SCENE I.-A room in MR STRICTLAND'S house. MR and MRS STRICTLAND discovered; she weeping, and he writing.

Mrs Strict. HEIGH ho!

Strict. What can possibly be the occasion of that sigh, madam? you have yourself agreed to a maintenance, and a maintenance no dutchess need be ashamed of.

Mrs Strict. But the extremities of provocation, that drove me to that agreement

Strict. Were the effect of your own follies. Why do you disturb me? [Writes on. Mrs Strict. I would not willingly give you a moment's uneasiness; I but desire a fair and equal hearing; and if I satisfy you not in every point, then abandon me, discard me to the world, and its malicious tongues.

Strict. What was it you said? Damn this pen! Mrs Strict. I say, Mr Strictland, I would only

Strict. You would only-You would only repeat what you have been saying this hour; I am innocent; and when I shewed you the letter I had taken from your maid, what was then your poor evasion, but that it was to Clarinda, and you were innocent?

Mrs Strict. Heaven knows, I am innocent! Strict. But I know your Clarinda, your woman of honour, is your blind, your cover, your――― But why do I distract myself about a woman I have no longer any concern with? Here, madam, is your fate. A letter to your brother in the

country.

Mrs Strict. Sir

Strict. I have told him what a sister he has to receive, and how to bid her welcome.

Mrs Strict. Then my ruin is complete. My brother!

Strict. I must vindicate my own honour, else what will the world say?

Mrs Strict. That brother was my only hope, my only ground of patience. In his retirement, I hoped my name might have been safe, and slept, till, by some happy means, you might at length have known me innocent, and pitied me.

Strict. Retirement! pretty soul! no, no; that face was never made for retirement; it is another sort of retiring you are fittest for. Ha! hark! What's that? [ knocking at the door.] Two gentle taps-and why but two! was that the signal, madam? Stir not, on your life!

Mrs. Strict. Give me resolution, Heaven, to bear this usage, and keep it secret from the world! [Aside. Strict. I will have no signs, no items, no hem to tell him I am here. Ha! another tap. The gentleman is in haste, I find. [Opens the door, and enter TESTER.] Tester! Why did you not

come in, rascal? [Beats him.] All vexations meet

to cross me.

Test. Lard, sir! what do you strike me for? my mistress ordered me never to come in where she was, without first knocking at the door. Strict. Oh, cunning devil! Tester is too honest to be trusted.

Mrs Strict. Unhappy man! will nothing undeceive him?

Test. Sir, here is a letter.
Strict. To my wife?

Test. No, sir, to you.

[Aside.

The servant waits

below.
Strict. Art sure it is a servant?

Test. Sir! [Staring.] it is Mr Buckle, sir. Strict. I am mad: I know not what to say, or do, or think. But let's read : [Reads to himself.] Sir, we cannot bear to reflect that Mrs Strictland may possibly be ruined in your esteem, and in the voice of the world, only by the confusion which our affairs have made in your family, 'without offering all within our power to clear 'the misunderstanding between you. If you will give yourself the trouble but to step to Mr Meggot's, where all parties will be, we doubt not 'but we can entirely satisfy your most flagrant suspicions, to the honour of Mrs Strictland, and 'the quiet of your lives.

JACINTHA. JOHN BELLAMY. Hey! Here is the whole gang witnessing for one another. They think I am an ass, and will be led by the nose to believe every thing. Call me a chair. [Exit TESTER.] Yes, I will go to this rendezvous of enemies-I will-and find out all her plots, her artifices and contrivances: it will clear my conduct to her brother, and all her friends. [Exit MR STRICTLAND.

Mrs Strict. Gone so abruptly! What can that letter be about? no matter; there is no way left to make us easy, but by my disgrace, and I must learn to suffer; time and innocence will teach me to bear it patiently.

Enter LUCETTA.

