to recover the fatigue of his journey, say, if a qualm of conscience should I suppose. Now you shall go to Mud-spoil my design? dymoathall in his place.—I'll give Lory. I would eat my words, and wonder more than ever.

you a letter of introduction: and if you don't marry the girl before sunset, you deserve to be hang'd before morning."

Young F. Agreed, agreed; and for thy reward

Mrs. C. Well, well;-though I warrant thou hast not a farthing of money in thy pocket now-no-one may see it in thy face.

Young F. Why faith, Lory, though I have play'd many a roguish trick, this is so full-grown a cheat, I find I must take pains to come up to't— I have scruples.

Lory. They are strong symptoms of death. If you find them increase, sir, pray make your will. Young F. No, my conscience sha'n't Young F. Not a sous, by Jupiter. starve me neither; but thus far I'll Mrs. C.Must I advance then? Well, listen to it. Before I execute this probe at my lodgings, next door, this eve-ject, I'll try my brother to the bottom. ning, and I'll see what may be done-If he has yet so much humanity about we'll sign and seal, and when I have him as to assist me- though with a given thee some further instructions, moderate aid-I'll drop my project thou shalt hoist sail and be gone. at his feet, and show him how I can [Exit. do for him much more than what I'd ask he'd do for me. This one conclu→ sive trial of him I resolve to make.— Succeed or fail, still vict'ry is my lot; If I subdue his heart, 'tis well—if not, I will subdue my conscience to my plot. [Exeunt.

Young F. So, Lory, fortune, thou seest, at last takes care of merit: we are in a fair way to be great people. Lory. Ay, sir, if the devil don't step between the cup and the lip, as he used to do.

Young F. Why, faith, he has play'd me many a damn'd trick to spoil my fortune; and, egad, I am almost afraid he's at work about it again now; but if I should tell thee how, thou'dst wonder at me.

Lory. Indeed, sir, I should not.
Young F. How dost know?
Lory. Because, sir, I have wondered
at you so often, I can wonder at you

no more.

Young F. No!-What wouldst thou

ACT. II. SCENE I.

Enter LOVELESS and AMANDA. Love. How do you like these loddings, my dear? For my part, I am so pleas'd with them, I shall hardly remove whilst we stay here, if you are satisfied.

Aman. I am satisfied with every thing that pleases you, else I had not come to Scarborough at all.. Love. O! a little of the noise and

Aman. Take heed of trusting to such nice distinctions. But were your eyes

folly of this place will sweeten the world of admiration, but not one pleasures of our retreat; we shall glance of love. find the charins of our retirement doubled when we return to it. Aman. That pleasing prospect will the only things that were inquisitive? be my chiefest entertainment, whilst, Had I been in your place, my tongue, much against my will, I engage in I fancy, had been curious too. I those empty pleasures which 'tis so should have ask'd her where she much the fashion to be fond of. lived-yet still without designLove. I own most of them are, in- who was she, pray? deed,but empty; yet there are delights Love. Indeed I cannot tell. of which a private life is destitute, Aman. You will not tell. which may divert an honest man, Love. Upon my honour then, I did and be a harmless entertainment, to a not ask. virtuous woman: good music is one; Aman. Nor do you know what and truly (with some small allow-company was with her? ance) the plays, I think, may be esteemed another.

Love. I do not. But why are you so earnest ?

Aman. I thought I had cause. Love. But you thought wrong, Amanda; for turn the case, and let it be your story: should you come home and tell me you had seen a handsome man, should I grow jealous because

Amun. Plays, I must confess, have
some small charms. What do you
think of that you saw last night?
Love. To say truth, I did not mind it
much- attention was for some
my
time taken off to admire the work-
manship of nature, in the face of a
young lady who sat some distance you had eyes?
from me, she was so exquisitely
handsome.

Aman. So exquisitely handsome!
Love. Why do you repeat my words,

my

dear?

