fter fufpecting the bufinefs, it feems, turned him out unknown to me, and then put himself there, and fo had a mind to discover whether there was any harm between us; and fo, because he fancied I had been naught with him

Sir Sol. Ay, my dear; and the jade was so confoundedly fond of me, that I grew out of all patience, and fell upon her like a fury.

Lady Sad. Horrid creature !—And does the think to ftay a minute in the family after fuch impudence?

Sir Sol. Hold, my dear for if this fhould be the man that is to marry her, you know there may be no harm done yet.

Wish. Yes, it was he indeed, Madam.

Sir Sol. [Afide.] I must not let the jade be turned away, for fear the fhould put it in my wife's head, that I hid myfelf to difcover her Ladyfhip, and then the devil would not be able to live in the house with her.

for

Wifh, Now, Sir, you know what I can tell of you. [Afide to Sir Solomon. Sir Sol. Mum-that's a good girl; there's a guinea

you.

Lady Sad. Well, upon your interceffion, my dear, I'll pardon her this fault. But, pray, miftrefs, let me hear of no more fuch doings. I am fo difordered with this fright-Fetch my prayer-book; I'll endeavour to compose myself. [Exit Lady Sad. and Wish. Sir Sol. Ay, do fo; that's my good dear- -What two bleffed efcapes have I had! to find myfelf no cuckold at laft, and, which had been equally terrible, my wife not know I wrongfully fufpected her!-Well, at length I am fully convinced of her virtue-and 'now, if I can but cut off the abominable expence that attends fome of her impertinent acquaintance, I fhall fhew myself a Machiavel.

Re-enter Wishwell.

Wish. Sir, here's my Lady Dainty come to wait upon iny Lady.

Sir Sol. I'm forry for't, with all my heart-Why did you fay fhe was within ?

Wish. Sir, fhe did not ask if fhe was; but fhe's never denied to her.

Sir Sol. Gadfo! why then, if you please to leave her Ladyfhip to me, I'll begin with her now.

Withwell brings in Lady Dainty.

Lady D. Sir Solomon, your very humble fervant.
Sir Sol. Yours, yours, Madam.

Lady D. Where's my Lady?

Sir Sol. Where your Ladyship very seldom is— -at prayers.

Enter Lady Sadlife.

Lady Sad. My dear Lady Dainty!

Lady D. Dear Madam, I am the happiest person alive in finding your Ladyship at home.

Sir Sol. So, now for a torrent of impertinence.

Lady Sad. Your Ladyfhip does me a great deal of ho

nour.

Lady D. I am fure I do myfelf a great deal of pleasure. I have made at least twenty vifits to-day. Oh, I'm quite dead! not but my coach is very eafy-yet fo much perpetual motion, you know

Sir Sol. Ah, pox of your diforder!-If I had the providing your equipage, ods-zooks, you should rumble to your vifits in a wheel-barrow.

Lady Sad. Was you at my Lady Duchess's?
Lady D. A little while.

Lady Sad. Had the a great circle?

[Afide.

Lady D. Extreme-I was not able to bear the breath of fo much company.

Lady Sad. You did not dine there?

own!

Lady D. Oh, I can't touch any body's dinner but my -and I have almoft killed myself this week, for want of my ufual glass of Tokay, after my ortolans and Mufcovy duck-eggs.

Sir Sol. 'Sbud, if I had the feeding of you, I'd bring you, in a fortnight, to neck-beef, and a pot of plain bub.

[Afide.

Lady D. Then I have been fo furfeited with the fight of a hideous entertainment, to-day, at my Lady Cormorant's, who knows no other happiness, or way of making one welcome, than eating or drinking; for though the faw I was just fainting at her vast limbs of butcher's meat, yet the civil favage forced me to fit down, and heaped enough upon my plate to victual a fleet for an Eaft-India voyage.

Lady

Lady Sad. How could you bear it? Ha, ha!-Does your Ladyship never go to the play?

Lrdy D. Never, but when I befpeak it myself; and then hot to mind the actors; for it's common to love fights. My great diverfion is, in a repofed pofture, to turn my eyes upon the galleries, and bless myfelf to hear the happy favages laugh; or when an aukward citizen crowds herself in among us, 'tis an unfpeakable pleasure to contemplate her airs and drefs: and they never 'scape me; for I am as apprehenfive of fuch a creature's coming near me, as fome people are when a cat is in the roomBut the play is begun, I believe; and if your Ladyship has an inclination, I'll wait upon you.

Lady Sad. I think, Madam, we can't do better; and here comes Mr. Careless moft opportunely to 'fquire us. Sir Sol. Carelefs! I don't know him; but my wife does, and that's as well.

Enter Careless.

