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Frank. Yes, sir; but you mistake me: I question if any bodies may be compared to that of the city.

Sir G. O! your humble servant, sir; I did not take you-ay, ay, you're right! you're right! Ay, ay, ay, live and learn, Mr. Frankly: you'll find 'tis not your court, but city politicians must do the nation's business at last. Why, what did your courtiers do all the last reigns, but borrow money to make war, and make war to make peace, and make peace to make war: and then to be bullies in one, and bubbles in t'other? A very pretty account truly! But we have made money, man: money! money! there's the health and life-blood of a government: and therefore I insist upon it, that we are the wisest citizens in Europe; for we have coined more cash in an hour, than the Tower of London in twenty years.

Frank. Nay, you govern the world now, it's plain, sir; and truly that makes us hope it's upon the mending hand for since our men of quality are got so thick into Change-alley, who knows but in time a great man's word may go as far as a tradesman's?

Sir G. Ah! a wag, a wag! In troth, Mr. Frankly, the more I know you, the more I like you: I see you know the world; you judge of men by their intrinsic value; and you're right! you're right! titles are empty things. A wise man will always be a wise man, whether he has any title or no.

Frank. Ay, ay, sir, and when a fool gets one, he's only known to be a greater fool.

Sir G. You're right again: besides, sir, shall any man value himself upon a thing that another may buy for his money as well as he? Ridiculous-very pretty business truly, to give ten or twenty thousand pounds, only to be called out of one's name: ha, ha, ha!

Frank. Nay, sir, and perhaps too, losing the privilege of a private subject, that of being believed upon your honour, or trusted upon your word.

Sir G. Honour's a joke! Is not every honest man a man of honour?

Frank. Ay, but the best joke is, that every man of honour is not an honest man, sir.

Sir G. Odsbodlikins, Mr. Frankly, you are an ingenious gentleman, and I must have you into my family, though it cost me twenty thousand pounds to keep that pragmatical fellow out on't.

Frank. "Tis but waiting till the other half year of Witling's contract is expired. 1 dare answer your daughter won't run away with him in the mean time.

Sir G. Ay, but there's the question: is the girl staunch? Are you sure now, that, like a young hound, she may not gallop away with the rank scent of a coxcomb, and so spoil your sport?

Frank. Best examine her yourself, sir.
Sir G. Come hither, Charlotte.

Char. Your pleasure, sir?

Sir G. Are you sure you are as wise as other fine ladies of your age, that know more of mankind than their fathers, and consequently have a natural aversion to all husbands of their choosing? In short, have you learnt enough of the world, to be heartily disobedient upon occasion?

Char. When you please to give me the occasion, sir, I will try what I can do.

Sir G. Humph! she promises fair. [To Frankly aside.]-The girl has wit.-But now, child, the question is whether you have common sense or no, (for they don't always go together.) Are you smoky? Have you all your eye-teeth yet? Are you peery, as the cant is? In short do you know what I would be at now?

Char. Will you give me leave to guess, sir?

Sir G. Out with it.

Char. Why then (I hope at least, sir), you have a mind to make Witling believe, you are doing all in your power to bring his bargain to bear; and at the same time wish I would do all in my power to bring it to nothing.

Sir G. [Aside] It will do! it will do! Mr. Frankly, tell her she's right; you know it is not honest for me to say so: a-hum!

Char. In short, sir, if you'll leave the matter to my discretion, I'll engage to bring you off.

Sir G. Bring me off, hussy! why, have you the

confidence to suppose I won't do the fair thing by the gentleman?

Char. I have not the confidence to suppose you would do a hard thing by this gentleman, indeed, papa!

Sir G. What a sensible assurance the slut has! ab! it's a wheedling toad! [Aside] Adod! I'll have a little more of her. But do you know, lady, that Mr. Witling has demanded my consent, and that it will cost me above twenty thousand pounds to refuse it?

Char. Yes, sir, I do know it; and if I were to give him my consent, I know that I should have much the worst bargain of the two.

Sir G. Your consent! why sure, madam, when I say, do so, do you pretend to have a will of your own? Char. Umph! a little! a small pulse, you know, рара. [Fawning on Sir Gilbert. Sir G. Ah, the coaxing gipsy! why, you confident, abominable- -Odsheart! I could kiss her.

