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Thence flows the gay chat, more than reason that charms;
The eloquent blush, that can beauty improve ;
The fond sigh, the fond vow, the soft touch that alarms,
The tender disdain, the renewal of love.

Ye fair, take the cestus, and practise its art;

The mind unaccomplish'd, mere features are vain, Exert your sweet pow'r, you will conquer each heart,

And the loves, joys, and graces, shall walk in your train.

Love. My poetry is infinitely obliged to you for the embellishments your voice and manner confer upon it. Mrs. Eell. O, fulsome!-I sing horridly, and I look horridly. [Goes to the glass.] How do I look, my lord? -But don't tell me I won't be told.-I see you are studying a compliment, and I hate compliments;well, what is it? let's hear your compliment-why don't you compliment me?—I won't hear it now.— But pray now, how came you to choose so grave a subject as counubial happiness?

Love. Close and particular that question.

[Aside.

Mrs. Bell. Well, upon my word, you have drawn your picture so well in this little song, that one would imagine you had a wife at home to sit for it.

Love. Ma'am-[Embarrassed.] the compliment-ayou are but laughing at me-I-I-I-Zounds! I am afraid she begins to suspect me-[Aside.] A very scanty knowledge of the world will serve: and—and there is no need of one's own experience in these cases :-and when you, madam, are the original, it is no wonder that this copy

Mrs. Bell. O lard, you are going to plague me again with your odious solicitations, but I won't hear them ;you must be gone. If I should be weak enough to listen to you, what would become of Sir Brilliant Fashion?

Love. Sir Brilliant Fashion!

Mrs. Bell. Yes, don't you know Sir Brilliant Fashion?

Love. No, ma'am, I don't know the gentleman:-I beg pardon, if he is your acquaintance, but from what I have heard of him, I should not choose him to be among my intimates.

Enter MIGNIONET, in a violent hurry.

Mig. O, undone! undone !

Mrs. Bell. What's the matter?

Mig. O lud! I am frightened out of

my

senses

The poor lady-Where's the hartshorn drops?—
Love. The lady! What lady?

Mig. Never stand asking what ladyshe has fainted away, ma'am, all of a sudden.-Give me the drops.

[Exit.

Mrs. Bell. Let me run to her assistance.-Adieu, my lord, I shall be at home in the evening.-My lord, you'll excuse me; I expect you in the evening. [Exit,

Love. I shall wait on you, ma'am.-What a villain am I to carry on this scheme against so much beauty, innocence, and merit!-Ay, and to have the impudence to assume this badge of honour, to cover the most unwarrantable purposes !—But no reflection-have her I must, and that quickly too. If I don't prevail soon, I am undone-she'll find me out :-egad, I'll be with her betimes this evening, and press her with all the vehemence of love. Women have their soft, unguarded moments, and who knows?-But to take the advantage of the openness and gaiety of her heart! And then, my friend Sir Brilliant, will it be fair to supplant him? Pr'ythee, be quiet, my dear conscience; don't you be meddling; don't you interrupt a gentleman in his amusements. Don't you know, my good friend, that love has no respect of persons, knows no laws of friendship-besides, 'tis all my wife's fault-why don't she strive to make home agreeable?

For foreign pleasures, foreign joy, I roam,
No thought of peace or happiness at home.

[Going.

[SIR BRILLIANT is heard singing within.]

What the devil is Madam Fortune at now?-Sir Brilliant, by all that's odious!—No place to conceal in !— No escape! The door is lock'd!-Mignionet, Mignionet! open the door!

Mignionet. [Within.] You can't come in here, sir.

Love. This cursed star, and this ribband, will ruin me.-Let me get off this confounded tell-tale evidence. [Takes off the ribband in a hurry.

Enter SIR BRilliant.

Sir Bril. My dear madam, I most heartily rejoice -Ha!-Lovemore!

Love. Your slave, Sir Brilliant, your slave—

[Hiding the star with his hat. Sir Bril. How is this?—I did not think you had been acquainted here!

