of his giving any more entertainments; for there is a ⚫ certain gentleman call'd an upholsterer, who, the mo⚫ment that the company is gone, is to make his entrance into the house, and carry every thing out on't. • Rak. A very good way, faith, of furnishing a house to receive a wife in; your mafter has fet me a very good pattern against you and I marry, Mrs Lettice. Let. Sauce-box! Do you think I'll have you? • Rak. Unless I can provide better for myself. • Let. Well, that I am fond of thee I am certain; and what I am fond of I can't imagine, unless it be thy invincible impudence. • Rak. Why, faith, I think I have the impudence of a ⚫gentleman; and there is nothing better to succeed with ⚫ the ladies. • Let. • Rak. • Let. AIR VI. When modefty fues for a favour, That the mightily likes his behaviour, And manfully feizes her charms; Lard! you're rude, Sir, fhe cries; then the • And folds the brisk youth in her arms. Enter Valentine and Trick. [Exeunt." Val. You fay I owe you 500l. principal and intereft. Trick. Yes, Sir; you will please to caft it up yourself, and I believe our accounts will correspond. Val. I'll take your word for it, Sir; and if you please to let me have 500 more, I fhall owe you 1000. Trick. Sir, the money was none of my own, I had it from another; and it must be paid, Sir; he hath called it in. Val. He may call as long as he pleases; but till I call it in, it will not fignify much, Sir. I have thought of an expedient: If the money you lent me was another's, and he be impatient for it, you may pay him off, lay me me down the other 500, and take the whole debt upon yourself. Trick. I am quite out of cafh, Sir, or you know you might command me; and therefore I hope you will not put off the payment any longer. Val. I am extremely busy to-day, and beg you would! call another time. of Trick. I have call'd so often that I am quite weary calling; and if I am not paid within these three days, I fhall fend a lawyer for my money-and fo your fer[Exita vant. Enter Trusty. Val. So, honeft Trufty, what fuccefs? Trufty. I went to the jeweller's with the ring which your honour told me coft an hundred pound, but he refus'd to give me any more than fifty for it; so I e'en took that. Val. Very well. Trufty. As for the old filver bowl which your father valu'd at fourscore pounds, Mr Whiting said, there was fo much reckon'd for the fafhion, and that it was fo old and ungenteel, that he offer'd me but twenty: but I knew your honour wanted money, and so I took it. Val. Very well. Trufty. The gold repeating watch I carried to the maker, and told him he had received fifty odd guineas for it two years ago: but he faid it was much the worfe for wearing; and that the nobility and gentry run so much into pinchbeck, that he had not difpos'd of two gold watches this month. However, he faid he would: give half; and I thought that better than nothing, fo I let him have it. Val. Very well, Trufty. But this was nothing to that rogue in Mon mouth-ftreet, who offer'd me but 161. for the two fuits of fine cloaths, that I dare fwear ftood your honour in above tool. I flew into a great paffion with him, and have brought them back again. Val. You fhou'd have taken the money. Trufty. One piece of furprising good fortune was the faving of your medals, which as I was juft going to dif pofe of, a gentleman whifper'd in my ear, that a certain N-3 knight knight, that wou'd be in town in a fortnight, wou'd give fix times as much for them. an age. Val. A fortnight! what of a fortnight? a fortnight's I wou'd not give a fhilling for the reverfion of an estate so long to come. Here give me what money you have brought, and go and difpofe of the reft immediately. Trufty. But, Sir, I wish your honour would confider: for my part, I dread my old mafter's coming home; and yet if he does not, what you will do any longer, heaven knows. Val. Don't trouble thyfelf about that; but go execute my commands. [Exit Trufy. AIR VII. Excufe me. But fortune, like women, to-day may be kind, To-morrow she goes, And on others bestows The bleffing. The lover who yields to the fair one's delays, Oft lofes the day; Then fly to her arms, For we are fure Of her charms When poffeffing. Enter Servant. Ser. Sir, a gentleman in mourning defires to fee you. Val. Show him in. (Exit Servant.) Wou'd my dear Charlotte were here. Enter Slap. Val, Your most obedient fervant, Sir; I have not the honour of knowing you, Sir. Slap. I believe you do not, Sir; I ask pardon, but I have a fmall writ against you. Val. A writ against me? Slap. Don't be uneafy, Sir; it is only for a trifle, Sir; about 2001. Val Val. What must I do, Sir? Slap. Oh, Sir, whatever you please; only pay the money, or give bail, which you please. Val. I can do neither of them this inftant, and Ì expect company every moment. I fuppofe, Sir, you'll take my word till to-morrow morning.. Slap. Oh yes, Sir; with all my heart. If you will be. fo good as to ftep to my house hard by, you shall be exe tremely well us❜d, and I'll take your word. Val. Your houfe! 'Sdeath, you rascal! Val. Nay, then! -who's there? -my fervants. [Enter Servants.] Here, kiek this fellow down ftairs. Slap. This is a rescue, remember that—a rescue, Sir; F'll have my lord chief justice's warrant: [Slap is forc'd off by the Servants. Enter Charlotte. Char. Oh Valentine! what's the matter? I am frighten'd to death. Swords drawn! Oh my heart! you are not hurt? Val. By none but you, my love; I have no wounds but those you can cure. Char. Heav'n be prais'd! But what was the occafion of this buftle? Val. Nothing, my dear, but a couple of fencing mafters- -I happen'd to turn about, and one of them cut me on the back; that's all. Char. You fee the dangers I run on your account ; fhould my aunt know of my being here, I fhall be undone for ever. Nay, and what the rest of the company will think when they see me here before them, I dread to imagine. Val. You know you have it in your power to filence the tongues of the world whenever you please: and, oh, Charlotte! I wish you would this day confent to make. this houfe your reputable home. Char. Prefs me not, Valentine; for, whatever be the confequence, if you should, I feel I cannot deny you: If lovers wou'd take a denial or two; Can fhe refuse him still, What the herself hath a mind to do? Val. Turtles, tho' with each other they die.. Shall be lefs conftant and fond than I: For April's foft fhowers, Nor June's fweet flowers, In softness and sweetness with thee can vie.. Char. Turtles, tho', &c. Char. Cou'd I be affured of your conftancy; cou'd I find you always fond and endearing as now; believe me, it wou'd not be in the power of fortune to make me miferable. Val. If you can place any confidence in vows, I know not how to bind myself faster to you than I have done already; but you have a better, which is in your own merit. Believe me, Charlotte, men are more conftant than you imagine. He that marries for money, is constant to the love of his wife's money; he that marries for beauty, is commonly constant while that beauty lafts; and a love that's fix'd on merit, as mine, will be conftant while that endures. Char. Well, we must all run a rifk, believe me; as to the point of fortune, it is the least of my thoughts. A woman who can carry her prudence fo far as that, cheats you when the pretends to love. Love reigns alone in every breast it inhabits; and, in my opinion, makes us amends for the absence of Madam Prudence and all her train. Val. My deareft girl, this night fhall make me thine, Let fools for wealth Spend time and health; While we, more happy, try,, Transporting bliss, Which treasures ne'er can buy. 2 Ghar |