I came ? Let me look in the glass-Oh, Heav'ns! I am astonish'd, I don't know myself!-If this be I that the glafs fhews, I never faw myself before. Sir John. What incoherent madness is this? Enter Jobfon. Lady. There; that's the devil in my likeness, who has robb'd me of my countenance. Is he here too? Job. Ay, huffey; and here's my strap you quean. Nell. O dear, I'm afraid my hufband will beat me, that am on t'other fide of the room there. Job. I hope your honours will pardon her; fhe was drinking with a conjuror last night, and has been mad ever fince, and calls herself my Lady Loverule. Sir John. Poor woman! take care of her; do not hurt her, fhe may be cured of this. Job. Yes, an't please your worship, you fhall fee me cure her presently. Huffey, do you fee this? Nell. O, pray, Zekel, don't beat me. Sir John. What fays my love? Does the infect thee with madness too? Nell. I am not well-pray, lead me in. [Exeunt Nell and maids. Job. I beseech your worship don't take it ill of me, fhe fhall never trouble you more. Sir John. Take her home, and ufe her kindly. Lady. What will become of me? Exeunt Jobfon and Lady. Enter Footman. Foot. Sir, the Doctor who called here last night, defires you will give him leave to speak a word or two with you upon very earnest business. Sir John. What can this mean? Bring him in. Enter Doctor. Doct. Lo! on my knees, Sir, I beg forgiveness for what I have done, and put my life into your hands. Sir John. What mean you? Doct. I have exercis'd my magic art upon your Lady: I know you have too much honour to take away my life, fince I might have still conceal'd it had I pleas'd. Sir John. You have now brought me to a glimpse of mifery too great to bear. Is all my happiness then turn'd into vifion only? Doct Doct. Sir, I beg you, fear not; if any harm comes on it, I freely give you leave to hang me. Sir John. Inform me what you have done. Doct. I have transform'd your lady's face fo, that fhe feems the cobler's wife, and have charm'd her face into the likeness of my lady's; and last night, when the ftorm arofe, my fpirits convey'd them to each other's bed. Sir John. Oh, wretch, thou haft undone me: I am fallen from the height of all my hopes, and must still be curft with a tempestuous wife, a fury whom I never knew quiet fince I had her. Dot. If that be all, I can continue the charm for both their lives. Sir John. Let the event be what it will, I'll hang you if you do not end the charm this inftant. Doct. I will this minute, Sir; and perhaps you'll find it the luckiest of your life: I can affure you your Lady will prove the better for it. Sir John. Hold; there's one material circumstance I'd know. me. Doct. Your pleasure, Sir? Sir John. Perhaps the cobler has-You understand. Doct. I do affure you no; for e'er she was conveyed to his bed, the cobler was got up to work, and he has done nought but beat her ever fince; and you are like to reap the fruits of his labour. He'll be with you in. a minute-Here he comes. Enter Jobfon. Sir John. So, Jobfon, where's your wife? Job. An't please your worship, fhe's here at the door: but indeed I thought I had loft her just now; for as he came into the hall, fhe fell into fuch a fwoon, that I thought he would never come out on't again;: but a tweak or two by the nose, and half a dozen straps, did the business at last. Here, where are you, housewife? Enter Lady. 'But. O heaven, and earth! is this my lady? Job. What does he fay? My wife chang'd to my Lady. • Cook. Cook. Ay, I thought the other was too good for our Lady.' Lady, (to Sir John.) Sir, you are the perfon I have most offended; and here confefs I have been the worst of wives in every thing, but that I always kept myself chafte. If you can vouchfafe once more to take me to your bofom, the remainder of my days fhall joyfully be spent in duty, and observance of your will. Sir John. Rife, Madam, I do forgive you; and if you are fincere in what you fay, you'll make me happier than all the enjoyments in the world, without you, could do. my Job. What a pox! am I to lofe wife thus ? * Lucy. Oh, Sir, the strangest accident has happened it has amazed us!-My lady was in fo great a fwoon, we thought he had been dead. Let. And, when the came to herfelf, the proved another woman. Job. Ha ha ha! a bull, a bull. Lucy. She is fo chang'd, I knew her not? I never faw her face before. O lud, is this my lady? Let. We fhall be maul'd again. Lucy. I thought our happiness was too great to last. Lady. Fear not, my fervants; it fhall hereafter be my endeavour to make you happy. Sir John. Perfevere in this refolution, and we shall be bleft indeed for life. Enter Nell. Nell. My head turns round, I must go home. 0, Zekel! are you there? Job. O lud! is that fine lady my wife? I'gad, I'm afraid to come near her. What can be the meaning of this? Sir John. This is a happy change; and I'll have it celebrated with all the joy I proclaimed for my late fhort-liv'd vifion. Lady. To me it is the happiest day I ever knew. Sir Jobn. Here, Jobfon, take thy fine wife' Job. But one word, Sir.Did not your worship make a buck of me, under the rose ? Sir John. No, upon my honour, nor ever kift her H 2 lips lips till I came from hunting; but fince he has been a means of bringing about this happy change, I'll give thee five hundred pounds home with her; go buy a stock. of leather. Job. Bravo boys! I'm a prince-the prince of cob. lers! Come hither and kifs me, Nell; I'll never strap thee more. Nell. Indeed, Zekel, I have been in fuch a dream, that I'm quite weary of it, (to Jobfon.)-Forfooth, Madam, will you please to take your cloaths, and let me have mine again. [To Lady Loverule. Job. Hold your tongue, you fool, they'll ferve you to go to church [Afide. Lady. No; thou shalt keep them, and I'll preserve thine as relics. Job. And can your Ladyfhip forgive my strapping your honour fo very much? Lady. Moft freely. The joy of this bleffed change fets all things right again. Sir John. Let us forget every thing that is paft, anḍ. think of nothing but joy and pleasure. AIR XVI. Hey, boys, up go we. Lady. Let ev'ry face with fmiles appear, Since from a life of pain and care, Sir John. May no remembrance of past time. Be nought but mirth and joy a crime, SCENE, Gaylefs's Lodgings. Enter GAYLESS and SHAR?. SHARP. How, Sir, fhall you be married to-morrow? Eh, I'm afraid you joke with your poor humble fervant. Gay. I tell thee, Sharp, laft night Meliffa confented, and fixed to morrow for the happy day. Sharp. 'Tis well the did, Sir, or it might have been a dreadful one for us in our prefent condition: all your money spent ; your moveables fold; your honour almost ruined, |