Mrs. Britt. Nay, 'twill not be fo well as you imagine neither. Every body knows how ill we have liv'd, and when I'm dead, People will think you murder'd me.

Britt. Ay!

Mrs. Britt. Therefore I'll kill my felf, to have my Death reveng'd upon you.

Britt. Odd, I'll truft to that.

Befides, killing ones felf has been a great while out of fashion. But why don't you difpatch? Methinks you are long about it.

Mrs. Britt, You may believe me, for I'll certainly do it, if you perfist.

Britt. Odd, I'll venture it.

Mrs. Britt. Befides, when I am dead, my Ghost fhall haunt you.

Britt. Ah, if I cou'd but once get rid of your Perfon here, I fhould not fear your Ghoft hereafter. Mrs. Britt. Have you no Pity left?

I am just going to do it,

Britt. And yet you are long about it.

Mrs. Britt. Since nothing but my Death can fatisfy you

There and there !

(Pretends to ftab ber felf with her Fan, and falls: Dam. Oh, he has don't! She has don't!

Oh cruel, barbarous Monster, to make her kill her felf!

Mrs. Britt. Now, Damaris, you find too late I did not jeft

I know thou'lt fee my Death reveng'd upon my cruel Husband, who has accus'd me falfly; for I affirm with my dying Breath, I never wrong'd him. Farewel!

"

Death beckons me into a dark and gloomy Vale, where I muft follow.

Dam.

Dam. She's gone! She's gone!

1

Oh, thou worfe than Savage! To murder fo fweet a Lady, fo innocent and fo good: Nay, I'll fwear you

did it.

(Cries over her. Britt. I hear no Noife! (Looks frighten'd. Is't poffible the Devil fhou'd be fo great with her, that the cou'd kill her felf to be reveng'd on me! But I'll light a Candle, and go fee.

(Goes from the Window. Mrs. Britt. Now, Damaris, ftand clofe in this

Corner:
Clofe, Clofe:

(They ftand afide.

Enter Brittle with a Light; they flip by him, gò in, and lock the Door: He looks about.

Britt. Ha, ha, ha! I thought indeed how well the'd do it: Here's none of her! She made me believe the kill'd her felf, and the mean while ran away. Well, e'en let her go, I fhall have this Satisfaction, her Pårents fhall be Witness of Her Hours. I'll in, and wait their coming.

(Goes to the Door, and finds it lock'd. Knocks.

Mrs. Brittle and Damaris above at the Window, where he waš.

?

Mrs. Britt, Away, you idle Sot; is this a time of Night for an honeft Man to come home in? Dam. Go, go, you may be asham'd! Britt. Why, have you the Impudence

(Looks up, and fees 'em above. Mrs. Britt. How many Nights am I forc'd to fit up to wait for his coming in? And he tells the World, 'tis I am to blame. But now it fhall be feen who's to blame, and who not. My Father and Mo ther are coming, they fhall fee what Hours you keep

Britt.

Britt. I confefs, I ftand amaz'd at this Impudence. Mrs. Britt. They shall know all.

Britt. Why, have you the Face to deny

Mrs. Britt. Go, go, I'll hear none of your impudent Excuses; you are drunk, you Sot, you Swine. But here comes my honourable Father and Mother.

Enter Sir Peter and Lady Pride.

I'm glad you are come to be Witnefs of what I fill fuffer, by this ungrateful Ufage of a cruel Husband. You fee what Hours he keeps; every Night at the Tavern roaring with his Companions, whilft I am forc'd to fit at home alone, waiting for his coming; and when he does come, he ftrait raves and abufes me at fuch a rate, that I am not able to endure it. Britt. Why, was there ever fuch Impudence! I wish this Candle were in my Belly, if

Mrs. Britt. I know what he'll fay now, if you'll believe him; he'll tell you, that I am ftill in the wrong, and 'tis I that have been out at this late Hour, and as for his part, he has been within all this Evening, and knows nothing of all this Matter, not he But I'll leave your felves to judge, if this is an Hour for an honeft Husband to come home at.

Britt. Why then may I never

Mrs. Brit. You fee he's fo drunk, he can hardly ftand.

Lady. Faugh! I fmell him hither.

He ftinks of Liquors and Tobacco like a Tarpaulin, that has not been fober whilft his Twelve Months Pay wou'd laft.

Britt. I tell you, that I am not drunk, nor have I been out of my House.

Sir Peter. Stand farther off, I cannot bear the Scent of a Drunkard.

Mrs.

Mrs. Britt. I told you he wou'd deny it.

Britt. I fay, that 'tis fhe that has been out juft now, and with her Gallant, and therefore I fent for you; and that I have not been out of my Doors.

Mrs. Britt. Do you hear him? But Damaris can juftify, I have not fet my Foot over the Threshold fince Day-light.

Dam. If fhe has, never believe me more.

I can affure your Honours 'tis true; for I have not been out of her Company fince he went out to the Tavern.

Mrs. Britt. Therefore I do befeech you, good Father and Mother, to revenge my Caufe, for I am not able to endure it any longer: If I do, you'll never fee me alive another Week.

Britt. 'Tis a strange thing, that he must be belie ved, and I not.

I tell you

Lady. Stand farther off.

Faugh! What a Smell there's about him.

(She goes cross the Stage.

Britt. Well then; I'll ftand farther off, if you

will but hear me speak.

(Goes backward. I fhall fay nothing but the Truth, and what I can prove.

Sir Peter. Again at your Proofs, and your idle Jea loufies!

Be dumb, Coxcomb; it were a good deed to break your Head, for fending thus for us out of our Beds, and making Fools of us ftill. If you ever dare to do the like again, we'll find a Means to handle you

If there be no Law (but cutting of Throats) to revenge thefe Affronts I fay no more But remember you are warn'd.

you

Britt. If you wou'd but let me tell why I fent for

Sir Peter. We have heard and feen too much already.

Therefore dare not to speak a Word more.

Mrs. Britt. And is this all his Punishment?
Sir Peter. No, Come down, and he shall ask your
Pardon. 'Tis the leaft he can do.

Mrs. Britt. Twill be to no purpose, when your
Backs are turn'd, he'll be as bad again,

Sit Peter. I fay no more Difputes, but do as I command. (They come down from the Window. Now, Son-in-law, kneel down, and ask your Wife Forgiveness.

Mrs. Britt. Shall I forgive him; no, I defire to be divorc❜d.

Lady. Come, Daughter, I fay you must pardon him.

Mrs. Britt. Well, Madam, I'll endeavour to obey you.

Sir Peter. Why don't you kneel, and do as I command ?

Britt. Well, I find there's no Remedy, fhe has over-reach'd me again, and I muft fubmit: But I am refoly'd I'll get rid of this Nooze, tho' I tuck my felf up in another.

(Sir Peter makes him kneel to his Wife.

Sir Peter. Come, fay after me. Madam, I ask your Pardon.

Britt. Madam, I ask your Pardon.

Sir Peter. For the Folly I have committedBritt. For the Folly I have committed in marrying you.

Sir Peter. In my wild Sufpicions.

Britt. In my wild Sufpicions.

Sir Peter. Which I do declare were utterly falfe.
Britt. Which I do declare were utterly falfe.