red; for though I see this news has disturbed my friend, I can't help being pleased with my hopes of my lady Graveairs being otherwise disposed of. [Aside.] My dear, I am afraid you have pro voked her a little too far. Sir Cha. Oh! not at all--You shall seeI'll sweeten her, and she'll cool like a dish of tea. Lady Bet. I may see him with his complaining face again Sir Cha. I am sorry, madam, you so wrongly judge of what I've told you; I was in hopes to have stirred your pity, not your anger: I little thought your generosity would punish him for faults, which you yourself resolved he should commit-Yonder he comes, and all the world with him: might I advise you, madam, you should not resent the thing at allI would not so much as stay to see him in his fault; nay, I'd be the last that heard of it: nothing can sting him more, or so justly punish his folly, as your utter neglect of it. Lady Easy. Come, dear creature, be persuaded, and go home with me? Indeed it will shew more indifference to avoid him. Lady Bet. No, madam, I'll oblige his vanity for once, and stay to let him see how strongly he has piqued me. Sir Cha. [Aside.] O not at all to speak of; you had as good part with a little of that pride of yours, or I shall yet make it a very troublesome companion to you. [Goes from them, and whispers LORD MORELOVE. Enter LORD FOPPINGTON; a little after, LORD MORELOVE, and LADY GRAVEAIRS. Lord Fop. Ladies, your servant-O! we have wanted you beyond reparation-such diversion! Lady Bet. Well! my lord! have you seen my lord Morelove? Lord Fop. Seen him! ha, ha, ha!-O! I have such things to tell you, madam-you'll die Lady Bet. O, pray let's hear them! I was never in a better humour to receive them. Lord Fop. Hark you. [They whisper. Lord Mor. So, she's engaged already. [TO SIR CHA. Sir Cha. So much the better; make but a just advantage of my success, and she's undone. Lord Fop. Lady Bet. Ha, ha, ha! Sir Cha. You see already what ridiculous pains she is taking to stir your jealousy, and cover her own. Lord Fop. Lady Bet. Ha, ha, ha! Lord Mor. O, never fear me; for, upon my word, it now appears ridiculous even to me. Sir Cha. And, hark you— [Whispers LORD Mor. Lady Bet. And so the widow was as full of airs as his lordship? ble Sir Cha. Only observe that, and it is impossiyou can fail. [Aside. Lord Mor. Dear Charles, you have convinIced me, and I thank you. Lady Grave. My lord Morelove! What, do you leave us? Lord Mor. Ten thousand pardons, madam! I was but just Lady Grave. Nay, nay, no excuses, my lord, so you will but let us have you again. Sir Cha. [Aside to LADY GRAVEAIRS.]—I see you have good humour, madam, when you like your company. Lady Grave. And you, I see, for all your mighty thirst of dominion, could stoop to be obedient, if one thought it worth one's while to make you so. Sir Cha. Ha! power would make her an admirable tyrant. [Aside. Lady Easy. [Observing SIR CHARLES and LaDY GRAVEAIRS.-So! there's another couple have quarrelled, too, I find-Those airs to my lord Morelove look as if designed to recover sir Charles into jealousy: I'll endeavour to join the company, and, it may be, that will let me into the secret.-[Aside.]-My lord Foppington, I vow this is very uncomplaisant, to engross so agreeable a part of the company to yourself. Sir Cha. Nay, my lord, this is not fair, indeed, to enter into secrets among friends! Ladies, what say you? I think we ought to declare against it. Lady Bet. Well, ladies, I ought only to ask your pardon my lord's excuseable, for I would haul him into a corner. Lord Fop. I swear 'tis very hard; ho! I observe, two people of extreme condition can no sooner grow particular, but the multitude of both sexes are immediately up, and think their properties invaded Lady Bet. Odious multitude! Lady Grave. Oh, my lord, we women have all reason to be jealous of lady Betty Modish's fine women would be always used like their wives, and no more minded than the business of the nation. Lady Easy. Have a care, madam: an undeserving favourite has been the ruin of many a prince's empire. Lord Fop. Ha, ha, ha! Upon my soul, lady Betty, we must grow more discreet; for, positively, if we go on at this rate, we shall have the world throw you under the scandal of constancy; and I shall have all the swords of condition at my throat for a monopolist. Lord More. Oh! there's no great fear of that, my lord; though the men of sense give it over, there will be always some idle fellows vain enough to believe their merit may succeed as well as your lordship's. Lady Bet. Or, if they should not, my lord, cast-lovers, you know, need not fear being long out of employment, while there are so many welldisposed people in the world-There are generally neglected wives, stale maids, or charitable widows, always ready to relieve the necessities of a disappointed passion-And, by the way, hark you, sir Charles Lord More. [Aside.]