Arch. Have you no more, rascal? Gib. Yes, sir, I can command four hundred; but I must reserve two of 'em to save my life at the sessions.

Enter SCRUB and FOIGARD. Arch. Here, doctor; I suppose Scrub and you, between you, may manage him-Lay hold of him. [FOIGARD lays hold of GIBBET. Gib. What! turn'd over to the priest already --Look'e, doctor, you come before your time: I a'n't condemn'd yet, I thank ye.

Foig. Come, my dear joy, I vil secure your body and your shoul too; I vil make you a good catholic, and give you an absolution.

Gib. Absolution! Can you procure me a pardon, doctor?

Foig. No, joy.

Gib. Then you and your absolution may go to the devil.

Arch. Convey him into the cellar, there bind him:- -take the pistol, and, if he offers to resist, shoot him through the head-and come back to us with all the speed you can.

Scrub. Ay, ay.-Come, doctor, do you hold him fast, and I'll guard him. [Exeunt. Mrs Sul. But how came the doctor here? Arch. In short, madam- [Shrieking without.] 'Sdeath! the rogues are at work with the other ladies:-I'm vex'd I parted with the pistol; but I must fly to their assistance-Will you stay here, madam, or venture yourself with me? Mrs Sul. Oh, dear sir, with you.

[Takes him by the arm, and exeunt.

SCENE III-Changes to another Apartment in

the House.

Aim. Turn this way, villains! I durst engage army in such a cause. [He engages them both. Enter ARCHER and Mrs SULLEN. Arch. Hold, hold, my lord; every man his bird, pray. [They engage man to man; the rogues are thrown down, and disarmed.] Shall we kill the rogues?

Aim. No, no, we'll bind them.

sort of hangman work; but I hope there is something in prospect that—

Enter SCRUB.

Well, Scrub, have you secured your Tartar? Scrub. Yes, sir, Í left the priest and him disputing about religion.

Aim. And, pray, carry these gentlemen to reap the benefit of the controversy.

[Delivers the prisoners to SCRUB, who leads them out.

Mrs Sul. Pray, sister, how came my lord here? Dor. And, pray, how came the gentleman here? Mrs Sul. I'll tell you the greatest piece of villany. [They talk apart. Aim. I fancy, Archer, you have been more successful in your adventure than the housebreakers.

Arch. No matter for my adventure, yours is the principal-Press her this minute to marry you-now, while she's hurried between the palpitation of her fear and the joy of her deliverance; now, while the tide of her spirits is at high flood,

-throw yourself at her feet, speak some romantic nonsense or other, confound her senses, bear down her reason, and away with her.-The priest is now in the cellar, and dares not refuse to do the work.

Aim. But how shall I get off without being ob

serv'd?

Arch. You a lover! and not find a way to get off.-Let me see.

Aim. You bleed, Archer.

Arch. 'Sdeath! I'm glad on't; this wound will do the business. I'll amuse the old lady and Mrs Sullen about dressing my wound, while you carry off Dorinda.

Enter Lady BOUNTIFUL.

L. Boun. Gentlemen, could we understand how you would be gratified for the services—

Arch. Come, come, my lady, this is no time for compliments: I'm wounded, madam.

L. Boun. and Mrs Sul. How! wounded!
Dor. I hope, sir, you have received no hurt?
Aim. None but what you may cure.

[Makes love in dumb shew. L. Boun. Let me see your arm, sir-I must have some powder-sugar, to stop the blood-O me!-an ugly gash.-Upon my word, sir, you must go to bed.

Arch. Ay, my lady, a bed would do very well -Madam, [To Mrs SULLEN] will you do me the favour to conduct me to a chamber.

L. Boun. Do, do, daughter-while I get the
and the probe, and the plaster ready.
[Runs out one way, AIMWELL carries off
DORINDA another.

Arch. Come, madam, why don't you obey your mother's commands?

Mrs Sul. How can you, after what is past, have the confidence to ask me?

Arch. And, if you go to that, how can you, after what is past, have the confidence to deny me?

-Was not this blood shed in your defence, and | my life exposed for your protection? Look'e, madam, I'm none of your romantic fools, that fight giants and monsters for nothing; my valour is downright Swiss: I am a soldier of fortune, and must be paid.

Mrs Sul. Tis ungenerous in you, sir, to upbraid me with your services.

