not: but if I am not revenged on his falshood.-[Aside. Mr. Caper.

Cap. and Saunt. Madam.

Lady Squ. Where do you go to-day?

Cap. Will your ladyship be at the new play?

Lady Squ. No, I saw it the first day, and don't like it. Mal. Madam, it has no ill character about the town. Lady Squ. O Lord, sir, the town is no judge. "Tis a tragedy, and I'll assure you there's nothing in it that's moving. I love a tragedy that moves, mightily.

Saunt. Does your ladyship know who writ it?

Lady Squ. Yes, the poet came and read it to me at my lodgings; he is but a young man, and I suppose he has not been a writer long; besides, he has had little or no conversation with the court, which has been the reason he has committed a great many indecorums in the conduct of it.

Saunt. I did not like it neither, for my part; there was never a song in it, ha!

Cap. No, nor so much as a dance.

Mal. Oh, 'tis impossible it should take, if there were neither song nor dance in it.

.

Lady Squ. And then their comedies now-a-days are the filthiest things, full of bawdy and nauseous doings, which they mistake for raillery and intrigue: besides, they have no wit in 'em neither; for all their gentlemen and men of wit, as they style 'em, are either silly, conceited, impudent coxcombs, or else rude, ill-mannerly, drunken fellows-fough-I am ashamed any one should pretend to write a comedy, that does not know the nicer rules of the court, and all the intrigues and gallantries that pass, I vow.

Mal. Who would improve in those things, must consult with your ladyship.

Lady Squ. I swear, Mr. Malagene, you are an obliging person; I wonder the world should be so malicious to give you so undeserving a character as they do: I always found you extremely generous, and a person of worth.

Mal. In troth, madam, your ladyship and myself are the subjects of abundance of envy; for I love to be malicious now and then; and faith, am the very scourge of the court: they all stand in awe of me, for I must speak what I know, though sometimes I am used a little scurvily for it; but faith I can't help it, 'tis my way.

Lady Squ. Ha, ha, ha, really I love scandal extremely too sometimes, so it be decently managed.But as I was saying, there is not a person in the world understands the intrigues of the court better than myself; I am the general confident of the drawing-room, and know the loves of all the people of quality in town.

Cap. Dear madam, how stands the affair between my lord Supple and madam Lofty?

Lady Squ. Worse than ever; 'tis very provoking to see how she uses the poor creature: but the truth is, she can never be at rest for him; he's more troublesome than an old husband; continually whispering his softness and making his vows, till at last she is forced to fly to me for shelter, and then we do so laugh-which the goodnatured creature takes so patiently-I swear, I pity him. Saunt. But my lady Colt, they say, is kinder to the sparkish Mr. Pruneit..

Lady Squ. O Lord, Mr. Saunter, that you should understand no better; to my knowledge it is all false; I know all that intrigue from the beginning to the ending; it has been off this month-besides, he keeps a player again---Oh, Mr. Saunter! whatever you do, never concern yourself with those players.

Saunt. Madam, I have left the folly long since; when first I came to town, I must confess I had a gallantry there. But since I have been acquainted with your ladyship's wit and beauty, I have learned to lay out my heart to better advantage- -I think that was finely said.

Lady Squ. I'll swear, Mr. Saunter, you have the most court-like way of expressing yourself

Saunt. Oh Lord, madam! [Bows and cringes. Lady Squ. Mr. Malagene, these are both my intimate

acquaintance, and I'll swear I am proud of 'em. Here is Mr. Saunter sings the French manner better than ever I heard any English gentleman in my life. Besides, he pronounces his English, in singing, with a Freuch kind of a tone or accent, that gives it a strange beautySweet sir, do me the favour of the last new song. Saunt. Let me die! Your ladyship obliges me beyond expression- -Malagene, thou shalt hear me.

[Sings a Song in a French tone. Mal. What a devil was this? I understand not a word on't.

Saunt. Ha, Malagene, ha.

Lady Squ. Did you ever hear any thing so fine? Mal. Never, madam, never: I swear your ladyship is a great judge.

Lady Squ. But how plain and distinctly too every word was pronounced!

