Lady Grave. Mine's sincere, depend upon't. Lord Fop. And may the eternal frowns of the whole sex doubly demme, if mine is not. Lady Easy. Well, good people, I am mighty glad to hear it. You have all performed extremely well but, if you please, you shall even give over your wit now, while it is well. : Lady Bet. To herself.]-Now, I see his humour, I'll stand it out, if I were sure to die for't. Sir Cha. You should not have proceeded so far with my lord Foppington, after what I had told you. [Aside to LADY BETTY. Lady Bet. Pray, sir Charles, give me leave to understand myself a little. Sir Cha. Your pardon, madam. I thought a right understanding would have been for both your interest and reputation. Lady Bet. For his, perhaps. Sir Cha. Nay, then, madam, its time for me to take care of my friend. Lady Bet. I never, in the least, doubted your friendship to him, in any thing that was to shew yourself my enemy. Sir Cha. Since I see, madam, you have so ungrateful a sense of my lord Morelove's merit, and my service, I shall never be ashamed of using my power henceforth to keep him entirely out of your ladyship's. rior to his. Lord Fop. What say you, ladies? shall we step and see what's done at the basset-table? Lady Bet. With all my heart: lady EasyLady Easy. I think 'tis the best thing we can do, and, because we won't part to-night, you shall all sup where you dined—What say you, my lord? Lord Mor. Your ladyship may be sure of me, madam. Lord Fop. Ave! aye! we'll all come., Lady Easy. Then, pray, let's change parties a little. My lord Foppington, you shall 'squire me. Lord Fop. O! you do me honour, madam. Lady Bet. My lord Morelove, pray let me speak with you?" Lord Mor. Me, madam? Lady Bet. If you please, my lord. Lord Mor. Ha! that look shot through me. What can this mean? [Aside. Lady Bet. This is no proper place to tell you what it is, but there is one thing I'd fain be truly answered in: I suppose you'll be at my lady Easy's by and by, and if you'll give me leave there Lord Mor. If you please to do me that honour, madam, I shall certainly be there. Lady Bet. That's all, my lord. Lord Mor. Is not your ladyship for walking? Lady Bet. If your lordship dares venture with me. Lord Mor. O! madam! [Taking her hand.] How my heart dances! what heavenly music's in her voice, when softened into kindness. [Aside. Lady Bet. Ha! his hand trembles- -Sir Charles may be mistaken. Lord Fop. My lady Graveairs, you won't let sir Charles leave us? [Exeunt. [Manent SIR CHARLES and LADY GRAVEAIRS. Lady Grace. No, my lord, we'll follow youstay a little. [To SIR CHARLES. Sir Cha. I thought your ladyship designed to follow them. Lady Grave. Perhaps I'd speak with you. Lady Bet. Was ever any thing so insolent! I could find in my heart to run the hazard of a downright compliance, if it were only to convince him, that my power, perhaps, is not infe-tainly be observed. [To herself. Lady Easy. My lord Foppington, I think you generally lead the company upon these occasions. Pray, will you think of some prettier sort of diversion for us than parties and whispers ? favour. Lady Grave. Lord, sir, if you think it such a [Exit hastily. go, &c. [Exit singing. Sir Cha. Is she gone? let her SCENE I.-Continues. ACT V. Enter SIR CHARLES and LORD MORELove. Sir Cha. COME a little this way-----My lady Graveairs had an eye upon me, as I stole off, and, I'm apprehensive, will make use of any opportunity to talk with me. Lord More. O! we are pretty safe here Well, you were speaking of lady Betty. Sir Cha. Aye, my lord- -I say, notwithstanding all this sudden change of her behaviour, I would not have you yet be too secure of her: for, between you and I, since I told you, I have professed myself an open enemy to her power with you-'tis not impossible but this new air of good humour may very much proceed from a little woman's pride, of convincing me you are not yet out of her power. Lord More. Not unlikely. But still, can we make no advantage of it? Sir Cha. That's what I have been thinking of -look you--Death! my lady Graveairs! Lord More. Ha! she will have audience, I find. Sir Cha. There's no avoiding