Mode. Thy man, lovey; and what then? Aura. Why, then, Sir, on the behalf of that fair one, I demand the honourable amends, Sir. To use violence to a lady is an affront not to be put up; to tear the boughs and offer to hale down the fruit before it was consenting, kindly ripe-If you had climbed up the ladder of her affections, and gathered it regularly with the consent of the owner, there had been no harm done. Mode. Ha! thou art a very pretty metaphorical prigster. Hark ye, child, go home presently, or I will gather a handful of nettles under that hedge, and whip thee most unmercifully. - Aura. Huh, huh! Goliah the second. How he struts and bounces! Sir, I shall whip you thro' the guts, "or "make a pair of bellows of your lungs, for this ar rogance. Know, Sir, that what I want in nerve "and bone, I make up in vigour and youth." What åre your weapons? Mode. Nettle-tops, infant, nettle-tops. Aura. What, are you for your country diversions of this sort Flails, cudgels, scythes, back-swords, oaken-towels, or wrestling? "Mode. Wouldst thou have me wrestle with a bul"rush? "Aura. Ah!" I have brought many a stouter man than you down, before now, with my Cornish hug. Or are you for the town gallantries, single rapier, sword and dagger, sword and pistol, single pistol, blunderbuss, demi-cannon, culverin, howitzer, mor tar-piece, or barrel of gunpowder? I am ready, at any of these weapons, to wait your commands. Mode. Look thee, thou impertinent insect, thou may'st be troublesome, tho' thou canst not be hurtful; therefore, if thou fliest about my face thus, I shall be forced to pat thee down with my hand, and tread thee out. Aura. Humph! -You're very pert. Mode. I am so. Pray, tell me, tho', what interest have you in this lady, that she has engaged your haughty littleness in her affairs? Aura. Who, I, Sir? oh, I have been her premier minister a great while. "She is a fine woman really, "considering she has been rusticated from her birth "too; her only fault is, poor creature, she is doat❝ingly fond of me; I dress her; I undress her;" by her good will, she would not suffer any living thing to stick a pin about her besides me. Mode. Indeed! and so thou art her play-fellow, her gentle refreshment, her pretty pillow-boy, her afternoon's cordial, and her tea at breakfast, her evening's slumber and her morning's indolence. Aura. You are superlatively smart. Sir, I shall give you to understand instantly, that the reputation of a lady is not thus impiously to be sported withOons, eat your words; down with them again this moment, or I'll ram the insolent epithets back again with the hilt of my sword. Mode. Cool thyself, Narcissus, cool thyself, child; relieve thy reason with a dram of reflection. 'Tis the town-talk: the whole village, and all the parishes round ring of it. I am sure thou wouldst not die a martyr to falsehood. Why, thy engagements there are known to every body; 'tis no secret, my pretti ness. Aura. Ay, Sir, 'tis true; but 'tis not so gallant to enter into particularities of that sort. Tho', as you say, indeed, I am sensible 'tis no secret. The affair has made a noise; the fury of the poor creature's passion did now and then blind her discretion. I think this is the seventh duel I have engaged in for her and Flora- -The seventh; no, the eighth-there were three justices, two excisemen, a parson, and yourself Mode. Thou art a terrible little squib. What had Flora to do in this quarrel? What! you have had her too, hah? Aura. Ah, Sir, she; but she is married. I am glad of it, faith, very glad of it. Poor man! your friend, I mean. I hope he is not apt to be jealous? "In troth, I believe she is enceint." If his son and heir steps into the world a month or two before the usual time, I could wish he would rather impute it to the forwardness of his boy, than the ill conduct of his wife. Mode. Thou art the most impudent, wicked, little, bragging, lying son of a whore that ever I met with. Aura. Demme, Sir, son of a whore in your teeth !— What! because I have reprieved you, suffered you |