Man. Why then, my lord, since you oblige me to proceed-if that were my case-I believe I should certainly sleep in another house. Lady G. How do you mean?

Man. Only a compliment, madam.

Lady G. A compliment !

Man. Yes, madam, in rather turning myself out of doors than her!

Lady G. Don't you think that would be going too far?

Man. I don't know but it might, madam; for, in strict justice, I think she ought rather to go than I. Lady G. This is new doctrine, Mr. Manly.

Man. As old, madam, as love, honour, and obey. When a woman will stop at nothing that's wrong, why should a man balance any thing that's right?

Lady G. Bless me! but this is fomenting thingsMan. Fomentations, madam, are sometimes necessary to dispel tumours: though I do not directly advise my lord to do this- This is only what, upon the same provocation, I would do myself.

Lady G. Ay, ay, you would do! Bachelors wives, indeed, are finely governed.

Man. If the married men's were as well-I am apt to think we should not see so many mutual plagues taking the air in separate coaches.

Lady G. Well, but suppose it your own case; would you part with your wife, because she now and then stays out in the best company?

Lord T. Well said, Lady Grace! Come, stand up

for the privilege of your sex.

warm debate. I shall edify.

This is like to be a

Man. Madam, I think a wife, after midnight, has no occasion to be in better company than her husband's; and that frequent unreasonable hours make the best company-the worst she can fall into.

Lady G. But if people of condition are to keep company with one another, how is it possible to be done, unless one conforms to their hours?

Man. I cann't find that any woman's good breeding obliges her to conform to other people's vices.

Lord T. I doubt, child, here we are got a little on the wrong side of the question.

Lady G. Why so, my lord? I cann't think the case so bad as Mr. Manly states it-People of quality are not tied down to the rules of those who have their fortunes to make.

Man. No people, madam, are above being tied down to some rules, that have fortunes to lose.

Lady G. Pooh! I'm sure, if you were to take my side of the argument, you would be able to say something more for it.

Lord T. Well, what say you to that, Manly?

Man. Why, troth, my lord, I have something to say.

Lady G. Ay! that I should be glad to hear, now. Lord T. Out with it.

Man. Then, in one word, this, my lord, I have often thought that the misconduct of my lady has, in

a great measure, been owing to your lordship's treatment of her.

Lady G. Bless me !

Lord T. My treatment!

Man. Ay, my lord, you so idolized her before marriage, that you even indulged her like a mistress after it in short, you continued the lover, when you should have taken up the husband.

Lady G. Oh, frightful! this is worse than t'other; can a husband love a wife too well?

Man. As easy, madam, as a wife may love her husband too little.

Lord T. So; you two are never like to agree, I find. Lady G. Don't be positive, brother—I am afraid we are both of a mind already. [Aside.] And do you, at this rate, ever hope to be married, Mr. Manly?

Man. Never, madam, 'till I can meet with a woman that likes my doctrine.

Lady G. 'Tis pity but your mistress should hear it. Man. Pity me, madam, when I marry the woman that won't hear it.

Lady G. I think, at least, he cann't say that's me.

[Aside.

Man. And so, my lord, by giving her more power than was needful, she has none where she wants it; having such entire possession of you, she is not mistress of herself. And, mercy on us! how many fine women's heads have been turned upon the same occasion!

Lord T. Oh, Manly, 'tis too true! there's the source of my disquiet; she knows, and has abused her power; nay, I am still so weak, (with shame I speak it) 'tis not an hour ago, that in the midst of my impatience -I gave her another bill for five hundred to throw away.

Man. Well, my lord, to let you see I am sometimes upon the side of good-nature, I won't absolutely blame you; for the greater your indulgence, the more you have to reproach her with.

Lady G. Ay, Mr. Manly, here now, I begin to come in with you. Who knows, my lord, but you may have a good account of your kindness?

Man. That, I am afraid, we had not best depend upon. But since you have had so much patience, my lord, even go on with it a day or two more; and up. on her ladyship's next sally, be a little rounder in your expostulations; if that don't work—drop her some cool hints of a determined reformation, and leave her to breakfast upon them.

Lord T. You are perfectly right. How valuable is a friend, in our anxiety!

Man. Therefore, to divert that, my lord, I beg, for the present, we may call another cause.

Lady G. Ay, for goodness' sake, let us have done with this.

Lord T. With all my heart.

Lady G. Have you no news abroad, Mr. Manly?

Man. A propos-I have some, madam; and I believe, my lord, as extraordinary in its kind

Ꭰ

Lord T. Pray, let us have it.

Man. Do you know that your country neighbour, and my wise kinsman, Sir Francis Wronghead, is coming to town with his whole family?

Lord T. The fool! What can be his business here?

Man. Oh of the last importance, I'll assure you -No less than the business of the nation.

Lord T. Explain.

Man. He has carried his election-against Sir John Worthland.

Lord T. The deuce! What! for-for

Man. The famous borough of Guzzledown. Lord T. A proper representative, indeed! Lady G. Pray, Mr. Manly, don't I know him? Man. You have dined with him, madam, when I was last down with my lord, at Bellmont.

Lady G. Was not that he that got a little merry before dinner, and overset the tea-table in making his compliments to my lady?

Man. The same.

Lady G. Pray what are his circumstances? I know but very little of him.

Man. Then he is worth your knowing, I can tell you, madam. His estate, if clear, I believe, might be a good two thousand pounds a-year; though as it was left him, saddled with two jointures, and two weighty mortgages upon it, there is no saying what it is-But that he might be sure never to mend it, he married a profuse young hussy, for love, without a