Tatt. Ha, ha, ha! nay, now you make a jest of it indeed. For there is nothing more known, than that nobody knows any thing of that nature of me. As I hope to be saved, Valentine, I never exposed a woman, since I knew what woman was.

Val. And yet you have conversed with several ?

Tatt. To be free with you I have-I don't care if I own that-nay, more (I'm going to say a bold word now), I never could meddle with a woman that had to do with any body else.

Scand. How !

Val. Nay, faith, I'm apt to believe him-except her husband, Tattle.

Tatt. Oh that

Scand. What think you of that noble commoner, Mrs. Drab?

Tatt. Pooh, I know Madam Drab has made her brags in three or four places, that I said this and that, and writ to her, and did I know not what-but, upon my reputation, she did me wrong-well, well, that was malice-but I know the bottom of it. She was bribed to that by one we all know--a man too—only to bring me into disgrace with a certain woman of quality

Scand. Whom we all know.

Tatt. No matter for tha-Yes, yes, every body. knows no doubt on't, every body knows my secrets! -But I soon satisfied the lady of my innocence;

for

I told her-Madam, says I, there are some persons who make it their business to tell stories, and

Say

this

Tatt. Ha, ha, ha! nay, now you make a jest of it indeed. For there is nothing more known, than that nobody knows any thing of that nature of me. As I hope to be saved, Valentine, I never exposed a woman, since I knew what woman was.

Val. And yet you have conversed with several ?

Tatt. To be free with you I have-I don't care if I own that-nay, more (I'm going to say a bold word now), I never could meddle with a woman that had to do with any body else.

Scand. How !

Val. Nay, faith, I'm apt to believe him-except her husband, Tattle.

Tatt. Oh that

Scand. What think you of that noble commoner, Mrs. Drab?

Tatt. Pooh, I know Madam Drab has made her brags in three or four places, that I said this and that, and writ to her, and did I know not what-but, upon my reputation, she did me wrong-well, well, that was malice-but I know the bottom of it. She was bribed to that by one we all know--a man too-only to bring me into disgrace with a certain woman of quality

Scand. Whom we all know,

Tatt. No matter for that-Yes, yes, every body. knows—no doubt on't, every body knows my secrets! -But I soon satisfied the lady of my innocence;

for I told her-Madam, says I, there are some persons who make it their business to tell stories, and say this

and that of one and the other, and every thing in the world; and, says I, if your grace

Scand. Grace!

Tatt. O Lord, what have I said?. -My unlucky tongue!

Val. Ha, ha, ha!

Scand. Why, Tattle, thou hast more impudence than one can in reason expect: I shall have an esteem for thee-well, and ha, ha, ha! well, go on, and what did you say to her grace?

Val. I confess this is something extraordinary.

Tatt. Not a word, as I hope to be saved; an arrant lapsus lingua!-Come, let us talk of something else. Val. Well, but how did you acquit yourself?

Tatt. Pooh, pooh, nothing at all, I only rallied with you.-A woman of ordinary rank was a little jealous of me, and I told her something or otherfaith, I know not what,-Come, let's talk of something else. [Hums a song.

Scand. Hang him, let him alone; he has a mind we should inquire.

Tatt. Valentine, I supped last night with your mistress, and her uncle old Foresight: I think your father lies at Foresight's.

Val. Yes.

Tatt. Upon my soul, Angelica's a fine woman. And so is Mrs. Foresight, and her sister Mrs. Frail. Scand. Yes, Mrs. Frail is a very fine woman; we all know her.

Tatt. Oh, that is not fair.

Scand. What?

Tatt. To tell.

Scand. To tell what? Why, what do you know of Mrs. Frail?

Tatt. Who I? Upon honour I don't know whether she be a man or woman; but by the smoothness of her chin, and roundness of her hips.

Scand. No!

Tatt. No.

Scand. She says otherwise.

Tatt. Impossible!

Scand. Yes, faith. Ask Valentine else.

Tatt. Why then, as I hope to be saved, I believe a woman only obliges a man to secresy, that she may have the pleasure of telling herself.

Scand. No doubt on it. Well, but has she done you wrong, or no? You have had her? ha?

Tatt. Though I have more honour than to tell first; I have more manners than to contradict what a lady has declared.

Scand. Well, you own it?

Tatt. I am strangely surprised! Yes, yes, I cannot deny it, if she taxes me with it.

Scand. She'll be here by and by; she sees Valen tine every morning.

Tatt. How!

Val. She does me the favour-I mean, of a visit sometimes. I did not think she had granted more to

any body.

Scand. Nor I, faith.-But Tattle does not use to