Cler. The prettiefst modesty I ever heard of! Well, but how did they discover you at last?

At. Why, faith, the matter's yet in fuspense; and I find, by both their letters, that they don't yet well know what to think: (but, to go on with my luck) you must know, they have fince both appointed me, by feveral names, to meet them at one and the fame place, at seven o'clock this evening.

Cler. Ah!

At. And, laftly, to crown my fortune (as if the devil himself moft triumphantly rode a ftraddle upon my ruin) the fatal place of their appointment happens to be the very house of a third lady, with whom I made an acquaintance fince morning, and had just before fent word I would vifit near the fame hour this evening.

Cler. Oh, murder! Poor Atall, thou art really fallen under the last degree of compaffion. .

At. And yet, with a little of thy affiftance, in the middle of their finall-shot, I don't still despair of holding my head above water.

Cler. Death! but you can't meet them both; you must lofe one of them, unless you can split yourself.

At. Pr'ythee, don't fufpect my courage or my modefty'; for I'm refolved to go on, if you will ftand by me.

Cler. Faith, my very curiofity would make me do that.
But what can I do?

At. You must appear for me upon occafion in perfon.
Cler. With all my heart. What else?

At. I fhall want a Queen's meffenger in my interest, or rather one that can perfonate one.

Cler. That's eafily found-But what to do?

At. Come along, and I'll tell you; for first I must anfwer their letters.

Cler. Thou art an original, faith.

SCENE changes to Sir Solomon's.

[Exeunt.

Enter Sir Solomon, leading Lady Sadlife, and Wifhwell,

ber Woman.

Sir Sol. There, Madam, let me have no more of thefe airings-No good, I am fure, can keep a woman five or fix hours abroad in a morning.

Lady Sad. You deny me all the innocent freedoms of life.
Sir Sol. Ha! you have the modish cant of this end of

the

1

the town, I fee; intriguing, gaming, gadding, and partyquarries with a pox to them, are innocent freedoms, forfooth!

Lady Sad. I don't know what you mean; I'm fure I have not one acquaintance in the world that does an ill thing.

Sir Sol. They must be better looked after than your Ladyfhip then; but I'll mend my hands as fast as I can. Do you look to your reputation henceforward, and I'll take care of your person.

Lady Sad. You wrong my virtue with these unjust fufpicions.

Sir Sol. Ay, it's no matter for that; better I wrong it than you. I'll fecure my doors for this day at least. [Ex. Lady Sad. Oh, Wifhwell! what fhall I do?

Wilh. What's the matter, Madam ?

Lady Sad. I expect a letter from a gentleman every minute; and if it fhould fall into Sir Solomon's hands, I'm ruined paft redemption.

Wib. He won't fufpect it, Madam, fure, if they are directed to me, as they ufed to be.

Lady Sad. But his jealoufy's grown fo violent of late, there's no trufting to it now. If he meets it, I fhall be locked up for ever.

Wish. Oh, dear Madam! I vow your Ladyship frights me-Why, he'll kill me for keeping countel.

Lady Sad. Run to the window, quick, and watch the meffenger. [Exit Wish.] Ah, there's my ruin near!-I feel it-[A knocking at the door. What fhall I do? Be very infolent, or very humble, and cry?-I have known fome women, upon thefe occafions, outftrut their husbands jealoufy, and make them afk pardon for finding them out. Oh, lud, here he comes !-I can't do't; my courage fails me I must e'en stick to my hadkerchief, and trust to

nature.

Re-enter Sir Solomon, taking a letter from Finder. Sir Sol. Sir, I fhall make bold to read this letter; and if you have a mind to fave your bones, there's your way out. Fin. Oh, terrible! I shan't have a whole one in my skin, when I come home to my master. [Exit. Lady Sad. [Afide.] I'm loft for ever! Sir Sol.[Reads.] "Pardon, moft divine creature, the impatience of my heart,"Very well! these are her inno

cent

cent freedoms! Ah, cockatrice!" which languishes for an opportunity to convince you of its fincerity;"--Oh, the tender fon of a whore!" which nothing could relieve, but the sweet hope of feeing you this evening.". Poor lady, whofe virtue I have wronged with unjust fufpicions!

Lady Sad. I'm ready to fink with apprehenfion.

Sir Sol.[Reads.]"To-night, at feven, expect your dying Strephon."-Die, and be damn'd; for I'll remove your comforter, by cutting her throat. I could find in my heart to ram his impudent letter into her windpipe·

Ha! what's this!" To Mrs. Wifhwell, my Lady Sadlife's woman.". —Ad, I'm glad of it, with all my heart! What a happy thing it is to have one's jealoufy difappointed!-Now have I been curfing my poor wife for the mistaken wickedness of that trollop. 'Tis well I kept my thoughts to myfelf: for the virtue of a wife, when wrongfully accufed, is moft unmercifully infolent. Come, I'll do a great thing; I'll kifs her, and make her amends What's the matter, my dear? Has any thing frighted you? Lady Sad. Nothing but your hard usage.

