and this lady's compliments, there is a little of the devil, call'd jealousy, at the bottom of all this uneasiness. Tuke. Sir! Soph. I say, Sir, wear your cloak as long as you please the hoof will peep out, take my word for it. Tuke. Upon my word, Sir, you are pleas'd to honour me, with a familiarity which I neither expected, or indeed desired, upon so slight an acquaintance. Soph. I dare swear you did not. [Turns off and bums a tune. Tuke. I dont understand this! Arab. This is beyond expectation— [Aside Soph. I presume, Sir, you never was out of England[Picking her teeth. Tuke. I presume, Sir, that you are mistaken-I never was so foolishly fond of my own country, to think that nothing good was to be had out of it; nor so shamefully ungrateful to it, to prefer the vices and fopperies of every other nation, to the peculiar advantages of my own. Sopb Ha, ha: weli said, old Fngland, i faith-Now madam, if this gentleman would put his speech into a farce, and properly lard it with roast beef, and liberty, I wou'd engage the galleries wou'd roar and haloo at it for half an hour together--Ha, ha, ha. Arab. Now the storm's coming, Aside. Tuke. If you are not engag'd, Sir, we'll adjourn to the next tavern, and write this farce between us. Sopb. I fancy, Sir, by the i: formation of your face, that you are more in cin'd to tragedy than comedy. Tuke. I shall be inclin'd to treat you very ill, if you don't walk out with me. Sopb. I have been treated so very ill already, in the little conversation I have had with you, that you must excuse my walking out for more of it; but if you'll persuade the lady to leave the room, I'll put you to death-damme Going up to bimArab. For heaven's sake! what's the matter, gentlemen? Tuke. What can I do with this fellow? Sopb. Madam, don't be alarm'd--this affair will be very short- -I am always expeditious; and will cut his throat, without shocking you in the least:-Come, Sir, (draws) if you won't defend yourself, I must kick you about the Advancing. Tuke. room. Tuke. Respect for this lady, and this house, has curb'd my resentment hitherto: but as your insolence wou'd take advantage of my forbearance, I must correct it at all e[Draws. vents Sopb and Arabella. Ha, ha, ha! Tuke. What is all this? Soph. What, would you set your courage to a poor, weak woman? You are a bold Briton, indeed!- Ha, ha, ha, Tuke. What Sophia? Arab. Sophia! no, no; she is in a hackney-chair, you know, without a servant, in her Pink Negligee-Ha, ha, ha.. Tuke. I am astonish'd! and can scarce believe my own eyes-What means this metamorphosis? Sopb. 'Tis in obedience to your commands-Thus equipp'd, I have got access to Daffodil, and shall know whether your picture of him is drawn by your regard for me, or resentment to him-I will sound him, from bis lowest note, to the top of his compass. Tuke. Your spirit transports me-This will be a busy, and, I hope, a happy day for me. I have appointed no less than five ladies to meet me at the widow Damply's; to each of whom, as well as yourself, the accomplish'd Mr. Daffodil has presented his heart; the value of which I am resolved to convince them of this night, for the sake of the whole sex. Sopb. Pooh, pooh! that's the old story-You are prejudic'd Tuke. I am afraid 'tis you who are prejudic'd, madam; for if you will believe your own eyes and ears Soph. That I will, I assure you-I shall visit him immeediately-He thinks me in the country, and to confirm it, I'll write to him as from thence-But ask me no more quetions about what I have done, and what is to be done; for I have not a moment to lose; and so, my good friend Tukely, yours- -My dear Bell I kiss your hand-[kisses ber band] You are a fine woman, by heav'ns! here Joseppi Beunello, Francesi,- where are my fellows there? Call me a chair- -Viva l' Amor, & Liberta [Exit singing. Arab. Ha, ha there's a spirit for you!-Well now, what, dɔ you stare at ?-you cou'd not desire more-O, fie, fie -don't sigh, and bite your fingers; róuze yourself, man; set all your wits to work; bring this faithless Corydon to shame, and I'll be hang'd if the prize is not yours-If she retur..s in time, I'll bring her to the widow Damply's Tuke. Dear Miss Arabella Arab. Well, well: make me a fine speech another time. About your business now Tuke. I fly [Exit. Tukely. Arab. What a couple of blind fools has love made of this poor fellow, and my dear cousin Sopby! Little do they imagine, with all their wise discoveries, that Daffodil is as faithful a lover, as he is an accomplish'd gentleman-I pity these poor deceiv'd women, with all my heart- But how will they stare when they find that he has artfully pretended a regard for them, the better to conceal his real passion for me They will certainly tear my eyes out; and what