Luc. Mrs Bellamy, madam, (for my young lady is married) begs you would follow Mr Strictland to Mr Meggot's; she makes no doubt but she shall be able to make you and my master easy.

Mrs Strict. But how came she to know any thing of the matter?

Luc. I have been with them, madam; I could not bear to see so good a lady ill-treated. Mrs Strict. I am indeed, Lucetta, ill-treated: but I hope this day will be the last of it.

Luc. Madam Clarinda and Mr Frankly will be there: and the young gentleman, madam, who was with you in this room last night.

Luc. Dear lady, let me call a chair. Mrs Strict. I go with you. I cannot be more wretched than I am.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.-A room in JACK MEGGOT's house.

Enter FRANKLY, RANGER, BELLAMY, JACINTHA, and JACK MEGGOT.

Frank. Oh, Ranger, this is news indeed! your cousin, and a lady of such fortune!

Ran. I have done the basiness for you: I tell you she's your own. She loves you.

Frank. You make my heart dance with joy! Words are too faint to tell the joy I feel!

Ran. I have put that heart of hers into such a flutter, that I'll lay a hundred guineas, with the assistance which this lady has promised me, I fix her yours directly.

Jac. Ay, ay, Mr Frankly, we have a design upon her which cannot fail. But you must obey orders.

Frank. Most willingly: but remember, dear lady. I have more than life at stake.

Jac. Away, then, into the next room; for she is this instant coming hither.

Frank. Hither! you surprise me more and

more.

Jac. Here is a message from her, by which she desires leave to wait on me this afternoon.

Ran. Only for the chance of seeing you here, I assure ye.

Frank. Let me hug thee; though I know not how to believe it.

Ran. Psha! prithee don't stifle me! It is a busy day, a very busy day.

J. Meg. Thou art the most unaccountable creature in life.

Ran. But the most lucky one, Jack, if I succeed for Frankly as I have for Bellamy; and my heart whispers me I shall. Come in, most noble Mr Buckle! and what have you to propose?

Enter BUCKLE.

Buc. A lady, madam, in a chair, says her name is Clarinda.

Jac. Desire her to walk up.

Bel. How could you let her wait? [Erit BUCKLE.] You must excuse him, madam; Buckle is a true bachelor's servant, and knows no man

ners.

Jac. Away, away, Mr Frankly, and stay till I call you. A rap with my fan shall be the signal. Exit FRANKLY.] We make very free with your house, Mr Meggot.

J. Meg. Oh! you could not oblige me more. Enter CLARINDA,

Cla. Dear Mrs Bellamy, pity my confusion. I am to wish you joy, and ask you pardon, all in VOL. II.

ashamed of my last night's behaviour. Jac. Come, come, Clarinda, it is all well; all is over, and forgot. Mr Bellamy[Salute. Cla. I wish you joy, sir, with all my heart, and should have been very sorry if any folly of mine had prevented it.

Bel. Madam, I am obliged to you.

Cla. I see nothing of Mr Frankly! my mind misgives me. Aside. Ran. And so, you came hither purely out of friendship, good-nature, and humility? Cla. Purely.

Ran. To confess your offences, to beg pardon, and to make reparation?

Cla. Purely. Is this any thing so extraordinary?

J. Meg. The most so of any thing in life, I think.

Ran. A very whimsical business for so fine a lady! and an errand you seldom went on before, I fancy, my dear cousin?

Jac. Never, I dare swear, if I may judge by the awkward concern she shews in delivering it.

Cla. Concern! Lard! well, I protest, you are all exceeding pretty company! Being settled for life, Jacintha, gives an ease to the mind that brightens conversation strangely..

Jac. I am sorry, with all my heart, you are not in the same condition; for, as you are, my dear, you are horridly chagrine.

Ran. But with a little of our help, madam, the lady may recover, and be very good company.

Cla. Hum! What does he mean, Mr Bcllamy?

ble.

Bel. Ask him, madam.

