SCENE I.-A Hall in Sir JOHN LAMBERT'S House. Sir JOHN LAMBERT enters, followed by Colonel LAMBERT.

Col. Lamb. PRAY consider, sir.

Sir J. Lamb. So I do, sir, that I am her father, and will dispose of her as I please.

Col. Lamb. I do not dispute your authority, sir; but as I am your son too, I think it my duty to be concerned for your honour. Have not you countenanced his addresses to my sister? Has not she received them ?--Mr Darnley's birth and fortune are well known to you; and, I dare swear, he may defy the world to lay a blemish on his character.

VOL. IV.

Col. Lamb. Pardon me, sir, I am none: it is a character I abhor; and, next to that, I abhor the character of an enthusiast.

Sir J. Lamb. Oh you do so; an enthusiast! --this is the fashionable phrase, the bye-word, the nick-name, that our pleasure-loving generation cive to those few who have a sense of true sanctity.

Lamb. Say canting, sir..

Sir J. Lamb. I tell you what, son, as I have told you more than once, you will draw some heavy judgment on your head one day or other.

Col. Lamb. So says the charitable Dr Cantwell: you have taken him into your house, and, in return, he gives over half your family to the

devil.

Sir J. Lamb. Do not abuse the doctor, colonel; it is not the way to my favour. I know you cannot bear him, because he is not one of your mincing preachers.--He holds up the glass to your enormities, shows you to yourselves in your genuine colours.

Col. Lamb. I always respect piety and virtue, sir; but there are pretenders to religion, as well as to courage; and as we never find the truly brave to be such as make much noise about their valour, so, I apprehend, the truly good seldom or never deal much in grimace.-To be candid, sir. I make a distinction between hypocrisy and devotion, and can never pay the same regard to the mask, that I would to the face.

Sir J. Lamb. Very well, sir; this is very well. Col. Lamb. Besides, sir, I would be glad to know by what authority the doctor pretends to exercise the clerical function. It does not appear clearly to me that he ever was in orders.

Sir J. Lamb. That is no business of yours, sir ---But I am better informed. However, he has the call of zeal.

Coi. Lumb, Zeal! Sir J. Lamb. Why, colonel, you are in a passion.

Col. Lamb. I own I cannot see with temper, sir, so many religious mountebanks impose upon the unwary multitude; wretches, who make a trade of religion, aud shew an uncommon concern for the next world, only to raise their fortunes with greater security in this.

Sir J. Lamb. Colonel, let me hear no more: I see you are too hardened to be converted now; but since you think it your duty as a son to be concerned for my errors, I think it as much mine, as a father, to be concerned for yours. If you think fit to amend them, so; if not, take the consequence.

Col. Lamb. Well, sir, may I ask you without offence, if the reasons you have given me are your only reasons for discountenancing Mr Darnley's addresses to my sister?

Sir J. Lamb, Are they not flagrant? Would you have me marry my daughter to a pagan ?

Col. Lamb. He intends this morning paying his respects to you, in hopes to outain your final consent; and desired me to be present as a mediator of articles between you.

Sister, good morrow; I want to speak with you.

Char. Pr'ythee then, dear brother, don't put on that wise politic face, as if your regiment was going to be disbanded, or sent to the West-Indies, and you obliged to follow it.

Col. Lamb. Come, come, a truce with your raillery; what I have to ask of you is serious, and I beg you would be so in your answer.

Charl. Well then, provided it is not upon the subject of love, I will be so-but make haste too -for I have not had my tea yet.

Col. Lamb. Why, it is, and it is not, upon that subject.

Charl. Oh, I love a riddle dearly-Comelet's hear it.

Col. Lamb. Nay, psha! if you will be serious,

say so.

Charl. O lard, sir; I beg your pardon-there -there's my whole form and features totally disengaged, and lifeless, at your service; now, put them in what posture of attention you think fit. [Leaning against him awi ckwardly. Col. Lamb. Was there ever such a giddy devil! -Pr'ythee stand up. I have been talking with my father, and he declares positively you shall not receive any further addresses from Mr Darnley.

Charl. Are you serious?

Col. Lamb. He said so this minute, and with some warmth.

Charl. I am glad on't with all my heart.
Col. Lamb. How! glad!

Charl. To a degree. Do you think a man has any more charms for me for my father's liking him? No, sir; if Mr Darnley can make his way to me now, he is obliged to me, and to me only. Besides, now it may have the face of an amour indeed, now one has something to struggle for; there's difficulty, there's danger, there's the dear spirit of contradiction in it too-Oh! I like it mightily.

Col. Lamb. I am glad this does not make you