our legislature has left no precedent of a divorce, for this more visible injury, this adultery of the mind, as well as that of the person! When a woman's whole heart is alienated to pleasures I have no share in, what is it to me, whether a black ace, or a powdered coxcomb, has possession of it?

Lady T. If you have not found it yet, my lord, this is not the way to get possession of mine, depend upon it.

Lord T. That, madam, I have long despaired of; and, since our happiness cannot be mutual, 'tis fit, that, with our hearts, our persons too, should separate.This house you sleep no more in; though your content might grossly feed upon the dishonour of a husband, yet my desires would starve upon the features of a wife.

Lady T. Your style, my lord, is much of the same delicacy with your sentiments of honour! Lord T. Madam, madam, this is no time for compliments I have done with you.

Lady T. Done with me! If we had never met, my lord, I had not broke my heart for it--but have a care; I may not, perhaps, be so easily recalled as you may imagine.

Lord T. Recalled! Who's there?

Enter WILLIAMS.

Desire my sister and Mr. Manly to walk up.

[Exit WILLIAMS. Lady T. My lord, you may proceed as you please; but, pray, what indiscretions have I committed, that are not daily practised by a hundred other women of quality?

Lord T. 'Tis not the number of ill wives, madam, that makes the patience of a husband less contemptible; and, though a bad one may be the best man's lot, yet he'll make a better figure in the world, that keeps his

misfortunes out of doors, than he that tamely keeps them within.

Lady T. I don't know what figure you may make, my lord; but I shall have no reason to be ashamed of mine, in whatever company I may meet you.

Lord T. Be sparing of your spirit, madam; you'll need it to support you.

Enter LADY GRACE and MR. MANLY.

Mr. Manly, I have an act of friendship to beg of you, which wants more apologies, than words can make for it.

Manly. Then, pray, make none, my lord, that I may have the greater merit in obliging you.

Lord T. Sister, I have the same excuse to entreat of you too.

Lady G. To your request, I beg, my lord.

Lord T. Thus then-As you both were present at my ill-considered marriage, I now desire you each will be a witness of my determined separation-I know, sir, your good-nature, and my sister's, must be shocked at the office I impose on you; but, as I don't ask your justification of my cause, so, I hope, you are conscious, that an ill woman can't reproach you, if you are silent

on her side.

Manly. My lord, I never thought, till now, it could be difficult to oblige you.

Lord T. For you, my Lady Townly, I need not here repeat the provocations of my parting with you-the world, I fear, is too well informed of them-For the good lord, your dear father's sake, I will still support you as his daughter.-As the Lord Townly's wife, you have had every thing a fond husband could bestow, and, to our mutual shame I speak it, more than happy wives desire-But those indulgencies must end-state, equipage, and splendour, but ill become the vices that misuse them-The decent necessaries of life shall be sup

plied, but not one article to luxury-not even the coach, that waits to carry you from hence, shali you ever use again. Your tender aunt, my Lady Lovemore, with tears, this morning, has consented to receive you; where, if time, and your condition, brings you to a due reflection, your allowance shall be increased-but, if you still are lavish of your little, or pine for past licentious pleasures, that little shall be less; nor will I call that soul my friend, that names you in my hearing. Lady G. My heart bleeds for her!

[Aside. Lord T. Oh, Manly, look there! turn back thy thoughts with me, and witness to my growing love.— There was a time, when I believed that form incapable of vice, or of decay; there I proposed the partner of an easy home; there I, for ever, hoped to find a cheerful companion, a faithful friend, a useful helpmate, and a tender mother-but, oh, how bitter now the disappointment!

Manly. The world is different in its sense of happiness; offended as you are, I know you will still be just. Lord T. Fear me not.

Manly. This last reproach, I see, has struck her!

[Aside. Lord T. No, let me not, (though I this moment cast her from my heart for ever) let me not urge her punishment beyond her crimes—I know the world is fond of any tale that feeds its appetite of scandal ;—and as I am conscious, severities of this kind, seldom fail of imputations too gross to mention, I here, before you both, acquit her of the least suspicion raised against the honour of my bed. Therefore, when abroad, her conduct may be questioned, do her fame that justice.

Lady T. Oh, sister!

[Turns to LADY GRACE, weeping. Lord T. When I am spoken of, where, without favour, this action may be canvassed, relate but half my provocations, and give me up to censure. [Going.

Lady T. Support me-save me-hide me from the world! [Falling on LADY GRACE's neck. Lord T. [Returning.] I had forgot me You have no share in my resentment; therefore, as you have lived in friendship with her, your parting may admit of gentler terms, than suit the honour of an injured husband. [Offers to go out.

Manly. [Interposing.] My lord, you must not, shall not, leave her thus!-One moment's stay can do your cause no wrong. If looks can speak the anguish of her heart, I'll answer, with my life, there's something labouring in her mind, that, would you bear the hearing, might deserve it.

Lord T. Consider-since we no more can meet, press not my staying to insult her.

Lady T. Yet stay, my lord-the little I would say will not deserve an insult; and, undeserved, I know your nature gives it not. But as you've called in friends to witness your resentment, let them be equal hearers of my last reply.

Lord T. I shan't refuse you that, madam-be it so.

Lady T. My lord, you ever have complained I wanted love; but as you kindly have allowed I never gave it to another, so, when you hear the story of my heart, though you may still complain, you will not wonder, at my coldness.

Manly. This, my lord, you are concerned to hear.
Lord T. Proceed-I am attentive.

Lady T. Before I was your bride, my lord, the flattering world had talked me into beauty; which, at my glass, my youthful vanity confirmed. Wild with that fame, I thought mankind my slaves-I triumphed over hearts, while all my pleasure was their pain: yet was my own so equally insensible to all, that, when a father's firm commands enjoined me to make choice of one, I even there declined the liberty he gave, and, to his own election, yielded up my youth-his tender

care, my lord, directed him to you-Our hands were joined, but still my heart was wedded to its folly :My only joy was power, command, society, profuseness, and to lead in pleasures.-The husband's right to rule, I thought a vulgar law, which only the deformed or meanly spirited obeyed.-I knew no directors, but my passions; no master, but my will.-Even you, my lord, sometime o'ercome by love, were pleased with my delights; nor then foresaw this mad misuse of your indulgence. And, though I call myself ungrateful while I own it, yet as a truth, it cannot be denied, that, kind indulgence has undone me; it added strength to my habitual failings, and, in a heart thus warm in wild, unthinking life, no wonder if the gentler sense of love was lost.

Lord T. Oh, Manly! where has this creature's heart been buried?

[Apart.

Manly. If yet recoverable, how vast the treasure!

[Apart.

Lady T. What I have said, my lord, is not my excuse, but my confession; my errors, (give them, if you please, a harder name) cannot be defended-No, what's in its nature wrong, no words can palliate-no plea can alter! What then remains in my condition, but resignation to your pleasure? Time only can convince you of my future conduct: therefore, till I have lived an object of forgiveness, I dare not hope for pardon-The penance of a lonely, contrite life, were little to the innocent; but, to have deserved this separation, will strew perpetual thorns upon my pillow.-Sister, farewell! [Kissing her.] Your virtue needs no warning from the shame that falls on me; but when you think I have atoned my follies past, persuade your injured brother to forgive them.

Lord T. No, madam! your errors, thus renounced, this instant are forgotten!-Long parted friends, that pass through easy voyages of life, receive but common