LOFTY.

Your fufpicions! What, then, you have been fufpecting, you have been fufpecting have you? Mr. Croaker, you and I were friends; we are friends no longer. Never talk to me. It's over;

I fay, it's over.

CROAKER.

As I hope for your favour, I did not mean to offend. It efcaped me. Don't be difcompofed.

LOFTY.

Zounds! Sir, but I am difcompofed, and will be discomposed. To be treated thus! Who am I! Was it for this, I have been dreaded both by ins and outs! Have I been libelled in the Gazetteer, and praised in the St. James's? have I been chaired at Wildman's, and a speaker at Merchant-Taylors Hall? have I had my hand to addreffes, and my head in the print-shops; and talk to me of suspects?

CROAKER.

My dear Sir, be pacified. What can you have but afking pardon?

LOFTY.

Sir, I will not be pacified-Suspects! Who am I! To be used thus! Have I paid court to men in favour, to serve my friends; the lords of the treafury, Sir William Honeywood, and the reft of the gang, and talk to me of fufpects! Who am I, I fay, who am I !

Sir WILLIAM.

Since, Sir, you are fo preffing for an answer, I'll tell you who you are. A gentleman, as well acquainted with politics, as with men in power; as well acquainted with perfons of fashion, as with modefty; with lords of the treasury, as with truth; and with all, as you are with Sir William Honeywood. I am Sir William Honeywood.

[Discovering his enfigns of the Bath. CROAKER.

So then, my confounded genius has been all this time only leading me up to the garret, in order to fling me out of the window.

CROAKER.

What, Mr. Importance, and are these your works! Sufpect you? You who have been dreaded by the ins and outs: you, who have had your hand to addresses, and your head stuck up in printfhops. If you were ferved right, you should have your head fuck up in the pillory.

LOFTY.

Aye, ftick it where you will; for, by the Lord, it cuts but a very poor figure where it sticks at pre

fent.

Sir WILLIAM.

Well, Mr. Croaker, I hope you now see how incapable this gentleman is of ferving you, and how little Mifs Richland has to expect from his influ

ence.

CROAKER.

Aye, Sir, too well I fee it; and I can't but say I have had fome boding of it thefe ten days. So, I'm refolved, fince my fon has placed his affections on a lady of moderate fortune, to be fatisfied with his choice, and not run the hazard of another Mr. Lofty, in helping him to a better.

Sir WILLIAM.

approve your refolution; and here they come, to receive a confirmation of your pardon and confent.

Enter Mrs. CROAKER, JARVIS, LEONTINE,

and OLIVIA.

Mrs. CROAKER.

Where's my muft forgive them.

hufband! Come, come, lovey, you Jarvis here has been to tell me the whole affair; and, I fay, you must forgive 'them. Our own was a stolen match, you know, my dear; and we never had any reason to repent of it.

CROAKER,

CROAKER.

I wish we could both fay fo. However, this gentleman, Sir William Honeywood, has been beforehand with you, in obtaining their pardon. So, if the two poor fools have a mind to marry, I think we can tack them together without croffing the Tweed for it. [Joining their hands.

LEONTINE.

How bleft and unexpected! What, what can we fay to fuch goodness! But, our future obedience shall be the best reply. And, as for this gentleman, to whom we owe

Sir WILLIAM.

Excufe me, Sir, if I interrupt your thanks, as I have here an intereft that calls me. Turning to Honeywood.) Yes, Sir, you are furprised to see me; and I own that a defire of correcting your follies led me hither. I faw, with indignation, the errors of a mind that only fought applause from others; that eafinefs of difpofition, which, though inclined to the right, had not courage to condemn the wrong. I faw, with regret, thofe fplendid errors, that ftill took name from fome neighbouring duty.. Your charity, that was but injustice; your benevolence, that was but weakness; and your friendship, but credulity. I faw, with regret, great talents, and extenfive learning, only employed to add sprightlinefs to error, and encrease your perplexities. I faw your mind with a thousand natural charms: but,

the

the greatness of its beauty served only to heighten. my pity for it's prostitution.

HONEYWOOD.

Ceafe to upbraid me, Sir: I have for fome time but too ftrongly felt the juftice of your reproaches. But there is one way ftill left me. Yes, Sir, I have determined this very hour, to quit for ever a place where I have made myself the voluntary slave of all; and to feek among ftrangers that fortitude which may give ftrength to the mind, and marshal all its diffipated virtues. Yet, ere I depart, permit me to folicit favour for this gentleman; who, notwithstanding what has happened, has laid me under the most signal obligations. Mr. Lofty

LOFTY.

Mr. Honeywood, I'm refolved upon a reformation, as well as you. I now begin to find, that the man who first invented the art of speaking truth was a much cunninger fellow than I thought him. And, to prove that I defign to speak truth for the future, I must now affure you, that you owe your late enlargement to another; as, upon my foul, I had no hand in the matter. So now if any of the company has a mind for preferment, he may take my place, I'm determined to refign.

HONEYWOOD.

How have I been deceived!

[Exit.