to breathe a minute or two longer, while I diverted you with my gallantries---you grow insolent.

Mode. Ha, ha! thou art a very potgun charged with air.

Aura. And thou art a wooden blunderbuss without any charge at all; "a mere pasteboard giant. What! "I am not such a pigeon neither, to be scared with 66 a goat's hair beard and a dagger of lath."

Mode. Thou most insignificant teasing terrier, thou ferret of a coney-warren---by heavens, if thou dost provoke me, I will cut thee into minced meat, and have thee dished up for thy mistress's wedding dinner.

[Modely draws, and advances towards Aura.

Aura. [Advancing too, and presenting a pistol] Put up your sword; put it up, I say-Death, Sir, this instant, or you die! [Modely puts up his sword] So,

Mode. Hah! What have you these tricks too, my little bully?

Aura. Very well; now you have obeyed me, I'll use you like a gentleman. You have a longer reach than I, and therefore it may not be so reasonable tó engage with single sword. Here, take one of these; this, or this; which you please: [Presenting pistols] You may change it, or draw it and recharge it, if you suspect my honour.

Mode. How are they loaded?

Aura. Equally, Sir, with a brace of balls.

Mode. What can be the meaning of all this? Sure the young dog is not in earnest.

[Aside.

Enter FREEHOLD.

Free. Hey, my brave boy! my cock o' the game! my lad of mettle! my Cupid in arms! there, he stands his ground to an inch. I told you he would find you sport, my Covent-Garden friend—All I can say is, he shoots flying finely.

Mode. Hah! I am glad you are come, farmer: we were just going to be serious here. This little huffbluff Hector will let nobody lie with your family but himself, it seems: pr'ythee let us make up this affair, old gentleman. Egad, if I am in the wrong-whymethinks it might be better-I don't know

can't fancy this cool way of murder, with a flash and а рор

Free. Oh, Sir, he is a perfect Spaniard with an English heart. I know him—nothing will satisfy him but your blood.

Aura. No, Sir-nothing but your blood- -your blood, Sir!

Mode. Say you so? Why then if nothing else will do, have at you, my boy" I'll burn your fair per"riwig, i'faith."

Free. Look at your flint and your prime are they in right order?

Aura. I warrant you. Please to stand wide a little, Sir; a ball may graze. [To Freehold.] Now, come on, Sir. For want of a cloak let us retreat from each other five yards, then turn round upon our heels at one motion, and let fly. Are you ready?

[They retire and turn round, Modely fires, and Aura drops as if shot.

Free. Ch, he is shot! he is killed! my poor boy is murdered.

Mode. What have I done? Curse on my steady hand.

Free. Help! Murder! Murder! Help!

Enter Countrymen.

Mode. Say you so? Nay, then 'tis time to save one; by your leave, as fast as my feet or my fears can carry [Exeunt all but Freehold and Aura.

me.

Aura. What are they gone? Is the stage clear? Free. Hah, let me kiss thee, my dear little girl; this was admirably performed. I was afraid you durst not have stood the powder.

Aura. No, no-I put in but half a charge, and no wadding- -I had really much ado to provoke him to fight: so, so, we'll shew him a little country-play now; we'll teach him to ravish, I warrant.

Free. Well, I must wait upon his companion, honest Heartwell. He expects me to attend him to Sir John's, according to his wife's request.

Aura. Do so; while I slip the back way through the orchard, into the hall-house, and undress, that I may be with you time enough to finish my part: this is a day of business, i'faith. [Exeunt.

SCENE II.

The Hall of Sir JOHN's House. Enter DOUBLEJUGG and' SHACKLEFIGURE.

"Shack. Verily, Madam Betty hath invited every "creature in the parish to-morrow.

"Doub. And Sir John hath commanded me to "throw the cellar-doors open, and make the whole 66 country reel-Here will be brave randing, i'faith; "all the steeples in the country are to rock---and I "have summoned together all the bagpipes, tabors, "drums, trumpets, and the whole fraternity of cats"guts within seven miles round.

"Shack. One would imagine Madam Betty stood "candidate for the county

"Doub. And was to drink her way to Wetminster "thro' a sea of October.

"Shack. What are all these uncommon prepara"tions designed for ?

"Doub. Nay, I don't know; I don't inquire into "state affairs, but I shall know more on't when I am "drunk; for then I am very peery.

"Shack. In the mean time

"have much business to do.

mind your affairs; we

[Exit Doub.] I must

"wait here, to introduce the strange gentleman, "whom my master is so fond of."

Enter HEARTWELL and FREEHOLD.

Heart. How could you use a lover so roughly?

Free. A rough lover should be used so: why, he was just going to knock her down—I suppose that is his method.

Heart. And the little girl stood his fire gallantly?

Free. O, most heroically! O' my conscience, I believe she would have fought him in earnest.

Heart. Is he taken ?

Free. Ay, ay, we have him fast.

Heart. Well, then let his fears pay the price of his sin: I think his punishment very just. But see where old Steady-muscle stands in form to introduce us.

Free. Ay, come on now; you shall see a worthy piece of antiquity, a right bred old English country gentleman; one who keeps open house all the whole year round, and yet never took or paid a penny for a vote in his life.

Shack. Sir, with the greatest submission, if it shall be your worship's good pleasure, I will wait on the company within, and know if it shall be their pleasure to receive you. [Exit Shack. Free. Do so, old Stiff-rump, do. This fellow keeps himself as regular as his day-book.

Heart. Company! What company ?

Free. A friend or two only, perhaps, that Sir John has invited to a dance, or so.

Heart. A dance---a friend---'Sdeath, you distract me! Excuse me to him, I beg you.

Free. No, no: what, you must bear with a little noise at first---A bridegroom, and afraid of a fiddle. But see the door opens, and the company are moving towards us.

I