her, but happy in your felves, and by your felves. Ld. Froth. I hope Mellefont will make a good Husband too. Cynt. 'Tis my Interest to believe he will, my Lord. Ld. Froth. D'ye think he'll Love you as well as I do my Wife? I'm afraid not. do Cynt. I believe he'll love me better. Ld. Froth Heav'ns! that can never be; but why think fo? you Cynt. Because he has not fo much reason to be fond of himself. Ld. Froth. O your humble Servant for that, dear Madam; well, Mellefont, you'l be a happy Creature. Mel. Ay, my Lord, I fhall have the fame Reafon for my Happiness that your Lordship has; I fhall think my felf happy. Ld. Froth. Ah, that's all. keen Brisk [to Lady Froth.] Your Ladyfhip is in the right; but I'gad I'm wholly turn'd into Satire. I confefs I write but feldom; but when I do Iambicks Igad. But my Lord was telling me your Ladyship has made an Effay toward an Heroick Poem. L. Froth. Did my Lord tell you? Yes I vow and the Subject is my Lords Love to me. And what do you think I call it? I dare fwear you won't guess-The Sillabub, ha, ha, ha. Brisk. Because my Lords Title's Froth, I'gad, ha, ha, ha, duce take me very a propos, and "furprizing, ha, ha, ha. L. Froth. He, ay, is not it? And then I call my Lord Spumofo; and my felf, what d'ye think I call my self? Brisk. Laitila may be, 'gad I cannot tell. L. Froth. Biddy, that's all just my own Name. C Brisk - Brisk. Biddy! I'gad very pretty Duce take me if your Ladyship has not the Art of furprizing the moft naturally in the World, I hope you'll make me happy in communicating the Poem. L. Froth. O, you must be my Confident, I muft ask your Advice. Brisk. I'm your humble Servant, let me perifh, I prefume your Ladyfhip has read Boju? L. Froth. O yes, and Rapine, and Dacier upon Ariftotle and Horace. My Lord, you must not be jealous, I'm communicating all to Mr. Brisk. Ld. Froth. No, no, I'll allow Mr. Brisk; have you nothing about you to fhew him, my Dear? L. Froth. Yes, I believe I have. Mr. Brisk, come will you go into the next Room? and there I'll fhew you what I have. 1Ld. Froth. I'll walk a Turn in the Garden, and come to you. SCENE I I I. MELLEFONT, CYNTHIA. MELLE FONT. YOU'RE thoughtful, Cynthia ? Cynt. I'm thinking, tho' Marriage makes Man and Wife one Flefh, it leaves 'em ftill two Fools; and they become more confpicuous by fetting off one another. Mel. That's only when two Fools meet and their Follies are oppos'd.. Cynt. Nay, I have known two Wits meet, and by the Oppofition of their Wit, renderthemfelves as ridiculous as Fools. 'Tis an odd Game we're going going to Play at: What think you of drawing Stakes, and giving over in time? Mel. No, hang't, that's not endeavouring to win, because it's poffible we may lofe; fince we have fhuffled and cut, let's e'en turn up Trump now. Cynt. Then I find it's like Cards; if either of us have a good Hand it is an Accident of Fortune. Mel. No Marriage is rather like a Game at Bowls, Fortune indeed makes the Match, and the two nearest, and fometimes the two fartheft are together, but the Game depends intirely upon Judgement. Cynt. Still it is a Game, and confequently one of us must be a Loofer. Mel. Not at all; only a friendly Trial of Skill, and the Winning's to be laid out in an Entertain ment. What's here, the Mufick! Oh, my Lord has promifed the Company a new Song, we'll get 'em to give it us by the way. [Muficians croffing the Stage. Pray let us have the Favour of you, to practife the Song, before the Company hear it. SON G. I. Ynthia frowns when-e'er I woe her » Much he fears I (hould undo her, I I. Prithee Cynthia look behind you, When When the Power must forsake you: · Mel. You shall have my Thanks below. [To the Mufick: they go out. [To them] Sir PAUL PLYANT and Lady PLYAN T. Sir PAUL PLYANT. ADS bud! I am provok'd into a Fermentation, Gas my Lady Froth lays, was ever the like read of in Story? L. P. Sir Paul have Patience, let me alone to rattle him up. Sir Paul. Pray your Ladyfhip give me leave to be -I'll rattle him up I warrant you, I'll angry firk him with a Certiorari. L. P. You firk him, I'll firk him my felf; pray Sir Paul hold you contented. Cynt. Blels me, what makes my Father in such a Paffion!-I never faw him thus before. Sir Paul. Hold your felf contented , my Lady Plyant, I find Paffion coming upon me by Infpiration and I cannot fubmit as formerly, therfore give way. and L. P. How now! will you be pleased to retire, Sir Paul. No marry will I not be pleased; I am pleafed to be angry, that's my Pleasure at this time. Mel. What can this mean! L. P. Gads my Life, the Man's distracted, why how now, who are you? What am I? Slidikins can't I govern you? What did I marry you for? Am I not to be abfolute and uncontrolable? Is it fit a Woman of my Spirit, and Conduct, fhould be contradicted in a Matter of this Concern? Sir. Paul. It concerns me, and only me; Befides, I'm not to be govern'd at all times. When I am in Tranquility, my Lady Plyant fhall command Sir Paul; but when I am provok'd to Fury, I cannot incorporate with Patience and Reason, foon may Tygers match with Tygers, Lambs with Lambs, and every Creature couple with its foe, as the Poet fays. - -As L. P. He's hot-headed ftill! 'Tis in vain to talk to you; but remember I have a Curtain-Lecture for you, you difobedient, headftrong Brute. Sir Paul. No, 'tis because I won't be Headstrong, because I won't be a Brute, and have my Head fortify'd, that I am thus exafperated, Bat I will protect my Honour, and yonder is the Violater of my Fame. L. P. Tis my Honour that is concern'd, and the Violation was intended to me. Your Honour ! You have none but what is in my keeping; and I can difpofe of it when I please therefore don't provoke me. Sir. Paul. Hum, gads.bud fhe fays true-Well, my Lady, march on, I will fight under you then: I am convinced, as far as Paffion will permit. [L. Plyant and Sir Paul come up to Mellefont. L. P. Inhuman and treacherous Sir Paul. Thou Serpent and firft Tempter of Womankind.. Cynt. Blefs me! Sir, Madam; what mean you? Sir Paul. Thy, Thy, come away Thy, touch him C 3 not |