you found me, and over-heard all they said: Mr. Bell mour is to marry them.

Sharp. Ha, ha; 'twill be a pleafant Cheat-I'll plague Heart-well when I fee him. Fr'ythee, Frank, let's teaze him; make him fret till he foam at the Mouth, and difgorge his Matrimonial Oath with Intereft-Come, thou art mufty

Sett. [To Sharper.] Sir, a Word with you.

[Whispers him. Vainl. Sharper fwears he has forfworn the LetterI'm fure he tells me Truth-but I am not fure fhe told him Truth.-Yet he was unaffectedly concerned, he fays; and often blushed with Anger and Surprize:And fo I remember in the Park. She had Reason, if I wrong her I begin to doubt.

Sharp. Sayeft thou fo?

Sett. This Afternoon, Sir, about an Hour before my Mafter received the Letter.

Sharp. In my Confcience, like enough..

Sett. Ay, I know her, Sir; at least, I'm fure I can fifh it out of her: She's the very Sluice to her Lady's Secrets :- 'Tis but setting her Mill a going, and I can drain her of them all.

Sharp. Here Frank, your Blood-hound has made out the Fault. This Letter, that so sticks in thy Maw, is counterfeit; only a Trick of Sylvia in Revenge, contrived by Lucy.

Vainl. Ha! It has a Colour-But how do you know it, Sirrah?

Sett. I do fufpect as much;-because why, SirShe was pumping me about how your Worship's Affairs ftood towards Madam Araminta; as, when you had feen her laft? when you were to fee her next? and, where you were to be found at that Time? and fuch like.

Vainl. And where did you tell her ?
Sett. In the Piazza.

Kainl. There I received the Letter-It must be fo -And why did you not find me out, to tell me this be fore, Sot?

Sett. Sir, I was Pimping for Mr. Bellmour.

Sharp. You were well employed :-I think there is no Objection to the Excufe.

Vainl. Pox on my faucy Credulity!-If I have loft her, I deferve it. But, if Confeffion and Repentance be of Force, I'll win her, or weary her into a Forgiveness.

Sharp. Methinks I long to fee Bellmour come forth.

SCENE V.

SHARPER, BELLMOUR, SETTER.

Sett. Talk of the Devil-See where he comes. Sharp. Hugging himself in his profperous Mifchief -No real Fanatic can look better pleased after a success. ful Sermon of Sedition.

Bellm. Sharper! fortify thy Spleen: Such a Jeft! Speak when thou art ready.

Sharp. Now, were I ill-natured, would I utterly difappoint thy Mirth: Hear thee tell thy mighty Jest, with as much Gravity as a Bifhop hears Venereal Caufes in the Spiritual Court: Not fo much as wrinkle Face with one Smile; but let thee look fimply, and laugh by thyself.

my

Bellm. Phaw, no; I have a better Opinion of thy Wit-Gad! I defy thee.

Sharp. Were it not Lofs of Time, you should make the Experiment. But honeft Setter, here, over-heard you with Lucy, and has told me all.

Bellm. Nay then, I thank thee for not putting me out of Countenance. But, to tell you fomething you don't know-I got an Opportunity (after I had married them) of discovering the Cheat to Sylvia. She took it at first, as another Woman would the like Difap

pointment;

pointment; but my Promise to make her amends quickly with another Hufband, fomewhat pacified her. Sharp. But how the Devil do you think to acquit yourself of your Promife? Will you marry her yourfelf?

Bellm. I have no fuch Intentions at prefent-Pr'ythee, wilt thou think a little for me? I am sure the ingenious Mr. Setter will affift.

Sett. O Lord, Sir!

Bellm. I'll leave him with you, and go fhift

Habit.

SCENE VI.

ས

my

SHARPER, SETTER, Sir JOSEPH WITTOI, and BLUFFE.

Sharp. Heh! fure, Fortune has fent this Fool hither on purpose. Setter, itand clofe; feem not to ob-ferve them and, hark-ye[Whispers. Bhuffe. Fear him not-I am prepared for him now; and he fhall find he might have fafer rouzed a fleeping Lion.

