all asunder, and is a general Acquittance - Rival is equal, and Love like Death an universal Leveller of Mankind. Ha! But is there not such a Thing as Honesty? Yes, and whosoever has it about him, bears an Enemy in his Breast: For your honeft Man, as I take it, is that nice, scrupulous, confcientious Person, who will cheat no Body but himself; such another Coxcomb, as your wife Man, who is too hard for all the World, and will be made a Fool of by no Body, but himself: Ha, ha, ha. Well for Wisdom and Honesty, give me Cunning and Hypocrifie; oh, 'tis sucha Pleasure, to angle for fair fac'd Fools! Then that hungry Gudgeon Credulity, will bite at any thing - Why, let me fee, I have the fame Face, the same Words and Accents, when I speak what I do think, and when I speak what I do not think

the very fame

and

dear Diffimulation is the only Art, not to be known from Nature.

Why will Mankind be Fools, and be deceiv'd?
And why are Friends and Lovers Oaths believ'd?
When, each, who searches strictly his own Mind,
May so much Fraud and Power of Baseness find.

End of the Second Act.

ACT.

ACT. ΙΙΙ.

SCENEI.

Lord Touchwood, and Lady Touchwood.

M

Lady ToucHWOOD.

Y Lord, can you blame my Brother Plyant, if he refuse his Daughter upon this Provo. cation? The Contract's void by this un

heard of Impiety.

Ld. T. I don't believe it true, he has better Principles - Pho, 'tis Nonsense. Come, come, I know my Lady Plyant has a large Eye, and wou'd centre every thing in her own Circle; 'tis not the first ime the has mistaken Respect for Love, and made Sir Paul jealous of the Civility of an undefigning Person, the better to bespeak his Security in her unfeigned Pleasures.

L. T. You censure hardly, my Lord; my Sisters Honour is very well known.

Ld. T. Yes, I believe I know some that have been familiarly acquainted with it. This is a little Trick wrought by some pitiful Contriver, envious of my Nephews Merit.

L. T. Nay, my Lord, it may be so, and I hope it will be found so: But that will require some time, for in such a Case as this, Demonftration is necelfary.

Ld. T. There should have been Demonstration of the contrary too, before it had been believ'dL. T. So I suppose there was.

Ld.

Ld. T. How? Where? When?

L. T. That I can't tell; nay I don't say there was -I am willing to believe as favourably of my Nephew as I can.

Ld. T. I don't know that.

[Half Afide.

L. T. How? Don't you believe that, say you, my Lord?

Ld. T. No, I don't say so-I confefs I am troubled to find you so cold in his Defence.

L. T. His Defence! Bless me, wou'd you have me defend an ill Thing?

Ld. T. You believe it then?

L. T. I don't know; Iam very unwilling to speak my Thoughts in any thing that may be to my Coufins Disadvantage; besides, I find, my Lord, you are prepared to receive an ill Impression from any Opinion of mine which is not confenting with your own: But since I am like to be supected in the End; and 'tis a Pain any longer to dissemble, I own it to you; in short I do believe it, nay, and can believe any thing worse, if it were laid to his Charge - Don't ask me my Reasons, my Lord, for they are not fit to be told you.

Ld. T. I'm amaz'd, here must be something more than ordinary in this. { Afide.] Not fit to be told me, Madam? You can have no Interests, wherein I am not concern'd, and consequently the same Reasons ought to be convincing to me, which create your Satisfaction or Disquiet.

L. T. But those which cause my Disquiet, I am willing to have remote from your hearing. Good my Lord, don't press me.

Ld. T. Don't oblige me to press you. L. T. Whatever it was, 'tis paft: And that is better to be unknown which cannot be prevented; therefore let me beg you to rest satisfy'dLd. 7. When you have told me, I will

1

L. T. You won't.

Ld. T. By my Life, my Dear, I will.
L. T. What if you can't.

Ld. T. How? Then I must know, nay I will: No more triffing - I charge you tell me-B all our mutual Peace to come; upon your Duty

By

L. T. Nay, my Lord, you need say no more, to make me lay my Heart before you; but don't be thus transported, compofe your self: It is not of Concern, to make you lose one Minutes Temper. 'Tis not indeed my Dear. Nay, by this Kiss you shan't be angry. O Lord, I wish I had not told you any thing. Indeed, my Lord, you have frighted me. Nay, look pleas'd, I'll tell you. Ld. T. Well, well.

L. T. Nay, but will you be calm - indeed it's nothing but

Ld. T. But what ?

L. T. But will you promise me not to be angry -Nay you must- Not to be angry with Mellefont-I dare swear he's forry - and were it to do again, would not

Ld. T. Sorry, for what? "Death, you rack me with Delay.

L. T. Nay, no great Matter, only - Well I have your Promife, - Pho, why nothing, only your Nephew had a mind to amuse himself, sometimes with a little Gallantry towards me. Nay, I can't think he meant any thing seriously, but methought it look'd odly.

Ld. T. Confufion and Hell, what do I hear! L. T. Or, may be, he though the was not enough a-kin to me, upon your Account, and had a mind to create a nearer Relation on his own; a Lover you know my Lord-Ha, ha, ha. Well but that's all-Now you have it, well remember your Promise, my Lord, and don't take any Notice of it to him.

Ld.

1

Ld. T. No, no, no- Damnation! L. T. Nay, I swear you must not- A little harmless Mirth - Only misplac'd, that's all But if it were more, 'tis over now, and all's well. For my part I have forgot it; and so has he, I hope - for I have not heard any thing from him these two Days.

Ld. T. These two Days! Is it so fresh? Unnatural Villain! Death, I'll have him ftripp'd and turn'd naked out of my Doors this Moment, and let him rot and perish, incestuous Brute!

L. T. O for Heav'us sake, my Lord, you'll ruin me if you take such publick Notice of it; it will be a Town-talk: Consider your own and my Honour -nay, I told you you would not be satisfied when you knew it.

Ld. T. Before I've done, I will be satisfy'd. Ungrateful Monster, how long?

L. T. Lord, I don't know: I wish my Lips had grown together when I told you - Almost a Twelvemonth- Nay, I won't tell you any more, 'till you are your self. Pray, my Lord, don't let the Company see you in this Disorder - Yet, I confess, I can't blame you, for I think I was never so surpriz'd in my Life - Who would have thought my Nephew could have so misconstrued my Kindriess-But will you go into your Closet, and recover your Temper. I'll make an Excuse of sudden Business to the Company, and come to you. Pray, good dear my Lord, let me beg you do now: I'll come immediately, and tell youall; will you, my

Lord?

Ld. T. I will - I am mute with Wonder.
L. T. Well but go now, here's some body com-

ing.

LI. T. Well I go - You won't stay, for I would hear more of this.

D

Li