lip, is below, and such another with him; shall I send

them up?

Ob. Pr. Yea.

Enter Sir PHILIP and Colonel.

[Exit.

Sir Phil. How dost thou do, friend Prim? Odso! my she-friend here too! What, are you documenting Miss Nancy; reading her a lecture upon the pinch'd coif, I warrant ye.

Mrs. Pr. I am sure thou didst never read her any lecture that was good.-My flesh riseth so at these wicked ones, that prudence adviseth me to withdraw from their sight.

[Exit.

Col. Oh! that I could find means to speak with her! How charming she appears! I wish I could get this letter into her hand. [Aside. Sir Phil. Well, Miss Cockey, I hope thou hast got the better of them.

Mrs. Lov. The difficulties of my life are not to be surmounted, Sir Philip.I hate the impertinence of him as much as the stupidity of the other. [Aside.

Ob. Pr. Verily, Philip, thou wilt spoil this maiden. Sir Phil. I find we still differ in opinion; but that we may none of us spoil her, pr'ythee, Prim, let us consent to marry her.-I have sent for our brother guardians to meet me here about this very thing-Madam, will you give me leave to recommend a husband to you?—Here's a gentleman, whom, in my mind, you can have no objection to.

[Presents the Colonel to her, she looks another way.

M

Mrs. Lov. Heaven deliver me from the formal, and the fantastic fool!

Col. A fine woman,‚——a fine horse, and fine equipage, are the finest things in the universe: and if I am so happy to possess you, madam, I shall become the envy of mankind, as much as you outshine your whole sex.

[As he takes her hand to kiss it, he endeavours to put a

letter into it; she lets it drop-Prim takes it up. Mrs. Lov. I have no ambition to appear conspi cuously ridiculous, sir. [Turning from hime

Col. So fail the hopes of Fainwell.

Mrs. Lov. Ha! Fainwell! 'Tis he! What have I done? Prim has the letter, and it will be discover'd.

[Aside.

Ob. Pr. Friend, I know not thy name, so cannot call thee by it; but thou seest thy letter is unwelcome to the maiden, she will not read it.

Mrs. Lov. Nor shall you; [Snatches the letter.] I'll tear it in a thousand pieces, and scatter it, as I will the hopes of all those that any of you shall recommend to me. [Tears the letter.

Sir Phil. Ha! Right woman, faith!
Col. Excellent woman!

[Aside. Ob. Pr. Friend, thy garb savoureth too much of the vanity of the age for my approbation; nothing that resembleth Philip Modelove shall I love, mark that; therefore, friend Philip, bring no more of thy own apes under my roof.

Sir Phil. I am so entirely a stranger to the mon

sters of thy breed, that I shall bring none of them I

am sure.

Col. I am likely to have a pretty task by that time I have gone thro' them all; but she's a city worth taking, and 'egad I'll carry on the siege: if I can but blow up the out-works, I fancy I am pretty secure of the town.

[Aside.

Enter Servant.

Serv. Toby Periwinkle and Thomas Tradelove demand to see thee. [To Sir Philip.

Sir Phil. Bid them come up.

Mrs. Lov. Deliver me from such an inundation of noise and nonsense. Oh, Fainwell! whatever thy contrivance be, prosper it Heaven;—but oh! I fear thou never canst redeem me.

Sir Phil. Sic transit gloria mundi.

Enter Mr. PERIWINKLE and TRADELOVE.

These are my brother guardians, Mr. Fainwell, pr'ythee observe the creatures. [Aside to Col. Trade. Well, Sir Philip, I obey your summons. Per. Pray, what have you to offer for the good of Mrs. Lovely, Sir Philip?

Sir Phil. First, I desire to know what you intend to do with that lady? Must she be sent to the Indies for a venture-or live an old maid, and then be enter'd amongst your curiosities, and shewn for a monster; Mr. Periwinkle ?

Col. Humph, curiosities; that must be the virtuoso.

[Aside

Per. Why, what wou'd you do with her? Sir Phil. I would recommend this gentleman to her for a husband, sir-a person, whom I have pick'd out from the whole race of mankind.

Ob. Pr. I would advise thee to shuffle him again with the rest of mankind, for I like him not.

Col. Pray, sir, without offence to your formality, what may be your objections?

Ob. Pr. Thy person; thy manners; thy dress; thy acquaintance;thy every thing, friend.

Sir Phil. You are most particularly obliging, friend, ha, ha!

Trade. What business do you follow, pray, sir? Col. Humph, by that question he must be the broker. [Aside.]-Business, sir! the business of a gentleman.

Trade. That is as much as to say, you dress fine, feed high, lie with every woman you like, and pay your surgeon's bills better than your taylor's, or your butcher's.

Col. The court is much obliged to you, sir, for your character of a gentleman.

Trade. The court, sir! What would the court do without us citizens?

Sir Phil. Without your wives and daughters, you mean, Mr. Tradelove.

Per. Have you ever travell'd, sir?

Col. That question must not be answered now In books I have, sir.

Per. In books! That's fine travelling indeed! Sir Philip, when you present a person I like, he shall have my consent to marry Mrs. Lovely; till then, your servant. [Exit. Col. I'll make you like me before I have done with you, or I am mistaken. [Aside. Trade. And when you can convince me that a beau is more useful to my country than a merchant, you shall have mine; 'till then, you must excuse me.

[Exit. [Aside.

Col. So much for trade-I'll fit you too. Sir Phil. In my opinion, this is very inhuman treatment, as to the lady, Mr. Prim.

Ob. Pr. Thy opinion and mine happens to differ as much as our occupations, friend; business requireth my presence, and folly thine; and so I must bid thee farewell.

[Exit.

Sir Phil. Here's breeding for you, Mr. Fainwell ! Gad take me,

Half my estate l'd give to see 'em bit.

Col. I hope to bite you all, if my plot hit. [Exeunt.

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