not of my palate, you can't relish a dish of fighting without sweet sauce. Now I think

Fighting, for fighting sake's sufficient cause;

Fighting, to me's religion and the laws.

Sir Fo. Ah, well said, my hero!-Was not that great, sir? By the Lord Harry he says true, fighting is meat, drink, and cloth to him.-But, back, this gentleman is one of the best friends I have in the world, and saved my life last night, you know I told you.

Bluffe. Ay, then I honour him again. Sir, may I crave your name?

Sharp. Ay, sir, my name's Sharper.

Sir Fo. Pray, Mr. Sharper, embrace my back-very well. By the Lord Harry, Mr. Sharper, he's as brave a fellow as Cannibal: are not you bully-back?

Sharp. Hannibal, I believe you mean, Sir Joseph. Bluffe. Undoubtedly he did, sir.-Faith, Hannibal was a very pretty fellow; but, Sir Joseph, comparisons are odious; Hannibal was a very pretty fellow in those days, it must be granted; but alas, sir, were he alive now, he would be nothing, nothing in the earth.

Sharp. How, sir! I make a doubt if there be at this day a greater general breathing.

Bluffe. Oh, excuse me, sir; have you served abroad, sir? Sharp. Not I really, sir.

Bluffe. Oh, I thought so.-Why, then, you can know nothing, sir; I am afraid you scarce know the history of the late war in Flanders, with all its particulars.

Sharp. Not I, sir, no more than public letters or gazettes tell us.

Bluffe. Gazette! why there again now-why, sir, there are not three words of truth the year round put into the gazette-I'll tell you a strange thing now as to that.You must know, sir, I was resident in Flanders the last campaign,1 had a small post there, but no matter for that.

1 The year before the production of this play, Namur had fallen into the hands of Lewis, and the French victories in the Nether

Perhaps, sir, there was scarce anything of moment done but an humble servant of yours, that shall be nameless, was an eye-witness of-I won't say had the greatest share in't; though I might say that too, since I name nobody, you know. Well, Mr. Sharper, would you think it? in all this time, as I hope for a truncheon, this rascally gazettewriter never so much as once mentioned me-not once, by the wars !-took no more notice than as if Nol Bluffe had not been in the land of the living!

Sharp. Strange!

Sir Fo. Yet, by the Lord Harry, 'tis true, Mr. Sharper, for I went every day to coffee-houses to read the gazette myself.

Bluffe. Ay, ay, no matter.-You see, Mr. Sharper, I am content to retire-live a private person-Scipio and others have done it.

Sharp. Impudent rogue !

[Aside. Sir Fo. Ay, this damned modesty of yours-egad, if he would put in for't he might be made general himself yet. Bluffe. O fy, no, Sir Joseph !-you know I hate this. Sir Fo. Let me but tell Mr. Sharper a little, how you eat fire once out of the mouth of a cannon.-Egad he did; those impenetrable whiskers of his have confronted flames.

Bluffe. Death, what do you mean, Sir Joseph?

Sir Fo. Look you now, I tell you he's so modest he'll own nothing.

Bluffe. Pish! you have put me out, I have forgot what I was about. Pray hold your tongue, and give me leave. [Angrily.

Sir Fo. I am dumb. ·

Bluffe. This sword, I think, I was telling you of, Mr. Sharper, this sword I'll maintain to be the best divine, anatomist, lawyer, or casuist in Europe; it shall decide a controversy or split a cause.

lands were watched with grave interest by all Englishmen, who for the first time in the history of their country for many centuries, were personally engaged in a foreign campaign.

Sir Fo. Nay, now I must speak; it will split a hair, by the Lord Harry, I have seen it.

Bluffe. Zounds, sir, it's a lie! you have not seen it, nor shan't see it; sir, I say you can't see; what d'ye say to that now?

Sir Fo. I am blind.

Bluffe. Death, had any other man interrupted me-Sis Fo. Good Mr. Sharper, speak to him, I dare not look that way.

Sharp. Captain, Sir Joseph's penitent.

