Enter DARLING, CLINCHER junior, and DICKY.
Darl. This is my daughter, cousin.

Dick. Now, sir, remember your three scrapes.

Clin. jun. [Saluting Angelica.] One, two, three, your humble servant. Was not that right, Dicky? Dick. Ay, 'faith, sir; but why don't you speak to her?

Clin. jun. I beg your pardon, Dicky; I know my distance. Would you have me speak to a lady at the first sight?

Dick. Ay, sir, by all means; the first aim is the

surest.

Clin. jun. Now for a good jest, to make her laugh heartily By Jupiter Ammon, I'll go give her a kiss. [Goes towards her.

Enter WILDAIR, interposing.

Wild. 'Tis all to no purpose; I told you so before; your pitiful five guineas will never do. You may go; I'll outbid you.

Clin. jun. What, the devil! the madman's here again.

Darl. Bless me, cousin, what d'ye mean? Affront a gentleman of his quality in my house?

Clin. jun. Quality!—Why, madam, I don't know what you mean by your madmen, and your beaux, and your quality-they're all alike, I believe.

Dar. Pray, sir, walk with me into the next room.

[Exit Darling, leading Clincher. Dicky following.

Ang. Sir, if your conversation be no more agreeable than 'twas the last time, I would advise you to make your visit as short as you can.

Wild. The offences of my last visit, madam, bore their punishment in the commission; and have made me as uneasy till I receive pardon, as your ladyship can be till I sue for it.

Ang. Sir Harry, I did not well understand the offence, and must therefore proportion it to the greatness of your apology; if you would, therefore, have me think it light, take no great pains in an excuse.

Wild. How sweet must the lips be that guard that tongue! Then, madam, no more of past offences; let us prepare for joys to come. Let this seal my pardon; [Kisses her hand.] and this [Again.] initiate me to farther happiness.

Ang. Hold, sir-one question, Sir Harry, and, pray, answer plainly-D'ye love me?

Wild. Love you! Does fire ascend? Do hypocrites dissemble? Usurers love gold, or great men flattery? Doubt these, then question that I love.

Ang. This shews your gallantry, sir, but not your love.

Wild. View your own charms, madam, then judge my passion; your beauty ravishes my eye, your voice my ear, and your touch has thrill'd my melting soul.

Ang. If your words be real, 'tis in your power to raise an equal flame in me.

Wild. Nay, then, I seize

Ang. Hold, sir; 'tis also possible to make me de

test and scorn you worse than the most profligate of your deceiving sex.

Wild. Ha! A very odd turn this. I hope, madam, you only affect anger, because you know your frowns are becoming.

Ang. Sir Harry, you being the best judge of your own designs, can best understand whether my anger should be real or dissembled; think what strict modesty should bear, then judge of my resentment.

Wild. Strict modesty should bear! Why faith, madam, I believe, the strictest modesty may bear fifty guineas, and I don't believe 'twill bear one farthing

more.

Ang. What d' ye mean, sir ?

Wild. Nay, madam, what do you mean? If you go to that. I think now fifty guineas is a fine offer for your strict modesty, as you call it.

Ang. 'Tis more charitable, Sir Harry, to charge the impertinence of a man of your figure on his defect in understanding, than on his want of manners. -I'm afraid you're mad, sir.

Wild. Why, madam, you're enough to make any man mad. 'Sdeath, are you not a———

Ang. What, sir?

Wild. Why, a lady of-strict modesty, if you will have it so.

Ang. I shall never hereafter trust common report, which represented you, sir, a man of honour, wit, and breeding; for I find you very deficient in them all three.

[Exit

Wild. [Solus.] Now I find that the strict pretences which the ladies of pleasure make to strict modesty, is the reason why those of quality are ashamed to

wear it.

Enter VIZARD.

Viz. Ah! Sir Harry, have I caught you? Well, and what success?

Wild. Success! 'Tis a shame for you young fellows in town here to let the wenches grow so saucy. I offered her fifty guineas, and she was in her airs presently, and flew away in a huff. I could have had a brace of countesses in Paris for half the money, and je vous remercie into the bargain.

Viz. Gone in her airs, say you! And did not you follow her?

Wild. Whither should I follow her?

Viz. Into her bed-chamber, man; she went on purpose. You a man of gallantry, and not understand that a lady's best pleased when she puts on her airs, as you call it !

Wild. She talked to me of strict modesty, and stuff.

Viz. Certainly. Most women magnify their mo. desty, for the same reason that cowards boast their courage because they have least on't. Come, come, Sir Harry, when you make your next assault, encourage your spirits with brisk Burgundy : if you succeed, 'tis well; if not, you have a fair excuse for your rudeness. I'll go in, and make your peace for

what's past. Oh, I had almost forgot-Colonel Standard wants to speak with you about some busi

ness.

Wild. I'll wait upon him presently; d'ye know where he may be found?

Viz. In the piazza of Covent-Garden, about an hour hence, I promised to see him; and there you may meet him-to have your throat cut. [dside.]— I'll go in and intercede for you.

Wild. But no foul play with the lady, Vizard.

Viz. No fair play, I can assure you.

[Exit. [Exit.

SCENE III.

The Street before LUREWELL's Lodgings; CLINCHER Senior, and LURE WELL, coquetting in the Balcony. Enter STANDARD.

Stand. How weak is reason in disputes of love 1 That daring reason which so oft pretends to question works of high omnipotence, yet poorly truckies to our weakest passions, and yields implicit faith to foolish love, paying blind zeal to faithless women' eyes. I've heard her falsehood with such pressing proofs, that I no longer should distrust it. Yet still my love would baffle demonstration, and make im possibilities seem probable. [Looks up] Ha! That fool too! What, stoop so low as that animal ?-'Tis true, women once fallen, like cowards in despair,

F