Bev. I have seen her; I have seen Belinda, my boy: she will be with Clarissa in the Park immediately after dinner, you rogue.

Sir John. I want to see his face; this may be the original.

Bev. Her father has been rating her in his usual manner; but your marriage with my sister will settle every thing.

Sir John. I'll walk round him. [Sings.] Loll-tollloll-[Looks at him.]-Ha! it has his air. [Sings.] Lolltoll-loll,—and it has his eye! Loll-toll-loll

[Walks to and fro. Bev. Pr'ythee, Bellmont, don't be such a dangling lover, but consummate at once, for the sake of your friend.

Sir John. It has his nose for all the world.

Bell. Do you spirit your sister up to keep her resolution, and to-morrow puts you out of all pain.

Sir John. Loll-toll-loll-it has his complexion; the same glowing, hot, amorous complexion.

Bev. Who is this gentleman ?

[Sings, and looks uneasy.

Bell. An odd fellow he seems to be.

Sir John. Lol-toll-loll-it has his shoulders. Loll-tollloll-Ay, and I fancy the mole upon the cheek, too.Loll-toll-loll!

Bev. He seems mad, I think. Where are his keepers? Sir John. Begging your pardon, sir-Pray-[Looking at him and the picture.]-Pray, sir, can you tell whether we shall have a Spanish war?

Bev. Not I, truly, sir.-[To BELLMONT.] Here is a politician out of his senses.

Bell. He has been talking to me too: he is too well dressed for a poet.

Bev. Not, if he has had a good subscription.
Sir John. He has the mole, sure enough.

[Aside.

Bev. Let us step this way, to avoid this impertinent blockhead.

Sir John. Ay, he wants to sneak off.—Guilt! guilt!
conscious guilt!—I'll make sure of him. Pray, sir——
I beg your pardon-Is not your name Wildair?
Bev. No, sir; Beverley, at your service.

Sir John. Have you no relation of that name?
Bev. None.

Sir John. You are very like a gentleman of that name—a friend of mine, whose picture I have here-Will you give me leave just to

[Compares him with the picture.

Bev. An odd.adventure this, Bellmont?

Bell. Very odd, indeed.

Bev. Do you find any likeness, sir?

Sir John. Your head a little more that way, if you please.-Ay, ay, it is he! Yes, a plain case; this is my man, or rather, this is my wife's man.

Bev. Did you ever know any thing so whimsical? Bell. NeverHa, ha, ha!

Sir John. They are both laughing at me.-Ay, and I shall be laughed at by the whole town, pointed at, hooted at, and gazed at!

Bev. What do I see? 'Sdeath, the setting of that picture is like what I gave to Belinda. Distraction! if it is the same[Drawing near him.

Sir John. He makes his approach, and means, I suppose, to snatch it out of my hand. But I'll prevent him; and so, into my pocket it goes. There, lie safe there.

Bev. Confusion! he puts it up in a hurry.-Will you be so good, sir, as to favour me with a

Sir John. Sir, I wish you a good day.

Bev. With a sight of that picture for a moment? Sir John. The picture, sir-Po !-a mere daubBev. A motive of curiosity, sir

Sir John. It is not worth your seeing.-I wish you a good day.

Bev. I shall take it as a favour.

Sir John. A paltry thing!—I have not a moment to spare; my family is waiting dinner.-Sir, I wish you a good morning. [Runs into his house. Bev. Death and fire! Bellmont, my picture!

Bell. O, no-no such thing.

Bev. But I am sure of it.-If Belinda

Bell. What, relapsing into suspicion again?

Bev. Sir, I have reason to suspect. She slights me, disdains me, treats me with contempt.

Bell. But, I tell you, that unhappy temper of your's -Pr'ythee, man, leave teasing yourself, and let us adjourn to dinner.

Bev. No, sir; I shan't dine at all. I am not well. Bell. Ridiculous! how can you be so absurd ?—I'll bet you twenty pounds, that is not your picture. Beo. Done ;-I take it.

Bell. With all my heart: and I'll tell you more :-if it be yours, I will give you leave to be as jealous of her as you please.-Come, now let us adjourn.

Bev. I attend you. In the evening we shall know the truth.—If it be that I gave Belinda, she is false, and I am miserable. [Exeunt.

SIR JOHN, peeping after them.

Sir John. There he goes! there he goes!-the destroyer of my peace and happiness!-I'll follow him, and make sure that he has given me the right name: and, then, my Lady Restless, the mine is sprung, and I have done with you for ever!

[Exit.

ACT III.

Scene I.-The Park.

Enter BELINDA and CLARISSA.

Belin. But have you really fixed every thing, Clarissa? Clar. Positively; and to-morrow morning makes me his.

Belin. To-morrow morning!

Clar. Yes, to-morrow morning I release Mr. Bellmout from his fetters, and resign my person to him.

Belin. But tell me now; am not I a very good girl, to resign such a man to you?

Clar. Why, indeed, I must confess the obligation. Belin. Ay! but to resign him for one whose temper does not promise, that I shall live under so mild a go

vernment.

Clar. How do you mean?

Belin. Why, Mr. Beverley's strange caprices, suspicions, and unaccountable whimsies, are enough to alarm one upon the brink of matrimony.

Clar. Well, I vow I can't help thinking, Belinda, that you are a little subject to vain surmises and suspicions yourself.

Belin. Now, you are an insincere girl. You know Į am of a temper too generous, too open

Clar. I grant all that; but by the constant repetition of the same doubts, I should not wonder to see you most heartily jealous of him in the end.

Belin. Jealous!—O, heavens !—jealous, indeed!

Clar. Well, I say no more.

As to my brother, here he comes, and let him speak for himself.

Enter BEVERLEY and BELLmont.

Bell. Well, upon my soul, Beverley, you make me laugh at you-but, come, there's an end of the matter.

Ladies, your most obedient. I hope we have not trangressed our time.

Belin. Not in the least; you are both very exact. True as the dial to the sun.

Bev. Although it be not shone upon.

Belin. Although it be not shone upon, Mr. Beverley! Why with that dejected air, pray sir?

Bell. There again, now!—you two are going to commence wrangling lovers once more. Apropos, Belinda, -now Beverley, you shall see— -Be so good, ma'am, as to let me see this gentleman's picture.

Belin. His picture! what can you want it for? You shall have it. [Searching her pocket. Bell. Now, Beverley, do you confess how wrong you have been?

Beo. Why, I begin to see my mistake. Say not a word to her; she'll never forgive me, if you discover my infirmity.

[Apart..

Belin. It is not in that pocket: it must be here.

[Searches:

Bell. You have been sad company on account of this strange suspicion.

Bev. I own it-let it drop-say no more. [Aside. Belin: Well! I protest and vow-where can it be? Come, gentlemen, this is some trick of yours: you have it among ye. Mr. Bellmont, Mr. Beverley, pray return it to me.

Beo. No, ma'am, it is no trick of ours. [Angrily. Belin. As I live and breathe I have not got it.

Beo. What think you now, Bellmont ?

Bell. She'll find it presently, man; don't show your humours: be upon your guard; you'll undo yourself else. Clarissa, shall you and I saunter down this walk? Clar. My brother seems out of humour: what is the matter now?

Bell. I'll tell you presently: let us step this way. [Exit with CLARISSA.