founded buckle is always plaguing me. My dear boy, Lovemore! I rejoice to see thee.

[They stand looking at each other. Love. And have you the confidence to look me in the face?

Sir Bril. I was telling your lady, here, of the most whimsical adventure-

Love. Don't add the meanness of falsehood to the black attempt of invading the happiness of your friend. I did imagine, sir, from the long intercourse that has subsisted between us, that you might have had delicacy enough, feeling enough, honour enough, sir, not to meditate an injury like this.

Sir Bril. Ay, 'tis all over, I am detected! [Aside.] Mr. Lovemore, if begging your pardon for this rashness will any ways atone

Love. No, sir, nothing can atone. The provocation you have given me would justify my drawing upon you this instant, did not that lady and this roof protect

you.

Sir Bril. But, Mr. Lovemore

Love. But, sir,

Sir Bril. I only beg

Love. Pray, sir,-Sir I insist; I won't hear a word. Sir Bril. I declare, upon my honour

Love. Honour! for shame, Sir Brilliant, don't mention the word.

Sir Bril. If begging pardon of that lady

Love. That lady!-I desire you will never speak to that lady.

Sir Bril. Nay, but pr'ythee, Lovemore

Love. Po! Po! don't tell me, sir

[Walks about in anger.

Enter SIR BASHFUL.

Sir Bush. Did not I hear loud words among you? I certainly did. What are you quarrelling about?

Love. Read that, Sir Bashful. [Gives him SIR BRILLIANT's letter.] Read that, and judge if I have not [SIR BASHFUL reads to himself. Sir Bril. Hear but what I have to say

cause

Love. No, sir, no; I have done with you for the present. As for you, madam, I am satisfied with your conduct-I was indeed a little alarmed, but I have been a witness of your behaviour, and I am above harbouring low suspicions.

Sir Bash. Upon my word, Mr. Lovemore, this is carrying the jest too far.

Love. Sir!-It is the basest action a gentleman can be guilty of!

Sir Bash. Why, so I think. Sir Brilliant, [Aside.] here, take this letter, and read it to him; his own letter

Sir Bril. Let me have it.

[Takes the letter. Sir Bash. 'Tis indeed, as you say, the worst thing a gentleman can be guilty of.

Love. 'Tis an unparalleled breach of friendship. Sir Bril. Well, I can't see any thing unparalleled in it: I believe it will not be found to be without a precedent-as for example

To my LADY CONSTANT

[Reads.

Why should I conceal, my dear madam, that your

charms have touched my heart?

Love. Zoons! my letter

[Aside..

Sir Bril. [Reading.] I long have loved you, long adored.

Could I but flatter myself

Sir Bash. The basest thing a man can be guilty of, Mr. Lovemore!

Love. All a forgery, sir: all a forgery.

[Snatches the letter.

Sir Bash. That I deny; it is the very identical letter my lady threw away with such indignation.My Lady Constant, how have I wronged you!-That was

the cause of your taking it so much to heart, Mr. Lovemore, was it?

Love. A mere contrivance to palliate his guilt. Po! Po! I won't stay a moment longer among ye. I'll go into another room to avoid ye all. [Opens the door.] Hell and destruction!- what fiend is conjured up here? Zoons! let me make my escape out of the house.

[Runs to the opposite door. Mrs. Love. I'll secure this door; you must not go, my dear.

Love. 'Sdeath, madam, let me pass!

Mrs. Love. Nay, you shall stay: I want to introduce an acquaintance of mine to you.

Love. I desire, madam

Enter MRS. Bellmour.

Mrs. Bell. My lord, my Lord Etheridge; I am heartily glad to see your lordship.

[Taking hold of him.

Mrs. Love. Do, my dear, let me introduce this lady

[Turning him to her.

to you.
Love. Here's the devil and all to do!

[Aside. Mrs. Bell. My lord, this is the most fortunate en

Counter

Love. I wish I was fifty miles off.

[Aside.

Mrs. Love. Mrs. Bellmour, give me leave to introduce Mr. Lovemore to you.

[Turning him to her. Mrs. Bell. No, my dear ma'am, let me introduce Lord Etheridge to you. [Pulling him.] My lord

Sir Bril. In the name of wonder, what is all this? Sir Bash. Wounds! is this another of his intrigues blown up?

Mrs. Love. My dear ma'am, you are mistaken: this is my husband.

Mrs. Bell. Pardon me, ma'am, 'tis my Lord Etheridge.

Mrs. Love. My dear, how can you be so ill-bred

in your own house?-Mrs. Bellmour,-this is Mr. Lovemore.

Love. Are you going to toss me in a blanket, madam? the rest of your people, if you are.

-call up

Mrs. Bell. Pshaw! pr'ythee now, my lord, leave off your humours. Mrs. Lovemore, this is my Lord Etheridge, a lover of mine, who has made proposals of marriage to me. Come, come, you shall have a wife: I will take compassion on you.

Love. D-nation! I can't stand it.

[Aside. Mrs. Bell. Come, cheer up, my lord: what the deuce, your dress is altered! what's become of the star and ribband? And so the gay, the florid, the magnifique Lord Etheridge dwindles down into plain Mr. Lovemore, the married man!- -Mr. Lovemore, your most

obedient, very humble servant, sir.

Love. I can't bear to feel myself in so ridiculous a situation.

[Aside. Sir Bash. He has been passing himself for a lord, has he?

Mrs. Bell. I beg my compliments to your friend Mrs. Loveit: I am much obliged to you both for your very honourable designs. [Courtesying to him. Love. I was never so ashamed in all my life! [Aside. Sir Bril. So, so, so, all his pains were to hide the star from me. This discovery is a perfect cordial to my

dejected spirits.

Mrs. Bell. Mrs. Lovemore, I cannot sufficiently acknowledge the providence that directed you to pay me a visit, and I shall henceforth consider you as my deliverer.

Love. Zoons! It was she that fainted away in the closet, and be d-n'd to her jealousy. [Aside. Sir Bril. My lord, [Advances to him.] My lord, my Lord Etheridge, as the man says in the play, "Your lordship's right welcome back to Denmark."

VOL. II.

Love. Now he comes upon me.-O! I'm in a fine situation!

[Aside. Sir Bril. My lord, I hope that ugly pain in your lordship's side is abated.

Love. Absurd, and ridiculous!

[Aside.

Sir Bril. There is nothing forming there, I hope, my

lord.

of

go you—I'll

in

Love. D-nation! I can't bear all this-I won't stay to be teased by any to the company the card room. [Goes to the door in the back scene.]— Here is another fiend! I am beset with them.

Enter LADY CONSTANT.

No way for an escape?

[Attempts both stage doors, and is prevented. Lady Con. I have lost every rubber I play'd forquite broke; do, Mr. Lovemore, lend me another hundred.

Love. I would give a hundred you were all in Nova Scotia.

Lady Con. Mrs. Lovemore, let me tell you, you are married to the falsest man; he has deceived me strangely.

Mrs. Love. I begin to feel for him, and to pity his uneasiness.

Mrs. Bell. Never talk of pity; let him be probed to the quick.

Sir Bash. The case is pretty plain, I think, now, Sir Brilliant.

Sir Bril. Pretty plain, upon my soul! Ha! ha!

Love. I'll turn the tables upon Sir Bashful, for all this-[Takes SIR BASHFUL'S letter out of his pocket.]— where is the mighty harm now in this letter?

Sir Bash. Where's the harm?-Ha! ha! ha!

Love. [Reads.] I cannot, my dearest life, any longer behold