Tatt. Pooh, pox, you must not say yes already. I shan't care a farthing for you then, in a twinkling. Miss P. What must I say then?

Tatt. Why you must say no; or, believe not; or, you can't tell.

Miss P. Why, must I tell a lie then?

Tatt. Yes, if you'd be well-bred. All well-bred persons lie-Besides, you are a woman; you must never speak what you think: your words must con tradict your thoughts; but your actions may contradict your words. So, when I ask you, if you can love me, you must say no; but you must love me too.If I tell you you are handsome, you must deny it, and say, I flatter you. But you must think yourself more speak you-and like me for the beauty which I say you have, as much as if I had it myself. If I ask you to kiss me, you must be angry; but you must not refuse me. If I ask you for more, you must be more angry, but more complying; and as soon as ever I make you say, you'll cry out, you must be sure to hold your tongue.

charming than I

Miss P. O Lord, I swear this is pure !-I like it better than our old-fashioned country way of speaking one's mind.—And must not you lie too?

Tatt. Hum!-Yes; but you must believe I speak truth. Miss P. O Gemini! Well, I always had a great mind to tell lies-but they frighted me, and said it

was a sin.

Tatt. Well, my pretty creature, will you make me happy by giving me a kiss?

Miss P. No, indeed; I'm angry at you!

[Runs and kisses him. Tatt. Hold, hold, that's pretty well-but you should

not have given it me, but have suffered me to have taken it.

Miss P. Well, we'll do it again.

Tatt. With all my heart.-Now, then, my little angel! [Kisses her.

Miss P. Pish!

Tatt. That's right. Again, my charmer! [Kisses again. Miss P. O fie! nay, now I can't abide you.

Tatt. Admirable ! That was as well as if you had been born and bred in Covent garden.-And won't you shew me, pretty miss, where your bed-chamber is? Miss P. No, indeed won't I; but I'll run there, and hide myself from you behind the curtains. Tatt. I'll follow you.

Miss P. Ah, but I will hold the door with both hands, and be angry; and you shall push me down before you come in.

Tatt. No, I'll come in first, and push you down afterwards.

Miss P. Will you? then I'll be more angry, and more complying.

Tatt. Then I'll make you cry out.

Miss P. O but you shan't, for I'll hold my tongue. Tatt. Oh, my dear apt scholar!

Miss P. Well, now I'll run, and make more haste than you.

Tatt. You shall not fly so fast as I'll pursue. [Exeunt.

F

ACT III. SCENE I.

NURSE alone.

Miss, miss, miss Prue!-Mercy on me, marry, and amen-Why, what's become of the child?-Why, miss, miss Foresight!-Sure she has lockt herself up in her chamber, and gone to sleep, or to prayers!Miss, miss hear her.-Come to your father, child. Open the door.-Open the door, miss.-l hear you cry husht -O Lord, who's there? [Peeps.]|

What's here to do?-O the Father! a man with her! Why, miss, I say; God's my life, here's fine doings towards!. O Lord, we're all undone !-O you young harlotry![Knocks ]-Ods my life! won't you open the door? I'll come in the back way.

Enter TATTLE and Miss PRUE.

[Exit.

Miss P. O Lord, she's coming-and she'll tell father. What shall I do now?

my

Tatt. Pox take her! if she had staid two minutes lon er, I should have wished for her coming.

Miss P. O dear, what shall I say? tell me, Mr. Tattle, tell me a lie.

Tatt. There's no occasion for a lie; I could never tell a lie to no purpose-But, since we have done nothing, we must say nothing, I think. I hear her -I'll leave you together, and come off as you can.

[Thrusts her in, and shuts the door.

Enter VALENTINE, SCANDAL, and ANGELICA.

Ang. You can't accuse me of inconstancy; I never told you that I loved you.

Val. But I can accuse you of uncertainty, for not telling me whether you did or not.

Ang. You mistake indifference for uncertainty; I never had concern enough to ask myself the question. Scand. Nor good-nature enough to answer him that did ask you: I'll say that for you, madam.

Ang. What, are you setting up for good-nature? Scand. Only for the affectation of it, as the women do for ill-nature.

Ang. Persuade your friend that it is all affectation. Scand. I shall receive no benefit from the opinion: for I know no effectual difference between continued affectation and reality.

“Tatt. [Coming up.] Scandal, are you in private "discourse? Any thing of secrecy? [Aside to Scandal. "Scand. Yes, but I dare trust you. We were talk

ing of Angelica's love to Valentine; you won't speak of it.

"Tatt. No, no, not a syllable-I know that's a "secret, for it is whispered every where.

"Scand. Ha, ha, ha!

"Ang. What is, Mr. Tattle? I heard you say "something was whispered every where.

"Scand. Your love for Valentine.

"Ang. How !

"Tatt. No madam; his love for your ladyship

"Gad take me, beg your pardon-for I never "heard a word of your ladyship's passion till this "instant.

"Ang. My passion!-And who told you of my "passion, pray, sir?

"Scand. Why, is the devil in you? did not I tell "it you for a secret?

"Tatt. Gadso, but I thought she might have "been trusted with her own affairs.

"Scand. Is that your discretion? trust a woman "with herself?

"Tatt. You say true; I beg your pardon-I'll "bring all off. It was impossible, madam, for me to "imagine that a person of your ladyship's wit and "gallantry could have so long received the passi ❝onate addresses of the accomplished Valentine, and yet remain insensible: therefore, you will pardon me, if from a just weight of his merit, with your "ladyship's good judgment, I formed the balance of a reciprocal affection.

66

"Val. O the devil! what damn'd costive poet has "given thee this lesson of fustian to get by rote? Ang. I dare swear you wrong him; it is his own "and Mr. Tattle only judges of the success of "others, from the effects of his own merit; for, 66 certainly, Mr. Tattle was never denied any thing " in his life.

"Tatt. O Lord! yes indeed, madam, several times. "Ang. I swear I don't think it is possible.

"Tatt. Yes, I vow and swear, I have. Lord,