Sir J. Witt. Hufh, hush: Don't you fee him?
Bluffe. Shew him to me. Where is he?

Sir J. Witt. Nay, don't fpeak fo loud-I don't jest, as I did a little while ago-Look yonder-Egad, if he should hear the Lion roar, he'd cudgel him into an Afs, and his primitive Braying. Don't you remember the Story in Esop's Fables, Bully? Egad, there are good Morals to be picked out of Ejop's Fables, let me tell you that; and Reynard the Fox too.

Bluffe. Damn your Morals!

Sir J. Witt. Pr'ythee, don't speak fo loud. Bluffe. Damn your Morals! I must revenge the Affront done to my Honour. [In a low Voice. « Sir J. Witt. Ay; do, do, Captain, if you think fitting-You may difpofe of your own Flesh as you

think fitting, d'ye fee:-But, by the Lord Harry, I'll leave you.

[Stealing away upon his Tip-toes. Bluffe. Prodigious! What, will you forfake your Friend in Extremity! You can't in Honour refuse to carry him a Challenge.

[Almoft whispering, and treading foftly after him. Sir J. Witt Pr'ythee, what do you fee in my Face, that looks as if I would carry a Challenge? Honour is your Province, Captain; take it-All the World know me to be a Knight, and a Man of Worship. Sett. I warrant you, Sir; I'm instructed.

Sharp. Impoffible! Araminta take a Liking to a Fool! Aloud. Sett. Her Head runs on nothing elfe, nor the can talk of nothing else.

Sharp. I know the commended him all the while we were in the Park; but I thought it had been only to make Vainlove jealous

Sir J. Witt. How's this? Good Bully, hold your Breath, and let's hearken. Egad, this must be I.— Sharp. Death! it can't be.-An Oaf, an Ideot, a Wittal.

Sir J. Witt. Ay; now it's out, 'tis I, my own individual Perfon.

Sharp. A Wretch, that has flown for Shelter to the lowest Shrub of Mankind, and feeks Protection from a blafted Coward.

Sir J.Witt. That's you, Bully Back.

[Bluffe frowns upon Sir Jofeph. Sharp. She has given Vainlove her Promife, to marry him before To-morrow Morning-Has fhe not?

[To Setter. Sett. She has, Sir;-And I have it in Charge to attend her all this Evening, in order to conduct her to the Place appointed.

Sharp. Well, I'll go and inform your Mafter; and do you prefs her to make all the Haite imaginable.

SCENE

SCENE VII.

SETTER, Sir JOSEPH WITTOL, BLUFFE.

Sett. Were I a Rogue now, what a noble Prize could I difpofe of! A goodly Pinnace, richly laden, and to launch forth under my aufpicious Convoy. Twelve thousand Pounds, and all her Rigging; befides what lies concealed under Hatches-Ha! All this committed to my Care!-Avaunt, Temptation! -Setter, fhew thyself a Person of Worth; be true to thy Truft, and be reputed honeft. Reputed honeft! Hum! Is that all? Ay: For to be honeft is nothings the Reputation of it is all! Reputation! what have fuch poor Rogues as I to do with Reputation? 'tis above us; and for Men of Quality, they are above it; fo that Reputation is even as foolish a thing as Honefty. And for my Part, if I meet Sir Jofeph with a Purfe of Gold in his Hand, I'll difpofe of mine to the best Advantage. [Afile. Sir F. Witt, Heh, heh, heh! Here it is for you, i'faith, Mr. Setter. Nay, I'll take you at your Word. [Chinking a Purfe.

Sett. Sir Jofeph and the Captain too! undone, undone! I'm undone, my Mafter's undone, my Lady's undone, and all the Bufinefs is undone.

Sir J. Witt. No, no, never fear, Man, the Lady's Business shall be done. What!-Come, Mr. Setter, I have over-heard all, and to speak, is but Lofs of Time; but, if there be Occation, let thefe worthy Gentlemen intercede for me.

[Gives him Gold. Sett. O Lord, Sir, what d'ye mean? Corrupt my Honefty! They have indeed very perfuading Faces. But

Sir J. Witt. 'Tis too little, there's more, Man. There, take all-Now

Sett