Luc. Have a care what you say: this gentleman's about marrying her: you may spoil all.

Wid. Fiddle, faddle, what! you would put a trick upon me.

Char. No, faith, widow, the trick is over, it has taken sufficiently, and now I will teach you the trick, to prevent your being cheated another time.

Wid. How! cheated, Mr. Welldon!

Char. Why, aye, you will always take things by the wrong handle: : I see you will have me Mr. Welldon: I grant you, I was Mr. Welldon a little while, to please you or so: but Mr. Stanmore here has persuaded me into a woman again.

Wid. A woman! Pray let me speak with you. [Drawing her aside.] You are not in earnest, I hope?

a woman!

Char. Really a woman.

Wid. Gads my life! I could not be cheated in every thing: I know a man from a woman at these years, or the devil is in't. Pray, did not you marry me?

Char. You would have it so.

Wid. And did not I give you a thousand pounds this morning?

Char. Yes, indeed, 'twas more than I deserved: but you had your penny-worth for your penny, I suppose: you seemed to be pleased with your bargain.

Wid. A rare bargain I have made on't truly! I have laid out my money to a fine purpose upon a woman. Char. You would have a husband, and I provided for you as well as I could.

Wid. Yes, yes, you have provided for me. Char. And you have paid me very well for't, I thank you.

Wid. 'Tis very well! I may be with child too, for aught I know, and may go look for the father. Char. Nay, if you think so, 'tis time to look about you indeed. "Ev'n make up the matter as well as 66 you can (I advise you as a friend), and let us live "neighbourly and lovingly together.

"Wid. I have nothing else for it that I know of

now."

Char. For my part, Mrs. Lackitt, your thousand pounds will engage me not to laugh at you. Then, my sister is married to your son; he is to have half your estate, I know; and indeed they may live upon it, very comfortably to themselves, and very creditably to you.

Wid. Nay, I can blame nobody but myself.

Char. You have enough for a husband still, and that you may bestow upon honest Jack Stanmore. Wid. Is he the man then?

Char. He is the man you are obliged to.

J. Stan. Yes, faith, widow, I am the man: I have done fairly by you, you find; you know what you have to trust to before-hand.

Wid. Well, well, I see you will have me; even marry me, and make an end of the business.

Stan. Why that's well said: now we are all agreed, and all well provided for.

Enter a servant to STANMORE.

Serv. Sir, Mr. Blandford desires you to come to him, and bring as many of our friends as you can with you.

Stan. I come to him. You shall all go along with

me.

Come, young gentleman, marriage is the fash

ion, you see; you must like it now.

Dan. If I don't, how shall I help myself?

Luc. Nay, you may hang yourself in the noose, if you please, but you will never get out on't with struggling.

Dan. Come then, let's e'en jog on in the old road. Cuckold, or worse, I must now be contented: I'm not the first has marry'd and repented. [Exeunt.

Enter Governor, with BLANDFORD and Planters.

Blan. Have you no reverence for future fame? No awe upon your actions, from the tongues, The cens'ring tongues of men, that will be free? "If you confess humanity, believe

"There is a God, or devil, to reward

"Our doings here: do not provoke your fate. "The hand of Heav'n is arm'd against these crimes, "With hotter thunderbolts, prepar'd to shoot, "And nail you to the earth, a sad example; "A monument of faithless infamy."

I ij

Enter STANMORE, J. STANMORE, CHARLOTTE, LUCY, Widow, and DANIEL.

So, Stanmore, you, I know, the women too Will join with me: 'tis Oroonoko's cause. A lover's cause, a wretched woman's cause, That will become your intercession. [To the women. 1st Plant. Never mind 'em, Governor; he ought to be made an example, for the good of the planta

tion.

2d. Plant. Ay, ay, 'twill frighten the negroes from attempting the like again.

1st Plant. What, rise against their lords and masters! at this rate no man is safe from his own slaves. 2d Plant. No, no more he is. Therefore, one and all, Governor, we declare for hanging.

Omn. Plant. Ay, ay, hang him, hang him.

Wid. What, hang him? Oh, forbid it, Governor. Char. Luc. We all petition for him.

J. Stan. They are for a holiday; guilty, or not, is not the business, hanging is their sport.

Blan. We are not sure so wretched, to have these, The rabble, judge for us: the hanging croud, The arbitrary guard of Fortune's power, Who wait to catch the sentence of her frowns, And hurry all to ruin she condemns.

Stan. So far from farther wrong, that 'tis a shame He should be where he is. Good Governor, Order his liberty: he yielded up

Himself, his all, at your discretion.

Blan. Discretion! no, he yielded on your word;

And I am made the cautionary pledge,

The gage and hostage of your keeping it.
Remember, Sir, he yielded on your word;

Your word! which honest men will think should be The last resort of truth and trust on earth; There's no appeal beyond it but to Heav'n. "An oath is a recognizance to Heav'n, "Binding us over in the courts above, "To plead to the indictment of our crimes, "That those who 'scape this world should suffer there. "But in the common intercourse of men, "(Where the dread majesty is not invok❜d, "His honour not immediately concern'd, "Not made a party in our interests) "Our word is all to be rely'd upon."

Wid. Come, come, you'll be as good as your word, we know.

Stan. He's out of all power of doing any harm now, if he were disposed to it.

Char. But he is not disposed to it.

Blan. To keep him where he is, will make him soon Find out some desperate way to liberty:

He'll hang himself, or dash out his mad brains.

Char. Pray try him by gentle means; we'll all be sureties for him.

Omn. All, all.

"Luc. We will all answer for him now."

Gov. Well, you will have it so; do what you

I iij