66

"Scand. Hush, softly the pleasures of last night, my dear; too considerable to be forgot so

❝ soon.

“Mrs. For. Last night? and what would your im“ pudence infer from last night? Last night was like "the night before, I think.

“Scand. 'Sdeath, do you make no difference be “tween me and your husband ?

"Mrs. For. Not much-he's superstitious; and you ❝are mad, in my opinion.

"Scand. You make me mad.—You are not se“ rious ?—pray recollect yourself.

“Mrs. For. O yes, now I remember, you were very “ impertinent and impudent—and would have come "to bed to me.

"Scand. And did not?

“ Mrs. For. Did not! With what face can you ask "the question?

"Scand. This I have heard of before, but never be"lieved. I have been told, she had that admirable "quality of forgetting to a man's face in the morn❝ing, that she had lain with him all night; and de66 nying that she had done favours, with more im"pudence than she could grant them. [Aside.] "Madam, I'm your humble servant, and honour "" you."-You look pretty well, Mr. Foresight. How did you rest last night?

For. Truly, Mr. Scandal, I was so taken up with broken dreams, and distracted visions, that I remember little.

Scand. "'Twas a very forgetting night."—But would you not talk with Valentine? Perhaps you may understand him; I am apt to believe, there is something mysterious in his discourse, and sometimes rather think him inspired than mad.

For. You speak with singular good judgment, Mr. Scandal, truly.I am inclining to your Turkish opinion in this matter, and do reverence a man whom the vulgar think mad. Let us go to him.

Mrs. F. Sister, do you go with them; I'll find out my lover, and give him his discharge, and come to you.-[Exeunt Scandal, Mr. and Mrs. Foresight.] On my conscience, here he comes 1

Enter BEN.

Ben. All mad, I think.-Flesh, I believe all the Calentures of the sea are come ashore, for my part. Mrs. F. Mr. Benjamin in choler!

Ben. No, I'm pleased well enough, now I have found you.-Mess, I have had such a hurricane on your account yonder!

Mrs. F. My account -Pray, what's the matter?

Ben. Why, father came, and found me squabbling with yon chitty-faced thing, as he would have me marry so he asked what was the matter.-He asked in a surly sort of a way. It seems brother Val is gone mad, and so that put'n into a passion; but what did I know that? what's that to me So he asked in a surly sort of manner-and, God, I answered

'en as surlily. What thof he be my father, I an't bound prentice to 'en: so, faith I told'n in plain terms, if I were minded to marry, I'd marry to please myself, not him; and for the young woman that he provided for me, I thought it more fitting for her to learn her sampler, and make dirt-pies than to look after a husband; for my part, I was none of her man -I had another voyage to make, let him take it as he will.

Mrs. F. So then, you intend to go to sea again?

Ben. Nay, nay, my mind ran upon you-but I would not tell him so much.-So he said, he'd make my heart ache; and if so be that he could get a woman to his mind, he'd marry himself. Gad, says I, an you play the fool and marry at these years, there's more danger of your head's aching than my heart !— He was woundy angry when I giv'n that wipe-he had'nt a word to say; and so I left'n, and the green girl together; mayhap the bee may bite, and he'll marry her himself-with all my heart!

Mrs. F. And were you this undutiful and graceless wretch to your father?

Ben. Then why was he graceless first?-If I am undutiful and graceless, why did he beget me so ? I did not beget myself.

Mrs. F. O impiety! how have I been mistaken! What an inhuman merciless creature have I set my heart upon! O, I am happy to have discovered the shelves and quicksands that lurk beneath that faithless smiling face?

1

Ben. Hey-toss! what's the matter now? why you

ben't angry, be you?

Mrs. F. O see me no more-for thou wert born among rocks, suckled by whales, cradled in a tempest, and whistled to by winds; and thou art come forth with fins and scales, and three rows of teeth, a most outrageous fish of prey.

Ben. O Lord, O Lord, she's mad, poor young woman! Love has turned her senses; her brain is quite overset.—Well-a-day! how shall I do to set her to

rights?

Mrs. F. No, no, I am not mad, monster; I am wise enough to find you out.-Hadst thou the impudence to aspire at being a husband, with that stubborn and disobedient temper ?-You, that know not how to submit to a father, presume to have a sufficient stock of duty to undergo a wife? I should have been finely fobbed indeed, very finely fobbed!

Ben. Harkee, forsooth; if so be that you are in your right senses, d'ye see, for aught as I perceive I'm like to be finely fobbed-if I have got anger here upon your account, and you are tacked about already! What dy'e mean, after all your fair speeches, and stroaking my cheeks, and kissing and hugging, what would you sheer off so? would you, and leave me aground.

Mrs. F. No, I'll leave you adrift, and go which way you will.

Ben. What, are you false-hearted then?
Mrs. F. Only the wind's changed.

Ben. More shame for you!-The wind's changed? It is an ill wind blows nobody good.-Mayhap I have a good riddance on you, if these be your tricks. What did you mean all this while to make a fool of me?

Mrs. F. Any fool, but a husband.

Ben. Husband! Gad, I would not be your husband, if you would have me, now I know your mind; thof you had your weight in gold and jewels, and thof I loved you never so well.

Mrs. F. Why canst thou love, Porpus ?

Ben. No matter what I can do; don't call names. -I don't love you so well as to bear that, whatever I did. I'm glad you shew yourself, mistress :-let them marry you as don't know you.-Gad, I know you too well, by sad experience; I believe he that marries you will go to sea in a hen-pecked frigate. -I believe that, young woman! and mayhap may come to an anchor at Cuckold's Point; so there's a dash for you, take it as you will; mayhap you may hollow after me when I won't come to. [Exit.

Mrs. F. Ha, ha, ha! no doubt on't. [Sings.] "My true love is gone to sea!" [Enter Mrs. Foresight.] Q sister, had you come a minute sooner, you would have seen the resolution of a lover.-Honest Tar and I are parted ;-and with the same indifference that we met.- "On my life, I am half vexed at the "insensibility of a brute I despised."

Mrs. For. What then, he bore it most heroically? Mrs. F. Most tyrannically-" for you see he has