will cousin Sopby say to me, when we are oblig'd to declare our passion? No matter what-'Tis the fortune of warAnd I shall only serve her, as she and every other friend wou'd serve me in the same situation A little cheating never is a sin, At love or cards-provided that you win. DAFFODIL'S Lodgings. Enter DAFFODIL and Ruffle. [Exit Arabella. Daf. But are you sure, Rufle, that you deliver'd the letter last night, in the manner I order'd you? Ruf. Exactly, sir. Duf. And you are sure that, Mr. Dotterel saw you slip the note into his wife's hand? Ruf. I have alarm'd him, and you may be assur'd, that he is as uneasy as you wou'd wish to have him- -But I shou'd be glad with your honour's leave to have a little serious conversation with you; for my mind forbodes much peril to the bones of your humble servant, and very little satisfaction to your honour. Daf. Thou art a most incomprehensible blockhead- an oak suppling, as well as another- -Ay, and I shou'd have have felt one last night, if I had not had the heels of all Mr. Dotterel's family-I had the whole pack after ne Daf And did not they catch you? Ruf. No, thank heav'n Daf. You was not kick'd then? Daf. Nor can'd? Ruf. No, Sir. Daf. Nor dragg'd thro' a horse-pond? Ruf. O, Lord! no, Sir. Duf. That's unlucky—— Ruf. Sir! Daf. You must go again, Rufle, to night, perhaps you may be in better luck. Ruf. If I go again, Sir, may I be can'd, kick'd, and horseponded for my pains-I believe I have been lucky enough to bring an old house over your head. Daf. What d'ye mean? Ruf. Mr. Dotterel only hobbled after me, to pay me for the postage of your letter; but being a little out of wind, he soon stopt, to curse and swear at me--I cou'd hear him utter something of scoundrel, and pimp, and my master, and villain-and blunderbuss, and sawpit; and he shook his stick, and look'd like the devil! Daf. Blunderbuss, and saw-pit! this business grows a little serious, and so we will drop it-The husband is so old and peevish, and she is so young and pressing, that I'll give it up, Ruffle -The town talks of us, and I am satisfied. Ruf. Pray. Sir, with submission, for what end do you write to so many ladies, and make such a rout about 'em ; there are now upon the list half a dozen maids, a leash of wives, and the widow Damply. I know your honour don't intend mischief; but what pleasure can you have in decciving them, and the world? for you are thought a ter ible young gentleman. Daf. Why that pleasure, booby. Ruf. I don't understand it-What do you intend to do with 'em all! Ruin 'em? Daf. Not I faith. Ruf. But you'll ruin their reputations. Daf. That's their busines-not mine. Daf. O no; that wou'd be finishing the game at once -If -If I preferr'd one, the rest wou'd take it ill; so because I wont be particular, I give 'em all hopes, without going a step further. Ruf. Widows can't live upon such slender diet. Daf. A true sportsman has no pleasure but in the chase ; the game is always given to those who have less taste, and better stomachs. Ruf. I love to pick a bit, I must confess-really, Sir, I shou'd not care what became of half the women you are pleas'd to be merry with-But miss Sophy, sure, is a heavenly creature, and deserves better treatment; and to make love to her cousin too, in the same house-that is very cruel. Daf. But it amuses one- besides they are both fine creatures. And how do I know, ifl lov'd only one, but the other might poison herself? Ruf. There is no mending him. [Exit Ruffle. Daf (Opens Letters.) This is from widow DamplyI know her scrawl at a mile's distance-she pretends that the fright of her husband's death hurt her nerves so, that her hand has shook ever since-ha, ha ha-It has hurt her spelling to, for here is joy with G; ha! ha! poor creature. (Reads) Hum-hum-hum-Well said, widow; she speaks plain, faith, and grows urgent-I must get quit of her she desires a tete a tete; which, with widows who have suffered much for the loss of their husbands, is, as capt. Bobadil says a service, of danger. So I am off (Opens another) What the devil have we her? A bill in chancery: oh, no! my taylor's bill-Sum total 3741. 11s. 5d. Indeed, monsieur Chicaneu, this is a damn'd bill, and you will be dam'd for making it-therefore, for the good of your soul, mons. Chicaneau, you must make another, (tears it) The French know their consequence, and use us accordingly (Opens another.) This is from Newmarket-[Reads.] I May it please your honour, Wou'd not have you think of matching Cherry-derry with Gingerbreed; he is a terrible horse, and very Covetuous of his ground-I have chopt Hurlotbrumbe for the Roan Mare, and fifty pounds. Sir Roger has taken the match off your hands, which is a good thing; for the mare has the distemper, and must have forfeited-I flung |