-So! she's stirred, I see; for all her pains to hide it-She would hardly have glanced an affront at a woman she was not piqued at. Lady Grave. [Aside.]-That wit was thrown at me, I suppose; but I'll return it. Lady Bet. [Softly to SIR CHARLES.-Pray, how come you all this while to trust your mistress so easily? Sir Cha. One is not so apt, madam, to be alarmed at the liberties of an old acquaintance, as perhaps your ladyship ought to be at the resentment of an hard-used, honourable lover. Lady Bet. Suppose I were alarmed, how does that make you easy ? Sir Cha. Come, come, be wise at last; my trusting them together may easily convince you, that (as I told you before) I know his addresses to her are only outward, and it will be your fault now, if you let him go on till the world thinks him in earnest; and a thousand busy tongues are set upon malicious enquiries into your repu tation. Lady Bet. Why, sir Charles, do you suppose, while he behaves himself as he does, that I won't convince him of my indifference? Sir Cha. But hear me, madam Lady Grave. [Aside.]-The air of that whisper looks as if the lady had a mind to be making her peace again: and, 'tis possible, his worship's being so busy in the matter, too, may proceed as much from his jealousy of my lord with me, as friendship to her; at least I fancy so; therefore, I'm resolved to keep her still piqued, and prevent it, though it be only to gall him- Sir Charles, that is not fair to take a privilege you just now declared against in my lord Foppington. Lord More. Well observed, madam. Lady Grave. Besides, it looks so affected to whisper, when every body guesses the secret. Lord More. Ha, ha, ha! Lady Bet. Oh! madam, your pardon in particular: but it is possible you may be mistaken: the secrets of people, that have any regard to their actions, are not so soon guessed, as theirs that have made a confidant of the whole town. Lord Fop. Ha, ha, ha! Lady Grave. A coquette, in her affected airs of disdain to a revolted lover, I'm afraid, must exceed your ladyship in prudence, not to let the world see, at the same time, she'd give her eyes to make her peace with him: ha, ha, ha! Lord More. Ha. ha, ha! Lady Bet. Twould be a mortification, indeed, if it were in the power of a fading widow's charms to prevent it; and the man must be miserably reduced, sure, that could bear to live buried in woollen, or take up with the motherly comforts of a swan-skin petticoat. Ha, ha, ha! Lord Fop. Ha, ha, ha! Lady Grave. Widows, it seems, are not so squeamish to their interest; they know their own minds, and take the man they like, though it happens to be one that a froward, vain girl has disobliged, and is pining to be friends with. Lord More. Nay, though it happens to be one that confesses he once was fond of a piece of folly, and afterwards ashamed on't. Lady Bet. Nay, my lord, there's no standing against two of you. Lord Fop. No, faith, that's odds at tennis, my lord: not but, if your ladyship pleases, I'll endeavour to keep your back-hand a little; though, upon my soul, you may safely set me up at the line: for, knock me down if ever I saw a rest of wit better played, than that last, in my life. What say you, madam? shall we engage? Lady Bet. As you please, my lord. Lord Fop. Ha, ha, ha! Allons! tout de bon jouer, milor. Lord More. Oh, pardon me, sir, I shall never think myself in any thing a match for the lady. Lord Fop. To you, madam. Lady Bet. That's much, my lord, when the world knows you have been so many years teasing me to play the fool with you. Lord Fop. Ah, bien-joué- Ha, ha, ha ! Lord More. At that game, I confess, your ladyship has chosen a much properer person to improve your hand with. Lord Fop. To me, madam-My lord, I