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"to his own dignity. How poor a spirit must it "shew in our people of fortune, to let fellows, who, "deserving hanging every other day in their lives, "die at last of sitting up in the best company?" But, my Lord Wronglove, I am afraid I have a pardon to ask; the last time we three were together, did not the old fellow a little overshoot himself? I thought, when we parted, I had been freer in my advice than became me.

Lord W. So far from it, that your very manner of speaking makes your most severe reproofs an obligation.

"Sir Fr. Nay, I was only concerned for what I had "said to your lordship; as for this spark, I no more "mind his caprice, than I believe he does any thing I "can say to him: and yet the knave has something of "good-humour in him, that makes me I can't help "sometimes throwing away my words upon him. But give me your hand; in troth, when I was at your years I had my follies too.

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"Lord G. Ay! Now you come to us, nuncle, and "I hope you'll have good nature enough, not to ex"pect your friends to be wiser than you were.

"Sir Fr. Perhaps I don't expect it, but in troth, if "they should be wiser- -for my soul I can't see any "harm it would do them: and though I love with all 66 my heart to see spirit in a young fellow, yet a little "prudence won't poison him: and if a man that sets "out into life, should carry a little general esteem

"with him, as part of his equipage, he'd make never "the worse figure at the end of his journey.

"Lord G. We young fellows that ride post never "mind what figures we make.

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"Sir Fr. Come, come! let's not contend for vic"tory, but truth-I love you both-and would have "all that know you do so too-Don't think because you pass for men of wit, and modish honour, "that that's all you owe to your condition: fortune "has given you titles to set your actions in a fairer 66 light, and Nature understanding, to make them "not only just, but generous. Troth it grieves me "to think you can abuse such happiness, and have no

more ambition, or regard to real honour, than the "wretched fine gentlemen in most of our modern "comedies!-Will you forgive me-Upon my faith, I "don't speak thus of you to other people, nor would "I now speak so to you, but to prevent other people's "speaking thus of you to me."

Lord G. Nuncle, depend upon't I'm always pleased to hear you.

"Lord W. I take it kindly."

Sir Fr. Then first to you, Lord George-What can you think the honest part of the world will say of you, when you have seduced the innocent inclinations of one of the best wives, from perhaps one of the best husbands in the world?-To be plain, I mean my Lady Gentle.-You see, my lord, with all your discretion, your design's no secret.

Lord G. Upon my life, nuncle, if I were half the fellow you think me, I should be ashamed to look people in the face.

Sir Fr. Fie, fie! how useless is the force of understanding, when only age can give us virtue?

Lord W. Come, sir, you see he 's incorrigible, you'll have better success with me, I hope; for to tell you the truth, I have few pleasures that you can call it virtue in me to part with.

Sir Fr. I am glad to hear it, my lord—I shall be as favourable as I can; but, since we are in search of truth, must freely tell you, the man that violates himself the sacred honours of his wife's chaste bed (I must be plain, my lord) ought at least to fear, as she's the frailer sex the same from her; the injury to her strikes deeper than the head, often to the heart. And then her provocation is in nature greater; and injured minds think nothing is unjust that's natural. This ought to make a wise man tremble: for in the point of real honour, there's very little difference between being a cuckold, and deserving to be one. And to come a little closer to your lordship's case, to see so fine a woman as my Lady Wronglove, even in her flower of beauty, slighted for the unblown pleasures of a greensick girl; besides, the imprudent part, argues at best a thin and sickly appetite.

Lord W. Sir Friendly, I am almost ashamed to answer you. "Your reproach, indeed has touched me," I mean for my attempts upon your young kinswoman; but because 't is not fit you should take my word after

my owning so unfair an action, here's one can bear me witness, that not half an hour before you came in, I had resolved never to pursue her more.

Sir Fr. My lord, I came not to reproach you with a wrong to me, but to yourself: had the girl had no relation to me, I still had said the same; not but I now am doubly bound to thank you.

Lord G. And now, nuncle, I'll give you a piece of advice: dispose of the child as soon as you can; rather under match her than not at all. For, if you'll allow me to know any thing of the mathematics, before she's five weeks older she will be totally unqualified for an ape-leader: this you may as positively depend upon, as that she is of the feminine gender.

Sir Fr. I am pretty well acquainted with the ripeness of her inclinations, and have provided for them, unless some such spark as you (now my lord has laid them down) whips up the cudgels in the mean time.

Lord G. Not I, upon honour, "depend upon 't; "her person's quite out of my goût, nor have I any

more concern about it, than I have to know who "will be the next king of Poland, or who is the true "original inventor of strops for razors."

Lord W. Sir Friendly, I own I have been no stranger in other places to the follies you have charged me with; yet I am so far inclined to part with them, that were it possible I could be my own way, and properly, reconciled to my wife, I would not wish a thought of happiness beyond it.

Sir Fr. My lord, I know her temper and her spirit.

Lord W. Oh, human patience can't bear it! Sir Fr. I warrant you; a wise man will bear a greater weakness from a woman. And, since I find your good-nature is not wholly disobliged, I could wish, for both your sakes, I had your lordship's secret leave to talk with her.

Lord W. Umph! Could not it as well be done without my leave, Sir Friendly? I should not care to have her think I made advances-➖➖

Sir Fr. Oh! I am a friend to both, and will betray neither of you.

Enter BRUSH.

Brush. Sir, there's a gentleman come out of the city, and stays at your house to speak with you.

Sir Fr. I'll wait on him-My lord, will you ex

cuse me?

Lord W. I could rather wish your business would, Sir Friendly.

Sir Fr. Upon my word, my lord, 't is urgent. This man brings me money. I am discharging myself of my guardianship to Mrs. Conquest, and my business is now to pay her in the last sum of her fortune.

Lord G. What's the sum total, nuncle, if a man should happen to set a price upon his liberty?

Sir Fr. Come, come, the liberties you value, my lord, are not worth keeping. An honest smile from the good-humour of that girl is worth all the sodden favours of your whole seraglio. Will four thousand pounds do any good, my lord?

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