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Jeff. Pray, Madam, believe me; you know I am a Man of Integrity: I cannot diffemble. Let him write what he pleafes, If he did not love you, do you think I'd tell you fo?

Phil. When he has Opportunity, I must confefs, he fays kind things to me.

Jeff. Take my Word, Madam, my Master is not like other Men Unless he loves a Lady, and loves her paffionately too, he never troubles himself to compliment her much.

Phil. Never? Yes, Jeffry; fometimes, you know, he compliments my Aunt.

Jeff. That's a convincing Proof of his Love to you; you cannot think him reduc'd to the Neceffity of making Love to an antiquated Piece, with defign to know her otherwife, than to obtain the Happiness of feeing you? But I fhall tell him, Madam

Phil. Tell him I have receiv'd and read his Letter.
Feff. Is that all, Madam?

Phil. All! Yes. Are you not content with that? Jeff. Any indifferent Perfon, that had Hands, and could but read, would have done, as much, as that. Phil. Well, Tell him then, in time perhaps I may— Jeff. My Mafter, Madam, can't endure to depend on a perhaps.

Enter Prudence.

Pru. Quick, quick, up to your Chamber, Madam. Phil. What's the Matter? Is my Aunt coming hither?

Pru. She's at your Heels. Go up the Back-Stairs quickly.

Phil. Farewel, Feffry; Commend me to thy Mafter. Exit Phil. Jeff. For what, I befeech you? Is not my Mafter bewitc'd, to court a Lady a whole Year, and the hardly tell him the loves him yet?

Prü.

Pru. Alas! She's but a Novice. Let me alone with her, I'll order the Business fo, that if thy Mafter be difcreet and paffionate enough in his Expreffions, he wins her Heart I'll warrant you.

Feff. He can fay nothing to her, but that damn'd Aunt of hers is harkning to't ftill. What Pleasure can The find in Love at Fifty?

Pru. Fie, Jeffry, you must fay Five and twenty. Jeff. I wonder any Woman can have the Impudence to live, and trouble Mankind after that Age. Pru. There never was a Woman fo old, but the retain'd a good Opinion of her felf.

Jeff. Then the dreffes her felf fo fantastically, that all may fee fhe ftrives to appear Young in defiance of Nature. She is more gawdy in that the calls HalfMourning, than a young Bride is on her WeddingNight. The Devil's in her if the believes any one can love her: 'Tis jeering her, but to be commonly civil to her.

Pru. A little Flattery fires her. She believes all, that is faid to her: And he that does not make love to her, and compliment her, fhall not be twice admitted to her House.

Jeff. O reverend Beauty! on my Confcience, if I would greafe her Chops with a few Compliments, fhe'd mump and smile upon me.

Pru. No doubt on't.

Jeff. When fhall my Mafter have an Opportunity to speak freely to Philadelphia ?

Pru. Mr. Lovemore is thy Mafter's Friend, and is better belov'd here, than he imagines. You must perfuade him to amufe the Aunt, that Mr.Cuningbam may have Convenience to court the Niece.

Feff. Mr. Lovemore's tir'd with playing that part fo often; he is cloy'd with the Aunt, and fwears he'll have no more of her.

Pru. I'm fure her Niece and I endure much more. Tell him, 'twill be Charity in him to relieve us. Jeff. 'Twill be hard to perfuade him to it.

Pru. This old Lady of mine has languifh'd for a young Husband ever fince Sir Oliver Laycock dy'd; She cares not what Eftate he has, or what Religion he's of, fo he be but young and lufty. Where is the great Viscount Sans Terre, thy Mafter told her of? Methinks he's long a coming.

Jeff. Some crofs unlucky Bufinefs hinders him. Pru. She has lately receiv'd fome Letters, that have given a full Account of him.

Jeff. So much the worfe. What is it?

