Cimb. Madam, you cannot but observe the inConveniencies I expose myself to, in hopes that your ladyship will be the consort of my better part. As for the young woman, she is rather an impediment than a help to a man of letters and speculation. Madam, there is no reflection, no philosophy, can at all times subdue the sensitive life, but the animal shall sometimes carry away the man-Ha! ay, the vermillion of her lips! Luc. Pray don't talk of me thus. Cimb. The pretty enough-pant of her bosom! Luc. Sir! madam, don't you hear him? Cimb. Her forward chest! Luc. Intolerable! Cimb. High health! Luc. The grave, easy, impudence of him! Cimb. Proud heart! Luc. Stupid coxcomb! Cimb. I say, madam, her impatience, while we are looking at her, throws out all attractionsher arms-her neck-what a spring in her step! Luc. Don't you run me over thus, you strange unaccountable Camb. What an elasticity in her veins and arteries! Luc. I have no veins, no arteries! Mrs Seal. Oh, child! hear him; he talks fineIy; he's a scholar; he knows what you have. Cimb. The speaking invitation of her shape, the gathering of herself up, and the indignation you see in the pretty little thing!--Now I am considering her on this occasion but as one that is to be pregnant Py! Luc. The familiar, learned, unseasonable pup[Aside. Cimb. And pregnant undoubtedly she will be yearly I fear I sha'n't, for many years, have discretion enough to give her one fallow season. Luc. Monster! there's no bearing it. The hideous sot!-There's no enduring it, be thus surveyed like a steed at sale! Cimb. At sale!-she's very illiterate; but she's very well limb'd too. Turn her in, I see what she is. Mrs Seal. Go, you creature! I am asham'd of you. [Exit LUCINDA in a rage. Cimb. No harm done.-You know, madam, the better sort of people, as I observ'd to you, treat by their lawyers of weddings, [ddjusting himself at the glass] and the woman in the bargain, like the mansion-house in the sale of the estate, is thrown in, and what that is, whether good or bad, is not at all consider'd. Mrs Seal. I grant it, and therefore make no demand for her youth and beauty, and every other accomplishment, as the common world think 'em, because she is not polite. Cimb. I know your exalted understanding, abstracted as it is from vulgar prejudice, will not be offended when I dcclare to you, madam, I marry to have an heir to my estate, and not to beget a colony or a plantation. This young woman's beauty and constitution will demand provision for a tenth child at least. Mrs Seal. With all that wit and learning, how considerate! what an economist! [Aside.] Sir, I cannot make her any other than what she is, or say she is much better than the other young women of this age, or fit for much besides being a mother; but I have given directions for the marriage settlements, and Sir Geoffry Cimberton's counsel is to meet ours here at this hour concerning his joining in the deed, which, when executed, makes you capable of settling what is due to Lucinda's fortune. Herself, as I told you, I say nothing of. Cimb. No, no, no; indeed, madam, it is not usual, and I must depend upon my own reflection and philosophy not to overstock my family. Mrs Seal. I cannot help her. cousin Cimberton, but she is, for aught I see, as well as the daughter of any body else. Cimb. That is very true, madam. Enter a Servant, who whispers Mrs SEALAND. Mrs Seal. The lawyers are come, and now we are to hear what they have resolved as to the point, whether it is necessary that Sir Geoffry should join in the settlement, as being what they call in the remainder. But, good cousin, you must have patience with 'em. These lawyers, I am told, are of a different kind; one is what they call a chamber-counsel, the other a pleader: the conveyancer is slow, from an imperfection in his speech, and therefore shunn'd the bar, but extremely passionate and impatient of contradiction: the other is as warm as he, but has a tongue so voluble, and a head so conceited, he will suffer nobody to speak but himself. Cimb. You mean old Serjeant Target and Counsellor Bramble: I have heard of 'em. Mrs Seal. The same: shew in the gentlemen. [Exit Servant. Re-enter Servant, introducing MYRTLE and TOM, disguis'd as BRAMBLE and TARGET. Mrs Seal. Gentlemen, this is the party concern'd, Mr Cimberton; and I hope you have consider'd of the matter. Turg. Yes, madam, we have agreed that it must be by indent-dent-dent-dent Bramb. Yes, madam, Mr Serjeant and myself have agreed, as he is pleased to inform you, that it must be an indenture tripartite, and tripartite let it be, for Sir Geoffry must needs be a party. Old Cimberton, in the year 1619, says, in