Cla. Indeed, I shall not give myself the trou

Jac. Then, you know what he means? Cla. Something impertinent, I suppose, not worth explaining.

Jac. It is something you won't let him explain, I find.

Enter BUCKLE, and whispers MEGGOT.

J. Meg. Very well. Desire him to walk into the parlour. Madam, the gentleman is below. Jac. Then every one to your posts. You know your cues? Ran. I warrant ye. [Exeunt Gentlemen. Cla. All gone! I am glad of it, for I want to speak to you.

Jac. And I, my dear Clarinda, have something which I do not know how to tell you: but it must be known sooner or latter.

Cla. What's the matter?
Jac. Poor Mr Frankly-

Cla. You fright me out of my senses!
Jac. Has no wounds but what you can cure.
Ha, ha, ha!

Cla. Psha! I am angry. 4 U

Jac. Psha! You are pleased; and will be more so, when I tell you, this man, whom fortune has thrown in your way, is, in rank and temper, the man in the world who suits you best for a husband.

Cla. Husband! I say, husband, indeed! Where will this end? [Aside. Jac. His very soul is yours; and he only waits an opportunity of telling you so. He is in the next room. Shall I call him in?

Cla. My dear girl, hold!

Jac. How foolish is this coyness now, Clarinda! If the men were here, indeed, something might be said--And so, Mr Frankly

Cla. How can you be so teasing?

Jac. Nay, I am in downright earnest and, to shew how particular I have been in my inquiries, though I know you have a spirit above regarding the modish, paltry way of a Smithfield bargain -his fortune

Cla. I don't care what his fortune is. Jac. Don't you so? Then you are farther gone than I thought you were.

Cla. No, psha! prithee, I don't mean so, nei

ther.

Cla. Have a care of being too sanguine in your hopes: might not a love of power, or the satisfaction of shewing that power,or the dear pleasure of abusing that power; might not these have been foundation enough for more than what I did?

Frank. Charming woman! with most of your sex, I grant, they might; but not with you. Whatever power your beauty gives, your good-nature will allow you no other use of it than to oblige.

Cla. This is the height of compliment, Mr Frankly.

Frank. Not in my opinion, I assure you, madam; and I am now going to put it to the trial. Cla. What is he going to say, now? [Aside. Frank. What is it that ails me, that I cannot speak? Psha! he here! [Aside.

Enter RANGER.

Interrupted! impertinent !

Ran. There is no sight so ridiculous as a pair of your true lovers. Here are you two now, bowing and cringing, and keeping a passion secret from one another, that is no secret to all the house beside. And, if you don't make up the matter immediately, it will be all over the town within these two hours.

Cla. What do you mean?
Frank. Ranger-

Ran. Do you be quiet, can't ye? [Aside.] But it is over, I suppose, cousin, and you have given him your consent.

Cla. Sir, the liberties you are pleased to take with me

Ran. Oh! in your airs still, are you? Why, then, Mr Frankly, there is a certain letter of yours, sir, to this lady

Cla. A letter to me!
Ran. Ay! to you, madam.

Frank. Ha! what of that letter?

Ran. It is only fallen into Mr Strictland's hands, that is all; and he has read it. Frank. Read it!

:

Ran. Ay, read it to all his family at home, and to all the company below and if some stop be not put to it, it will be read in all the coffeehouses in town.

Frank. A stop! this sword shall put a stop to it, or I will perish in the attempt.

Ran. But will that sword put a stop to the talk of the town?-Only make it talk the faster, take my word for it.

Cla. This is all a trick. Ran. A trick! Is it so? you shall soon see that, my fine cousin. [Exit RANGER. Frank. It is but too true, I fear. There is such a letter, which I gave Lucetta. Can you forgive me? Was I much to blame, when [ could neither see nor hear of you?

Cla. [Tenderly.] You give yourself, Mr Frankly, a thousand times more uneasiness than you need about me.

Frank. If this uneasiness but convinces you how much I love you-Interrupted again! Cla. This is downright malice.

