Care. What, you want his affistance? Clarinda's in her airs again n!

Cler. Faith, Careless, I am almost afhamed to tell you, but I must needs fpeak with him.

Care. Come along then.

I

[Exeunt. Enter Lady Dainty, Lady Sadlife, and Careless. Lady D. This rude boisterous man has given me a thousand disorders; the colic, the spleen, the palpitation of the heart, and convulfions all over-Huh ! huh!—I muft fend for the doctor.

Lady Sad. Come, come, Madam, e'en pardon him, and let him be your phyfician-do but obferve his penitence, fo humble he dares not fpeak to you.

Care. [Folds his arms and fighs.] Oh!

Lady Sad. How can you hear him figh fo?

Lady D. Nay, let him groan-for nothing but his pangs can eafe me.

Care. [Kneels and prefents her his drawn fword; opening his breaft.] Be then at once moft barbarously juff, and take your vengeance here.

Lady D. No, I give thee life to make thee miferable live, that my refenting eyes may kill thee every hour. Care. Nay then, there's no relief-but this

1

།

Offering at his favord, Lady Sadlife holds him. Lady Sad. Ah! for mercy's fake-Barbarous creature, how can you fee him thus ?

Lady D. Why, I did not bid him kill himself: but do you really think he would have don't?

Lady Sad. Certainly, if I had not prevented it.

Lady D. Strange paffion! But 'tis its nature to be violent, when one makes it defpair.

Lady Sad. Won't you speak to him?

Lady D. No, but if your-is enough concerned to be his friend, you may tell him-not that it really is fo but you may fay-you believe I pity him.

Lady D. Sure love was never more ridiculous on both fides.

Enter Wishawell.

Wib. Madam, here's a page from Prince Alexander, defires to give a letter into your Ladyfhip's own hands. Lady D. Prince Alexander! what means my heart? I come to him,

Lady

Lady Sad. By no means, Madam, pray let him come in. Care. Ha! Prince Alexander! nay, then I have found out the fecret of this coldnefs, Madam.

Enter Page.

Page. Madam, his Royal Highness Prince Alexander, my mafter, has commanded me, on pain of death, thus [Kneeling.] to deliver this, the burning fecret of his heart.

Lady D. Where is the Prince?

Page. Repofed in private on a mourning pallat, 'till your commands vouchsafe to raise him.

Lady Sad. By all means, receive him here immediately. I have the honour to be a little known to his highness.

Lady D. The favour, Madam, is too great to be refifted pray tell his highnefs then, the honour of the vifit he defigns me, makes me thankful and impatient! huh! huh! [Exit Page Care. Are my fufferings, Madam, fo foon forgot then! Was I but flattered with the hope of pity?

Lady D. The happy have whole days, and thofe they' choofe. [Refenting.] The unhappy have but hours, and those they lofe. [Exit repeating! Lady Sad. Don't you lofe a minute then. Care. I'll warrant you-ten thousand thanks, dear Madam, I'll be transformed in a fecond

[Exeunt severally.

Enter Clarinda in a man's habit. Clar. So! I'm in for't now! how I fhall come off I can't tell 'twas but a bare faving game I made with Clerimont; his refentment had brought my pride to its laft legs, diffembling; and if the poor man had not loved me too well, I had made but a difmal humble figure-I have used him ill, that's certain, and he may e'en thank himself for't-he would be fincere.-Well, (begging my fex's pardon) we do make the fillieft tyrants-we had better be reasonable; for (to do them right) we don't run half the hazard in obeying the good-fenfe of a lover; at leaft, I'm reduced now to make the experiment-Here they come.

Enter Sir Solomon and Clerimont.

Sir Sol. What have we here! another captain? If I

were

were fure he were a coward now, I'd kick him before he fpeaks Is your business with me, Sir?

Clar. If your name be Sir Solomon Sadlife.

Sir Sol. Yes, Sir, it is; and I'll maintain it as ancient as any, and related to most of the families in England. Clar. My bufinefs will convince you, Sir, that I think well of it.

Sir Sol. And what is your business, Sir?

Clar. Why, Sir-you have a pretty kinswoman, called Clarinda.

Cler. Ha!

Sir Sol. And what then, Sir?

t'other.

-Such a rogue as [Afide.

Clar. Now, Sir, I have feen her, and am in love with her.

Cler. Say you fo, Sir? I may chance to cure you of it.

[Afide. Clar. And to back my pretenfions, Sir, I have a good fifteen hundred pounds a year eftate, and am, as you see, a pretty fellow into the bargain.

Sir Sol. She that marries you, Sir, will have a choice bargain indeed.

