as I take it, this Settlement upon you, is, with a Proviso, that your Uncle have no Children.

Mel. It is fo. Well, the Service you are to do me, will be a Pleasure to your self: I must get you toengage my Lady Plyant all this Evening, that my pious Aunt may not work her to her Interest. And if you chance to fecure her to your self, you may incline her to mine. She's handsome, and knows it; is very filly, and thinks the has Sense; and has an old fond Husband.

Care. I confess a very fair Foundation, for a Lover to build upon.

Mel. For my Lord Froth, he and his wife will be sufficiently taken up, with admiting one another, and Brisks Gallantry, as they call it. I'll observe my Uncle my self; and tack Maskwell has promised me, to watch my Aunt natrowly, and give me notice upon any Sufpicion. As for Sir Paul, my wife Father-in-Law that is to be, my Dear Cynthia has such a share in his Fatherly Fondmess, he would scarce make her a Moment uneafie, to have her happy hereafter.

Care. So, you have mann'd your Works: but I wish you may not have the weakest Guard, where the Enemy is strongest.

Mel. Maskwell, you mean; prithee why should you suspect him ?

Care. Faith I cannot help it, you know I never lik'd him; I am a little fuperftitious in Phyfiognomy.

Mel. He has Obligations of Gratitude, to bind him to me; his Dependance upon my Uncle is through my Means.

Care. Upon your Aunt, you mean.

Mel. My Aunt!

Care. I'm mistaken if there be not a Familiarity

between them, you do not suspect: Notwithstanding

her Passion for you.

Mel.

Mel. Pooh, pooh, nothing in the World but his Design to do me Service: and he endeavours to be well in her Efteem, that he may be able to effect it.

Care. Well, I shall be glad to be mistaken; but, your Aunts Averfion in her Revenge, cannot be any way so effectually shown, as in bringing forth a Child to disinherit you. She is handsome and cunning, and naturally wanton. Maskwell is Flesh and Blood at beft; and Opportunities between them are frequent. His Affection to you, you have confessed, is grounded upon his Intereft; that you have tranfplanted; and should it take Root in my Lady, I don't see what you can expect from the Fruit.

Mel. I confess the Consequence is visible, were your Sufpicions just. - But see, the Company is broke up, let's meet 'em.

SCENE IV.

[To Them] Lord TOUCHWOOD, Lord FROTH, Sir PAUL PLYANT, and BRISK.

Ld. TOUCHWOOD.

OUT upon Nephewan Leave your Father-in

law, and me, to maintain our Ground againft

young People.

Mel. I beg your Lordships Pardon - We were just returning.

Sir Paul. Were you, Son? Gadsbud much better as it is - Good, strange! Iswear I'm almost tipfie t'other Bottle would have been too powerful for me, as fure as can be it would. We wanted your

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:

your Company, bur Mr. Brisk Where is he? I swear and vow he's a most facetious Person and the best Company. - And, my Lord Froth, your Lordship is so merry a Man, he, he, he !

Ld. Froth. O foy, Sir Paul, what do you mean? Merry! Obarbarous! I'd as lieve you call'd me Fool. Sir Paul. Nay, I protest and vow now, 'tis true; when Mr. Brisk jokes, your Lordships Laugh does so become you, he, he, he.

Ld. Froth. Ridiculous! Sir Paul, you'restrangely mistaken; I find Champagne is powerful. Iafssure you, Sir Paul, I laugh at no Bodies Jest but my own, or a Ladys; Iafssure 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. Freth. O foy, don't misapprehend me; I don't lay so, for I often smile at your Conceptions. But there is nothing more unbecoming a Man of Quality, than to Laugh, 'tis sucha vulgar Expreffion f the Paffion! every Body can laugh. Then especially to laugh, at the Jest of an inferior Person, or whenany body else of the same Quality does not laugh with one; ridiculous! To be pleased with what pleases the Croud! Now when I laugh, I always laugh alone.

Brisk. I suppose that's because you laugh at your own Jests, Igad, 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 show '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 Lordships Face, than a Jeft.

Ld. Touch. Sir Paul, if you please we'll retire to

the

the Ladies, and drink a Dish of Tea, to settle our Heads.

Sir Paul. With all my Heart. - Mr. Brisk you'll
or call me when you joke, I'll be

come to us,
ready to laugh incontinently.

SCENEV.

MELLEFONT, CARELESS, Lord FROTH, BRISK.

B

MELLEFONT.

UT does your Lordship never see Comedies ?
Ld. Froth. O yes, sometimes, But I never

laugh.

Sir.

Mel. No?

Ld. Froth. Oh, no,

Never laugh indeed,

Care. No! why what d'ye go there for?

Ld. Froth. To distinguish my self from the Commonalty, and mortifie the Poets; the Fellows grow fo conceited, when any of their foolish Wit prevails upon the Side-Boxes. - I swear, he, he, he, I have often constrain'd my Inclinations to laugh, he, he, he, to avoid giving them Encouragement. Mel. You are cruel to your self, my Lord, as well as malicious to them.

Ld. Froth. I confess I did my self 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 against Wit, and I'm forry for fome Friends of mine that write; but I'gad, I love to be malicious. Nay, duce take me there's Wit in't too And

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And Wit must be foil'd by Wit; cuta 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 whena 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 harkee, - you understand me, somewhat heavy, a little shallow, or fo. - Why I'll tell you now, suppose now you come up to me - Nay, prithee Careless be instructed. Suppose, as I was faying you come up to me holding your Sides, and laughing, as if you would - Well - I look grave, and ask the Cause of this immoderate Mirth. You laugh on still, 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, prichce don't interrupt me. But I tell you, you shall tell me - at last But it shall be agreat while first.

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

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

Care. No; for ifit were a witty thing, I should not expect you to understand it.

Ld. Froth. Ofoy, Mr. Careless, all the World allows Mr. Brisk to have Wit: my Wife says, he has a great deal. I hope you think hera 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 toyou?

Care.