Sir Hac. Come, come, don't let us wafte powder in idle falutes.

Zel. I am overwhelm'd with diftrefs.

Brown. And you ftill perfist in saying no to my citation?

Zel. What would you have me say?

Brown. I'd have you say yes.

foli

Zel. Why, no often means yes among the ladies of England, does it not?

Brown. Bewitching creature! thus let me thank you. (Kiffing her hand.)

Ormf 'Tis my turn to wish you joy, Brownlow; and 1 do it moft heartily.

Sir Hec. So do we all-This is a glorious voyage, indeed.

Orf. And the ship may be paid off, father, for there feems to be an end on the fervice.

Lady Di. My dearest sister! (Salutes Zelida.) this is a fuperlative bleffingand I believe there are not two fuch women as ourselves in any one house of this kingdom.

Zel. O, Madam, I am too happy-But, Buffora, my faithful Buffora.

Buf. Will you never fee me more now, lady?

Zel. Mr Brownlow, Colonel Ormfby, we are all indebted to my good Buffora, and must all think of methods to reward him.

Buf. I am too reward in fee you happy, lady. And Gentoo, you know, he scorn any other reward than him own feelings, for behave like honest man.

Zel. What muft I feel on this occafion, then? My joy is fo exceffive, I think the whole a dream; yet if this, company is but pleased, my dream will laft for ever.

[Exeunt Omnes.

Love. "TIS

A C T I.

SCENE, A Street.

Enter Lovemore and Jeffery.

IS love, Jeffery; I have an intrigue here.
Jef. An intrigue! With whom, Sir?

Love. With pretty Mrs Brittle, the glassman's wife,

the landlord of yonder house.

Jef. Give you good fortune, Sir!

E f. 2.

Love.

Love. Damaris, her chambermaid, I have already won, who gives me all the encouragement I can wish for: she fays the husband's jealous to distraction, and that his wife loves company and courtship most extremely.

Jef. You have ground enough to work on, I think, Sir.

Love. I have a letter ready, which I muft get convey. ed to Damaris; fhe'll give it to her miftrefs, and fend me an anfwer inftantly: thou can't convey it very privately?

Jef. Do you think this life will last for ever, Sir? fhall no condition 'fcape you?

Love. Good wife Jeffery, fpare your counsel, and deliver my letter for meTake it.

Jef. Do not truft me, Sir; I fay, do not trust me. I have a very squeamish ftomach, and I fhall spoil this bufinefs; therefore, do not trust me.

Love. What ails the fellow?

Jef. I have a mind to marry myself, and have no mind to be a cuckold, Sir.

Love. Why, thou a cuckold, fool?

Jef. If I carry this letter, Sir, and you difhonour this honeft citizen, then I am partly the occafion on't; and ought not I in conscience to expect the same return when I am marry'd, Sir? If I, by accident, fhould fee a brifk young gallant with my wife, I should presently conclude that he has done the fame for me; therefore, I fay again, do not truft me. [Exit Jeffery. Love. What's to be done now? Which fhall I get this letter convey'd to Damaris? Eh! is not that Clodpole my tenant? Egad, a lucky thought; he's a fimple, honeft fellow, and will be glad to serve me.

Enter Clodpole.

way

He shall do it.-Ha! Clodpole, how doft thou?
Clod. Pratty well, and thank your worship.

Love. Well, Clodpole, and what brings thee to town? Clod. Why, you must know, Sir, I came only to see a fweetheart of mine, one Damaris, that lives there at that house, whom I have had a kindness for fome time; but she's plaguy crofs and ill-natur'd to me.

Love. And does fhe live there, at that house?
Clod. Yes, Sir.

Love. Then, honeft Clodpole, I muft beg you to do

me a small kindness.

Clod. That I will, meafter.

-What is it?

Love. Only to deliver this letter to Damaris your mifrefs- -fhe knows what to do with it.

Clod. Troth will I, and that directly.

Love. But be fure to keep this fecret, and don't let any one know you have brought any letter or meffage from me.

Clod. O meafter, never fear Clodpole. Icod I'm no fool-they must be devilish cunning that gets any thing out of me I can tell un that.

Love. Well, go then and if you perform this dif creetly, I fhall leave a couple of guineas with my fervant for you.

Clod. Thank you kindly, meafter; I warrant you Icod this is a good morning's work.

[Exit into the houfe. Egad here's old Bar-

[Exit.

Brit. Thefe gallants flock fo about my houfe, that it is grown as common as the exchange or the playhouses, where all forts of company meet to laugh and talk nonfense; it makes me mad, ftark mad, to think on't: I muft marry a gentlewoman, with a murrain to me; and fill my house with her proud, vain kindred. Well, Barnaby Brittle, you have nobody to thank but yourself for this; you must marry above your quality, and now you fee the effect on't.

Enter Mrs Brittle. How now, wife, whither away fo fast?

Wife. I am going to Ranelagh Gardens with my coufin Philadelphia.

Brit. To Ranelagh Gardens!

Wife. Yes; and thence to the play, where we shall have · fuch sport!

Brit. How fport, wife!

Wife. 'Tis the pleasantest thing in the whole world, to have a flock of wild gallants fluttering about two or three ladies. 'Tis a better entertainment than any part of the play can be:

Brit. Pray ftay a little : Why, now, is this a dress for Barnaby Brittle's wife?

Wife. No; but 'tis a drefs for a gentlewoman, for Sir Peter Pride's daughter, Sir.

Brit. O citizens! citizens! How are the times alter'd fince your wives wore high crown'd hats, Farendin gowns, red cloth petticoats, good leather fhoes, and troop'd the freets in pattens! Now your feet must be furnish'd at one pound one a pair-Your filks must be bought in Pall-mall: Ludgate-hill and the Minories have no choice. Well may we decay, when our wives, like French mistresfes, fend our money abroad.

Wife. If the times are alter'd with the wives, so they are with the husbands, fince they wore their own thin lank hair, that look'd like the fringe of a blanket, or the ftrings of a bunch of leeks: you can now wear the best and richest cloaths. The times are chang'd fince I was married too: Did not you promise me that I fhou'd keep my coach, and live like what I was.

Brit. Yes, a beggar.

(Afide

Wife. Did not I marry you when I could have hadBrit. Nobody elfe!

(Afide.

Wife. The best of quality-but that my parents prefer'd you. -You faid you were able to keep a coach, and you wou'd do it, that I might outshine the best of all the city.- -Every tradefman keeps his wife a car-riage, even though he break at the year's end for't.

Brit. No coach-exercife is wholefome-ever go on foot, wife.

Wife. Why, Petle the apothecary keeps his wife a coach, and is not worth half fo much as you are; besides, hav'nt you fin'd for alderman?

Brit. Ay, and if I had not fin'd for fool, in giving your relations a thousand pounds, you might have had a1 coach.

Wife. Well, let me have it, and I'll fave it in other things. I'll catch cold else every winter, and it shall coft you more in flops. But I must not ftay any longer, my coufin waits. (Going Brit. Hold, wife, if you pleafe, you shall not go. Wife. Indeed, hufband, if you pleafe, I will go.