Arch. 'Tis ungenerous in you, madam, not to reward 'em,

Mrs Sul. How! at the expence of my honour? Arch. Honour! Can honour consist with ingratitude? If you deal like a woman of honour, do like a man of honour. D'ye think I would deny you in such a case ?

Enter GIPSEY.

Gip. Madam, my lady ordered me to tell you, that your brother is below, at the gate,

Mrs Sul. My brother! Heavens be prais'd! Sir, he shall thank you for your services; he has it in his power.

Arch. Who is your brother, madam? Mrs Sul. Sir Charles Freeman, You'll excuse me, sir, I must go and receive him.

Arch. Sir Charles Freeman! 'Sdeath and hell!-my old acquaintance. Now, unless Aimwell has made good use of his time, all our fair machine goes souse into the sea, like the Eddy

stone.

[Exit. SCENE IV.-Changes to the Gallery in the same House.

Enter AIMWELL and DORINDA.

Dor. Well, well, my lord, you have conquered. Your late generous action will, I hope, plead for my easy yielding, though, I must own, your lordship had a friend in the fort before.

Aim. The sweets of Hybla dwell upon her tongue. Here, doctor.

Enter FOIGARD, with a book. Foig. Are you prepared, bote?

Dor. I'm ready: but first, my lord, one word -I have a frightful example of a hasty marriage in my own family; when I reflect upon't, it shocks me. Pray, my lord, consider a little—

Aim. Consider! Do you doubt my honour, or my love?

Dor. Neither. I do believe you equally just as brave-And were your whole sex drawn out for me to chuse, I should not cast a look upon the multitude, if you were absent-But, my lord, I'm a woman: colours, concealments may hide a thousand faults in me-therefore, know me better first :—I hardly dare affirm I know myself in any thing except my love.

Aim. Such goodness who could injure? I find myself unequal to the task of villain. She has gained my soul, and made it honest, like her own!

I cannot hurt her. [Aside.] Doctor, retire. [Erit FOIGARD.] Madam, behold your lover and your proselyte, and judge of my passion by my conver

sion.-I'm all a lie, nor dare I give a fiction to your arms: I'm all a counterfeit, except my passion.

Dor. Forbid it, Heaven!-A counterfeit ! Aim. I am no lord, but a poor needy man, come with a mean and scandalous design to prey upon your fortune :- -But the beauties of your mind and person have so won me from myself, that, like a trusty servant, I prefer the interest of my mistress to my own.

Dor. Sure, I have had the dream of some poor mariner, a sleeping image of a welcome port, and wake involv'd in storms-Pray, sir, who are you?

Aim. Brother to the man whose title I usurped, but stranger to his honour or fortune.

Dor. Matchless honesty!-Once I was proud, sir, of your wealth and title, but now am prouder that you want it. Now I can shew my love was justly levelled, and had no aim but love.—Doctor,

come in.

Aim. I have discovered myself.

Arch. Discover'd! and without my consent! What! Have I embark'd my small remains in the same bottom with yours, and you dispose of all without my partnership?

Aim. O, Archer, I own my fault.

Arch. After conviction-Tis then too late for pardon.- -You may remember, Mr Aimwell, you proposed this folly-As you began, so end it-Henceforth I'll hunt my fortune single -So, farewell.

that

Aim. Stay, my dear Archer, but a minute.

Arch. Stay! What! to be despised, exposed, and laughed at !-No, I would sooner change conditions with the worst of the rogues we just now bound, than bear one scornful smile from the proud knight that once I treated as my equal. Aim. What knight?

Arch. Sir Charles Freeman, brother to the lady that I had almost-But no matter for that: 'tis a cursed night's work, and so I leave you to make

the best on't.

Aim. Freeman!--One word, Archer. Still I have hopes :-Methought she received my con fession with pleasure.

Arch. 'Sdeath! who doubts it?

Aim. She consented after to the match; and still I dare believe she will be just.

Arch. To herself, I warrant her, as you should have been.

Aim. By all my hopes, she comes, and smiling

comes.

Enter DORINDA, mighty gay. Dor. Come, my dear lord-I fly with impatience to your arms-The minutes of my absence were a tedious year.-Where's this priest?

Enter FOIGARD.

Arch. Oons! a brave girl!

Dor. I suppose, my lord, this gentleman is privy to our affairs.

Arch. Yes, yes, madam; I'm to be your father. Dor. Come, priest, do your office.