Pru. They fay his Fortune is not very much, but he is greatly born, and very pleasant; and that he is fo great a Lover of Mufick, he has not a Servant but can Sing or Dance, or Play upon fome Inftrument. You may know when he's come by the Noife; the Fiddlers will welcome him to Town; for all from Westminster to Wapping pay him Homage.

Jeff Wou'd he were but marry'd to her, Prudence.

Pru. Whether he marries her or not, is not our Bufinefs, Jeffry. Let him but fool with us till thy Mafter has gain'd her Niece, and then our Work is done,

Jeff Well, we have had enough of thy old Lady Laycock. Let us now talk of our own Affairs; fpeak, doft thou love me, Prudence?

Pru. A pleasant Queftion! Do you doubt it now? Jeff. If you would have me credit you, fwear it. Pru. Sure you are jealous Jeffry?

Jeff. You're fomewhat near the Matter. I know your Humour well enough; you love a bold audacious Fellow, that will fay any thing, and fuch a one we have come to Town, one Merryman our Falconer; I fear you'll like him better than you do me.

Prk.

Pru. Oh Fool! why fhould you think fo?

Jeff. I have fome Honour in me, but he's a Fellow that has eaten Shame, and drank after it. He is more impudent than a Court Page, and will take no De nial.

Pru. Hold your Tongue, here's my Lady.

Enter Lady Laycock.

Lady. What Bufinefs has Jeffry with you? Pru. His Mafter fent him to know, whether he might have leave to wait upon your Ladyship this Morning.

Lady. Yes; Tell him, I expect him.

Jeff. He durft not come, becaufe Mr. Lovemore's with him.

Lady. Go tell 'em, if they please to come, they fhall be welcome both.

Feff. I fhall, Madam.

(Exit Jeffrey. Pru. You fee what Power your Beauty has. Neither can live a Moment without feeing you.

Lady. No, they have other Bufinefs with me, Prudence; they came from Paris lately, and brought me a Letter from my Brother; and I believe they come for my Answer now.

Pru. But does not one of 'em love you, Madam? Lady. I have fome Reafon to believe he does; Mr. Lovemore has fpar'd no Pains to perfuade me to quit my Widow-hood.

Pru. I have been told, Madam, that Widów-hood is a Gift, Heaven feldom beftows but on its Favourites; you are rich, and know how troublesome Marriage is. For my part, I believe the fairest Hair, the beautiful'ft Curls do not become your Fore-head fo well as Bando did; but every one, Madam, knows their own Neceffities.

Lady. I confefs, Widow-hood has its Conveniencies; but if Marriage be a Trouble to fome, 'tis a Pleasure to others, Prudence.

Pru. You had the Experience of it thirty Years, how did you like it, Madam? They fay, Sir Oliver Laycock lov'd your Ladyfhip.

Lady. For all that he was jealous; and, what's worse, was Old.

Pru. Very well; therefore you refolve to have a young One now, Madam ?

Lady. You cannot blame me for that? Can you, Prudence?

Pru. Oh no, 'tis well known Youth is comfortable. But, methinks, you should take one a little nearer your own Age, Madam. A very young Man may be too treacherous for you, Madam.

Lady. Why, is my Age fo vifible?

Pru. No, Madam; with a little Help of Art you have fome Remains of Beauty ftill. You have fomething about your Eyes as pleasant now, as others have at Twenty.

Lady. 'Tis a very malicious World we live in, Prudence; they are fo apt to cenfure, and speak of any fingle Woman, that one ought to marry to avoid that Scandal.

Pru. Some that are young are forc'd to marry, to avoid Detraction; others wou'd rather all that's Ill fhould be faid of them, than to have no Notice taken of 'em. I knew a young Lady that pin'd to a Confumption, becaufe fhe liv'd three Years about the Court, and never had the Honour to be lampoon'd. The Truth is, none that are Beautiful and Young can avoid Envy, but few are fo malicious, to speak againft the Old.

Lady. There is no Age exempt from Scandal, Prudence. When we are Young, they fay we fell our felves; when Old, we are forc'd to hire, to buy our Lovers.

Pru.