train of feparate inclinations are left entirely at the mercy of a husband's odd humours. Lady G. Why, that, indeed, is enough to make a woman of fpirit look about her. Lady T. Nay, but to be ferious, my dear, what would you really have a woman do in my cafe? Lady G. Why, if I had a fober husband, as you have, I would make myself the happieft wife in the world, by being as fober as he. Lady T. Oh, you wicked thing! how can you teaze one at this rate, when you know he is fo very fober, that (except giving me money) there is not one thing in the world he can do to please me. And 1, at the fame time, partly by nature, and partly, perhaps, by keeping the beft company, do with my foul love almoft every thing he hates. I dote upon affemblies; my heart bounds at a ball; and at an opera-I expire. Then, I love play to diftraction; cards enchant me-and dice-put me out of my little wits.-Dear, dear hazard!-Oh, what a flow of fpirits it gives one !-Do you never play at hazard, child? Lady G. Oh, never! I don't think it fits well upon women; there's fomething fo mafculine, fo much the air of a rake in it. You fee how it makes the men fwear and curfe; and, when a woman is thrown into the fame paffion-why Lady T. That's very true; one is a little put to it, fometimes, not to make use of the fame words to exprefs it. Lady G. Well, and, upon il luck, pray what words are you really forced to make use of? Lady T. Why, upon a very hard cafe, indeed, when a fad wrong word is rifing juft to one's tongue's end, I give a great gulp and-wallow is. Lady G. Well-and is it not enough to make you forfwear play as long as you live? Lady T. Oh, yes; I have foriworn it. Lady G. Seriously? Lady T. Solemnly, a thoufand times; but then one is conftantly forfworn. Lady G. And how can you anfwer that? Lady T. My dear, what we fay, when we are lofers, we lock upon to be no more binding than a lover's uath or a great man's promife. But I beg pardon, stild; I hould fhould not lead you fo far into the world: you are a prude, and defign to live foberly. Lady G. Why, I confefs, my nature and my education do in a good degree incline me that way. Lady T. Well, how a woman of spirit (for you don't want that, child) can dream of living foberly, is to me inconceivable; for you will marry, I fuppofe? Lady G. I can't tell but I may. Lady T. And won't you live in town? Lady G. Half the year, I fhould like it very well. Lady T. My ftars! and you would really live in London half the year to be fober in it? Lady G. Why not? Lady T. Why, can't you as well go and be fober in the country? Lady G. So I would-t'other half year. Lady T. And pray, what comfortable scheme of life would you form now for your fummer and winter sober entertainments? Lady G. A fcheme that I think might very well con tent us. Lady T. Oh, of all things, let's hear it. Lady G. Why, in fummer, I could pass my leifure hours in riding, in reading, walking by a canal, or fitting at the end of it under a great tree; in dreffing, dining, chatting with an agreeable friend; perhaps, hearing a little mufic, taking a difh of tea, or a game at cardsfoberly; managing my family, looking into its accounts, playing with my children, if I had any; or in a thousand other innocent amufements-foberly: and, poffibly, by these means, I might induce my husband to be as fober as myself. Lady T. Well, my dear, thou art an astonishing creature! for fure fuch primitive antediluvian notions of life have not been in any head thefe thousand years.Under a great tree !-ha! ha! ha!But I beg we may have the fober town-fcheme too-for I am charmed with the country one. Lady G. You fhall, and I'll try to stick to my fobriety there too. Lady T. Well, though I am fure it will give me the vapours, I must hear it. Dd Lady G. Lady G. Why, then, for fear of your fainting, Madam, 1 will firft fo far come into the fashion, that I would never be dreffed out of it but still it should be foberly; for I can't think it any difgrace to a woman of my private fortune not to wear her face as fine as the wedding-fuit of a first duchefs; though there is one extravagance I would venture to come up to. Lady T. Ay, now for it Lady G. I would every day be as clean as a bride. Lady T. Why, the men say that's a great step to be made one.- Well, now you are dreft, pray, let's see to what purpofe? Lady G. I would vifit-that is, my real friends; but as little for form as poffible.-- -I would go to court; fometimes to an affembly; nay, play at quadrille—foberly. I would fee all the good plays; and, because 'tis the fashion, now and then go to an opera; but I would not expire there-for fear I fhould never go again. And, laftly, I can't fay, but for curiofity, if I liked my company, I might be drawn in once to a mafquerade; and this, I think, is as far as any woman can gose. berly. Lady T Well, if it had not been for that last piece of fobriety, I was just going to call for fome furfeit water. Lady G. Why, don't you think, with the farther aid of breakfasting, dining, taking the air, fupping, fleeping, (not to lay a word of devotion,) the four-andtwenty hours might roll over in a tolerable manner? Lady T. Tolerable! deplorable. Why, child, alt you propose is but to endure life: now, I want--to enjoy it. II. Priuli and Jaffier. Pri. No more! I'll hear no more! Be gone, and leave me.. Jaff. Not hear me ! By my fufferings, but you fhall! My lord, my lord! i'm not that abject wretch You think me. Patience! where's the diftance throws In right, though proud oppreffion will not hear me ! Jaff Faff. Could my nature e'er Have brook'd injuftice or the doing wrong, Childlefs you had been elfe, and in the grave Pri. You ftole her from me; life a thief, you stole her At dead of night: that curfed hour you chose May all your joys in her prove falfe like mine; Jaff. Half of your curfe you have beftow'd in vain : Pri. No more. Jaff. Yes, all; and, then--adieu for ever. There's not a wretch, that lives on common charity, But's happier than I: for I have known The lufcious fweets of plenty; every night Have flept with soft content about my head, And never wak'd but to a joyful morning : Yet now muft fall; like a full ear of corn, Whose bloffom 'fcap'd, yet's wither'd in the ripening. Pri. Home, and be humble; ftudy to retrench; Discharge the lazy vermin of thy hail, Thofe pageants of thy folly; Reduce the glitt'ring trappings of thy wife Drudge to feed loathfome life; get brats and farve. Jaff. Yes, if my heart would let me→ [Exit, This proud, this fwelling heart: home I would go, IV. 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