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Sir Peter. I am call'd Sir Peter Pride.

Love. It may be fo: I've heard of you,

Sir.

Sir Peter. My Family, Sir, has stood these many Years with unblemish'd Fame and Honour.

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Love. Very likely, Sir.

· Sir Peter. How far you have endeavour'd to stain that spotless Fame, be judge your self.

Love. Pray, Sir, explain this Riddle.

Sir Peter. I have a Daughter young, fair, well-bred, has Sense; she is indeed the Wonder of her Sex, and this Man, whom you fee here, has the Honour to be married to her.

Britt. Ah! 'Tis an Honour, that I cou'd have fpar'd.

(Afide. Sir Peter. Now, Sir, I'm told, that you endeavour to corrupt her Honour, and defile her Marriage-Bed. Sir, I have had the Honour to command abroad, and with Success, both to my King and my Country As have alfo the Chief Part of all our great Race; even from William the Conqueror, to this prefent Reign, have our unqueftion'd Glories ftood a Pattern to our yet rifing Fame: And he who dares prefume to rob us of that precious Jewel, Honour, muft not think to scape unpunifh'd, tho' with the Hazard o'th' laft Drop of Blood, that is left, to wash off the Stain. My Daughter's Honour, Sir, is as dear to me, as this vital Air, by which I breath and live.

Love. Pray Sir, who told you this?

Sir Peter. Believe me, Sir, whate'er I say, I can quote my Author for it.

Love. Then who-ever told you is a Rafcal, and were he here, I'd ram the Lie down his Throat, or make him eat a Piece of my Sword.

Sir Peter. Why he told me

This ManHer Husband here juftified it to my Face, and faid he had Proof.

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Love. How, Sir! Did you frame this abominable Falfhood? 'Tis well you have the Honour to be ally'd to this worthy Knight, Sir Peter Pride, here; or you should know what it is to father fuch a Lie upon a Man of my Reputation.

Sir Peter. Oh! Here comes my Daughter.

Enter Lady Pride, Mrs. Brittle, and Damaris.

Love. Did you, Madam, tell your Husband a ftrange Story, that I fhould make Love to you, and endeavour'd to corrupt your Honour?

Mrs. Britt. I tell him! Why, when did you make Love to me, Sir? I affure you, had you let me know of your Paffion, it fhou'd not have gone unrewarded. Pray, next time you fend, let it be one that knows how to take more Care. However, you have no great Reason to defpair; for fince he complains without any manner of Reafon, I am refolv'd he fhall have Caufe. Therefore if you do love me, Sir, pray let me know it, and I do affure you, you fhall not want Encouragement. He fhall not ufe me at this rate for nothing.

Love. Madam, believe me, 'tis all a Riddle to me; for, till this Hour, I never heard any thing mention'd like it: I am an abfolute Stranger to it.

Lady. Do you hear that, you Clown? Are you not afham'd to abufe a Gentlewoman continually, without any Caufe?

Sir Peter. What is the Meaning of this, Son-inlaw?

Britt. Pray, do but hear me.

Sir Peter, Troth, Son-in-law, you are a very im pudent Fellow.

Britt. Hear me but speak?

Sir Peter. You shall not speak. We have heard too much already:

Mrs.

Mrs. Britt. I am fure Damaris knows, I never have any body comes near me, but fuch as himfelf; nor ever receiv'd any Meffage, either by Letter, or otherwife

I nevér committed any Crime against him, that I know of, unless fitting by my felf all Day, and poring over two or three good Books be an Offence. Speak, Damaris, did I ever give him any Caufe for these Sufpicions, and this Ufage? Thou know'ft all I fay or do.

Damaris. Madam, I know no Reafon; nor can I bear to fee the Hardship you endure! Like a barbarous Man as he is To abufe fo good a Lady! fo. Virtuous, fo Innocent, and fo Pious a Lady! I am fure it makes me weep to think on't- -I am afraid he'll break her Heart in a little time, if

(Weeps. Britt. Hold your Tongue, you Jade, or I'll make you feel my double Fift. You are not a Gentle

woman

I may do what I please with you.
Mrs. Britt. Oh, my dear Father!
I am not able to endure this any longer.
Never was any Woman abus'd as I am.

