Mr. Brisk jokes, your lordship's laugh does so become you, he, he he!

Ld. Froth. Ridiculous! Sir Paul, you're strangely miftaken, I find Champagne is powerful. I assure you, Sir Paul, I laugh at nobody's jest but my own, or a Lady's; I assure you, Sir Paul.

Brisk. How? how, my lord? what affront my wit! Let me perish, do I never say any thing worthy to be laugh'd at ?

Ld. Froth. O foy, don't misapprehend me, I don't say fo, for I often fmile at your conceptions. But there is nothing more unbecoming a man of quality, than to laugh; 'tis fuch a vulgar expression of the paffion! every body can laugh. Then especially to laugh at the jest of an inferior person, or when any body else of the fame quality does not laugh with one; ridiculous! to be pleafed with what pleases the croud! Now when I laugh, I always laugh alone.

Brijk. I suppose that's because you laugh at your own jests, I'gad, ha, ha, ha!

Ld. Froth. He, he! I swear tho', your raillery provokes me to a smile.

Brisk. Ay, my lord, it's a sign I hit you in the teeth, if you thew 'em.

Ld. Froth. He, he, he ! I swear that's so very pretty, I can't forbear.

Care. I find a quibble bears more sway in your lordship's face, than a jest.

Ld. Touch. Sir Paul, if you please we'll retire to the ladies, and drink a dish of tea, to settle our heads.

Sir Paul. With all my heart. - Mr. Brisk, you'll come to us, or call me when you joke, I'll be ready to laugh incontinently. [Exit.

Mel. But does you lordship never see comedies?
Ld. Froth. O yes, sometimes, -But I never laugh.
Mel. No?

Ld. Froth. Oh, no,-Never laugh indeed, fir.
Care. No! why what d'ye go there for?

Ld. Froth. To distinguish myself from the commonalty, and mortify the poets; the fellows grow so conceited, when any of their foolish wit prevails upon the side-boxes. I swear -I swear, he, he, he! I have often constrain'd my inclinations to laugh, --he, he! he's to avoid giving them encouragement.

Mel. You are cruel to yourself, my lord, as well as malicious to them.

Ld. Froth. I confess I didmyself some violence at first, but now I think I have conquer'd it.

Brisk. Let me perish, my lord, but there is something very particular in the humour; 'tis true, it makes againit wit, and I'm sorry for fome friends of mine that write, but-I'gad, I love to be malicious. -Nay, deuce take me there's wit in't too-And wit must be foil'd by wit; cut a diamond with a diamond; no other way, I'gad.

Ld. Froth. Oh, I thought you would not be long, before you found out the wit.

Care. Wit! In what? Where the devil's the wit, in not laughing when a man has a mind to't?

Brisk. O Lord, why can't you find it out? - Why there 'tis, in the not laughing-Don't you apprehend me?My lord, Careless is a very honest fellow, but hark'ye, you understand me, fomewhat heavy, a little shallow, or fo.Why I'll tell you now, suppose now you come up to me-Nay, pr'ythee Careless be instructed. Suppose, as I was faying, you come up to me holding your fides, and laughing, as if you would-Well-I look grave, and ask the cause of this immoderate mirthYou laugh on fstill, and are not able to tell me-Still I look grave, not so much as smile.

Care. Smile, no, what the devil should you smile at, when you suppose I can't tell you!

Brisk. Pihaw, pshaw, pr'ythee don't interrupt me.But I tell you, you shall tell me at laft-But it shall be a great while first.

Care. Well, but pry'thee don't let it be a great while, because I long to have it over.

Brisk. Well then, you tell me fome good jest, or very witty thing, laughing all the while as if you were ready to die and I I hear hear it, and look thus. -Would not

you be disappointed?

Care. No; for if it were a witty thing, I should not

expect you to understand it.

A6

Ld. Froth,

Ld. Froth. O foy, Mr. Careless, all the world allow Mr. Brisk to have wit; my wife says, he has a great deal. I hope you think her a judge.

Brisk. Pooh, my lord, his voice goes for nothing.I can't tell how to make him apprehend.-Take it t'other way. Suppose I say a witty thing to you ? Care. Then I shall be disappointed indeed.

Mel. Let him alone, Brisk, he is obstinately bent not to be instructed.

Brisk. I'm forry for him, the deuce take me.
Mel. Shall we go to the ladies, my lord?

Ld. Froth. With all my heart, methinks we are a folitude without 'em.

Mel. Or, what fay you to another bottle of Champagne? Ld. Froth. O, for the universe, not a drop more I beseech you. O intemperate! I have a flushing in my face already. [Takes out a pocket-glass, and looks in it.