Clar. In fhort, Sir, I'll give you a thousand guineas to make up the match.

Sir Sol. Hum-[Afide.]-But, Sir, my niece is provided for.

Cler. That's well!

[Afides Sir Sol. But if he were not, Sir, I must tell you, the is not to be caught with a fmock-face and a feather, SirAnd -and -let me fee you an hour hence. [Afide. Clar. Well faid, uncle! [Afide.]-But, Sir, I'm in love with her, and pofitively will have her.

Sir Sol. Whether the likes you or no, Sir?

Clar. Like me! ha, ha! I'd fain fee a woman that diflikes a pretty fellew, with fifteen hundred pounds a year, a white wig, and black eye-brows.

Cler. Hark you, young gentleman, there must go more than all this to the gaining of that lady.

[Takes Clarinda afide. Sir Sol. [Afide.] A thousand guineas-that's five hundred more than I proposed to get of Mr. ClerimontBut my honour is engaged-Ay, but then here's a

thoufand

thousand pounds to release it Now, fhall I take the money? -It must be foCoin will carry

it.

Clar. Oh, Sir, if that be all, I'll foon remove your doubts and pretenfions! Come, Sir, I'll try your courage. Cler. I'm afraid you won't, young gentleman.

Clar. As young as I am, Sir, you shall find I fcorn to turn my back to any man.

Exeunt Clarinda and Clerimont. Sir Sal. Ha! they are gone to fight with all my heart-a fair chance, at leaft, for a better bargain: for if the young fpark should let the air into my friend Clerimont's midriff now, it may poffibly cool his love too, and then there's my honour fafe, and a thousand guineas fnug.

[Exit.

Enter Lady Dainty, Lady Sadlife, and Careless, as Prince Alexander.

Lady D. Your Highnefs, Sir, has done me honour in this vifit.

Care. Madam

Lady D. A captivating perfon!

[Salutes her.

Care. May the days be taken from my life, and added to yours, moft incomparable beauty, whiter than the fnow that lies throughout the year unmelted on our Ruffian mountains!

We are

Lady D. How manly his expreffions are! extremely obliged to the Czar, for not taking your Highnefs home with him.

Care. He left me, Madam, to learn to be a fhip-carpenter.

Lady Sad. A very polite accomplishment!

Lady D. And in a prince entirely new.

Care. All his nobles, Madam, are masters of fome useful science; and most of our arms are quartered with mechanical inftruments, as hatchets, hammers, pickaxes, and hand-faws.

Lady D. I admire the manly manners of your court. Lady Sad. Oh, fo infinitely beyond the foft idleness • of ours!

Care. 'Tis the fashion, ladies, for the eastern princes ← to profefs fome trade or other. The laft Grand Signior was a locksmith.

1

Lady D. How new his converfation is !!

J

Care. Too rude, I fear, Madam, for so tender a compofition as your divine Ladyflip's.

Lady D. Courtly to a foftnefs too!

'Care. Were it poffible, Madam, that fo much delicacy could endure the martial roughness of our manners Land our country, I cannot boast; but if a province at your feet could make you mine, that province and its mafter fhould be yours.

-An

Lady D. Ay, here's grandeur with address • odious native lover, now, would have complained of the taxes, perhaps, and have haggled with one for a fcanty jointure out of his horrid lead-mines, in fome uninhabitable mountains, about an hundred and four-score miles from unheard-of London.

Care. I am informed, Madam, there is a certain poor, • diftracted English fellow, that refufed to quit his faucy pretenfions to your all-conquering beauty, though he had heard I had myself refolved to adore you. Careless, I think they call him.

Lady D. Your Highnefs wrongs your merit, to give · yourfelf the least concern for one so much below your • fear.

Care. When I first heard of him, I on the instant • ordered one of my retinue to ftrike off his head with a fcimitar; but they told me the free laws of England allowed of no fuch power: fo that, though I am a prince of the blood, Madam, I am obliged only to murder him privately.

Lady D. 'Tis indeed a reproach to the ill-breeding of our conftitution, not to adinit your power with your perfon. But if the pain of my entire neglect can end • him, pray, be easy.

Care. Madam, I'm not revengeful; make him but miferable, I'm fatisfied.

Lady D. You may depend upon't,

Care. I'm in ftrange favour with her. [Afide.];

• Please you, ladies, to make your fragrant fingers fami liar with this box.

Lady D. Sweet or plain, Sir?

Care. Right Mofco, Madam, made of the fculls of

• conquered enemies.

Lady Sad Gunpowder, as I live!
F

[Excunt.

The