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Dick. Give him a little back; if that won't do, strangle him.

Brass. You are very quick in your methods.

Dick. Men must be so that will dispatch business. Brass. Hark you, colonel, your father died in's bed. Dick. He might have done, if he had not been a fool. Brass. Why, he robbed a church.

Dick. Ay, but he forgot to make sure of the sexton.

Brass. Are not you a great rogue?

Dick. Or I should wear worse clothes.

Brass. Hark you; I would advise you to change your life.

Dick. And turn ballad-singer.

Brass. Not so neither.

Dick. What then?

Brass. Why, if you can get this young wench, reform, and live honest.

Dick. That's the way to be starved.

Brass. No, she has money enough to buy you a good place, and pay me into the bargain, for helping her to so good a match. You have but this throw left to save you; for you are not ignorant, youngster, that your morals begin to be pretty well known about town: have a care your noble birth, and your honourable relations are not discovered too; there needs but that to have you tossed in a blanket, for the en. tertainment of the first company of ladies you intrude into; and then, like a dutiful son, you may daggle about with your mother, and sell paint: she's old and weak, and wants somebody to carry her goods after her. How like a dog will you look, with a pair of plod shoes, your hair cropped up to your ears, and a band-box under your arm!

Dick. Why, faith, Brass, I think thou art in the right on't; I must fix my affairs quickly, or Madam Fortune will be playing some of her bitch-tricks with me: therefore I'll tell thee what we'll do: we'll pursue this old rogue's daughter heartily; we'll cheat his family to purpose, and they shall atone for the rest of mankind.

Brass. Have at her then. I'll about your business presently.

Dick. "One kiss-and" success attend thee.

[Exit Dick.

Brass. A great rogue Well, I say nothing. But when I have got the thing into a good posture, he shall sign and seal, or I'll have him tumbled out of the house like a cheese. Now for Flippanta.

1

Enter FLIPΡΑΝΤΑ.

Flip. Who's that? Brass 1

Brass. Flippantal

Flip. What want you, rogue's face ?

Brass. Is your mistress dress'd?

[He knocks,

Flip. What, already I Is the fellow drunk?

Brass. Why, with respect to her looking-glass, it's

almost two.

Flip. What then, fool?

B

Brass. Why, then it's time for the mistress of the house to come down and look after her family.

Flip. Pr'ythee, don't be an owl. Those that go to bed at night may rise in the morning; we that go to bed in the morning rise in the afternoon.

Brass. When does she make her visits then?

Flip. By candle-light: it helps off a muddy complexion; we women hate inquisitive sunshine. But do you know that my lady is going to turn good housewife?

Brass. What, is she going to die?
Flip. Die!

Brass. Why, that's the only way to save money for her family.

Flip. No; but she has thought of a project to save chair-hire.

Brass. As how?

Flip. Why, all the company she used to keep abroad, she now intends shall meet her at her own house. Your master has advised her to set up a basset-table.

Brass. Nay, if he advised her to it, it's right. But has she acquainted her husband with it yet?

Flip. What to do? When the company meet, he'll see them.

Brass. Nay, that's true, as you say, he'll know it soon enough.

Flip. Well, I must begone; have you any business with my lady?

:

Brass. Yes, as ambassador from Araminta, I have a letter for her.

Flip. Give it me.

Brass. Hold and, as first minister of state to the

colonel, I have an affair to communicate to thee.

Flip. What is it? Quick.

Brass. Why

Flip. With what?

he's in love.

Brass. A woman and her money together.

Flip. Who is she?

Brass. Corinna.

Flip. What would he be at ?

Brass. At herif she's at leisure:

Flip. Which way ?

Brass. Honourably-He has ordered me to demand

her of thee in marriage.

Flip. Of me!

Brass. Why, when a man of quality has a mind to a city-fortune, wouldst have him apply to her father

and mother?

Flip. No.

Brass. No, so I think: men of our end of the town are better bred than to use ceremony. With a long periwig we strike the lady, with a you-know-what we soften the maid; and when the parson has done his job, we open the affair to the family. Will you slip this letter into her prayer-book, my little queen? It's a very passionate one; it's sealed with a heart and dagger; you may see by that what he intends to do with himself.

Fiip. Are there any verses in it? If not, I won't touch it.

Brass. Not one word in prose; it's dated in rhime. [She takes it. Flip. Well, but-have you brought nothing else? Brass. Gad forgive me? I'm the forgetfullest dog -I have a letter for you too-here-'tis in a pursebut it's in prose; you won't touch it.

Flip. Yes, hang it, it is not good to be too dainty. Brass. How useful a virtue is humility! Well, child, we shall have an answer to-morrow, sha'n't we?

Flip. I cann't promise you that; for our young gentlewoman is not so often in my way as she would be. Her father (who is a citizen from the foot to the forehead of him) lets her seldom converse with her mother-in-law and me, for fear she should learn the airs of a woman of quality. But I'll take the first occasion-See, there's my lady; go in, and deliver your letter to her. [Exeunt.

SCENE 11.

A Parlour. Enter CLARISSA, followed by FLIPPANTA and BRASS.

Clar. No messages this morning from any body, Flippanta? Lard, how dull that is! Oh, there's Brass ! I did not see thee, Brass. What news dost thou bring?

Brass. Only a letter from Araminta, madam,

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