THE BUSY BODY.

ACT I. SCENE 1.

The Park. Sir GEORGE AIRY meeting CHARLES.

Charles.

HA! Sir George Airy a birding thus early! what forbidden game rous'd you so soon? for no lawful occasion could invite a person of your figure abroad, at such unfashionable hours.

Sir Geo. There are some men, Charles, whom fortune has left free from inquietudes, who are diligently studious to find out ways and means to make themselves uneasy.

Cha. Is it possible that any thing in nature can ruffle the temper of a man whom the four seasons of the year compliment with as many thousand pounds, nay, and a father at rest with his ancestors?

Sir Geo. Why, there it is now! a man that wants money thinks none can be unhappy that has it; but my affairs are in such a whimsical posture that it will

require a calculation of my nativity to find if my gold will relieve me or not.

Cha. Ha, ha, ha! never consult the stars about that; gold has a power beyond them, "gold unlocks "the midnight councils; gold outdoes the wind, be"calms the ship, or fills her sails; gold is omnipotent "below; it makes whole armies fight or fly; it buys "even souls, and bribes wretches to betray their "" country:" then what can thy business be that gold won't serve thee in?

Sir Geo. Why I'm in love.

Cha. In love!Ha, ha, ha, ha! in love!-Ha, ha, ha, ha! with what pr'ythee? a cherubine? Sir Geo. No, with a woman.

Cha. A woman! good. Ha, ha, ha, ha! and gold not help thee?

Sir Geo. But suppose I'm in love with two

Cha. Ay, if thou'rt in love with two hundred, gold will fetch 'em I warrant thee, boy. But who are they? who are they? come.

Sir Geo. One is a lady whose face I never saw, but witty to a miracle; the other beautiful as Venus

Cha. And a fool

Sir Geo. For aught I know, for I never spoke to her; but you can inform me. I am charm'd by the wit of the one, and die for the beauty of the other.

Cha. And pray which are you in quest of now? Sir Geo. I prefer the sensual pleasure; I'm for her I'ave seen, who is thy father's ward, Miranda.

Cha. Nay, then I pity you; for the Jew my father

will no more part with her and thirty thousand pounds than he would with a guinea to keep me from starving.

Sir Geo. Now you see gold can't do every thing, Charles.

. Cha. Yes, for 'tis her gold that bars my father's gate against you.

1. Sir Geo. Why, if he be this avaricious wretch how cam'st thou by such a liberal education?

Cha. Not a souse out of his pocket I assure you: I had an uncle who defray'd that charge; but for some little wildnesses of youth, though he made me his heir, left dad my guardian till I came to years of discretion, which I presume the old gentleman will never think I am; and now he has got the estate into his clutches, it does me no more good than if it lay in Prester John's dominions.

Sir Geo. What, canst thou find no stratagem to re=deem it?

Cha. I have made many essays to no purpose; though want, the mistress of invention, still tempts me on, yet still the old fox is too cunning for me.I am upon my last project, which if it fails, then for my last refuge, a brown musquet.

Sir Geo. What is't? can I assist thee?

Cha. Not yet; when you can I have confidence enough in you to ask it.

Sir Geo. I am always ready. But what does he intend to do with Miranda? is she to be sold in private, or will he put her up by way of auction, at who bids

B

most? if so, egad I'm for him; my gold, as you say, shall be subservient to my pleasure.

Cha. To deal ingenuously with you, sir George, I know very little of her or home; for since my uncle's death and my return from travel I have never been well with my father; he thinks my expences too great, and I his allowance too little; he never sees me but he quarrels, and to avoid that I shun his house as much as possible. The report is he intends to marry her himself.

Sir Geo. Can she consent to it?

Cha. Yes faith, so they say: but I tell you I am wholly ignorant of the matter. "Miranda and I are "like two violent members of a contrary party; I can "scarce allow her beauty, though all the world does, << nor she me civility for that contempt." I fancy she plays the mother-in-law already, and sets the old gen. tleman on to do mischief.

Sir Geo. Then I have your free consent to get her? Cha. Ay, and my helping hand if occasion be. Sir Geo. Poh! yonder's a fool coming this way, let's avoid him.

Cha. What, Marplot? No, no, he's my instrument; there's a thousand conveniencies in him; he'll lend me his money when he has any, run of my errands, and be proud on it; in short, he'll pimp for me, lie for me, drink for me, do any thing but fight for me, and that I trust to my own arm for.

Sir Geo. Nay, then he's to be endured; I never knew his qualifications before.