presume, whoever the lady thinks fit to play the fool with, will at least be able to give as much envy as the wise person that had not wit enough to keep well with her when he was so. Lady Grave. O! my lord! Both parties must needs be greatly happy; for, I dare swear, neither will have any rivals to disturb them. Lord More. Ha, ha, ha! Sir Cha. I don't know, gentlefolks-but you are all in extreme good-humour, methinks; I hope there's none of it affected. Lady Easy. I should be loth to answer for any but my lord Foppington. Lady Bet. Mine is not, I'll swear. [Aside. Lady Grave. Mine's sincere, depend upon't. Lord Fop. And may the eternal frowns of the whole sex doubly demme, if mine is not. Lady Easy. Well, good people, I am mighty glad to hear it. You have all performed extremely well but, if you please, you shall even give over your wit now, while it is well. Lady Bet. [To herself]-Now, I see his humour, I'll stand it out, if I were sure to die for't. Sir Cha. You should not have proceeded so far with my lord Foppington, after what I had told you. [Aside to LADY BETTY. Lady Bet. Pray, sir Charles, give me leave to understand myself a little. Sir Cha. Your pardon, madam. I thought a right understanding would have been for both your interest and reputation. Lady Bet. For his, perhaps. Sir Cha. Nay, then, madam, its time for me to take care of my friend. Lady Bet. I never, in the least, doubted your friendship to him, in any thing that was to shew yourself my enemy. Sir Cha. Since I see, madam, you have so ungrateful a sense of my lord Morelove's merit, and my service, I shall never be ashamed of using my power henceforth to keep him entirely out of your ladyship's. rior to his. Lady Bet. Was ever any thing so insolent! I could find in my heart to run the hazard of a downright compliance, if it were only to convince him, that my power, perhaps, is not infe[To herself. Lady Easy. My lord Foppington, I think you generally lead the company upon these occasions. Pray, will you think of some prettier sort of diversion for us than parties and whispers ? Lord Fop. What say you, ladies? shall we step and see what's done at the basset-table? Lady Bet. With all my heart: lady EasyLady Easy. I think 'tis the best thing we can do, and, because we won't part to-night, you shall all sup where you dined-What say you, my lord? Lord Mor. Your ladyship may be sure of me, madain. Lord Fop. Aye! aye! we'll all come. Lady Easy. Then, pray, let's change parties a little. My lord Foppington, you shall 'squire me. Lord Fop. O! you do me honour, madam. Lady Bet. My lord Morelove, pray let me speak with you? Lord Mor. Me, madam? Lady Bet. If you please, my lord. Lord Mor. Ha! that look shot through me. What can this mean? [Aside. Lady Bet. This is no proper place to tell you what it is, but there is one thing I'd fain be truly answered in: I suppose you'll be at my lady Easy's by and by, and if you'll give me leave there Lord Mor. If you please to do me that honour, madam, I shall certainly be there. Lady Bet. That's all, my lord. me. Lord Mor. Is not your ladyship for walking? Lady Bet. If your lordship dares venture with Lord Mor. O! madam! [Taking her hand.] How my heart dances! what heavenly music's in her voice, when softened into kindness. [Aside. Lady Bet. Ha! his hand trembles -Sir Charles may be mistaken. Lord Fop. My lady Graveairs, you won't let sir Charles leave us? [Exeunt. [Manent SIR CHARLES and LADY GRAVEAIRS, Lady Grave. No, my lord, we'll follow youstay a little. [To SIR CHARLES, Sir Cha. I thought your ladyship designed to follow them. Lady Grave. Perhaps I'd speak with you. Sir Cha. But, madam, consider; we shall certainly be observed. Lady Grave. Lord, sir, if you think it such a [Exit hastily. favour. Sir Cha. Is she gone? let her go, &c. [Exit singing. SCENE I-Continues. ACT V. Enter SIR CHARLES and LORD MORELOVE. Sir Cha. COME a little this way--My lady Graveairs had an eye upon me, as I stole off, and, I'm apprehensive, will make use of any opportunity to talk with me. Lady Grave. I confess I would see you once again; if what I have more to say prove ineffectual, perhaps it may convince me then, 'tis my interest to part with you-Can you come tonight? Sir Cha. You know we have company, and I'm afraid they'll stay too late-Can't it be