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 lose; fince we have fhuffled and cut, let's e'en turn up Trump

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 Jud

gement.

Cynt. Still it is a Game, and confequently one of us must be a Loofer.

Mel. Not at all; only a friendly Trial of Skiłł, and the Winning's to be laid out in an EntertainWhat'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.

ment.

[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 s
Yet fhe's vext if I give over;

Much the fears Ihould undo her,
But much more to lose her Lover:
Thus, in doubting the refufes;
And not winning, thus fhe lofes.
I I.

2

Prithee Cynthia look behind you,
Age and Wrinkles will o'ertake you;
Then too late Defire will find you,
Cz

When the Power must forsake you:
Think, O think o'th' fad Condition
To be past, yet wifh Fruition.

Mel. You fhall have my Thanks below.
[To the Mufick: they go out.

SCENE

IV.

[To them] Sir PAUL PLYANT and
Lady PLYAN T.

GA

Sir PAUL PLYANT.

ADS bud! I am provok'd into a Fermentation, as my Lady Froth fays; 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 angry I'll rattle him up I warrant you, I'll

firk him with a Certiorari.

L. P. You firk him, I'll firk him my self; pray Sir Paul hold you contented.

Cynt. Blels me, what makes my Father in fuch 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 submit as formerly, therfore give way.

L. P. How now! will you be pleased to retire, ard

Sir Paul. No marry will I not be pleased; I am pleased 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? Slidi kins 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 ihall 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, headstrong Brute.

Sir Paul. No, 'tis because I won't be Headstrong, because I won't be a Brute, and have my Head for tify'd, that I am thus exafperated, But I will protc&t 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

not, come hither Girl, go not near him, there's nothing but Deceit about him; Snakes are in his Peruke, and the Crocodile of Nilus is in his Belly, he will eat thee up alive.

L. P. Difhonourable, impudent Creature!

Mel. For Heav'ns fake, Madam, to whom do you direct this Language!

L. P. Have I behav'd my felf with all the Decorum and Nicety, befitting the Perfon of Sir Pauls Wife? Have I preferv'd my Honour as it were in a Snow-Houfe for thefe three Years paft ? Have I been white and unfully'd even by Sir Paul himself.

Sir Paul. Nay, fhe has been an invincible Wife even to me, that's the truth on't.

L. P. Havel, Ifay, preferv'd my felf, like, a fair Sheet of Paper, for you to make a Blot upon? Sir Paul. And flie fhall make a Simile with any Woman in England.

Mel. Iam fo amaz'd, I know not what to say. Sir Paul. Do you think my Daughter, this pretty Creature; gads-bud fhe's a Wife for a Cherubin! Do you think her fit for nothing but to be a ftalking Horfe, to stand before you, while you take aim at my Wife; Gads bud I was never angry before in my Life, and I'll never be appeas'd again.

Mel. Hell and Damnation! This is my Aunt fuch Malice can be engendred no where elfe. [Afide. L. P. Sir Paul, take Cynthia from his Sight; leave me to ftrike him with the Remorfe ofhis intended Crime.

Cynt. Pray, Sir, stay, hear him, I dare affirm he's Innocent.

Sir Paul. Innocent! Why hark'ee, come hither Thy, hark'ee, I had it from his Aunt, my Sifter Touchwood, gadsbud he does not care a Farthing

for

for any thing of thee, but thy Portion; why he's in love with my Wife he would have tantaliz'd thee, and made a Cuckold of thy poor Father, and that would certainly have broke my Heart I'm fure if ever I fhould have Horns, they would kill me; they would never come kindly, Ifhould die' of 'em, like a Child, that was cutting his Teeth I fhould indeed, Thy- therefore come away;

but Providence has prevented all, therefore come away, when I bid you. Cynt. I must obey.

SCENE V.

Lady PLYANT, MELLEFONT.

Ο

Lady PLYAN t.

Such a thing! the Impiety of it startles me to wrong fo good, fo fair a Creature, and one that loves you tenderly 'tis a Barbarity of Barbarities, and nothing could be guilty of it

Mel. But the greateft Villain Imagination can form, Igrant it, and next to the Villány of fuch a Fact, is the Villany of afperfing me with the Guilt. How? which way was i to wrong her? For yet I understand you not.

L. P. Why, gads my Life, Coufin Mellefont, you cannot be fo peremptory as to deny it; when I tax you with it to your Face; for now Sir Paul's gone, you are Corum Nobus.

Mel. By Heav'n . I love her more than Life,

L. P. Fiddle, faddle, don't tell me of this and that, and ev'ry Thing in the World, but give me