that ancient roll in Mr Serjeant's hands, as recourse thereto being had will more at large appear Targ. Yes, and by the deeds in your hands it appears that Bramb. Mr Serjeant, I beg of you to make no inferences upon what is in our custody, but speak to the titles in your own deeds. I shall not shew that deed till my client is in town. Cimb. You know best your own methods. Mrs Seal. The single question is, Whether the entail is such, that my cousin, Sir Geoffry, is necessary in this affair? Bramb. Yes, as to the lordship of Tretriplet, but not as to the messuage of Grimgribber. Targ. I say that Gr-, Gr-, that Gr-, Gr-, Grimgribber, Grimgribber is in us; that is to say, the remainder thereof, as well as that of Tr, Tr, Triplet. Bramb. You go upon the deed of Sir Ralph, made in the middle of the last century, precedent to that in which old Cimberton made over the remainder, and made it pass to the heirs-general, by which your client comes in; and I question whether the remainder even of Tretriplet is in him—but we are willing to wave that, and give him a valuable consideration. But we shall not purchase what is in us for ever, as Grimgribber is, at the rate, as we guard against the contingent of Mr Cimberton having no son.-Then we know Sir Geoffry is the first of the collateral male line in this family- -yet Targ. Sir, Gr-, Gr—ber is Bramb. I apprehend you very well, and your argument might be of force, and we would be inclined to hear that in all its parts-but, sir, I see very plainly what you are going into-I tell you it is as probable a contingent that Sir Geoffry may die before Mr Cimberton as that he may outlive him. Targ. Sir, we are not ripe for that yet, but II must say Bramb. Sir, I allow you the whole extent of that argument, but that will go no farther than as to the claimants under old Cimberton.-I am of opinion that, according to the instructions of Sir Ralph, he could not dock the entail, and then create a new estate for the heirs in general. Targ. Sir, I have no patience to be told, that when Gr-, Gr-ber Bramb. I will allow it you, Mr Serjeant; but there must be the words heirs for ever to make such an estate as you pretend. Cimb. But I will have it, sir, without delay. Bramb. That, sir, the law will not admit of; the courts are sitting at Westminster, and I am this moment oblig'd to be at every one of them, and 'twould be wrong if I should not be in the Hall to attend one of 'em at least; the rest would take it ill else:-therefore I must leave what I have said to Mr Serjeant's consideration, and I will digest his arguments on my part, and you shall hear from me again, sir. [Exit BRAMBLE. Targ. Agreed, agreed. Cimb. Mr Bramble is very quick-he parted a little abruptly. Targ. He could not bear my argument :-I pinched him to the quick about that Gr—, Gr— ber. Mrs Seal. I saw that, for he durst not so much as hear you. I shall send to you, Mr Serjeant, as soon as Sir Geoffry comes to town, and then hope all may be adjusted. Targ. I shall be at my chambers at my usual hours." [Exit. Cimb. Madam, if you please, I'll now attend you to the tea-table, where I shall hear from your ladyship reason and good sense, after all this law and gibberish. Mrs Seal. 'Tis a wonderful thing, sir, that men of their profession do not study to talk the sub stance of what they have to say in the language of the rest of the world; sure they'd find their account in it. Cimb. They might perhaps, madam, with peoCimb. I must be impartial, though you are coun-ple of your good sense, but with the generality sel for my side of the question.- -Were it not twould never do: the vulgar would have no rethat you are so good as to a allow him what he has speet for truth and knowledge if they were exnot said, I should think it very hard you should pos'd to naked view. answer him without hearing him- But, gen tlemen, I believe you have both considered this matter, and are firm in your different opinions; 'twere better therefore you proceed according to the particular sense of each of you, and give your Truth is so simple of all art bereav'd, Since the world will-why let it be deceived. [Exeunt. ACT IV. SCENE I.-BEVIL Junior's Lodgings. BEVIL, Jun. with a letter in his hand, followed by TOM. Tom. Upon my life, sir, I know nothing of the matter: I never open'd my lips to Mr Myrtle about any thing of your honour's letter to Madam Lucinda, B. jun. What's the fool in such a fright for? whether Mr Myrtle shew'd any suspicion, or I don't suppose you did; what I would know is, ask'd you any questions, to lead you to say casually that you had carried any such letter for me this morning? Tom. Why, sir, if he did ask me any questions, how could I help it? B. jun. I don't say you could, oaf! I am not questioning you but him. What did he say to you? Tom. Why, sir, when I came to his chambers to be dress'd for the lawyer's part your honour was pleased to put me upon, he ask'd me if I had been to Mr Sealand's this morning?