Jer. Nay, that's as clear as the sun; I'll make oath of it before any justice in Middlesex.

Sir S. Here's a cormorant too!-'Sheart, this fellow was not born with you?-I did not beget him, did I?

Jer. By the provision that's made for me, you might have begot me too.-Nay, and to tell your worship another truth, I believe you did; for I find I was born with those same whoreson appetites too that my master speaks of.

Sir S. Why look you there now I-I'll maintain it, that by the rule of right reason, this fellow ought to have been born without a palate.-'Sheart, what should he do with a distinguishing taste?—I warrant now, he'd rather eat a pheasant, than a piece of poor John-and smell, now; why I warrant he can smell, and loves perfumes above a stink-why there's it; and music-don't you love music, scoundrel?

Jer. Yes, I have a reasonable good ear, sir, as to jiggs and country dances, and the like; I don't much matter your solo's or sonata's; they give me the spleen.

Sir S. The spleen? ha, ha, ha! a pox confound you!-Solo's or sonata's? Oons, whose son are you? how were you engendered, muckworm ?

Jer. I am, by my father, the son of a chairman; my mother sold oysters in winter, and cucumbers in summer: and I came up stairs into the world; for I was born in a cellar.

For. By your looks you shall

world too, friend.

go up stairs out of the

Sir S. And if this rogue were anatomized now, and dissected, he has his vessels of digestion and concoction, and so forth large enough for the inside of a cardinal; this son of a cucumber!—These things are unaccountable and unreasonable.-Body o'me, why was I not a bear, that my cubs might have lived upon sucking their paws? Nature has been provident only to bears and spiders: the one has its nutriment in its own hands; and the other spins its habitation out of its own entrails.

Val. Fortune was provident enough to supply all the necessities of my nature, if I had my right inheritance. Sir S. Again! Oons, han't you four thousand pounds? If I had it again I would not give thee a groat. What, wouldst thou have me turn pelican, and feed thee out of my own vitals-Odsheart, live by your wits- you are always fond of the wits.— Now let's see if you have wit enough to keep yourself. Your brother will be in town to-night, or to-morrow morning; and then look you perform covenants; and so your friend and servant.-Come, brother Foresight.

[Exeunt Sir Sampson and Foresight. Jer. I told you what your visit would come to. Val. 'Tis as much as I expected-I did not come to see him: I came to see Angelica; but since she was gone abroad, it was easily turned another way, and at least looked well on my side. What's here?

Mrs. Foresight and Mrs. Frail! They are earnest― I'll avoid them.-Come this way, and go and inquire when Angelica will return.

[Exeunt.

Enter Mrs. FORESIGHT and Mrs. FRAIL.

Mrs. F. What have you to do to watch me? 'Slife, I'll do what I please.

Mrs. For. You will?

Mrs. F. Yes, marry, will I.—A great piece of business to go to Covent-garden, to take a turn in a hackney-coach with one's friend!

Mrs. For. Nay, two or three turns, I'll take my oath.

if

you

Mrs. F. Well, what if I took twenty !-I warrant, had been there, it had only been innocent recreation!-Lord, where's the comfort of this life, if we can't have the happiness of conversing where we like?

cent.

Mrs. For. But can't you converse at home?-I own it, I think there's no happiness like conversing with an agreeable man; I don't quarrel at that, nor I don't think but your conversation was very innoBut the place is public; and to be seen with a man in a hackney-coach is scandalous, What if any body else should have seen you alight, as I did How can any body be happy, while they are in perpetual fear of being seen and censured?-Besides, it would not only reflect upon you, sister, but on me!

Mrs. F. Pooh, here's a clutter!-Why should it reflect upon you?--I don't doubt but you have thought

yourself happy in a hackney-coach before now!-If I had gone to Knightsbridge, or to Chelsea, or to Spring-garden, or to Barn-elms, with a man alone→→ something might have been said.

Mrs. For. Why, was I ever in any of those places ? -What do you mean, sister?

Mrs F. Was I? what do you mean?

Mrs. For. You have been at a worse place.

Mrs. F. I at a worse place, and with a man?

Mrs. For. I suppose you would not go alone to the World's-end.

Mrs. F. The World's-end! What, do you mean to banter me?

Mrs. For. Poor innocent! you don't know that there is a place called the Word's-end? I'll swear, you can keep your countenance purely; you'd make an admirable player!

Mrs. F. I'll swear you have a great deal of confidence, and in my mind too much for the stage.

Mrs. For. Very well, that will appear who has most. You never were at the World's end?

Mrs. F. No.

Mrs. For. You deny it positively to my face?
Mrs. F. Your face! what's your face?

"Mrs. For. No matter for that; it's as good a face "as yours.

"Mrs. F. Not by a dozen years wearing." But I do deny it positively to your face then.

Mrs. For. I'll allow you now to find fault with my face; for I'll swear your impudence has put me out

of countenance.-But look you here now,-where did you lose this gold bodkin? Oh, sister, sister! Mrs. F. My bodkin!

Mrs. For. Nay, 'tis yours; look at it.

Mrs. F. Well, if you go to that, where did you find this bodkin?-Oh, sister, sister!-sister every way! Mrs. For. O, devil on't! that I could not discover her, without betraying myself! [Aside.

Mrs. F. I have heard gentlemen say, sister, that one should take great care, when one makes a thrust in fencing, not to lay open one's self.

Mrs. For. It is very true, sister. Well, since all's out, and, as you say, since we are both wounded, let us do what is often done in duels, take care of one another, and grow better friends than before.

Mrs. F. With all my heart. "Ours are but slight "flesh wounds; and if we keep them from air, not at "all dangerous." Well, give me your hand, in token of sisterly secrecy and affection.

Mrs. For. Here it is, with all my heart.

Mrs. F. Well, as an earnest of friendship and confidence, I'll acquaint you with a design that I have."To tell truth, and speak openly one to another." I'm afraid the world have observed us more than we have observed one another. You have a rich husband, and are provided for: I am at a loss, and have no great stock either of fortune or reputation, and therefore must look sharply about me. Sir Sampson has a son, that is expected to-night; and by the account I have heard of his education, can be no conjuror.