(Cries.

I beg you will do me Juftice, for I can bear it no longer. (Exit crying. Lady. Damaris, let's follow her, and endeavour to comfort her. Oh, thou Clown, to use a Gentlewoman with fo much Cruelty!

.Dam. I fear he'll be the Death of her at one time or another. (Exeunt Lady Pride and Damaris, Sir Peter. What do you think of all this, Sir? Are not you a very pretty Fellow?

Come hither, Son-in-law, ask this Gentleman Pardon, for the Affront you have put upon him in belying of him.

Britt. How! ask his Pardon, that would have made me a Cuckold?

Love. Sir Peter, pray-

Sir Peter. I fay no more Words: He has wrong'd a Gentleman; and the least he can do, is begging Pardon.

Britt. 'Tis very well! He offends, and I must ask Pardon.

Sir Peter. No matter for that, you hear he denies it; and 'tis enough, if a Gentleman unfays what he has faid.

Britt. So that if I catch him making me a Cuckold, and he denies it, I must not believe it, because a Gentleman said it.

Sir Peter. I fay, you shall ask Pardon: Therefore no more Words, "but do't.

Britt. I fhall run mad.

Well, what muft I do?

Sir Peter. Come hither: Take your Hat off

'Kneel down, and fay after me.

Britt. Well, fince it must be fo

(Kneels.

This 'tis to be marry'd to a Gentlewoman, forfooth.

Sir Peter. Sir, I ask your Pardon.

Britt. Sir, I ask your Pardon. (In the fame Tone.
Sir Peter. For the Affront I have put upon you.
Britt. For the Affront I have put upon you.
Sir Peter. By falfly accufing you

Britt, How! falfely accufing him!

Sir Peter. I fay no more Words. Say after me.
Britt. Say after me,

Sir Peter. Accufing you, of having a Defign, to corrupt my Wife's Honour.

Britt. Accufing you of Truth

Defign to corrupt my Wife's Honour.

And having a

Sir Peter. For which, knowing my felf in the

wrong, I do ask your Pardon,

Britt. For which, knowing my felf not in the wrong, I'm forc'd to ask your Pardon.

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Love. Well, Sir, upon Sir Peter Pride's Account, I am content to pafs it by this time: But let me hear no more Complaints. (Brittle rifes, and runs off. Sir Peter. Sir, now all is well, I humbly take my Leave. (Exit Sir Peter.

Love. Was there ever fuch a lucky Rogue as I? For her to encourage me to make Love to her before her Husband's Face!

Nay, and before her Father and Mother too!

Oh, I am all on Fire till I have her in

But foft! who comes here?

Enter Prudence.

my Arms!

Well, my little Scout, what News? How fares my Friend? Is Philadelphia kind? Where's thy Lady? Pru. Where-e'er her Perfon is, I'm fure her beft Thoughts are ftill employ'd on you. And however The may pretend a Paffion for Mr. Cuningham, the loves none but you. Pray, Sir, do but try her.

Love. Oh racking Thought! I'd rather make Love to a Convocation of Cats at a Witch's Up-fitting, than but speak to her. Where's my Friend? Oh! here he comes, and his fair Confort.

Enter Cuningham and Philadelphia.

Cun. Be not fo cruel to fay, you want the Power; If we neglect this Opportunity, which kindly prefents it felf, the next perhaps may not be ours.

Phil. Would you then have me difpofe of my self without my Aunt's Confent? Do not urge me to that, fince I have promifed not to wed without it. Cun. I ask not her Confent, but yours: Grant me but that, and leave the reft to Time and Chance. Pru. Madam, how can you deny him that, fince I know you love him?

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Cun.

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