her--the truth is, I have owed her a little good nature a great while I see there's but one way of getting rid of her----I must even appoint her a day of payment at last. If you'll step into my lodgings, my lord, I'll just give her an answer, and be with you in a moment. Lord More. Very well, I'll stay there for you. Sir Cha. Come, come, no more of these reproachful looks; you'll find, madam, I have deserved better of you than your jealousy imagines -Is it a fault to be tender of your reputation? -fy, fy-This may be a proper time to talk, and of my contriving, too—you see I just now shook off my lord Morelove on purpose, Lady Grave. May I believe you? Sir Cha. Still doubting my fidelity, and mistaking my discretion for want of good nature! Lady Grave. Don't think me troublesome For I confess 'tis death to think of parting with you since the world sees for you I have neglected friends and reputation, have stood the little insults of disdainful prudes, that envied me perhaps your friendship; have borne the freezing looks of near and general acquaintance-Since this is so don't let them ridicule me, too, and say my foolish vanity undid me! Don't let them point at me as a cast mistress! Sir Cha. You wrong me, to suppose the thought: you'll have better of me when we meet: When shall you be at leisure? VOL. II. Lady Grave. I confess I would see you once again; if what I have more to say prove in f fectual, perhaps it may convince me then, my interest to part with you-Can you come tonight? Sir Cha. You know we have company, and I'm afraid they'll stay too late-Can't it be before supper?-What's o'clock now? Lady Grave. It's almost six. Sir Cha. At seven, then, be sure of me; till when, I'd have you go back to the ladies, to avoid suspicion, and about that time have the vapours. Lady Grave. May I depend upon you? [Exit. Sir Cha. Depend on every thing---A very troublesome business this-Send me once fairly rid on't-if ever I'm caught in an honourable affair again!—A debt, now, that a little ready civility, and away, would satisfy, a man might bear with; but to have a rent-charge upon one's good-nature, with an unconscionable long scroll of arrears, too, that would eat out the profits of the best estate in Christendom-ah-intolerable! Well! I'll even to my lord, and shake off the thoughts on't. [Exit. Enter LADY BETTY and LADY EASY. Lady Bet. I observe, my dear, you have usually this great fortune at play; it were enough to make one suspect your good luck with an husband. Lady Easy. Truly, I don't complain of my fortune either way. Lady Bet. Prithee tell me, you are often advising me to it; are there those real comfortable advantages in marriage, that our old aunts and grandmothers would persuade us of? Lady Easy. Upon my word, if I had the worst husband in the world, I should still think so. Lady Bet. Ay, but then the hazard of not having a good one, my dear. Lady Easy. You may have a good one, I darc say, if you don't give airs till you spoil him. Lady Bet. Can there be the same dear, full delight, in giving ease as pain? Oh, my dear, the thought of parting with one's power is insupportable! Lady Easy. And the keeping it, till it dwindles into no power at all, is most ruefully foolish. Lady Bet. But still, to marry before one's heartily in love Lady Easy. Is not half so formidable a calamity- -but if I have any eyes, my dear, you'll run no great hazard of that in venturing on my lord Morelove-You don't know, perhaps, that within this half hour, the tone of your voice is strangely softened to him: ha, ha, ha! Lady Bet. My dear, you are positively, one or other, the most censorious creature in the world. 3 H -and so I see its in vain to talk with youPray, will you go back to the company? Lady Easy. Ah! poor lady Betty! [Exeunt. SCENE II.