vile opinion have I had of the whole sex for these ten years past, which this sensible creature has recovered in less than one! Such a companion, sure, might compensate all the irksome disappointments that pride, folly, and falsehood, ever gave me !

Could women regulate, like her, their lives,
What halcyon days were in the gift of wives!
Vain rovers, then, might envy what they hate;
And only fools would mock the married state. [Exit.

ACT II. SCENE 1.

Mrs. MOTHERLY's House. Enter Count BASSET and Mrs. MOTHERLY,

Count Basset.

I TELL you there is not such a family in England for you. Do you think I would have gone out of your lodgings for any body that was not sure to make you easy for the winter?

Moth. Nay, I see nothing against it, sir, but the gentleman's being a parliament-man; and when people may, as it were, think one impertinent, or be out of humour, you know, when a body comes to ask for one's own

Count Bas. Psha! Pr'ythee never trouble thy head; his pay is as good as the bank-Why, he has above two thousand a-year.

E

Moth. Alas-a-day, that's nothing! your people of ten thousand a-year have ten thousand things to do with it.

Count Bas. Nay, if you are afraid of being out of your money, what do you think of going a little with me, Mrs. Motherly?

Moth. As how?

Count Bas. Why, I have a game in my hand, in which, if you'll croup me, that is, help me to play it,

you shall five hundred to nothing.

go

Moth. Say you so

Why then I go, sir-and

now, pray let's see your game.

Count Bas. Look you, in one word, my cards lie thus-When I was down this summer at York, I happened to lodge in the same house with this knight's lady, that's now coming to lodge with you.

Moth. Did you so, sir?

Count Bas. And sometimes had the honour to breakfast, and pass an idle hour with her

Moth. Very good; and here, I suppose, you would have the impudence to sup and be busy with her. Count Bas. Psha! pr'ythee hear me.

Moth. Is this your game? I would not give sixpence for it. What! you have a passion for her pinmoney- -No, no, country ladies are not so flush of it!

Count Bas. Nay, if you won't have patience—

Moth. One had need to have a good deal, I am sure, to hear you talk at this rate, Is this your way of making my poor niece, Myrtilla, easy?

Count Bas. Death! I shall do it still, if the woman

will but let me speak―

Moth. Had you not a letter from her this morning? Count Bas. I have it here in my pocket-this is it. [Shews it and puts it up again.

Moth. Ay, but I don't find you have made any answer to it.

Count Bas. How the devil can I, if you won't hear

me?

Moth. What, hear you talk of another woman!

Count Bas. Oh, lud! Oh, lud! I tell you, I'll make her fortune- -Ounds, I'll marry her!

Moth. A likely matter! if you would not do it when she was a maid, your stomach is not so sharp set now, I presume.

Count Bas. Hey-day why your head begins to turn, my dear! The devil! you did not think I proposed to marry her myself?

Moth. If you don't, who the devil do you think will marry her?

Count Bas. Why, a fool———

Moth. Humph! there may be sense in that

Count Bas. Very good-One for t'other, then ; if I can help her to a husband, why should you not come into my scheme of helping me to a wife?

Moth. Your pardon, sir; ay, ay, in an honourable affair, you know you may command me

But

pray, where is this blessed wife and husband to be had?

Count Bas. Now, have a little patience-You must know then, this country knight and his lady bring up in the coach with them their eldest son and a daughter, to teach them-to wash their faces, and turn their toes out.

Moth. Good

Count Bas. The son is an unlick'd whelp, about sixteen, just taken from school; and begins to hanker after every wench in the family: the daughter, much of the same age; a pert, forward hussy, who, having eight thousand pounds left her by an old doting grandmother, seems to have a devilish mind to be doing in her way too.

Moth. And your design is to put her into business for life?

Count Bas. Look you, in short, Mrs. Motherly, we gentlemen, whose occasional chariots roll only upon the four aces, are liable, sometimes, you know, to have a wheel out of order; which, I confess, is so much my case at present, that my dapple greys are reduced to a pair of ambling chairmen. Now, if, with your assistance, I can whip up this young jade into a hackney-coach, I may chance, in a day or two after, to carry her, in my own chariot, en famille, to an opera. Now, what do you say to me?

Moth. Why, I shall not sleep for thinking of it. But how will you prevent the family smoaking your design?

Count Bas. By renewing my addresses to the mother.

Moth. And how will the daughter like that, think you?

Count Bas. Very well-whilst it covers her own affair.

Moth. That's true- -it must do-but, as you say, one for t'other, sir; I stick to that-if you don't do my niece's business with the son, I'll blow you with the daughter, depend upon't.

Count Bas. It's a bet-pay as we go, I tell you; and the five hundred shall be staked in a third hand. Moth. That's honest- -But here comes my niece;

shall we let her into the secret?

Count Bas. Time enough; may be I may touch upon it.

Enter MYRTILLA.

Moth. So, niece, are all the rooms done out, and the beds sheeted?

Myr. Yes, madam; but Mr. Moody tells us, the lady always burns wax in her own chamber, and we have none in the house.

Moth. Odso! then I must beg your pardon, Count; this is a busy time, you know. [Exit Mrs. Motherly. Count Bas. Myrtilla, how dost thou do, child? Myr. As well as a losing gamester can.

Count Bas. Why, what have you lost ?

Myr. What I shall never recover; and, what's worse, you that have won it, don't seem to be much the better for it.

Count Bas. Why, child, dost thou ever see any body