I

Aman. Because you seem'd to speak them with such pleasure, I thought might oblige you with their echo.

Aman. But should I tell he was you exquisitely so, and that I had gazed on him with admiration, should you not think 'twere possible I might go one step further, and inquire his naine? Love. She has reason on her side; I have talk'd too much; but I must turn off another way. [Aside.] Will you, then make no difference, Amanda, between the language of our sex and yours? There is a modesty restrains your tongues, which makes you speak Love. You are too quick in appre- by halves when you commend; but hending for me. I view'd her with a roving flattery gives a loose to ours,

Love. Then you are alarmed, Amanda?

Aman. It is my duty to be so when you are in danger.

which makes us still speak double you will be entertained with his chawhat we think.

Enter a SERVANT.

racter.

Aman. Now it moves my pity more Serv. Madam, there is a lady at the than my mirth to see a man, whom door in a chair desires to know whe-nature has made no fool, be so very ther your ladyship sees company: her industrious to pass for an ass.

name is Berinthia. Love. No, there you are wrong, Aman. Oh dear! 'tis a relation IAmanda; you should never bestow have not seen these five years; pray your pity upon those who take pains her to walk in. [Exit SERVANT. ] for your contempt: pity those whom Here's another beauty for you; she nature abuses, never those who abuse was, when I saw her last, reckoned nature.

extremely handsome.

Enter Lord FOPPINGTON.

Love. Don't be jealous now; for I Lord F. Dear Loveless, I am your shall gaze upon her too. most humble servant.

Enter BERINTHIA,

Ha! by heavens, the very woman!

[Aside. Ber. [Salutes AMANDA.] Dear Amanda, I did not expect to meet you in Scarborough.

Aman. Sweet cousin, I'm overjoyed to see you. — Mr. Loveless, here's a relation and a friend of mine, I desire you'll be better acquainted with.

Love. [Salutes BERINTHIA.] If my wife never desires a harder thing, madam, her request will be easily granted.

Re-enter SERVANT.

Serv. Sir, my Lord Foppington presents his humble service to you, and desires to know how you do. He's at the next door; and if it be not inconvenient to you, he'll come and wait upon you.

Love. Give my compliments to his lordship, and I shall be glad to see him. [Exit SERVANT.] If you are not acquainted with his lordship,madam,

Love. My lord, I'm yours. Lord F. Madam, your ladyship's very obedient slave.

Love. My lord, this lady is a relation of my wife's.

Lord F. [Salutes her.] The beautifullest race of people upon earth, rat me. Dear Loveless, I am overjoyed that you think of continuing here. I am, stap my vitals!-For Gad's sake, madam, how has your ladyship been able to subsist thus long, under the fatigue of a country life?[ To AMANDA. Aman. My life has been very far from that, my lord; it has been a very quiet one.

Lord F. Why that's the fatigue I speak of, madam; for 'tis impossible to be quiet, without thinking: now thinking is to me the greatest fatigue in the world.

Aman. Does not your lordship love reading then?

Lord F. Oh, passionately, madam; but I never think of what I read. For

example, madam, my life is a perpe- Aman. Alas! my lord, I am the tual stream of pleasure, that glides worst company in the world at a through with such a variety of en-concert, I'm so apt to attend to the tertainments, I believe the wisest of music.

I

our ancestors never had the least Lord F. Why, madam, that is very conception of any of'em. Irise, ma- pardonable in the country or at dam, when in tawn, about twelve church, but a monstrous inattention o'clock. I don't rise sooner, because in a polite assembly. But I am afraid it is the worst thing in the world for tire the company? the complexion: nat that I pretend to Love. Not at all. Pray go on. be a beau; but a man must endeavour Lord F. Why then, ladies, there to look decent, lest he makes so only remains to add, that I generally odious a figure in the side-bax, the conclude the evening at one or other ladies should be compelled to turn of the clubs; nat that I ever play deep; their eyes upon the play. So at twelve indeed I have been for some time tied o'clock, I say, I rise. Naw, if I find it up from losing above five thousand is a good day, I resalve to take the paunds at a sitting.