-Changes to SIR CHARLES'S lodgings. Enter SIR CHARLES and LORD MORELOVE. Lord Mor. Charles, you have transported me! you have made my part in the scene so very easy, too, 'tis impossible I should fail in it. Sir Cha. That's what I considered; for, now, the more you throw yourself into her power, the more I shall be able to force her into yours. Lord Mor. After all, (begging the ladies' pardon) your fine women, like bullies, are only stout when they know their men: a man of an honest courage may fright them into any thing! Well, I am fully instructed, and will about it instantly -Won't you go along with me? Sir Cha. That may not be so proper-besides, I have a little business upon my hands. Lord Mor. Oh, your servant, sir-Good bye to you-you shan't stir. Sir Cha. My lord, your servant-[Exit LORD MOR.] So! now to dispose myself 'till 'tis time to think of my lady Graveairs-Umph! I have no great maw to that business, methinks-I don't find myself in humour enough to come up to the civil things that are usually expected in the making up of an old quarrel-[EDGING crosses the stage.] There goes a warmer temptation by half -Ha! into my wife's bed-chamber, too I question if the jade has any great business there!I have a fancy she has only a mind to be taking the opportunity of nobody's being at home, to make her peace with me-) e-let me see -aye, I shall have time enough to go to her ladyship afterwards-Besides, I want a little sleep, I find-Your young fops may talk of their women of quality-but, to me now, there's a strange agrecable convenience in a creature one is not obliged to say much to upon these occasions. Enter EDGING. [Going. Edg. Did you call me, sir? Sir Cha. Ha! all's right-[Aside.]-Yes, madam, I did call you. [Sits down. Edg. What would you please to have, sir? Sir Cha. Have! Why, I would have you grow a good girl, and know when you are well used, hussy. Edg. Sir, I don't complain of any thing, not I. Sir Cha. Well, don't be uneasy-I am not angry with you now- Come and kiss me. Edg. Lard, sir! Sir Cha. Don't be a fool, now-Come hither. Edg. Pshaw [Goes to him. Sir Cha. No wry face-so-sit down. I won't have you look grave neither; let me see you smile, you jade, you. Edg. Ha, ha! [Laughs and blushes. Sir Cha. Ah, you melting rogue! Edg. Come, don't you be at your tricks now -Lard, can't you sit still and talk with one! I am sure there's ten times more love in that, and fifty times the satisfaction, people may say what they will. Sir Cha. Well! now you're good, you shall have your own way-I am going to lie down in the next room; and, since you love a little chat, come and throw my night-gown over me, and you shall talk me to sleep. [Exit SIR CHARLES. Edg. Yes, sir,for all his way, I see he likes me still. [Exit after him. SCENE III-Changes to the Terrace. Enter LADY BETTY, LADY EASY, and LORD MORELOVE. Lord Mor. Nay, madam, there you are too severe upon him; for, bating now and then a little vanity, my lord Foppington does not want wit sometimes to make him a very tolerable woman's man. Lady Bet. But such eternal vanity grows tire some. Lady Easy. Come, if he were not so loose in his morals, his vanity, methinks, might be easily excused, considering how much 'tis in fashion": for, pray observe what's half the conversation of most of the fine young people about town, but a perpetual affectation of appearing foremost in the knowledge of manners, new modes, and scandal? and, in that, I don't see any body comes up to him. Lord Mor. Nor I, indeed and here he comes -Pray, madam, let's have a little more of him; nobody shews him to more advantage than your ladyship. Lady Bet. Nay, with all my heart; you'll second me, my lord. Lord Mor. Upon occasion, madamLady Easy. Engaging upon parties, my lord? [Aside, and smiling to LORD MOR. Enter LORD FOPPINGTON. Lord Fop. So, ladies! what's the affair now? Lady Bet. Why, you were, my lord! I was allowing you a great many good qualities; but lady Easy says you are a perfect hypocrite; and that, whatever airs you give yourself to the women, she's confident you value no woman in the world equal to your own lady. Lord Fop. You sec, madam, how I am scandalized upon your account. But, it is so natural for a prude to be malicious, when a man endeavour to be well with any body but herself-did you ever observe she was piqued at that before? ha, ha! Lady Bet. I'll swear you are a provoking crea ture. Lord Fop. Let's be more familiar upon't, and the chaises; we must make a little more haste, give her disorder! ha, ha! madam. Lady Bet. Ha, ha, ha! Lord Fop. Stap my breath, but lady Easy is an admirable discoverer !