Enter Lady Laycock.

Lady. So Niece, I fee your fqueamish Stomach can digeft all forts of Diet, tho ne'er fo ftrictly charg'd to the contrary. Mr. Cuningham, What Bufinefs have you with her? I wonder you are not afham'd to be always following of her at this rate, and endeavouring to take Advantage of her foolish Youth; for the is but a Girl yet, and not fit for the Converfation of a Man, nay, or indeed to be trufted with her felf. Cun. Madam

Lady. Go, go, indeed you are much to blame: What will the World judge, think you? Or what Excufe can I make, for fuffering fuch Doings in my Houfe? And you, Hufwife! how dare you difobey my Commands? Is this the Refpect you pay to me, and to my Quality! I believe, in a little time I must make it my whole Imploy to invite home young Gal lants, forfooth, to pleafure you, whilft I, as if I were your Slave, muft retire, and wait till you are ferv'd firft. 'Tis come to a fine pafs indeed ; but I'll put an End to it all, and keep you always lock'd up in your Chamber, I will fo.

Phil. I told you, Sir, what would be the Event of your Projects, but you would not be faid nay. I must be an Inftrument to make your Paffion known, and none fo fit to be trufted with fuch an Affair as I; but henceforward if you can't speak for your felf, you may hang or drown, as you pretend, for me, for I'll no more get Anger for you.

Cun. What does the mean?

Lady. What's that you fay?

Phil. Mr. Cuningham here, Madam, is always urging me to tell your Ladyfhip the Paffion he has for you.

Lady. Saucy Slut!

.

Phil. As if he could not fpeak for himself, but must be ftill plaguing me, and fwearing how long, how well, and how tenderly he loves you; then fighs and cries, Oh Philadelphia! Can I live without her? But fhe, cruel as fhe is, has vow'd to die unmarried. Cun. Oh the Devil! What will become of me now?

Phil. Then raves worfe, than any one in Bedlam, crying, And muft I then lofe her fo? Oh! Death to all my Hopes! I must not, cannot, will not! and a thousand fuch like things, which I'm refolv'd never to hear again. So, Sir, don't trouble me any more, but e'en fpeak what you have to fay to her felf. your (Exit. Lady. Is this true, Mr. Cuningham? I did not think there was a Man living, which cou'd love at that rate, and with fuch Conftancy.

Cun. Oh! Madam! what fhall I fay, fince all is ftill in vain! Your Vow, your cruel Vow, has vanquifh'd all my Hopes; then where fhould I feek for Peace, but in my laft Retreat, the Grave. Farewell, I cannot bear to stay, for every Look adds new Poifons to my Soul. (Is going.

Lady. Stay, Sir-I have made no fuch Vow. If your Paffion

Cun. Oh, Madam! forbear. I know your Goodnefs to be fuch, that rather, than be the Inftrument of what may happen, you would feemingly comply with any thing I can ask. Pardon me, Madam, I have been too much deceiv'd already.

Lady. Pray ftay, Sir, do not mistake

Enter Philadelphia with a Piece of Poynt.

Phil. Oh, Madam, here's the finest Piece of Poynt I ever faw, and the cheapeft; pray, Madam, look

at it.

Lady. Saucy Intrufion. How durft you come without being call❜d? How often have I told you this, you Minx: Be gone, and leave it in the next Room, till I please to come and look on't.

Phil, Madam, the Woman, that brought it is in hafte, the bid me tell your Ladyfhip.

Lady. Let her go about her Bufinefs, if the can't wait, for I'll not come yet. (Exit Philadelphia. How horribly unlucky was this to disturb me, just as I was going to tell him of my Intentions, and of my Concern for his Paffion. (Afide. Cun. I believe I am troublesome, Madam. (Is going. Farewel.

Lady. No, pray ftay, Sir, I have fomething to fay to you, but that young Slut interrupted me. Cun. Oh the Devil!

Lady. But as I was going to fay, I did indeed refolve not to marry any more; and when you have heard me out, you'll fay I had Reafön.

You must know, in my Husband Sir Oliver's Days, I had not that Liberty, perhaps, as other Ladies of Quality took; for, to fay Truth, my airy Temper and my Youth, at that time, made my Husband grows jealous, tho' without Caufe, Heaven knows.

Cun. That I dare fwear, if all were of my Mind.

(Afide. Lady. Which made him lead me a very uneafy Life: So that it made me refolve on many things at that time, and one was this, That if ever Sir Oliver should die, I never would marry again; but I don't remember that I fwore to it: Or if I had, you have fuch a way with you, 'twould be very hard to deny you any thing, Mr. Cuningham.

Cun. Oh, Madam!too late: I am past all Hope.

Your Charity comes now

Lady. Oh, dear Sir, fay not fo! for fince you fay your Difeafe is grown to that Extremity, that unless your Love meet Reward-

Cun. Talk not of Impoffibilities. I know how much you prize your Honour: And fince you have vow'd never to marry, I have nothing left to hope for elfe.

.

Lady. 'Tis true, Mr. Cuningham, I would not have my Honour fuffer; but what remains befide that I can do, to fave you from what may be dangerous, fhall not be wanting.

Enter Prudence and Philadelphia.

Pru. Oh, Madam! Madam! the rareft NewsThe Viscount Sans Terre, whom you have fo long expected, is just arriv'd, and is coming hither with a huge fine Equipage, Fiddles, and other Inftru

ments.

Lady. Oh dear! how I'm furpriz'd! I would not have him fee me thus for all the World. Prudence, Set my Curls right, and alter my Knots: Quickly, don't ftand fumbling

-

Look if the Paint be firm.

Pru. 'Tis pretty well, Madam; There's here and there a fmall Crack, but 'twill not be difcern'd at distance.

Lady. Quickly, good Prudence: Put me a little better in Order. You'll pardon me, Sir: You fee what a Fright I'm in.

Cun. Pardon, quotha! the Devil take me, if any thing could be more freely granted.

(Afide.

Enter

Enter the Viscount Sans Terre, with Mufick, and a good Equipage; attended by Lovemore and Several Gentlemen. The Viscount fings as he enters.

F

A CATCH.

Rom the North I came,
Where I heard of the Fame
Of the Lady Laycock's Beauty;
I had pafs'd for an Ass,
Had I fay'd where I was,
And not done a Viscount's Duty.

Vifc. Oh! are these the Ladies?
By your Favour, Sweet Lady.
A delicate Morfel, by this Hand.

(Kisses Philadelphia.

Madam, I fee that Fame has juftly spoke your Praife.
You are indeed the Wonder of all your Sex.
How fair fhe is!

Lady. What does he mean?

Vifc. Pray, Madam, what young Gentlewoman is that, whofe matchlefs Beauty feems to fill the Place with more, than common Brightnefs? Sure 'tis some Goddefs, dropt from Heaven for Men to worship! Fair Angel, pardon this rude Attempt:

The Honour only of your fair Hand.

(Kiffes it. For till I touch it, I cannot think you mortal. Lady. Oh, dear Sir! You make me blush. Vif. [To Phil.] Pray, Lady, is this pretty young Gentlewoman your Niece?

Phil. [Afide.] This Fellow must be a Fool, or he could ne'er miftake fo grofly.

Pra. [To Phil.] Now we fhall have rare Sport, Sure he's blind to mistake you for your Aunt.