exercise of riding; so drink my cho- Love.But isn't your lordship somecolate, and draw on my boots, by two. times obliged to attend the weighty On my return, I dress; and after din-affairs of the nation? ner, lounge perhaps to the opera. Lord F. Sir, as to weighty affairs, I Ber. Your lordship, I suppose, is leave them to weight heads; I never fond of music? intend mine shall be a burden to my

Ber. Nay, my lord, but you are a pillar of the state.

Lord F. Oh, passionately, on Tues-body. days and Saturdays; for then there is always the best company, and one is not expected to undergo the fatigue of listening.

Aman. Does your lordship think that the case at the opera?

Lord E. An ornamental pillar, madam; for sooner than undergo any part of the fatigue, rat me, but the whole building should fall plump to the ground.

Lord F. Most certainly, madam. There is my Lady Tattle, my Lady Aman. But, my lord, a fine genPrate,my Lady Titter, my Lady Sneer, tleman spends a great deal of his time my Lady Giggle, and my Lady Grin-in his intrigues; you have given us no these have boxes in the front, and account of them yet.

while any favourite air is singing, are Lord F. Soh! She would inquire the prettiest company in the waurld, into my amours that's jealousy, stap my vitals! Mayn't we hope for poor soul!-I see she's in love with the honour to see you added to our me. [Aside.] O Lord, madam, I had society, madam? like to have forgot a secret I must

needs tell your ladyship.-Ned, you see a man run through the body bemust not be so jealous now as to fore?-Pray stand by.

Lord F. [Squeezing AMANDA's hand.] I am in love with you to desperation, strike me speechless! [Apart. Aman. [Strikes him on the ear.] Then thus 1 return your passion, an impudent fool!

Lord F. Gad's curse, madam, I amı a peer of the realm.

Love. Hey! what the devil, do you affront my wife, sir? Nay then

[Draws. They fight.

Lord F. Ah, Mr. Probe, I'm a dead man.

Probe. A dead man, and I by! I should laugh to see that, egad. Love: Pr'ythee, don't stand prating, but look upon his wound. Probe. Why, what if I won't look upon his wound this hour, sir? Love. Why then he'll bleed to death, sir.

Probe. Why then I'll fetch him to life again, sir.

Love. 'Slife! he's run through the body, I tell thee.

--

Probe. I wish he was run through Aman. What has my folly done?-the heart, and I should get the more Help! murder! help! Part them, for credit by his cure. Now I hope you heaven's sake. are satisfied? Come, now let me come at him now let me come at him [Viewing his wound]-Oons! what gash is here! Why, sir, a man may drive a coach and six horses into your body.

Lord F. [Falls back and leans on his sword.] Ah! quite through the body, stap my vitals!

Enter SERVANTS.

Love. [Runs to Lord FOPPINGTON.]I hope I han't killed the fool, however. -Bear him up-Call a surgeon there. Lord F. Ay, pray make haste. Love. This mischief you may thank yourself for.

Lord F. I may so; love's the devil indeed, Ned.

Ente PROBE and SERVANT. Serv. Here's Mr. Probe, sir, was just going by the door.

a

Lord F. Oh!

Probe. Why, what the devil have you run the gentleman through with a scythe?-A little scratch between the skin and the ribs, that's all.

[Aside.

Love. Let me see his wound.
Probe. Then you shall dress it, sir;
for if any body looks upon it I won't.
Love. Why thou art the veriest

Lord F. He's the welcomest man coxcomb I ever saw. alive.

Probe. Stand by, stand by, stand by; pray, gentlemen, stand by. Lord have mercy upon us, did you never

Probe. Sir, I am not master of my
trade for nothing.
Lord F. Surgeon!
Probe. Sir.