THE NA BO B.

ACT I.

A Chamber.

Enter Lady Oldham and Sir John Oldham.

Lady Oldham.

NOT a fyllable more will I hear!

Sir John. Nay, but, my dear

L. Old. I am amazed, Sir John, at your meannefs! or that you could fubmit to give his paltry proposals fo much as a reading!

Sir John. Nay, my dear, what would you have had me done?

L. Old. Done! returned them with the contempt they deserved. But, come, unfold! I am calm: Reveal the pretty project your precious head has produced.

Sir John. Nay, my dear, as to that, my head produced

L. Old. Nay, I don't wonder that shame has tied up your tongue! But, come; I will spare the confufion, and tell you what you would fay. Here, Lady Oldham, Sir Matthew Mite has

just

juft fent me a letter, modeftly defiring that, in return for the ruin he has brought on me and my house, I would be fo kind as to bestow upon him my darling daughter, the hopes of my-And is it poffible you can be mean enough to think of fuch an alliance? Will you, Sir John, oblige me with an answer to a few fhort questions? Sir John. Without doubt.

in

L. Old. I fuppofe you confider yourself as fprung from a family at least as ancient as any the county you live in?

Sir John. That I fancy will not be denied. L. Old. Nor was it, I fancy, dishonoured by an alliance with mine.

Sir John. My Lady, the

very reverse.

L. Old. You fucceeded, Sir, to a patrimony, which though the liberal and hofpitable spirit of your predeceffors would not fuffer to encrease, yet their prudence took care fhould never be diminished?

Sir John.. True.

L. Old. From the public and private virtues of your ancestors, the inhabitants of the neighbouring borough thought their best and dearest interefts in no hands fo fecure as in theirs?

Sir John. Right.

L. Old. Nor till lately were they fo tainted by the fashion of the times, as to adopt the egregious abfurdity, That to be faithfully ferved and protected above, it was neceffary to be largely bribed and corrupted below?

Sir John. Why, I can't fay, except now and then a bit of venifon, or an annual dinner, they have ever put me to any great

L. Old. Indulge me yet a moment, Sir John! In this happy fituation, did the last year chear

fully

ully clofe; our condition, though not opulent, affluent, and you happy in the quiet poffeffion or your family honours.

Sir John. There is no gainfaying of that.

L. Old. Now, look at the difmal, shocking reverse!

Sir John. There is but too much reason in what your ladyfhip fays.

L. Old. And confider, at the fame time, to whom you are obliged.

Sir John. Why, what could we do? your ladyship knows there was nobody more against my giving up than yourself.

L. Old. Let me proceed. At this crifis, preceded by all the pomp of Afia, Sir Matthew Mite, from the Indies, came thundering amongst us; and, profufely fcattering the fpoils of ruined provinces, corrupted the virtue and alienated the affections of all the old friends to the family.

Sir John. That is nothing but truth.

L. Old. Compelled by the fame means to defend those that were employed in attacking your intereft, you have been obliged deeply to encumber your fortune; his fuperior address has procured a return, and probably your petition will complete the ruin his oppofition began.

Sir John. Let us hope all for the best.

L. Old. And who can tell, but you may be foon forced to part with your patrimony, to the very infolent worthlefs individual, who has been the author of your diftrefs?

Sir John. I would fooner perifh, my Lady! L. Old. Parallel inftances may be produced; nor is it at all unlikely, but Sir Matthew, taking a liking to your family manfion, has purfued this very method to compel you to fell it.

Sir John.

Sir John. It is, my dear, to avoid this neceffity that I wish you to give his letter a reading.

L. Old. Is it poffible, not to mention the mean. nefs, that you can be weak enough to expect any real service from that infamous quarter?

Sir John. Who can tell, my love, but a consciousness of the mischief he has done us, may have roused some feelings that

L. Old. His feelings! will he liften to a private complaint, who has been deaf to the cries of a people? or drop a tear for particular distress, who owes his rife to the ruin of thousands?

Sir John. Well, Lady Oldham, I find all that I fay fignifies nothing.-But here comes brother Thomas; two heads are better than one; let us take his opinion, my love.

L. Old. What need of any opinion? the cafe is too clear; nor indeed, if there had been a neceffity for confulting another, fhould I have thought your brother the propereft man to advife with on the occafion.

Sir John. And why not? there is not a merchant whofe judgment would be fooner taken.

L. Old. Perhaps not, on the value of merchandize, or the goodness of a Bill of Exchange: But there is a nicety, a delicacy, an elevation of fentiment, in this cafe, which people who have narrowed their notions with commerce, and confidered during the courfe of their lives their intereft alone, will fçarce comprehend.

Enter Mr. Thomas Oldham.

Thomas. So, fifter! what! upon your old topic, I find?

L. Old. Sir!

Thomas