- -So I told, sir, I often went thither because, sir, if I had not said that, he might have thought there was something more in my going now than at another time. gives me some terrors; but my esteem for him inclines me to hope that only an ill effect which sometimes accompanies a tender love, and what may be cured by a careful and unblameable conduct.' Thus has this lady made me her friend and confidant, and put herself in a kind under my protection. I cannot tell him immediately the purport of this letter, except I could cure him of the violent and untractable passion of jealousy, and so serve him and her, by disobeying her in the article of secrecy, more than I should by complywhich custom has imposed upon every man who would live with reputation and honour in the world, how must I preserve myself from imputations there? He'll, forsooth, call it, or think it, fear, if I explain without fighting-But his letter I'll read it again B. jun. Very well.-The fellow's caution I find has given him this jealousy. [Aside.] Did he asking with her directions. But then this duelling, you no other questions? Tom. Yes, sir-now I remember, as we came away in the hackney-coach from Mr Sealand's, Tom, says he, as I came into your master's this morning he bade you go for an answer to a letter he had sent; pray did you bring him any? says he-Ah! says I, sir, your honour is pleased to joke with me; you have a mind to know whether I can keep a secret or no. B. jun. And so, by shewing him you could, you told him you had one. Tom. Sir [Confusedly. B. jun. What mean actions does jealousy make a man stoop to! how poorly has he us'd art with a servant to make him betray his master!-Well, and when did he give you this letter for me? Tom. Sir, he writ it before he pull'd off his lawyer's gown at his own chambers. B. jun. Very well, and what did he say when you brought him my answer to it? Tom. He look'd a little out of humour, sir, and said it was very well. B. jun. I knew he would be grave upon't— Wait without. Tom. Hum! 'gad I don't like this: I am afraid we are in the wrong box here 'Sir, you have us'd me basely, in corresponding and carrying on a treaty where you told me you were indifferent. I have changed my sword since I saw you, which advertisement I thought proper to send you against the next meeting between you and the injur'd CHARLES MYRTLE.' Enter TOM. Tom. Mr Myrtle, sir: would your honour please to see him? B. jun. Why, you stupid creature, let Mr Myrtle wait at my lodgings! Shew him up. [Exit TOM.] Well, I am resolved upon my carriage to him- -he is in love, and in every circumstance of life a little distrustful, which I must allow for. -But here he is. Enter TOM, introducing MYRTLE. Sir, I am extremely obliged to you for this honour-But, sir, you with your very discerning face, leave the room. [Exit Tom.] Well, Mr Myrtle, your commands with me? me on this occasion, oblige me, without farther ceremony or conference, to desire you would not only, as you already have, acknowledge the receipt of my letter, but also comply with the request in it. I must have farther notice taken of my message than these half lines—I have yours -I shall be at home [Exit TOM. B. jun. I put on a serenity while my fellow was present, but I have never been more thoroughly disturb'd. This hot man, to write me a chal- Myrt. The time, the place, our long acquaintlenge on supposed artificial dealing, when I pro-ance, and many other circumstances which affect fess'd myself his friend!-I can live contented without glory, but I cannot suffer shame. What's to be done? But first, let me consider Lucinda's letter again. [Reads. 'Sir, I hope it is consistent with the laws a woman ought to impose upon herself, to acknowledge that your manner of declining a treaty of marriage in our family, and desiring the refusal may come from me, has something more engaging in it than the courtship of him who I fear will fall to my lot, except your friend exerts himself for our common safety and happiness. have reasons for desiring Mr Myrtle may not know of this letter till hereafter, and am your most obliged servant, LUCINDA SEALAND.' Well, but the postscript. [Reuds. 