Brisk. Let me see, let me fee, my lord, I broke my glass that was in the lid of my fnuff-box. Hum! deuce take me, I have encourag'd a pimple here too.

[Takes the glass and looks. Ld. Froth. Then you must mortify him with a patch; my wife shall supply you. Come, gentlemen, allons, here is company coming. [Exeunt.

Enter Lady Touchwood, and Maskwell. L. 7. I'll hear no more You're falfe and ungrateful; come, I know you're false.

Mask. I have been frail, I confefs, madam, for your ladyship's service.

L. T. That I should trust a man, whom I had known betray his friend!

Mask. What friend have I betray'd? Or to whom? L. T. Your fond friend Mellefont, and to me; can you deny it?

Mask. I do not.

L. T. Have you not wrong'd my lord, who has been a father to you in your wants, and given you being? Have you not wrong'd him in the highest manner, ' in • his bed?'

Mask. With your ladyship's help, and for your service, as I told you before. I can't deny that neither.-Any thing more, madam ?

L. T.

L. T. More! audacious villain. O, what's more, is most my shame, - Have you notdishonour'd me? Mask. No, that I deny; for I never told in all my life: so that accufation's answer'd; on to the next.

L. T. Death, do you dally with my paffion? Infolent devil! But have a care, Provoke me not; for, ' by ' the eternal fire,' you shall not 'scape my vengeance.calm villain! How unconcern'd he stands, confeffing treachery, and ingratitnde! Is there a vice more black!" -O I have excuses, thousands for my faults; fire in my temper, passions in my foul, apt to ev'ry provocation; oppreffed at once with love, and with defpair. But a sedate, a thinking villain, whose black blood runs temperately bad, what excuse can clear?

Mask. Will you be in temper, madam? I would not talknot tobe heard. I have been [She walks aboutdisorder'd.] a very great rogue for your fake, and you reproach me with it; I am ready to be a rogue still to do you fervice; and you are flinging confcience and honour in my face, to rebate my inclinations. How am I to behave myself? You know I am your creature; my life and fortune in your power; to disoblige you, brings mecertain ruin. Allow it, I would betray you, I would not be a traitor to myself: I don't pretend to honesty, because you know I am a rascal: but I would convince you from the neceffity of my being firm to you.

L. T. Neceffity, impudence! can no gratitude incline you, no obligations touch you? Have not my fortune, and my person been subjected to your pleasure?" Were you not in the nature of a servant, and have not I in effect made you lord of all, of me, and of my lord? Where is that humble love, the languishing, that adoration, which was once paid me, and everlastingly engaged?

Mask. Fixt, rooted in my heart, whence nothing can remove 'em, yet you

L. T. Yet, what yet?

Mask. Nay misconceive me not, madam, when I fay I have had a gen'rous, and a faithful paffion, which you had never favour'd, but through revenge and policy. L. T, Ha!

Mask.

Mask. Look you, madam, we are alone, Pray contain yourself, and hear me. You know you lov'd your nephew, when I first figh'd for you; I quickly found it; an argument that I lov'd; for with that art you veil'd your paffion, 'twas imperceptible to all but jealous eyes. This discovery made me bold, I confess it; for by it, I thought you in my power. Your nephew's scorn of you, added to my hopes; I watch'd the occafion, and took you, just repulfed by him, warm at once, with love and indignation; your difpofition, my arguments, and happy opportunity, accomplish'd my design, 'I prest ⚫ the yielding minute, and was blest.' How I have lov'd you fince, words have not shewn, then how should words express ?

L. T. Well, mollifying devil! - And have I not met your love with forward fire ?

Mask. Your zeal I grant was ardent, but misplac'd; there was revenge in view; ' that woman's idol had de• fil'd the temple of the god, and love was made a mockworship. A fon and heir would have edg'd young • Mellefont upon the brink of ruin, and left him none • but you to catch at for prevention.'

L. T. Again, provoke me! do you wind me like a larum, only to rouse my own ftill'd foul for your diverfion! confufion!

Mask. Nay, madam, I'm gone, if you relapse, -What needs this? I say nothing but what you yourself, in open hours of love, have told me. Why should you deny it ? Nay, how can you? Is not all this prefent heat owing to the fame fire? Do you not love him ftill? How have I this day offended you, but in not breaking off his match with Cynthia? Which ere to-morrow shall be done,-had you but patience.

L. T. How, what said you, Maskwell --Another caprice to unwind my temper ?

Mask. By Heav'n, no; I am your slave, the flave of all your pleasures; and will not rest 'till I have given you peace, would you fuffer me.

L. T. O Maskwell, in vain I do disguise me from thee, thou know'st me, know'st the very inmost windings and recesses of my foul.- Mellefont! I burn; married