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"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 66 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.

"Val. O the devil! what damn'd costive poet has "given thee this lesson of fustian to get by rote?

66

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, "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,

"madam, I'm the most unfortunate man in the

"world, and the most cruelly used by the ladies.

"Ang. Nay, now you're ungrateful.

"Tatt. No, I hope not.-It is as much ingratitude "to own some favours, as to conceal others.

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"Val. There, now it is out.

"Ang. I don't understand you now.

I thought

you had never asked any thing but what a lady "might modestly grant, and you confess.

"Scand. So, faith, your business is done here; "now you may go brag somewhere else.

"Tatt. Brag! O Heavens! Why, did I name any "body?

“Ang. No; I suppose that is not in your power ; "but you would, if you could, no doubt on't.

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"Tatt. Not in my power, madam?-What! does your ladyship mean, that I have no woman's repu"tation in my power?

"Scand. Oons, why you won't own it, will you?

[Aside. "Tatt. Faith, madam, you are in the right; no "more I have, as I hope to be saved; I never had "it in my power to say any thing to a lady's preju"dice in my life.--For, as I was telling you, madam, "I have been the most unsuccessful creature living "in things of that nature; and never had the good "fortune to be trusted once with a lady's secret ; not

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"Val. Not once, I dare answer for him.

"Scand. And I'll answer for him; for, I'm sure "if he had, he would have told me. I find, madam, "you don't know Mr. Tattle.

“Tatt. No indeed, madam, you don't know me at “all, I find; for sure, my intimate friends would "have known

"Ang. Then it seems, you would have told, if you "had been trusted.

"Tatt. O pox, Scandal, that was too far put !— “Never have told particulars, madam. Perhaps I “ might have talked as of a third person—or have “introduced an amour of my own, in conversation, "by way of novel: but never have explained par

❝ticulars.

"Ang. But whence comes the reputation of Mr. "Tattle's secrecy, if he was never trusted?

"Scand. Why thence it arises.-The thing is pro“verbially spoken ; but may be applied to him.—As "if we should say in general terms, He only is se

cret, who never was trusted; a satirical proverb "upon our sex.-There is another upon yours—as, "She is chaste, who was never asked the question. "That's all.

"Val. A couple of very civil proverbs, truly. It “is hard to tell whether the lady or Mr. Tattle be "the more obliged to you. For you found her vir"“tue upon the backwardness of the men; and his "secrecy upon the mistrust of the women.

"Tatt. Gad, it's very true, madam; I think we are

"obliged to acquit ourselves.—And for my part"but your ladyship is to speak first.

"Ang. Am I? Well, I freely confess, I have re❝sisted a great deal of temptation.

"Tatt. And, egad, I have given some temptation "that has not been resisted.

"Val. Good.

"Ang. I cite Valentine here, to declare to the "court, how fruitless he has found his endeavours, "and to confess all his solicitations and my denials.

"Val. I am ready to plead, Not guilty, for you; "and Guilty, for myself.

"Scand. So, why this is fair! here's demonstration, "with a witness.

"Tatt. Well, my witnesses are not present.-Yet, "I confess, I have had favours from persons; but, "as the favours are numberless, so the persons are "nameless.

"Scand. Pooh, this proves nothing.

"Tatt. No? I can shew letters, lockets, pictures, "and rings; and if there be occasion for witnesses, I ❝can summon the maids at the chocolate-houses, all "the porters at Pall-Mall and Covent-Garden, the "door-keepers at the play-house, the drawers at "Locket's, Pontack, the Rummer, Spring-Garden,

my own landlady and valet de chambre; all who "shall make oath, that I receive more letters, than "the secretary's office; and that I have more vizor "masks to enquire for me, than ever went to see the "hermaphrodite, or the naked prince. And it is

A& III. "notorious, that, in a country church, once, an in"quiry being made who I was, it was answered, I "was the famous Tattle, who had ruined so many

"women.

"Val. It was there, I suppose, you got the nick"name of the Great Turk.

"Tatt. True; I was called Turk Tattle all over "the parish.-The next Sunday, all the old women "kept their daughters at home, and the parson had "not half his congregation. He would have brought "me into the spiritual court: but I was revenged 66 upon him, for he had a handsome daughter, whom "I initiated into the science. But I repented it af"terwards; for it was talked of in town.-And a "lady of quality, that shall be nameless, in a raging "fit of jealousy came down in her coach and six "horses, and exposed herself upon my account. Gad, "I was sorry for it with all my heart.-You know "whom I mean—you know where we raffled— "Scand. Mum, Tattle!

"Val. 'Sdeath, are you not ashamed?

"Ang. O barbarous ! I never heard so insolent a "piece of vanity!-Fie, Mr. Tattle !—I'll swear I "could not have believed it.-Is this your secrecy!

"Tatt. Gad so, the heat of my story carried me "beyond my discretion, as the heat of the lady's pas ❝sion hurried her beyond her reputation.-But I

hope you don't know whom I mean; for there “ were a great many ladies raffled.-Pox on't, now "could I bite off my tongue.

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