know it will content Sir Anthony barely to be re

stored to my good graces.

Enter a Servant.

Serv. Sir Anthony Branville is below, my lord !
Lord Med. I'll wait on him.

Lady Med. Dear my lord, suffer him to be conducted in here.

Mrs. Knight. My lord, I have a design of stealing him from Miss Medway, I assure you.

Lord Med. Oh, I see you have been plotting— Desire Sir Anthony to walk up-Louisa, on this joyful day I must not suffer you to wear a look of discontent-You owe all to this lady, and the best of mothers.

Lady Med. Louisa, you had best retire. [Exit Louisa.

Enter Sir ANTHONY, bows low to Lord and Lady Medway, then looks round with surprise.

Sir A. Bran. My lord, I thought my eyes would have been blessed with the sight of my fair mistress.

Mrs. Knight. Then I find it is all over. [Half aside.] What, Sir Anthony, not a look! Have you quite forgot me ?

Sir A. Bran. Ah, madam, that inquiry comes a little of the latest, I do assure you.

Mrs. Knight. I am sorry for it, Sir Anthony.

Sir d. Bran. My lord, I hope your lordship is of opinion that I do not deviate from that fidelity which I owe your excellent daughter, in entering into conference with this lady.

Lord Med. By no means, sir.

Sir A. Bran. I flatter myself I am indulged with your ladyship's favourable construction on the same occasion.

Lady Med. Without doubt, Sir Anthony.

Sir A. Bran. Colonel, I would entreat the favour of being uncensured by you likewise.

Col. Med. Oh, Sir Anthony, the laws of good breeding are not to be dispensed with.

Mrs. Knight. Sir Anthony, I am glad of the opportunity of asking your pardon, in presence of this worthy family, for any part of my behaviour which you may have taken amiss.

Sir A. Bran. Madam, I am not worthy of so great a concession; would to heaven there had never been any occasion given for it!

Mrs. Knight. I wish so too, Sir Anthony; but I find my repentance comes too late.

Sir A. Bran. Repentance! heavens, madam, do you condescend to feel any compunction on the occa

sion ?

Mrs. Knight. I do indeed, Sir Anthony.

Sir A. Bran. Then, madam, I apprehend it will not be so adviseable for me to abide within the reach of your influence; I think I cannot do a wiser thing than to stop my ears against your allurements.

Mrs. Knight. Not till you have first heard me, dear Sir Anthony.

Sir A. Bran. Dear Sir Anthony! [Aside.] I had best depart, Lady Medway.

Lady Med. No, pray stay, good Sir Anthony. Sir A. Bran. There is a great peril in it, I assure your ladyship.

Col. Med. I thought your love for my sister, Sir Anthony, would be a sufficient guard against your relapsing.

Sir A. Bran. Her charms, colonel, I am ready to acknowledge should be an armour of proof; but give me leave to tell you, if there be a vulnerable part about me, this sorceress (craving her pardon for the expression) will certainly find it out.

Mrs. Knight. Sir Anthony, I confess I have been to blame in trifling with a man of your worth; yet I own I did not think you would have taken my little capricious coyness for an absolute refusal of your ad. dresses.

Sir A. Bran. Madam, madam, take care; I am but a man; though I hope not without fortitude to sustain those trials of my virtue and my patience.

Mrs. Knight. 'Tis I, Sir Anthony, who have most need of fortitude-but go, ungrateful as you are.

Sir A. Bran. Do you hear that, my lord? Before Heaven, there never was such an enchantress since the days of Armida.

Lord Med. I am surprised, I confess, Sir Anthony. Sir A. Bran. Well you may, my lord-she is hung round with spells—I do aver it to you I am rooted here; I have not power to stir, my lord.

Col. Med. Bless me, Sir Anthony, that's very strange.

Sir A. Bran. [Walks about.] I use the word but metaphorically, colonel; I have not absolutely lost the use of my limbs, thank Heaven.

Lord Med. Then, Sir Anthony, you had better retire, before it be too late.

Mrs. Knight. Ay do, and carry that love, which was my right, to Miss Medway; but let me tell you, sir, as a punishment for your inconstancy, that her heart is already given away to another.

Sir A. Bran. 'Tis unlawful in you, madam, to slander an innocent lady's reputation.

Mrs. Knight. I speak nothing but the truth, Sir Anthony; and what is more, I know your nephew Branville is the man, and that she is equally beloved by him.

Sir A. Bran. My nephew Branville! oh, heavens, madam, what do you tell me! my lord! my Lady Medway! may I believe what this incomprehensible fair one says?

Lady Med. Sir Anthony, I must own that I believe there is an affection between your nephew, and my daughter.

Sir A. Bran. I am thunder-struck-petrified-con verted into stone.

Lady Med. I think, Sir Anthony, there is nothing so extraordinary in the circumstance.

Sir A. Bran. Madam, there is such a degree of im purity, in the bare imagination of a nuptial so circumstanced, as has, I assure you, totally subverted my whole system.

Col. Med. I am sorry, Sir Anthony, you were not informed of this sooner.

Sir A. Bran. Sir, 'tis not too late to prevent my honour from being stained.

Lord Med. You must judge for yousself in this case, Sir Anthony.

Sir A. Bran. My lord, passionately as I admire the Jady, I would suffer martyrdom, rather than solemnize a marriage under such inauspicious influence.

Col. Med. Sir Anthony, you are not pressed to do it.

Sir A. Bran. [Apart to the Colonel.] Colonel, I am not a man of a sanguinary spirit, but if such a measure is deemed necessary-I am at your service either afoot or on horseback-you understand me.

Col. Med. There is no occasion, I assure you, sir. Sir A. Bran. I am ready-that's all-my alacrity is pretty notorious on those occasions.

Col. Med. For my part I approve of your punctilio intirely.

Sir A. Bran. I am proud of your approbation; my lord, I hope I am honoured with yours, in giving up my pretensions to the fair lady, your daughter.

Lord Med. Sir, you have my free consent.

Mrs. Knight. Then, Sir Anthony, I am sure you have too much generosity not to promote your nephew's happiness, if my lord is willing

Lord Med. I have no objection to Mr. Branville, madam, but Sir Anthony knows my inability to give my daughter a fortune equal to her rank→