-Marriage is indeed a prodigious security of one's inclination; a man's likely to take a world of pains in an employment, where he can't be turned out for his idleness. Lady Bet. I vow, my lord, that's vastly generous to all the fine women; you are for giving them a despotic power in love, I see, to reward and punish as they think fit. Lord Fop. Ha, ha! Right, madam; what signifies beauty without power? And a fine woman, when she's married, makes as ridiculous a figure, as a beaten general marching out of a garrison. Lady Easy. I'm afraid, lady Betty, the greatest danger in your use of power, would be from a too heedless liberality; you would more mind the man than his merit. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.Changes to SIR CHARLES'S lodgings. Enter LADY EASY, and a Servant. Lady Easy. Is your master come home? Lady Easy. Where is he? Ser. I believe, madam, he's laid down to sleep. Lady Easy. Where's Edging? Bid her get me some wax and paper-stay, it's no matter, now I think on it-there's some above upon my toilette. [Exeunt severally. SCENE V. Lord Fop. Piqued again, by all that's fretful!— Well, certainly, to give envy is a pleasure inex-two easy chairs. Then enters LADY EASY, who pressible. [TO LADY BETTY, Lady Bet. Ha, ha! Lady Easy. Does not she show him well, my lord? [Aside to LORD MOR. Lord Mor. Perfectly, and me to myselfI almost blush to think I ever was un[TO LADY EASY. Lord Fop. Lady Easy, I ask ten thousand pardons; I'm afraid I am rude all this while. For now, easy at him. Lady Easy. Oh, not at all, my lord; you are always good company, when you please not but in some things, indeed, you are apt to be like other fine gentlemen, a little too loose in your principles. Lord Fop. Oh, madam, never to the offence of the ladies; I agree in any community with them; nobody is a more constant churchman, when the fine women are there. Lady Easy. Oh fy, my lord! you ought not to go for their sakes at all! And I wonder, you that are for being such a good husband of your virtues, are not afraid of bringing your prudence into a lampoon, or a play. Lady Bet. Lampoons and plays, madam, are only things to be laughed at. Lord Fop. Odso! ladies, the court's coming home, I see; shall not we make our bows? Lady Bet. Oh, by all means! Lady Easy. Lady Betty, I must leave you; for I am obliged to write letters; and I know you won't give me time after supper. Lady Bet. Well, my dear, I'll make a short visit, and be with you. [Erit LADY EASY.] Pray, what's become of my lady Graveairs? Lord Mor. Oh, I believe she's gone home, madam; she seemed not to be very well. Lord Fop. And where's sir Charles, my lord? Lord Mor. I left him at his own lodgings. Lady Bet. He's upon some ramble, I'm afraid. Lord Fop. Nay, as for that matter, a man may ramble at home sometimes-But, here come Opens, and discovers SIR CHARLES without his periwig, and EDGING by him, both asleep, in starts and trembles, some time unable to speak. Lady Easy. Ha! protect me, virtue, patience, reason! Teach me to bear this killing sight, or let And, barefaced, front him with my wrongs. And duty, too, forbids me to insult, But Heaven best knows what both of us de serve: Ha! bare-headed, and in so sound a sleep! But Heaven offended may o'ertake his crime, [Takes a steinkirk off her neck, and lays it And, if he should wake offended at my too busy care, let my heart-breaking patience, duty, and my fond affection, plead my pardon. [Exit. [After she has been out some time, a bell rings; Edg. Oh! EDGING wakes, and stirs SIR CHARLES.] Sir Cha. How now! what's the matter? Edg. Oh, bless my soul! my lady's come home. Sir Cha. Go, go, then. Edg. Indeed, I always thought it would become your ladyship better without it——— But, now, suppose, madam, you carried another row of gold round the scollops, and then you take and lay this silver plain all along the gathers, and your ladyship will perfectly see, it will give the thing ten thousand times another air. Lady Easy. Prithee, don't be impertinent; do as I bid you. Edg. Nay, madam, with all my heart; your ladyship may do as you please. Lady Easy. This creature grows so confident; and I dare not part with her, lest he should think it jealousy. [Aside. [Bell rings. Edg. Oh, lud! my head's in such a condition, too. [Runs to the glass.] I am coming, madamOh, lud! here's no powder, neither—Here, madam. [Erit. Sir Cha. How now? [Feeling the steinkirk upon his head.] What's this? How came it here? [Puts on his wig.] Did not I see my wife wear this to-day?