'I won't, upon second thoughts, hide any thing from you: but my reason for concealing this is, that Mr Myrtle has a jealousy in his temper which I B. jun. Sir, I own I have received a letter from you in a very unusual style, but as I design every thing in this matter shall be your own action, your own seeking, I shall understand nothing but what you are pleas'd to confirm face to face; and I have already forgot the contents of your epistle. Myrt. This cool manner is very agreeable to the abuse you have already made of my simplicity and frankness, and I see your moderation tends to your own advantage and not mine, to your own safety, not consideration of your friend. B. jun. My own safety, Mr Myrtle? drelling Myrt. Your own safety, Mr Bevil. B. jun. Look you, Mr Myrtle, there's no disguising that I understand what you would be at but, sir, you know I have often dared to disapprove of the decisions a tyrant custom has introduced, to the breach of all laws, both divine and human. Myrt. Mr Bevil, Mr Bevil! it would be a good first principle, in those who have so tender a conscience that way, to have as much abhorrence of doing injuries as B. jun. As what? Myrt. As fear of answering for 'em. B. jun. As fear of answering for 'em! but that apprehension is just or blameable, according to the object of that fear.I have often told you in confidence of heart, I abhorred the daring to offend the Author of life, and rushing into his presence. I say, by the very same act, to com. mit the crime against him, and immediately to urge on to his tribunal. Myrt. Mr Bevil, I must tell you this coolness, this gravity, this shew of conscience, shall never cheat me of my mistress. You have indeed the best excuse for life, the hopes of possessing Lucinda; but consider, sir, I have as much reason to be weary of it if I am to lose her, and my first attempt to recover her shall be, to let her see the dauntless man who is to be her guardian and pro tector. B. jun. Sir, shew me but the least glimpse of argument, that I am authorised, by my own hand, to vindicate any lawless insult of this nature, and I will shew thee, to chastise thee hardly deserves the name of courage. Slight inconsiderate man ! There is, Mr Myrtle, no such terror in quick anger; and you shall, you know not why, be cool, as you have, you know not why, been warm. Myrt. Is the woman one loves so little an occasion of anger? You, perhaps, who know not what it is to love, who have your ready, your commodious, your foreign trinket, for your loose hours, and from your fortune, your specious outward carriage, and other lucky circumstances, as easy a way to the possession of a woman of honour, you know nothing of what it is to be alarmed, to be distracted with anxiety and terror of losing more than life. Your marriage, happy man! goes on like common business, and, in the interim, you have your rambling captive, your Indian princess, for your soft moments of dalliance, your convenient, your ready, Indiana. B. jun. You have touch'd me beyond the patience of a man! and I'm excusable in the guard of innocence, or from the infirmity of human nature, which can bear no more, to accept your invitation, and observe your letter.-Sir, I'll at tend you. Enter TOM. | Tom. Sir-Master-Mr Myrtle-FriendsGentlemen-what d'ye mean? I'm but a servant, or B. jun. Call a coach. [Exit TOM. [A long pause, walking sullenly by cach other. [Aside.] Shall I, though provoked to the uttermost, recover myself at the entrance of a third person, and that my servant too, and not have respect enough to all I have ever been receiving from infancy, the obligation to the best of fathers, to an unhappy virgin too, whose life depends on mine? [Shutting the door. [To MYRTLE.] I have, thank Heaven, had time to recollect myself, and shall not, for fear of what such a rash man as you think of me, keep longer unexplained the false appearances under which your infirmity of temper makes you suffer, when perhaps too much regard to a false point of honour makes me prolong that suffering, Myrt. I am sure Mr Bevil cannot doubt but I had rather have satisfaction from his innocence than his sword. B. jun. Why, then, would you ask it first that way? Myrt. Consider, you kept your temper yourself no longer than till I spoke to the disadvantage of her you loved. B. jun. True. But, let me tell you, I have saved you from the most exquisite distress ; even though you had succeeded in the dispute. I know you so well, that, I am sure, to have found this letter about a man you had killed, would have been worse than death to yourself.—Read it.— When he is thoroughly mortified, and shame has got the better of jealousy, he will deserve to be assisted towards obtaining Lucinda. [Aside. Myrt. With what a superiority has he turn'd the injury upon me as the aggressor! I begin to fear I have been too far transported-A treaty in our family!' is not that saying too much? I shall relapse- -But I find (on the poscript) something like jealousy'-With what face can Í see my benefactor, my advocate, whom I have treated like a betrayer ?