Care. Ladies, your fervant. Seeing your coach at the door, Madam, made me not able to refiit this opportunity toto-you know, Madam, there's no time to be loft in love. Sir Solomon, your fervant.

Sir Sol. Oh, yours, yours, Sir!A very impudent fellow; and I'm in hopes will marry her.

[Afide Lady D. The affurance of this creature almoft grows diverting all one can do, can't make him the leaft fenfible of a difcouragement.

Lady Sad. Try what compliance will do; perhaps that may fright him.

Lady D. If it were not too dear a remedy-One would almoft do any thing to get rid of his company.

Care. Which you never will, Madam, till you marry me, depend upon it. Do that, and I'll trouble you no

more.

Sir Sol. This fellow's abominable! He'll certainly have her. [Afide. Lady D. There's no depending upon your word, or elfe I might; for the last time I faw you, you told me then, you would trouble me no more.

Care. Ay, that's true, Madam; but to keep one's word, you know, looks like a tradesman.

Sir Sol. Impudent rogue! But he'll have her~[Afide,

Cart

Care. And is as much below a gentleman as paying one's debts.

Sir Sol. If he is not hanged first.

[Afide.

Care. Befides, Madam; I confidered that my abfence might endanger your conftiturion, which is fo very tender, that nothing but love can fave it, and fo I would e'en advise you to throw away your juleps, your cordials, and flops, and take me all at once.

Lady D. No, Sir, bitter potions are not to be taken so fuddenly.

Care. Oh, to choose, Madam; for if you ftand making of faces, and kicking against it, you'll but increase your averfion, and delay the cure. Come, come, you must be advised. [Preffing her.

Lady D. What mean you, Sir? Care. To banish all your ails, and be myself your verfal medicine.

uni!

Sir Sol. Well faid! he'll have her. [Afide Lady D. Impudent, robuft man; I proteft, did not I know his family, I fhould think his parents had not lived in chairs and coaches, but had used their limbs all their lives! Huh! huh! but I begin to be perfuaded health is a great bleffing. [Afide. Care. My limbs, Madam, were conveyed to me before the ufe of chairs and coaches, and it might leffen the dignity of my ancestors, not to use them as they did.

Lady D. Was ever fuch a rude understanding? to value himself upon the barbarism of his fore-fathers.— Indeed I have heard of kings that were bred to the plough, and, I fancy, you might defcend from fuch a race; for you court as if you were behind one-Huh! huh! huh! To treat a woman of quality like an Exchange-wench, and exprefs your paffion with your arms; unpolished man!

Care. I was willing, Madam, to take from the vulgar the only defirable thing among them, and fhew you-how they live fo healthy-for they have no other remedy. Lady D. A very rough medicine! huh! huh! Care. To thofe that never took it, it may feem foLady D. Abandoned ravifher! Oh! [Struggling. Sir Sol. He has her; he has her. [Afide Lady D. Leave the room, and fee my face no more. Care. [Borys and is going.]

Lady

Lady D. And, hark ye, Sir, no bribe, no mediations to my woman.

Care. [Borys and fighs.]

Lady D. Thou profligate! to hug! to clasp! to embrace and throw your robust arms about me, like a vulgar, and indelicate-Oh, I faint with apprehenfion of fo grofs an address ! [She faints, and Care, catches her. Care. Oh, my offended fair!

Lady D. Inhuman! ravisher! Oh!

[Care. carries her off. Sir Sol. He has her! fhe's undone! He has her.

[Exeunt Sir Sol, and Lady Sad.

Enter Clarinda and Sylvia.

Clar. Well, coufin, what do you think of your gentle

man now?

Syl. I fancy, Madam, that would be as proper a quefftion to ask you for really I don't see any great reafon to alter my opinion of him yet

Clar. Now I could dash her at once, and fhew it her under his own hand that his name's Standfast, and he'll be here in a quarter of an hour. [Afide.] I vow I don't think I ought to refuse you any fervice in my power; therefore if you think it worth your while not to be out of countenance when the Colonel comes, I would advise you to withdraw now; for if you dare take his own word for it, he will be here in three minutes, as this may con vince you. [Gives a letter.

Syl. What's here? a letter from Colonel Standfaft ?— Really, Coufin, I have nothing to fay to him-Mr. Freeman's the perfon I'm concerned for, and I expect to fee him here in a quarter of an hour.

Clar. Then you don't believe them both the fame perfon?

Syl. Not by their hands or ftile, I can affure you, as this may convince you. [Gives a letter, Clar. Ha! The hand is different indeed-I fcarce know what to think, and yet I'm fure my eyes were not deceived.

Syl. Come, coufin, let's be a little cooler; 'tis not impoffible but we may have both laughed at one another to no purpose-for I am confident they are two perfons.

Clar. I can't tell that, but I'm fure here comes one of them.

Enter