Arch. Make haste, make haste, couple 'em any way. [Takes AIMWELL'S hand.] Come, madam, I'm to give you

Dor. My mind's alter'd: I won't.
Arch. Eh!-

Aim. I'm confounded.

Foig. Upon my shoul, and so is my shelf. Arch. What's the matter now, madam? Dor. Look'e, sir; one generous action deserves another This gentleman's honour oblig'd him to hide nothing from me; my justice engages me to conceal nothing from him: in short, sir, you are the person that you thought you counterfeited, you are the true lord viscount Aimwell, and I wish your lordship joy. Now, priest, you may be gone:-if my lord is now pleased with the match, let his lordship marry me in the face of the world.

Aim. Archer, what does she mean?
Dor. Here's a witness for my truth.

Enter Sir CHARLES and Mrs SULLEN.

Sir Cha. My dear Lord Aimwell, I wish you joy. Aim. Of what?

Sir Cha. Of your honour and estate. Your brother died the day before I left London, and all your friends have writ after you to Brussels: among the rest, I did myself the honour.

Arch. Hark'e, sir knight, don't you banter now?

Sir Cha. "Tis truth, upon my honour. Aim. Thanks to the pregnant stars, that form'd this accident.

Arch. Thanks to the womb of time, that brought it forth-away with it.

Aim. Thanks to my guardian angel, that led me to the prize [Taking DORINDA's hand. Arch. And double thanks to the noble Sir Charles Freeman. My lord, I wish you joy. My lady, I wish you joy- -'Egad, Sir Freeman, you're the honestest fellow living- -'Sdeath! I'm grown strangely airy upon this matter-My lord, how dy'e? A word, my lord. Don't you remember something of a previous agreement, that entitles me to the moiety of this lady's fortune,

which, I think, will amount to ten thousand pounds?

Aim. Not a penny, Archer. You would ha’ cut my throat just now, because I would not deceive this lady.

Arch. Ay, and I'll cut your throat still, if you should deceive her now.

Aim. That's what I expect; and, to end the dispute, the lady's fortune is twenty thousand pounds; we'll divide stakes:-take the twenty thousand pounds, or the lady.

Dor. How! Is your lordship so indifferent? Arch. No, no, no, madam; his lordship knows very well that I'll take the money: I leave you to his lordship; and so we're both provided for. Enter FOIGARD.

Foig. Arra fait, de people do say you be all robb'd, joy.

Aim. The ladies have been in some danger, sir, as you saw.

Foig. Upon my shoul our inn be robb'd too. Aim. Our inn! By whom?

Fog. Upon my shalvation, our landlord has robb'd himself, and run away wid de money. Arch. Robbed himself!

Foig. Ay, fait! and me too, of a hundred pounds.

Arch. Robb'd you of a hundred pounds!
Foig. Yes, fait, honey, that I did owe to him.
Aim. Our money's gone, Frank.

Arch. Rot the money; my wench is gone-
Sçavez nous quelque chose de Mademoiselle Cherry?
Enter a Fellow with a strong Bor and Letter.
Fell. Is there one Martin here?
Arch. Ay, ay-who wants him?

Fell. I have a box here, and a letter for him. Arch. [Taking the box.] Ha, ha, ha! what's here? Leger-de-main! By this light, my lord, our money again. But this unfolds the riddle. [Opening the letter, reads.] Hum, hum, hum-, 'tis for the public good, and must be communicated to the company.

"Mr MARTIN,

"My father, being afraid of an impeachment by the rogues that are taken to-night, is gone off; but if you can procure him a pardon, he'll make great discoveries, that may be useful to the country. Could I have met you instead of your master to-night, I would have delivered myself into your hands, with a sum that much exceeds that in your strong box, which I have sent you, with an assurance to my dear Martin, that I shall ever be his most faithful friend, till death,

CHERRY BONIFACE."

There's a billet-doux for you-As for the father, I think he ought to be encouraged; and for the daughter-pray, my lord, persuade your bride to take her into her service, instead of Gipsey.

Aim. I can assure you, madam, your deliverance was owing to her discovery.

Dor. Your command, my lord, will do, without the obligation. I'll take care of her.

Sir Cha. This good company meets opportunely, in favour of a design I have in behalf of my unfortunate sister. I intend to part her from her husband-Gentlemen, will you assist me?

Arch. Assist you! 'Sdeath! who would not? Foig. Ay, upon my shoul, we'll all asshist.

Enter SULLEN.

