S. Pu. I am grieved to see thy wife so much troubled: I will follow and console her.

Enter Servant.

[Exit.

Serv. Thy brother guardians enquire for thee; here is another man with them.

Mrs. Lov. Who can that other man be?

[To the Colonel. Col. 'Tis one Freeman, a friend of mine, whom I ordered to bring the rest of the guardians here.

Enter Sir PHILIP, TRADELOVE, PERIWINKLE, and FREEMAN.

Free. [To the Col.] Is all safe? did my letter do you service?

Col. All, all's safe! ample service.

[Aside.

Sir Phil. Miss Nancy, how do'st do, child? Mrs. Lov. Don't call me miss, friend Philip, my name is Anne, thou knowest.

Sir Phil. What, is the girl metamorphos'd?

Mrs. Lov. I wish thou wert so metamorphos'd.— Ah! Philip, throw off that gaudy attire, and wear the clothes becoming thy age.

Ob. Pr. I am ashamed to see these men. [Aside.
Sir Phil. My age! the woman is possess❜d.
Col. No, thou art possess'd rather, friend.
Trade. Hark ye, Mrs. Lovely, one word with you.
[Takes hold of her hand.

Col. This maiden is my wife, thanks to friend Prim, and thou hast no business with her.

[Takes her from him. Trade. His wife hark ye, Mr. Freeman.

Per. Why, you have made a very fine piece of work of it, Mr. Prim.

Sir Phil. Married to a Quaker! thou art a fine fellow to be left guardian to an orphan truly—there's a husband for a young lady!

Col. When I have put on my beau clothes, Sir Philip, you'll like me better

Sir Phil. Thou wilt make a very scurvy beaufriend

Col. I believe I can prove it under your hand that you thought me a very fine gentleman in the Park t'other day, about thirty-six minutes after eleven; will you take a pinch, Sir PhilipOne of the finest snuff-boxes you ever saw. [Offers him Snuff.

Sir Phil. Ha, ha, ha! I am overjoy'd, faith, I am, if thou be'st the gentleman- -I own I did give my consent to the gentleman I brought here to-day ;but whether this is he, I can't be positive.

Ob. Pr. Can'st thou not?Now, I think thou art a fine fellow to be left guardian to an orphan.— Thou shallow brain'd shuttlecock, he may be a pickpocket for ought thou dost know.

Per. You would have been two rare fellows to have been trusted with the sole management of her fortune, would ye not, think ye? But Mr. Tradelove and myself shall take care of her portion.

Trade. Ay, ay, so we will-Didn't you tell me the Dutch merchant desired me to meet him here, Mr. Freeman.

Free. I did so, and I am sure he will be here, if you'll have a little patience.

Col. What, is Mr. Tradelove impatient? Nay, then, ik ben gereet voor you, heb be, Jan Van Timtamtirelireletta Heer Van Fainwell, vergeeten!

Trade. Oh! pox of the name! what have you trick'd me too, Mr. Freeman ?

Col. Trick'd, Mr. Tradelove! did not I give you two thousand pounds for your consent fairly? And now do you tell a gentleman he has trick'd you?

Per. So, so, you are a pretty guardian, faith, to sell your charge; what, did you look upon her as part of your stock?

Ob. Pr. Ha, ha, ha! I am glad thy knavery is found out, however I confess the maiden overreached me, and I had no sinister end at all.

Per. Ay, ay, one thing or other over-reached you all-but I'll take care he shall never finger a penny of her money, I warrant you ;-over reach'd quoth'al Why, I might have been over reach'd too, if I had had no more wit: I don't know but this very fellow may be him that was directed to me from Grand Cairo t'other day. Ha, ha, ha!

Col. The very same.

Per. Are you so, sir? but your trick would not

pass upon me.

Col. No, as you say, at that time it did not, that was

not my lucky hour;- -but hark ye, sir, I must let you into one secret-you may keep honest John Tradescant's coat on, for your uncle Sir Toby Periwinkle is not dead-so the charge of mourning will be saved, ha, ha, ha!-Don't you remember Mr. Pillage, your uncle's steward? Ha, ha, ha!

Per. Not dead! I begin to fear I am trick'd too. Col. Don't you remember the signing of a lease, Mr. Periwinkle ?

Per. Well, and what signifies that lease, if my uncle is not dead? -Ha! I am sure it was a lease I

signed.

Col. Ay, but it was a lease for life, sir, and of this beautiful tenement, I thank you.

[Taking hold of Mrs. Lovely. Omnes. Ha, ha, ha! Neighbours fare.

Free. So then I find you are all trick'd, ha, ha!

Per. I am certain I read as plain a lease as ever I read in my life.

Col. You read a lease, I grant you, but you sign'd this contract. [Shewing a Paper.

Per. How durst you put this trick upon me, Mr. Freeman Didn't you tell me my uncle was dying? Free. And would tell you twice as much to serve my friend, ha, ha!

Sir Phil. What, the learned and famous Mr. Periwinkle chous'd too!-Ha, ha, ha!-I shall die with laughing, ha, ha, ha!

Ob. Pr. It had been well if her father had left

her to wiser heads than thine and mine, friends, ha, ha, ha!

Trade. Well, since you have outwitted us all, pray you what and who are you, sir?

Sir Phil. Sir, the gentleman is a fine gentleman. -I am glad you have got a person, madam, who understands dress and good breeding.-I was resolved she should have a husband of my choosing.

Ob. Pr. I am sorry the maiden has fallen into such hands.

Trade. A beau! nay then she is finely help'd up. Mrs. Lov. Why, beaux are great encouragers of trade, sir, ha, ha, hal

Col. Look ye, gentlemen-I am the person who can give the best account of myself, and I must beg Sir Philip's pardon, when I tell him, that I have as much aversion to what he calls dress and breeding, as I have to the enemies of my religion. I have had the honour to serve his majesty, and headed a regiment of the bravest fellows that ever push'd bayonet in the throat of a Frenchman,; and notwithstanding the fortune this lady brings me, whenever my country wants my aid, this sword and arm are at her service.

Therefore, my dear, if thou'lt but deign to smile,
I meet a recompence for all: my toil;

Love and religion ne'er admit restraint,

And force makes many sinners, not one saint;