Audinet fculp

MFAWCET JUN'as MAW-WORM.

De Wilde pinx?

And between

you

me, doctor. I

and me.

believe Susy's breeding again.

London Printed for J.Bell, British Library, Strand, June 301792.

I don't believe there's a wife in the parish would have done so by her husband.

Dr. Cant. I believe 'tis near dinner time, and Sir John will require my attendance.

Maw. Oh! I am troublesome-nay, I only come to you, doctor, with a message from Mrs. Grunt. I wish your ladyship heartily and heartily farewell; doctor, a good day to you.

Old Lady Lamb. Mr. Maw-worm, call on me some time this afternoon; I want to have a little private discourse with you; and, pray, my service to your spouse.

Maw. I will, madam; you are a malefactor to all goodness; I'll wait upon your ladyship; I will, indeed: [Going, returns.] Oh, doctor, that's true; Susy desired me to give her kind love and respects to you.

[Exit. Dr. Cant. Madam, if you please, I will lead you into the parlour.

Old Lady Lamb. No, doctor, my coach waits at the door; I only called upon the business you know of; and partly indeed to see how you did, after the usage you had met with; but I have struck the wretch out of my will for it.

Enter SEYWARD.

Dr. Cant. Charles, you may lay those papers by again, but in some place where you'll easily find them; for I believe we shall have occasion for them some time this afternoon.

Seyw. I'll take care, sir.

[Exeunt Dr. Cant. and Old Lady Lamb. -Occasion for them this afternoon!Then there's no time to be lost; the coast is clear, and this is her chamber.-What's the matter with me? The thought of speaking to her throws me into a disorder. There's nobody within, I believe—I'll knock again.

Is your lady busy?

Enter BETTY.

Betty. I believe she's only reading, sir.

Seyw. Will you do me the favour to let her know, -if she's at leisure, I beg to speak with her upon some earnest business.

Enter CHARLOTTE.

Charl. Who's that?

Betty. She's here. Mr. Seyward, madam, desires to speak with you.

Charl. Oh, your servant, Mr. Seyward.-Here, take this odious Homer, and lay him up again; he tires me.[Exit Betty.]-How could the blind wretch make such an horrid fuss about a fine woman, for so many volumes together, and give us no account of her amours? You have read him, I suppose, in the Greek, Mr. Seyward?

Seyw. Not lately, madam.

Charl. But do you so violently admire him now? Seyw. The critics say he has his beauties, madam; but Ovid has been always my favourite.

Chari. Ovid-Oh, he is ravishing!

Seyw. So art thou, to madness!

[Aside.

Charl. Lord! how could one do to learn Greek —

Were you a great while about it?

Seyw. It has been half the business of my life, madam.

Charl. That's cruel now; then you think one could not be mistress of it in a month or two?

Seyw. Not easily, madam.

Charl. They tell me it has the softest tone for love of any language in the world-I fancy I could soon learn it. I know two words of it already.

Seyw. Pray, madam, what are they?

Charl. Stay-let me see-Oh-ay-Zoe kai psuche. Seyw. I hope you know the English of them, madam.

Charl. Oh lud! I hope there is no harm in it-I'm sure I heard the doctor say it to my lady-pray, what is it ?

Seyw. You must first imagine, madam, a tender lover gazing on his mistress; and then, indeed, they have a softness in them; as thus-Zoe kai psuche !my life! my soul!

Charl. Oh the impudent young rogue! how his eyes spoke too! What the deuce can he want

with me?

Seyw. I have startled her !—she muses !

Charl. It always run in my head that this fellow had something in him above his condition; I'll know immediately.Well, but your business with me,