-Death! she can't have been here, sure-It could not be jealousy that brought her home-for my coming was accidental-so, too, I fear, was hers-How careless have I been?-not to secure the door, neither-Twas foolish-It must be so! She certainly has seen me here sleeping with her woman: if so, how low an hypocrite to her must that sight have proved me! The thought has made me despicable, even to myself -How mean a vice is lying, and how often have these empty pleasures lulled my honour and my conscience to lethargy, while I grossly have abused her, poorly skulking behind a thousand falsehoods!--Now I reflect, this has not been the first of her discoveries-How contemptible a figure must I have made to her! A crowd of recollected Edg. Yes, sir, it's pretty enough for that matcircumstances confirms me now, she has beenter; but my lady has a mind it should be proper, long acquainted with my follies; and yet, with what amazing prudence has she borne the secret pangs of injured love, and wore an everlasting smile to me! This asks a little thinking-something should be doue-I'll see her instantly, and be resolved from her behaviour. Exit. SCENE VI-Changes to another room. Enter LADY EASY, and EDGING. Lady Easy. How guilt confounds her! but she's below my thought-Fetch my last new sack hither I have a mind to alter it a little-make haste Edg. Yes, madam-- -I see she does not suspect any thing. [Exit. Lady Easy. Heigh ho! [Sitting down.] I had forgot-but I'm unfit for writing now- Twas an hard conflict—yet it's a joy to think it over: a secret pride, to tell my heart my conduct has :been just- -How low are vicious minds, that offer injuries! how much superior innocence, that bears them! Still there's a pleasure, even in the melancholy of a quiet conscience-Away, my fears, it is not yet impossible-for, while his huma. nature is not quite shook off, I ought not to despair. Re-enter EDGING, with a Sack. Enter SIR CHARLES. Sir Cha. So, my dear! What, at work! how are you employed, pray? Lady Easy. I was thinking to alter this sack here. Sir Cha. What's amiss? Methinks it's very pretty too. Sir Cha. Indeed! Lady Easy. I fancy plain gold and black would become me better. Sir Cha. That's a grave thought, my dear. Edg. O, dear sir, not at all; my lady's much in, the right; I am sure, as it is, it's fit for nothing but a girl. Sir Cha. Leave the room. Edg. Lord, sir! I can't stir-I must stay toSir Cha. Go[Angrily. Edg. [Throwing down the work hastily, and crying, aside.] If ever I speak to him again, I'll be burned! [Exit EDGING. Sir Cha. Sit still, my dear-I came to talk with you-and, which you well may wonder at, what I have to say is of importance, too; but it is in order to my hereafter always talking kindly to you. Lady Easy. Your words were never disobliging, nor can I charge you with a look that ever had the appearance of being unkind. Sir Cha. The perpetual spring of your good humour lets me draw no merit from what I have appeared to be, which makes me curious now to know your thoughts of what I really am: and never having asked you this before, it puzzles me: nor can I (my strange negligence considered) reconcile to reason your first thought of venturing upon marriage with me. Lady Easy. I never thought it such a hazard. Sir Cha. How could a woman of your restraint in principles, sedateness, sense, and tender disposition, propose to lead an happy life with one (now I reflect) that hardly took an hour's pains, even before marriage, to appear but what I am : a loose, unheeded wretch, absent in all I do, ci |