Bluffe. O I am calm, sir, calm as a discharged culverin-but 'twas indiscreet, when you know what will provoke me.-Nay, come, Sir Joseph, you know my heat's soon over.

Sir Fo. Well, I am a fool sometimes-but I'm sorry. Bluffe. Enough.

Sir Fo. Come, we'll go take a glass to drown animosities. Mr. Sharper, will you partake?

Sharp. I wait on you, sir; nay, pray captain,-you are Sir Joseph's back.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

ARAMINTA'S Apartment.

ARAMINTA, BELINDA, and BETTY discovered.

Belin. Ah, nay, dear-prithee good, dear, sweet cousin, Oh gad, I swear you'd make one sick to hear

no more.

you!

Aram. Bless me, what have I said to move you thus? Belin. Oh, you have raved, talked idly, and all in commendation of that filthy, awkward, two-legged creature, man! You don't know what you've said, your fever has transported you.

Aram. If love be the fever which you mean, kind heaven avert the cure! Let me have oil to feed that flame, and never let it be extinct, till I myself am ashes!

Belin. There was a whine!-O gad, I hate your horrid fancy! This love is the devil, and sure to be in love is to be possessed.—'Tis in the head, the heart, the blood, the-all over.—O gad, you are quite spoiled!--I shall loathe the sight of mankind for your sake.

Aram. Fy, this is gross affectation! A little of Bellmour's company would change the scene.

Belin. Filthy fellow! I wonder, cousin

Aram. I wonder, cousin, you should imagine I don't perceive you love him.

• Belin. Oh, I love your hideous fancy! Ha! ha! ha! love a man!

Aram. Love a man! yes, you would not love a beast? Belin. Of all beasts not an ass-which is so like your Vainlove!-Lard, I have seen an ass look so chagrin, ha! ha ha! (you must pardon me, I can't help laughing) that an absolute lover would have concluded the poor creature to have had darts, and flames, and altars, and all that, in his breast. Araminta, come, I'll talk seriously to you now; could you but see with my eyes, the buffoonery of one scene of address, a lover, set out with all his equipage and appurtenances; O gad! sure you would -But you play the game, and consequently can't see the miscarriages obvious to every stander by.

Aram. Yes, yes, I can see something near it, when you and Bellmour meet. You don't know that you dreamed of Bellmour last night, and called him aloud in your sleep. Belin. Pish! I can't help dreaming of the devil sometimes; would you from thence infer I love him?

Aram. But that's not all; you caught me in your arms when you named him, and pressed me to your bosom.— Sure, if I had not pinched you till you awaked, you had stifled me with kisses.

Belin. O barbarous aspersion!

Aram. No aspersion, cousin, we are alone.-Nay I can

tell you more.

Belin. I deny it all.

Aram. What, before you hear it?

Belin. My denial is premeditated like your malice.— Lard, cousin, you talk oddly!-Whatever the matter is, O my Sol, I'm afraid you'll follow evil courses. Aram. Ha! ha! ha! this is pleasant.

Belin. You may laugh, but—

Aram. Hal ha! ha!

Belin. You may think the malicious grin becomes you. -The devil take Bellmour! why do you tell me of him? Aram. Oh, is it come out !-now you are angry, I am sure you love him. I tell nobody else, cousin; I have not betrayed you yet.

Belin. Prithee, tell it all the world; it's false.

Aram. Come then, kiss and friends.

Belin. Pish!

Aram. Prithee, don't be so peevish.

Belin. Prithee, don't be so impertinent.-Betty!

Aarm. Ha! ha! ha!

Betty. Did you ladyship call, madam ?

Belin. Get my hoods and tippet, and bid the footman call a chair.

[Exit BETTY. Aram. I hope you are not going out in dudgeon, cousin ?

Enter PACE.

Pace. Madam, there are—

Belin. Is there a chair?

Pace. No, madam, there are Mr. Bellmour and Mr. Vainlove to wait upon your ladyship.

Aram. Are they below?

Pace. No, madam, they sent before, to know if you were at home.

Belin. The visit's to you, cousin; I suppose I am at my liberty.