Sul. What's all this? They tell me, spouse, that you had like to have been robb'd.

Mrs Sul. Truly, spouse, I was pretty near it— had not these two gentlemen interpos'd.

Sul. How came these gentlemen here? Mrs Sul. That's his way of returning thanks, you must know.

Foig. Ay, but, upon my conscience, de question be a-propos, for all dat.

Sir Cha. You promis'd, last night, sir, that you would deliver your lady to me this morning. Sul. Humph.

Arch. Humph! What do you mean by humph? -Sir, you shall deliver her-In short, sir, we have sav'd you and your family, and if you are not civil, we'll unbind the rogues, join with 'em, and set fire to your house- What does the man

mean? Not part with his wife! Foig. Arra, not part wid your wife! Upon my shoul, de man dosh not understand common shivility.

Mrs Sul. Hold, gentlemen: all things here must move by consent: compulsion would spoil us. Let my dear and I talk the matter over, and you shall judge it between us.

Sul. Let me know, first, who are to be our judges. -Pray, sir, who are you?

Sir Cha. I am Sir Charles Freeman, come to take away your wife.

Sul. And you, good sir?

Aim. Thomas, Viscount Aimwell, come to take away your sister.

Sul. And you, pray, sir?

Arch. Francis Archer, Esq., come

Sul. To take away my mother, I hope-Gentlemen, you're heartily welcome-I never met with three more obliging people since I was born-And now, my dear, if you please, you shall have the first word.

Arch. And the last, for five pounds.
Mrs Sul. Spouse.

Sul. Rib.

[Aside.

Sul. No.

Arch. The condition fails of his side-Pray, madam, what did you marry for?

Mrs Sul. To support the weakness of my sex by the strength of his, and to enjoy the pleasures of an agreeable society.

Sir Cha. Are your expectations answer'd ?
Mrs Sul. No.

Foig. Arra, honeys, a clear caase, a clear caase! Sir Cha. What are the bars to your mutual contentment?

Mrs Sul. In the first place, I cann't drink ale with him.

Sul. Nor can I drink tea with her.
Mrs Sul. I cann't hunt with you.
Sul. Nor can I dance with you.
Mrs Sul. I hate cocking and racing.
Sul. I abhor ombre and piquet.
Mrs Sul. Your silence is intolerable.
Sul. Your prating is worse.

Mrs Sul. Have we not been a perpetual offence to each other—a gnawing vulture at the heart? Sul. A frightful goblin to the sight.

Mrs Sul. A porcupine to the feeling.

Sul. Perpetual wormwood to the taste.

Mrs Sul. Is there on earth a thing we can agree in?

Sul. Yes-to part.

Mrs Sul. With all my heart.

Sul. Your hand.

Mrs Sul. Here.

Sul. These hands joined us, these shall part us-Away

Mrs Sul. East.
Sul. West.

Mrs Sul. North.

Sul. South; far as the poles asunder.

Foig. Upon my shoul, a very pretty sheremony. Sir Cha. Now, Mr Sullen, there wants only my sister's fortune to make us easy.

Sul. Sir Charles, you love your sister, and I love her fortune: every one to his fancy. Arch. Then you won't refund? Sul. Not a stiver.

Arch. What is her portion?

Sir Cha. Twenty thousand pounds, sir. Arch. I'll pay it :-my lord, I thank him, has enabled me; and if the lady pleases, she shall go home with me. This night's adventure has proved strangely lucky to us all-For Captain Gibbet, in his walk, has made bold, Mr Sullen, with your study and escritoir, and has taken out all the writings of your estate, all the articles of marriage with your lady, bills, bonds, leases, receipts, to an infinite value: I took 'em from him, and will deliver them to Sir Charles.

[Gives him a parcel of papers and parchments. Sul. How! my writings!-My head aches consumedly. Well, gentlemen, you shall have her fortune, but I cann't talk. If you have a mind, Sir Charles, to be merry, and celebrate my sister's wedding, and my divorce, you may command my house!-but my head aches consumedly-Scrub, bring me a dram.

Arch. 'Twould be hard to guess which of these parties is the better pleas'd,-the couple join'd, or the couple parted; the one rejoicing in hopes of an untasted happiness, and the other in their deverance from an experienced misery.

Both happy in their several states we find,— These parted by consent, and those conjoin'd: Consent, if mutual, saves the lawyer's fee; Consent is law enough to set you free.

[Exeunt omnes.