beLord More. O! we are pretty safe here--fore supper?What's o'clock now? Well, you were speaking of lady Betty. Sir Cha. Aye, my lord- -I say, notwithstanding all this sudden change of her behaviour, I would not have you yet be too secure of her: for, between you and I, since I told you, I have professed myself an open enemy to her power with you-'tis not impossible but this new air of good humour may very much proceed from a Little woman's pride, of convincing me you are not yet out of her power. Lord More. Not unlikely. But still, can we make no advantage of it? Sir Cha. That's what I have been thinking of -look you-Death! my lady Graveairs! Lord More. Ha! she will have audience, I find. Sir Cha. There's no avoiding her--the truth is, I have owed her a little good nature a great while I see there's but one way of getting rid of her I must even appoint her a day of payment at last. If you'll step into my lodgings, my lord, I'll just give her an answer, and be with you in a moment. Lord More. Very well, I'll stay there for you. [Exit LORD MOrelove. Lady Grave. It's almost six. Sir Cha. At seven, then, be sure of me; till when, I'd have you go back to the ladies, to avoid suspicion, and about that time have the vapours. Lady Grave. May I depend upon you? [Exit. Sir Cha. Depend on every thing--A very troublesome business this-Send me once fairly rid on't--if ever I'm caught in an honourable affair again!--A debt, now, that a little ready civility, and away, would satisfy, a man might bear with; but to have a rent-charge upon one's good-nature, with an unconscionable long scroll of arrears, too, that would eat out the profits of the best estate in Christendom-ah-intolerable! Well! I'll even to my lord, and shake off the thoughts on't. [Exit. Enter LADY BETTY and LADY EASY. Lady Bet. I observe, my dear, you have usųally this great fortune at play; it were enough to make one suspect your good luck with an husband. Lady Easy. Truly, I don't complain of my fortune either way. Lady Bet. Prithee tell me, you are often adEnter LADY GRAVEAIRS on the other side. vising me to it; are there those real comfortable Lady Grave. Sir Charles! advantages in marriage, that our old aunts and Sir Cha. Come, come, no more of these re-grandmothers would persuade us of? proachful looks; you'll find, madam, I have deserved better of you than your jealousy imagines ---Is it a fault to be tender of your reputation? -fy, fy-This may be a proper time to talk, and of my contriving, too—you see I just now shook off my lord Morelove on purpose. Lady Grave. May I believe you? Sir Cha. Still doubting my fidelity, and mistaking my discretion for want of good nature! Lady Grave. Don't think me troublesome For I confess 'tis death to think of parting with you: since the world sees for you I have neglected friends and reputation, have stood the little insults of disdainful prudes, that envied me perhaps your friendship; have borne the freezing looks of near and general acquaintance-Since this is so don't let them ridicule me, too, and say my foolish vanity undid me! Don't let them point at me as a cast mistress! Sir Cha. You wrong me, to suppose the thought: you'll have better of me when we meet: When shall you be at leisure? VOL. IL Lady Easy. Upon my word, if I had the worst husband in the world, I should still think so. Lady Bet. Ay, but then the hazard of not having a good one, my dear. Lady Easy. You may have a good one, I dare say, if you don't give airs till you spoil him. Lady Bet. Can there be the same dear, full delight, in giving ease as pain? Oh, my dear, the thought of parting with one's power is insupportable! Lady Easy. And the keeping it, till it dwindles into no power at all, is most ruefully foolish. Lady Bet. But still, to marry before one's heartily in love Lady Easy. Is not half so formidable a calamity-but if I have any eyes, my dear, you'll run no great hazard of that in venturing on my lord Morelove-You don't know, perhaps, that within this half hour, the tone of your voice is strangely softened to him: ha, ha, ha! Lady Bet. My dear, you are positively, one or other, the most censorious creature in the world. 3 H --and so I see its in vain to talk with you- SCENE II.