off with her in his arms. Nor, till this morning, in a coach which brought her hither, have my eyes ever beheld her.

Sir Ro. A very fine bufinefs, truly, young man!
[To Belmont.
Fid. He has abufed you, Sir. Mr. Belmont is noble-
Bel. No matter, Fidelia. Well, Sir, you have been

robbed, you say?

Vil. And will have justice, Sir.

Bel. Take it from this hand then.

[To Villiard.

[Drawing.

Sir Cha. Hold, Sir. This is adding infult to injuries.

Fidelia must be restored, Sir.

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