Sir Sol. Come, come, dry thy tears; it fhall be fo no more. But, hark ye, I have made a discovery here-Your Wifhwell, I'm afraid, is a flut; she has an intrigue.

Lady Sad. An intrigue! Heavens, in our family!
Sir Sol. Read there-I with the be honest.

Lady Sad. How!-If there be the least ground to think it, Sir Solomon, pofitively fhe flan't stay a minute in the houfe-Impudent creature!-have an affair, with a man ! Sir Sol. But hold, my dear; don't let your virtue cenfure too feverely neither.

Lady Sad. I fhudder at the thoughts of her.

Sir Sol. Patience, I fay-How do we know but his courtship may be honourable?

Lady Sad. That, indeed, requires fome paufe.

Wilh. [Peeping in.] So, all's fafe, I fee-He thinks the letter's to me Oh, good Madam! that letter was to me, the fellow fays. I wonder, Sir, how you could ferve one fo! If my fweetheart should hear you had opened it, I know he would not have me, fo he would not.

Sir Sol. Never fear that; for if he is in love with you, he's too much a fool to value being laughed at.

Lady Sad.

Lady Sad. If it be yours, here, take your stuff; and next time, bid him take better care, than to fend his letters fo publicly.

Wish. Yes, Madam. But, now your Ladyfhip has read it, I'd fain beg the honour of Sir Solomon to answer it for me; for I can't write..

Lady Sad. Not write!

Sir Sol. Nay, he thinks fhe's above that, I fuppofe; for he calls her divine creature-A pretty piece of divinity, truly!-But come, my dear; 'egad, we'll answer it for her. Here's paper-you fhall do it.

Lady Sad. I, Sir Solomon! Lard, I won't write to fellows, not II hope he won't take me at my word. [Afide. Sir Sol. Nay, you fhall do it. Come, 'twill get her a good hufband.

Wish. Ay, pray, good Madam, do.

Sir Sol. Ah, how eager the jade is!

Lady Sad. I can't tell how to write to any body but you, my dear,

Sir Sol. Well, well, I'll dictate then. Come, begin. Lady Sad. Lard, this is the oddest fancy!

[Sits to write. Sir Sol. Come, come-Dear Sir-(for we'll be as loving as he, for his ears.)

Wish. No, pray, Madam, begin, Dear honey, or, My dearest angel.

Lady Sad. Out, you fool! you must not be so fondDear Sir, is very well.

[Writes. Sir Sol. Ay, ay, fo 'tis ; but thefe young fillies are for fetting out at the top of their fpeed. But, pr'ythee, Withwell, what is thy lover; for the ftile of his letter may serve for a countess?

Wish. Sir, he's but a butler at prefent: but he's a good fchollard, as you may fee by his hand-writing; and in time may come to be a steward; and then we shan't be long without a coach, Sir.

Lady Sad. Dear Sir-
Sir Sol. Why

-What must I write next?

[Mufing.

Wish. Hoping you are in good health, as I am at this prefent writing.

Sir Sol. You puppy, he'll laugh at you.

Wifb. I'm fure my mother used to begin all her letters fo.

Sir Sol. And thou art every inch of thee her own daughter, that I'll fay for thee.

Lady Sad. Come, I have done it. [Reads.] "Dear Sir, She must have very little merit that is infenfible of yours.' Sir Sol. Very well, faith! Write all yourself.

Wish. Ay, good Madam, do; that's better than mine. But, pray, dear Madam, let it end with, So I rest your deareft loving friend, till death us do part.

Lady Sad. [Afide.] This abfurd flut will make me laugh out.

Sir Sol. But, hark you, huffy; suppose now you should be a little fcornful and infolent to fhew your breeding, and a little ill-natured in it to fhew

your wit.

Wish. Ay, Sir, that is, if I defigned him for my gallant; but fince he is to be but my husband, I must be very good-natured and civil before I have him, and huff him, and fhew my wit after.

Sir Sol. Here's a jade for you! [Afide.] But why muft you huff your husband, huffy?

Wish. Óh, Sir, that's to give him a good opinion of my virtue! for you know, Sir, a husband can't think one could be fo very domineering, if one were not very honeft. Sir Sol. 'Sbud, this fool, on my conscience, speaks the fenfe of the whole fex!

[Afide. Wish. Then, Sir, I have been told, that a husband loves one the better, the more one hectors him; as a spaniel does, the more one beats him.

Sir Sol. Ha! thy husband will have a blessed time on't. Lady Sad. So-I have done.

Wish. Oh, pray, Madam, read it!

Lady Sad. [Reads.] "Dear Sir-She must have very little merit that is infenfible of yours; and while you continue to love, and tell me fo, expect whatever you can hope from fo much wit, and fuch unfeigned fincerityAt the hour you mention, you will be truly welcome to your paffionate"

Wh. Oh, Madam, it is not half kind enough! Pray, put in fome more dears.

Sir Sol. Ay, ay, sweeten it well; let it be all fyrup, with a pox to her.

Wish. Every line fhould have a dear fweet Sir in it, fo it fhould-he'll think I don't love him.elfe.