Mal. Oh, to admiration, to admiration.

[Makes mouths aside. Lady Squ. Well, Mr. Saunter, you are a charming creature- -O sad, Mr. Caper, I long till night comes: I'll dance with nobody but you to-night, for, I swear, I believe I shall be out of humour.

Mal. That's more than she ever was in her life, so long as she had a fool or a fiddle in her company.

Lady Squ. Tho' really I love dancing immoderately -But now you talk of intrigues, I am mistaken if you don't see something where we are going to-night.

Mal. What, Goodvile is to commence cuckold, is it not so?

Lady Squ. Oh, fy, Mr. Malagene, fy! I vow you'll make me hate you, if you talk so strangely, -but let me die, I can't but laugh-ha, ha, ha-Well, gentlemen, you shall dine with me to-day-what say you, Mr. Malagene, will you go?

Mal. Your ladyship may be sure of me; I hate to break good company.

Lady Squ. And pray now let us be very severe, and talk maliciously of all the town. Mr. Caper, your

hand: oh, dear Mr. Saunter, how shall I divide myself?.I'll swear, I am strangely at a loss-Mr. Malagene, you must be Mr. Saunter's mistress I think at present.

Mal. With all my heart, madam- -Sweet Mr. Saunter, your hand: I swear you are a charming creature, and your courtship is as extraordinary as your voice. Let me die, and I vow I must have t'other song after dinner, for I am very humoursome, and very whimsical, I think : ha, ha, ha. [Exeunt.

ACT II.

SCENE -The Ordinary.

Enter Mrs. GOODVILE and LETTICE.

Mrs. Good. Did you deliver the billet?
Let. Yes, madam, faithfully.

Mrs. Good. But are you sure you did?

Let. Can your ladyship think I would be guilty of the least neglect in a concern of such moment?

Mrs. Good. And are you sure he dines here to-day? Let. Madam, they are now at dinner below: Mr. Valentine's there too. Oh, I'll swear he's a fine man; the most courteous person.

Mrs. Good. What, because he hunts and kisses you when he's drunk? No, Lettice; Truman, Truman, O that Truman!

Let. I wonder your ladyship should be so taken with him were I to choose, I should think my master the more agreeable man.

:

Mrs. Good. And you may take him if you will; he is as much a husband as one would wish: I have not seen him this fortnight; he never comes home till four in the morning, and then he sneaks to his separate bed, where he lies till afternoon, then rises, and out again upon his parole; flesh and blood can't endure it.

Let. But he always visits your ladyship first.

Mrs. Good. That's his policy, as great debtors are always very respectful and acknowledging where they never mean to pay. "Tis true, he gives me what freedom I can desire, but God knows that's all.

Let. And where's the pleasure of going abroad and getting a stomach, to return and starve at home?

Mrs. Good. I laugh, though, to think what an easy fool he believes me: he thinks me the most contented, innocent, harmless turtle breathing; the very pattern of patience.

Let. A jewel of a wife.

Mrs. Good. And as blind with love as his own good opinion of himself has made him.

Let. And can you find in your heart to wrong so good a natured, complete, well-meaning, harmless husband, that has so good an opinion of you ?

Mrs. Good. Ha, wrong him! what say you, Lettice? I wrong my husband! such another word forfeits my good opinion of thee for ever.

Let. What meant the billet to Mr. Truman then this morning?

Mrs. Good. To make him my friend perhaps, and discover if I can, who it is that wrongs me in my husband's affection; for I am sure I have a rival. And I am apt to believe Victoria deserves no better than ordinary of me, if the truth were known.

Let. Why, she is his near kinswoman, and lives here in the house with you; besides, he would never dishonour his own family, surely.

Mrs. Good. You are a fool, Lettice; the nearness of blood is the least thing considered. Besides, as I have heard, 'tis almost the only way relations care to be kind to one another, now-a-days.

Let. Yes, madam, you never meet, but you are as kind and fond of him as if you had all the joys of love about you. Lord! how can you dissemble with him so? besides, Mr. Truman, madam, you know is his friend.