Frank. Faith, do, sir; that's no breach of your

contract.

Sir G. No! no! that's not fair neither; I am to be angry with her-besides, I don't keep my word, if I don't speak a good one for him.

Char. That's not in your power, sir; 'tis impossible any one can give him a good word, at least to me.

Sir G. How! how! will not a handsome young fellow, with an hundred thousand pounds in his pocket, go down with you? Will not a full plum melt in your mouth, mistress Dainty?

Char. Thank you, sir; but I don't love trash!
Sir G. Trash! Mr. Witling, trash!

Char. A coxcomb.

Sir G. I say he is

Char. My aversion.

Sir G. Bear witness, Mr. Frankly, she refuses him you see all I say signifies nothing: but I say again and again, that I am resolved, madam, you shall marry him, and that articles shall be drawn this very morning.

Char. But do you think you can't persuade him to stay a little, sir?'

Sir G. Stay! yes, yes, a reasonable time that is. Char. You'll think it a reasonable one, I am sure, sir. Sir G. Well! well! how long?

Char. Only till I have done hating him, that's all. Sir G. Pshaw! fiddle faddle! marry him first, and you'll have time enough to hate him afterwards.

Char. Well, sir, then I have but one favour to beg of you

Sir G. Come, what is't, what is't?

Char. Only, sir, that in the draught of the articles, you will be pleased to leave a blank for the gentleman's name; and if I don't fill it up to your mind, say I know nothing of my own.

Mr.

Sir G. Fie! fie! you wicked thing you Frankly, it will do! it will do! the girl has all her goings! keep her right, keep her right and tight; and I'll warrant thee all safe, boy.

Frank. Never fear, sir.-Now there's but one difficulty behind; were it but possible to make my lady our friend in this matter

Sir G. Pshaw! waw! never mind her; am not 1 master of my own family? Does she not know that my will's a law? and if I once say the word

Frank. That's true, sir; but she'll think herself affronted, take it as an insult to her understanding, not to be let into the secret at all.

Char. Indeed, sir, am afraid we shall have a foul house, if she is not consulted in the business.

Sir G. Nay, nay, with all my heart; but the foolish woman always loves to dispute about nothing; aud such a spirit of contradiction runs away with her, I had as lief sit in the stocks as talk to her; however, for your private satisfaction——

Frank. Indeed, sir, I think it will be better so. Sir G. Well, well, then I'll tell her my resolution instantly.

Char. Ah, poor papa! what a wicked distress have we brought him to! now will he rather run upon the mouth of a cannon, than let us see he is afraid of gunpowder.

it.

Frank. How my lady will bounce when he mentions

[Aside. Sir G. Oh, here's my lady; I'll speak to her now. Frank. If you please, we'll retire, that you may have no interruption.

Sir G. Do so, you're right. [Exeunt Frank. and Char. Enter LADY WRANGLE, driving a Maid Servant in before her.

Lady W. Out of my doors, you dunce! you illiterate monster! What! could you not read? Could not you spell? Where were your eyes, you brainless idiot?

Sir G. Hey-day! hey-day! What's the matter now? Lady W. Go, you eleventh plague of Egypt.

Maid. Indeed, madam, I did not know it was of any use; it was so blotted and blurred, I took it for waste paper.

Lady W. Blurred! you driveller! Was ever any piece perfect that had not corrections, rasures, interlineations, and improvements? Does not the very original show, that when the mind is warmest, it is never satisfied with its words?

Incipit, et dubitat; scribit, damnatque tabellas,

Et notat, et delet; mutat, culpatque probatque. Sir G. Oh, lord! now the learned fit's upon her, the devil won't be able to deal with her.

[Aside. Lady W. What have you done with it, you dolthead? Where is it? Fetch it; let me see it, I say. Sir G. Pray, my lady Wrangle, what is all this rout about?

Lady W. Oh, nothing, to be sure! I am always unreasonable.

Sir G. Why, look you now, did I say any such thing?

Lady W. I don't care if you did.

Sir G. It's very hard a man may not ask a civil question in his own house.

Lady W. Ay, do, side with her, take her part; do, do, uphold her in her impudence.

Sir G. Why, my lady, did I say a word to her?

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