ourable trenches before me, my unaccountable papa, in whose hands I then was, gave me up at discretion. Lady G. How do you mean? Lady T. He said the wis of this age were come to that pass, that he would not desire even his own daughter should be trusted with pinmoney; so that my whole train of separate inclinations are left entirely at the mercy of a husband's odd humor. Lady G. Why, that indeed is enough to make a woman of spirit look about her. Lady T. Nay, but to be serious, my dear-What would you really have a woman do in my case? Lady G. Why if I had a sober husband as you have, I would make myself the happiest wife in the world, by being as sober as he. Lady T. Oh, you wicked thing! How can you teaze one at this rate, when you know he is so very sober that (except giving me money) there is not one thing in the world he can do to please me. And 1, at the same time, partly by nature, and partly, perhaps, by keeping the best company, do with my soul love almost every thing he hates. I dote upon assemblies; my heart bounds at a ball, and at an opera-I expire. Then I love play to distraetion; cards enchant me-and dice-put me out of my little wits. Dear, dear hazard! O what a flow of spirits it gives one! Do you never play at hazard, child? Lady G. Oh, never! I don't think it sits well upon women; there's something so masculine, so much the air of a rake in it. You see how it makes the men swear and curse; and when a woman is thrown into the same passion-why Lady T That's very true; one is a little put to it, sometimes, not to make use of the same words to express it. Lady G, Well, and uppn ill luck, pray what words are you really forced to make use of? Lady T. Why, upon a very hard case indeed, when a sad wrong word is just rising to one's torgue's end, I give a great gulph and swallow it. Lady G. Well-and is it not enough to make you for swear play as long as you live? Lady T. Oh. yes; I have forsworn it. Lady G. Seriously? Lady T. Solemnly, a thousand times; but then one is eonstantly foresword, Lady G. And how can you answer that? Lady T. My dear, what we say when we are losers, we look upon to be no more binding than a lover's oath, or a great man's promise. But I beg pardon, child; I should not lead you so far into the world; you are a prude, and design to live soberly. "Lady G. Why, I confess my nature and my education do in a great degree confine me that way. Lady T. Well, how a woman of spirit (for you don't want that, child) can dream of living soberly, is to me inconceivable; for you will marry, I suppose. Lady G. I can't tell but I may. Lady T. And wou't you live in town? Lady G. Half the year I should like it very well. Lady T. My stars! And you would really live in Lon don half the year, and be sober in it! Lady G. Why not? Lady T. Why can't you as well go and be sober 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 summer and winter sober entertainments ? Lady G. A scheme that I think might very well content Lady T. Oh, of all things, let's hear it. Lady G. Why, in summer I could pass my leisure hours in riding, in reading, walking by a canal, or sitting at the end of it under a great tree; in dressing, dining, chatting with an agreeable friend; perhaps hearing a little music, taking a dish of tea, or a game at cards-soberly; masaging my family, looking inte its accounts, playing with my children. if I had any; or in a thousand other innocent amusements-soberly; and possibly, by these means, I might induce my husband to be as sober as myself. -Un Lady T. Well, may dear, thou art an astonishing creature! For sure such primitive antediluvian notions of life have not been in any head these thousand years. der a great tree! ha ha! ha'But I beg we may have the sober town scheme toc-for 1am charmed with the country one. Lady G. You shall; and I'll try to stick my sobriety there too. Lady T. Well, though I am sure it will give me the vapors, I must hear it. Lady G. Why, then, for fear of your fainting. madam, I will first so far come into the fashion, that i would never be dressed out of it-but still it should be sobery'; ion I can't think it any disgrace to a woman of my private fortune not to wear her lace as fine as the wedding suit of the first dutchess; though there is one extravagance I would venture to come up to. Lady T. Ay, new for it Lady G. I would every day be as elean as a bride. Lady T. Why. the men say that's a great step to be made one. Well, now you are drest, pray let's" see to what purpose. Lady G. I would visit—that is, my real friends ;-but as little for form as possible -I would go to court; sometimes to an assembly: nay, play at quadrille-soberly. I would see 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 should never go again. And lastly, I can't say but for curiosity, if I liked my company, I might be drawn in onee to a masquerade and this, I think, is as far as any woman can go—suberly. Lady T. Well, if it had not been for that last piece of sobriety. I was just a going to call for some surfeit water. Lady G. Why, don't you think, with the farther aid of breakfasting, dining, taking the air, supping, sleeping. (not to suy a word of devotion) the four and twenty hours might roll over in a tolerable manner? Lady T. Tolerable? Deplorable-Why, child, all you propose is but to endure life; now, I want to enjoy it. III-Priali and Jaffier.-VENICE PRESERVED. Pri. No more! I'll hear no more! Begone, and leave me. Jaff. Not hear me ! By my sufferings, but you shall! My lord. my Tord! P'm not that abject wretch You think me. Patience! Where's the distance throws In right, though proud oppression will not hear me P Jaff. Could my nature e'er Hlave brook'd injustice. or the doing wrong, I need not now thus low have bent myself, To gain a hearing from a cruel father. Wrong'd you? Pri. Yes wrong'd me. In the nicest point, MY y very self was yours; you might have us’d me friend hildless you had been el-c. and in the grave nd I was with you. Your unskilful pilot Pri. You stole her from me like a thief, you stole her At dead of night; that cursed hour you ehose `o rifte me of all my heart held dear. lay all your joys in her prove false as mine; Asterile fortune and a barren bed Attend you both; continual discord make Jaff. Half of your curse you have bestow'd in vain : Pri. No more. Jaff. Yes, all; and then-adieu forever. Those pageants of thy folly; Reduce the glittering trappings of thy wife Drudge to feed loathsome life; get brats and starve. Jaff Yes, if my heart would let me This proud, this swelling heart, home would I go, And we will bear our wayward fate together- [Exit. IV-Boniface and Aim vell.-BEAUX STRATAGEM. Aim. You're my landlord, I suppose. Bon. Yes, Sir, I'm old Will Boniface; pretty well known upon this road, as the saying is. Aim. O, Mr. Boniface, your servant. |