—Changes to SIR CHARLES'S Enter SIR CHARLES and LORD MORELOVE. Lord Mor. Charles, you have transported me! you have made my part in the scene so very easy, too, 'tis impossible I should fail in it. Sir Cha. That's what I considered; for, now, the more you throw yourself into her power, the more I shall be able to force her into yours. Lord Mor. After all, (begging the ladies' pardon) your fine women, like bullies, are only stout when they know their men: a man of an honest courage may fright them into any thing! Well, I am fully instructed, and will about it instantly -Won't you go along with me? Sir Cha. That may not be so proper-besides, I have a little business upon my hands. Lord Mor. Oh, your servant, sir-Good bye to you you shan't stir. Sir Cha. My lord, your servant-[Exit LORD MOR.] So! now to dispose myself 'till 'tis time to think of my lady Graveairs-Umph! I have no great maw to that business, methinks-I don't find myself in humour enough to come up to the civil things that are usually expected in the making up of an old quarrel-[EDGING crosses the stage.] There goes a warmer temptation by half Ha! into my wife's bed-chamber, too I question if the jade has any great business there!I have a fancy she has only a mind to be taking the opportunity of nobody's being at home, to make her peace with me-let me see -aye, I shall have time enough to go to her ladyship afterwards-Besides, I want a little sleep, I find-Your young fops may talk of their women of quality-but, to me now, there's a strange agreeable convenience in a creature one is not obliged to say much to upon these occasions. Enter EDGING. [Going. Edg. Did you call me, sir? Sir Cha. Ha! all's right-[Aside.]—Yes, madam, I did call you. [Sits down. Edg. What would you please to have, sir? Sir Cha. Have! Why, I would have you grow a good girl, and know when you are well used, hussy. Edg. Sir, I don't complain of any thing, not I. Sir Cha. Well, don't be uneasy-I am not angry with you now- Come and kiss me. Edg. Lard, sir! Sir Cha. Don't be a fool, now-Come hither. Edg. Pshaw [Goes to him. Sir Cha. No wry face-so-sit down. I won't have you look grave neither; let me see you smile, you jade, you. Edg. Ha, ha! [Laughs and blushes. Sir Cha. Ah, you melting rogue! Edg. Come, don't you be at your tricks now -Lard, can't you sit still and talk with one! I am sure there's ten times more love in that, and fifty times the satisfaction, people may say what they will. Sir Cha. Well! now you're good, you shall have your own way-I am going to lie down in the next room; and, since you love a little chat, come and throw my night-gown over me, and you shall talk me to sleep. [Erit SIR CHARLES. Edg. Yes, sir,for all his way, I see he likes me still. [Exit after him. SCENE III.-Changes to the Terrace. Enter LADY BETTY, LADY EASY, and LORD MORELOVE. Lord Mor. Nay, madam, there you are too severe upon him; for, bating now and then a little vanity, my lord Foppington does not want wit sometimes to make him a very tolerable woman's man. Lady Bet. But such eternal vanity grows tiresome. Lady Easy. Come, if he were not so loose in his morals, his vanity, methinks, might be easily excused, considering how much 'tis in fashion: for, pray observe what's half the conversation of most of the fine young people about town, but a perpetual affectation of appearing foremost in the knowledge of manners, new modes, and scandal? and, in that, I don't see any body comes up to him. Lord Mor. Nor I, indeed—and here he comes- -Pray, madam, let's have a little more of him; nobody shews him to more advantage than your ladyship. Lady Bet. Nay, with all my heart; you'll second me, my lord. Lord Mor. Upon occasion, madamLady Easy. Engaging upon parties, my lord? [Aside, and smiling to LORD MOr. Enter LORD FOPPINGTON. Lord Fop. So, ladies! what's the affair now? Lady Bet. Why, you were, my lord! I was allowing you a great many good qualities; but lady Easy says you are a perfect hypocrite; and that, whatever airs you give yourself to the women, she's confident you value no woman in the world equal to your own lady. Lord Fop. You see, madam, how I am scandalized upon your account. But, it is so natural for a prude to be malicious, when a man endeavour to be well with any body but herself-did you ever observe she was piqued at that before? ha, ha! Lady Bet. I'll swear you are a provoking crea ture. |