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ing the Bag from him] But she is not at leisure to examine it now: so you must bid Mr. What-d'ye-callum call another time.

Lady T. What is all that noise there?

Pound. Why, and it please your ladyship—— Lady T. Pr'ythee don't plague me now; but do as you were ordered.

Pound. Nay, what your ladyship pleases, madam.

[Exit. Mrs. T. There they are, madam-[Pours the Money out of the Bag] The pretty things—were so near falling into a nasty tradesman's hands, I protest it made me tremble for them!--I fancy your ladyship had as good give me that bad guinea, for luck's sake-thank you, ma'am. [Takes a Guinea. Lady T. Why, I did not bid you take it. Mrs. T. No; but your ladyship looked as if you were just going to bid me; and so I was willing to save you the trouble of speaking, madam.

Lady T. Well, thou hast deserved it; and so, for once [Noise without] But hark! don't I hear the man making a noise yonder?

Mrs. T. I'll listen.
Lady T. Pr'ythee do.

Mrs. T. [Goes to the Door] Ay, they are at it, madam -he's in a bitter passion with poor Poundage-Bless me! I believe he'll beat him.

[A Man's Voice without] I won't swear, but damn me if I don't have my money.

Mrs. T. Mercy on us, how the wretch swears! Lady T. And a sober citizen too! that's a shame. Mrs. T. Ha! I think all's silent, of a sudden-may be the porter has knocked him down-I'll step and see. [Exit. Lady T. These tradespeople are the troublesomest creatures! No words will satisfy them!

Re-enter MRS. TRUSTY.

Mrs. T. Oh, madam! undone! undone! My lord has just bolted out upon the man, and is hearing all his

pitiful story over-If your ladyship pleases to come hither, you may hear him yourself.

Lady T. No matter; it will come round presently; 1 shall have it from my lord, without losing a word by the way, I'll warrant you.

Mrs. T. Oh lud, madam! here's my lord just coming in!

Lady T. Do you get out of the way, then. [Exit Mrs. Trusty] I am afraid I want spirits; but he will soon give them me.

Enter LORD TOWNLY.

Lord T. How comes it, madam, that a tradesman dares be clamorous in my house, for money due to him from you?

Lady T. You don't expect, my lord, that I should answer for other people's impertinence!

Lord T. I expect, madam, you should answer for your own extravagancies, that are the occasion of it; I thought I had given you money, three months ago, to satisfy all these sort of people.

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Lady T. Yes; but you see they never are to be satisfied.

Lord T. Nor am I, madam, longer to be abused thus -what's become of the last five hundred I gave you? Lady T. Gone.

Lord T. Gone! what way, madain?

Lady T. Half the town over, I believe, by this time. Lord T. "Tis well; I see ruin will make no impression, till it falls upon you.

Lady T. In short, my lord, if money is always the subject of our conversation, I shall make you no answer. Lord T. Madam, madam, I will be heard, and make you answer.

Lady T. Make me! Then I must tell you, my lord, this is a language I have not been used to, and I won't

bear it.

Lord T. Come, come, madam, you shall bear a great deal more, before I part with you.

Lady T. My lord, if you insult me, you will have as much to bear on your side, I can assure you.

Lord T. Pooh! your spirit grows ridiculous!— you have neither honour, worth, or innocence to support it.

Lady T. You'll find at least I have resentment; and do you look well to the provocation.

Lord T. After those you have given me, madam, 'tis almost infamous to talk with you.

Lady T. I scorn your imputation and your menaces. The narrowness of your heart is your monitor-'tis there, there, my lord, you are wounded; you have less to complain of than many husbands of an equal rank to you.

Lord T. Death, madam! do you presume upon your corporeal merit, that your person's less tainted than your mind? Is it there, there alone, an honest husband can be injured? Have you not every other vice that can debase your birth or stain the heart of woman? Is not your health, your beauty, husband, fortune, family disclaimed-for nights consumed in riot and extravagance? The wanton does no more-if she conceals her shame, does less; and sure the dissolute avowed, as sorely wrongs my honour and my quiet.

Lady T. I see, my lord, what sort of wife might please you.

Lord T. Ungrateful woman! could you have seen yourself, you in yourself had seen her-I am amazed 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

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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 MANLY.

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

Man. 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.

Man. 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 supplied, but not one article to luxury-not even the coach, that waits to carry you from hence, shall 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 bring 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.

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, ob, how bitter now the disappointment!

Man. The world is different in its sense of happiness; offended as you are, I know you will still be just.

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