[Aside.

Enter RANGER, followed by JACINTHA, MR
STRICTLAND, BELLAMY, and MEGGOT.

Ran. Enter, enter, gentlemeu and lady. Now you shall see whether this is a trick or no.

Cla. Mr Strictland here! What is all this? Jac. Do not be uneasy, my dear; we will ex plain it to you.

other way.

J. Meg. But, sir, if we produce this Mr Frankly to you, and he owns himself the author of this letter

Bel. And if Clarinda likewise be brought before your face to encourage his addresses, there can be no farther room for doubt?

Strict. No. Let that appear, and I shall, I think I shall, be satisfied-But yet it cannot beBel. Why not? Hear me, sir. [They talk. [JACINTHA, CLARINDA, FRANKLY, and RANGER, advance.

Jac. In short, Clarinda, unless the affair is made up directly, a separation, with all the obloquy on her side, must be the consequence. Cla. Poor Mrs Strictland! I pity her: but, for him, he deserves all he feels, were it ten times what it is.

Jac. It is for her sake only, that we beg of you both to bear his impertinence.

Cla. With all my heart. You will do what you please with me.

Frank, Generous creature!

Strict. Ha! here she is, and, with her, the very man I saw deliver the letter to Lucetta. I do begin to fear I have made myself a fool. Now for the proof. Here is a letter, sir, which has given me great disturbance, and these gentlemen assure me, it was writ by you.

Frank. That letter, sir, upon my honour, I left this morning with Lucetta, for this lady. Strict. For that lady! and Frankly, the name at the bottom, is not feigned, but your real name? Frank. Frankly is my name.

Strict. I see, I feel myself ridiculous.
Jac. Now, Mr Strictland, I hope-
J. Meg. Ay, ay; a clear case.

Strict. I am satisfied, and will go this instant to Mrs Strictland.

Ran. Why, then, the devil fetch me if this would satisfy me!

Strict. What's that?

Ran. Nay, nothing; it is no affair of mine.
Bel. What do you mean, Ranger?

Strict. Ay, what do you mean? I will know before I stir.

Ran. With all my heart, sir. Cannot you see that all this may be concerted matter between them?

Frank, Ranger, you know I can resent.

Strict. Go on; I will defend you, let who will resent it.

Ran. Why, then, sir, I declare myself your friend: and, were I as you, nothing but their immediate marriage should convince me.

Strict. Sir, you're right, and are my friend indeed. Give me your hand.

Ran. Nay, were I to hear her say, I, Clarinda, take thee, Charles, I would not believe them, till I saw them a-bed together. Now, resent it as you will.

Strict. Ay, sir, as you will: but nothing less shall convince me: and so, my fine lady, if you are in earnest

Cla. Sure, Mr Strictland

Strict. Nay, no flouncing; you cannot escape.
Ran. Why, Frankly, hast no soul ?
Frank. I pity her confusion.

Ran. Pity her confusion! the man's a foolHere, take her hand.

Frank. Thus, on my knees, then let me ravish, with your hand, your heart.

Cla. Ravish it you cannot; for it is with all my heart I give it you.

Strict. I am satisfied.

Cla. And so am I, now it is once over.

Ran. And so am I, my dainty cousin; and I wish you joy of a man your whole sex would go to cuffs for, if they knew him but half so well as I do-Ha! she's here; this is more than I bargained for. [Aside.

JACINTHA leads in MRS STRICTLAND. Strict. [Embracing MRS STRICTLAND.]—Madam, reproach me not with iny folly, and you shall never hear of it again.

Mrs Strict. Reproach you! No! If ever you hear the least reflection pass my lips, forsake me in that instant: or, what would yet be worse, suspect again.

Strict. It is enough. I am ashamed to talk to thee. This letter, which I wrote to your brother, thus I tear in pieces, and, with it, part for ever with my jealousy.

