secret I might have been trusted with !-or had you a mind to try if I could discover it by my art ?-Hum, ha! I think there is something in your physiognomy, that has a resemblance of her; and the girl is like me. Tatt. And so you would infer, that you and I are alike What does the old prig mean? I'll banter him, and laugh at him, and leave him. [Aside.]—I fancy you have a wrong notion of faces.

For. How? what? a wrong notion! how so?

Tatt. In the way of art, I have some taking features, not obvious to vulgar eyes, that are indication of a sudden turn of good fortune, in the lottery of wives; and promise a great beauty and great fortune reserved alone for me, by a private intrigue of destiny, kept secret from the piercing eye of perspicuity, from all astrologers, and the stars themselves.

For. How? I will make it appear, that what you say is impossible.

Tatt. Sir, I beg your pardon, I am in haste-
For. For what?

Tatt. To be married, sir-married.

For. Ay, but pray take me along with you, sir. Tatt. No, sir; it is to be done privately-I never make confidents.

For. Well; but my consent, I mean-You won't marry my daughter without my consent?

Tatt. Who, I sir? I am an absolute stranger to you and your daughter, sir.

For. Hey-day! What time of the moon is this?

Tatt. Very true, sir; and desire to continue so. I

have no more love for your daughter, than I have likeness of you and I have a secret in my heart, which you would be glad to know, and shan't know: and yet you shall know it too, and be sorry for it afterwards. I'd have you know, sir, that I am as knowing as the stars, and as secret as the night. And I'm going to be married just now, yet did not know of it half an hour ago; and the lady stays for me, and does not know of it yet. There's a mystery for you. I know you love to untie difficulties. Or if you can't solve this; stay here a quarter of an hour, and I'll come and explain it to you.

[Exit. Miss P. O father, why will you let him go? Won't you make him to be my husband?

For. Mercy on us, what do these lunacies portend? Alas! he's mad, child, stark wild.

Miss P. What, and must not I have e'er a husband then? What, must I go to bed to nurse again, and be a child as long as she's an old woman? Indeed, but I won't. For, now my mind is set upon a man, I will have a man some way or other. "Oh, me"thinks I'm sick when I think of a man; and if I "can't have one, I would go to sleep all my life; for "when I'm awake, it makes me wish and long, and "I don't know, for what-and I'd rather be always 66 asleep, than sick with thinking."

For. O fearful! I think the girl's influenced too. -Hussy, you shall have a rod.

Miss P. A fiddle of a rod! I'll have a husband; and if you won't get me one, I'll get one for myself.

I'll marry our Robin the butler; he says he loves me and he's a handsome man, and shall be my husband: I warrant he'll be my husband, and thank me too; for he told me so.

Enter SCANDAL, Mrs. FORESIGHT, and NURSE. For. Did he so I'll dispatch him for it presently! Rogue! Oh, Nurse, come hither.

Nurse. What is your worship's pleasure?

For. Here take your young mistress, and lock her up presently, till farther orders from me. Not a word, hussy-Do what I bid you. No reply: away. And bid Robin make ready to give an account of his plate and linen, dy'e hear? Be gone, when I bid you. [Exeunt Nurse and Miss Prue. Mrs. For. What's the matter, husband? For. 'Tis not convenient to tell you now

-Mr.

Scandal, Heaven keep us all in our senses! I fear there is a contagious frenzy abroad. How does Valentine ?

Scand. O, I hope he will do well again. I have a message from him to your niece Angelica.

For. I think she has not returned since she went abroad with Sir Sampson. Nurse, why are you not gone? [Enter Ben.] Here's Mr. Benjamin; he can tell us if his father be come home.

Ben. Who Father? Ay, he's come home with a vengeance.

Mrs. For. Why, what's the matter ♪

Ben. Matter! Why, he's mad.

M

For. Mercy on us! I was afraid of this.

Ben. And there's a handsome young woman, she, as they say brother Val. went mad for, she's mad too, I think.

For. O my poor niece! my poor niece! is she gone too? Well, I shall run mad next.

Mrs. For. Well, but how mad? how d'ye mean?

Ben. Nay, I'll give you leave to guess-I'll undertake to make a voyage to Antigua.—No, I mayn't say so, neither—but I'll sail as far as Leghorn, and back again, before you shall guess at the matter, and do nothing else. Mess, you may take in all the points of the compass, and not hit the right.

Mrs. For. Your experiment will take up a little too much time.

Ben. Why then I'll tell you: there's a new wedding upon the stocks, and they two are going to be married to rights.

Scand. Who?

Ben. Why father, and-the young woman. I can't hit her name.

Scand. Angelica ?

Ben. Ay, the same.

Mrs. For. Sir Sampson and Angelica? Impossible! Ben. That may be-but I'm sure it is as I tell you. Scand. 'Sdeath, it is a jest. I can't believe it. Ben. Look you, friend; it is nothing to me, whether you believe it or no. What I say is true, d'ye see; they are married, or just going to be married, I know not which.

For. Well, but they are not mad, that is, not lunatic ?

Ben. I don't know what you may call madnessbut she's mad for a husband, and he's horn-mad, I think, or they'd never make a match together.— Here they come.

Enter Sir SAMPSON, ANGELICA, and BUCKRAM.

Sir S. Where is this old soothsayer? this uncle of mine elect?-Aha! old Foresight! uncle Foresight! wish me joy, uncle Foresight, double joy, both as uncle and astrologer: here's a conjunction that was not foretold in all your Ephemeres! The brightest star in the blue firmament-is shot from above, in a jelly of love, and so forth; and I'm lord of the ascendant. Odd, you're an old fellow, Foresight, uncle I mean; a very old fellow, uncle Foresight; and yet you shall live to dance at my wedding; faith and troth you shall. Odd, we'll have the music of the spheres for thee, old Lilly, that we will; and thou shalt lead up a dance in via lactea.

For. I'm thunder-struck! You are not married to my niece?

Sir S. Not absolutely married, uncle; but very near it; within a kiss of the matter, as you see. [Kisses Angelica.

be

Ang. 'Tis very true indeed, uncle; I hope you'll my father, and give me.

Sir S. That he shall, or I'll burn his globes.Body o'me, he shall be thy father: I'll make him