Love. I came to look for you,-I thought to have found you here;-and so I have scrap'd an acquaintance with the lady, and made it subservient to your purposes. I have been giving a great character of

you.

Sir Bril. Well, but what's the matter?-What are you fumbling about? [Pulls the hat. Love, 'Sdeath, have a care!-for heaven's sake[Crams his handkerchief there.

Sir Bril. What the devil ails you? Love. Taken so unaccountably; my old complaint

Sir Bril. What complaint?

Love. I must have a surgeon,-occasioned by the stroke of a tennis-ball;-my Lord Rackett's unlucky left hand.-Let me pass-there is something forming there-let me pass.-To be caught is the devil.[Aside.] Don't name my name, you'll ruin all that I said for you, if you do.-Sir Brilliant, your servant

-There is certainly something forming. [Exit.

Sir Bril. Something forming there-I believe there is something forming here!-What can this mean?I must have this explain'd.-Then Mrs. Lovemore's suspicions are right; I must come at the bottom of it,

Enter MRS. BELLMOUR.

My dear Mrs. Bellmour!

Mrs. Bell. Heavens! What brings you here? Sir Bril. I congratulate with myself upon the felicity of meeting you thus at home.

Mrs. Bell. Your visit is unseasonable-you must be gone.

Sir Bril. Madam, I have a thousand things-
Mrs. Bell. Well, well, another time.

Sir Bril. Of the tenderest import.

Mrs. Bell. I can't hear you now ;-fly this moment! -I have a lady taken ill in the next room.

Sir Bril. Ay, and you have had a gentleman taken ill here too.

Mrs. Bell. Do you dispute my will and pleasure!— fly this instant. [Turns him out.] So-I'll make sure of the door.

Enter MRS. LOVEMORE, leaning on MIGNIONET. Mig. This way, madam, here's more air in this room. Mrs. Bell. How do you find yourself, ma'am? Pray sit down. [She sits. Mrs. Love. My spirits are too weak to bear up any longer against such a scene of villainy.

Mrs. Bell. Villainy! What villainy?

Mrs. Love. Of the blackest dye!—I see, madam, you are acquainted with my husband.

Mrs. Bell. Acquainted with your husband!

Mrs. Love. A moment's patience;-that gentleman

that was here with you, is my husband!

Mrs. Bell. Lord Etheridge your husband?

[Rises.

Mrs. Love. Lord Etheridge, as he calls himself, and

as you have been made to call him also, is no other than Mr. Lovemore.

Mrs. Bell. And has he then been base enough to assume that title, to ensnare me to my undoing?

Mrs. Love. To see my husband carrying on this dark business,―to see the man I have loved-the man I have esteem'd-the man I am afraid I must still love, though esteem him again I cannot, to be a witness to his complicated wickedness, it was too much for sensibility like mine-I felt the shock too severely, and sunk under it.

Mrs. Bell. I am ready to do the same myself nowI sink into the very ground with amazement. The first time I ever saw him, was at Mrs. Loveit's-she introduced him to me; the appointment was of her own making.

Mrs. Love. You know her character, I suppose, madam?

Mrs. Bell. She's a woman of fashion, and sees a great deal of good company.

Mrs. Love. Very capable of such an action for all that.

Mrs. Bell. Well, I could never have imagined that any woman would be so base as to pass such a cheat upon me.-Step this moment and give orders never to let him within my doors again. [Exit MIGNIONET.] I am much obliged to you, madam, for this visit ;-to me it is highly fortunate, but I am sorry for your share in't, as the discovery brings you nothing but the conviction of your husband's baseness.

Mrs. Love. I am determined to be no further uneasy about him; nor will I live a day longer under his roof. Mrs. Bell. Hold! hold! make no violent resolutions. -You'll excuse me-I can't help feeling for you, and I think this incident may be still converted to your advantage.

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Mrs. Love. That can never be-I am lost beyond redemption.

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