Mrs Strict. This is a joy, indeed! As great as unexpected. Yet there is one thing wanting, to make it lasting.

Ran. What the devil is coming now? [Aside. Mrs Strict. Be assured, every other suspicion of me was as unjust as your last: though, perhaps, you had more foundation for your fears.

Ran. She wont tell, sure, for her own sake.

Aside. Mrs Strict. All must be cleared, before my heart will be at ease.

Ran. It looks plaguy like it, though! [Aside.
Strict. What mean you? I am all attention.
Mrs Strict. There was a man, as you suspect-

ed, in my chamber last night.
Strict. Ha! take care; I shall relapse.
Mrs Strict. That gentleman was he
Ran. Here is a devil for you!

[Aside

Mrs Strict. Let him explain the rest. Ran. A frolic, a mere frolic, on my life! Strict. A frolic! Zounds! [They interpose. Ran. Nay, don't let us quarrel the very moment you declared yourself my friend. There was no harm done, I promise you. Nay, never frown. After I have told my story, any satisfaction you are pleased to ask, I shall be ready to give.

Strict. Be quick, then, and ease me of my pain.

Ran. Why, then, as I was strolling about last night upon the look-out, I must confess, chance, and chance only, conveyed me to your house; where I espied a ladder of ropes most invitingly fastened to the window

Jac. Which ladder I had fastened for my

escape.

Strict. Proceed.

Ran. Up mounted I, and up I should have gone, if it had been into the garret; it's all one to Ranger. I opened one door, then another, and, to my great surprise, the whole house was silent; at last, I stole into a room where this lady was undressing

Strict. 'Sdeath and the devil! You did not dare, sure

Ran. I don't know whether I had dared, or no, if I had not heard the maid say something of her master's being jealous, Oh, damn me, thought I, then the work is half done to my hands!

Juc. Do you mind that, Mr Strictland?
Strict. I do-1 do, most feelingly.

Ran. The maid grew saucy, and, most conveniently to my wishes, was turned out of the room; and, if you had not the best wife in the

world

Strict. 'Ounds, sir! But what right have you

Ran. What right, sir? If you will be jealous of your wife without a cause; if you will be out at that time of night, when you might have been so much better employed at home; we, young fellows, think we have a right

|

Strict. No joking, I beseech you; you know not what I feel.

Ran. Then, seriously, I was mad, or drunk enough, call it what you will, to be very rude to this lady, for which I ask both her pardon and yours. I am an odd sort of a fellow, perhaps; but I am above telling you, or any man, a lie, damn me, if I am not!

Strict. I must, I cannot but believe you; and for the future, madam, you shall find a heart ready to love, and trust you. No tears, I beg; I cannot bear them.

Mrs Strict. I cannot speak; and yet there is a favour, sir

Strict. I understand you; and, as proof of the sincerity with which I speak, I beg it as a favour, of this lady in particular,-[To CLARINDA] --and of all the company in general, to return to my house immediately, where every thing, Mr Bellamy, shall be settled to your entire satisfaction. No thanks; I have not deserved them.

J. Meg. I beg your pardon, sir; the fiddles are ready; Mrs Bellamy has promised me her hand, and I won't part with one of you till midnight; and, if you are as well satisfied as you pretend to be, let our friend Rattle, here, begin the ball with Mrs Strictland; for he seems to be the hero of the day.

Strict. As you and the company please.

Ran. Why, this is honest; continue but in this humour, and faith, sir, you may trust me to run about your house like a spaniel. I cannot suffi ciently admire at the whimsicalness of my good fortune, in being so instrumental to this general happiness. Bellamy, Frankly, I wish you joy, with all my heart-though I had rather you should be married than I, for all that Never did matrimony appear to me with a smile upon her face, till this instant.

Sure joys for ever wait each happy pair, When sense the man, and virtue crowns the

fair,

And kind compliance proves their mutual care. [A dance. Exeunt omnes.