- -Oh, Bevil! with what words shall I B. jun. There needs none; to convince is much more than to conquer. Myrt. But can you— B. jun. You have o'erpaid the inquietude you gave me in the change I see in you towards me. Alas! what machines are we! Thy face is alter'd to that of another man; to that of my companion, my friend. Myrt. That I could be such a precipitate wretch ! Tom. Did you call, sir? I thought you did; I spirit you have subdued me with.-What had beheard you speak loud. B. jun. Yes; go, call a coach. come of one of us, or perhaps both, had you been as weak as I was, and as incapable of reason? B. jun. I congratulate to us both the escape from ourselves, and hope the memory of it will make us dearer friends than ever. Myrt. Dear Bevil! your friendly conduct has convinced me that there is nothing manly but what is conducted by reason, and agreeable to the practice of virtue and justice; and yet how many have been sacrificed to that idol, the unreasonable opinion of men! Nay, they are so ridiculous in it that they often use their swords against each other with dissembled anger and real fear. Betray'd by honour, and compell'd by shame, SCENE II.-St James's Park. [Exeunt. Enter Sir JOHN BEVIL and Mr SEALAND. Sir J. B. Give me leave, however, Mr Sealand, as we are upon a treaty for uniting our families, to mention only the business of an ancient house.-Genealogy and descent are to be of some consideration in an affair of this sort There Mr Seal. Genealogy and descent!-Sir, there has been in our family a very large one. was Gulfrid, the father of Edward, the father of Ptolemy, the father of Crassus, the father of Earl | Richard, the father of Henry the Marquis, the father of Duke John Sir J. B. What! do you rave, Mr Sealand? All these great names in your family? Mr Seul. These! yes, sir-I have heard my father name them all, and more. Sir J. B. Ay, sir !—and did he say they were all in your family? Mr Seal. Yes, sir, he kept them all-he was the greatest cocker in England-He said Duke John won many battles, but never lost him one. Sir J. B. Oh, sir, your servant! you are laugh- | ing at my laying any stress upon descent.-But I must tell you, sir, I never knew any one, but he that wanted that advantage, turn it into ridicule. Mr Seal. And I never knew any who had many better advantages, put that into his account. But, Sir John, value yourself as you please upon your ancient house; I am to talk freely of every thing you are pleased to put into your bill of rates on this occasion.-Yet, sir, I have made no objections to your son's family-it is his morals that I doubt. Sir. J. B. Sir, I cann't help saying, that what might injure a citizen's credit, may be no stain to gentleman's honour. Mr Seal. Sir John, the honour of a gentleman is liable to be tainted by as small a matter as the credit of a trader: we are talking of a marriage, and, in such a case, the father of a young woman will not think it an addition to the honour or credit of her lover-that he is a keeper. Sir J. B. Mr Sealand, don't take upon you to spoil my son's marriage with any woman else. Mr Seal. Sir John, let him apply to any woman else, and have as many mistresses as he pleases. gentleman. soberly and discreetly that ever left it off-the Sir J. B. Were what you suspect a truth-do you design to keep your daughter a virgin till you find a man unblemish'd that way? Mr Seal. Sir, as much a cit as you take me for-I know the town and the world-and give me leave to say, that we merchants are a species of gentry that have grown into the world this last century, and are as honourable, and almost as useful, as you landed folks, that have always trading, forsooth! is extended no farther than a thought yourselves so much above us; for your load of hay or a fat ox-You are pleasant people lazy, therefore warrant you industry is dishonourindeed! because you are generally bred up to be able. Sir J. B. Be not offended, sir; let us go back to our point. love to leave any part of the account unclos'dMr Seal. Oh! not at all offended-but I don't Look you, Sir John, comparisons are odious, and when we are projecting races that are to be made more particularly so on occasions of this kind, out of both sides of the comparisons. Sir J. B. But my son, sir, is in the eye of the world a gentleman of merit. Mr Seal. I own to you I think him so-But, Sir John, I am a man exercised and experienced years a very fine wife, and with her a poor little in chances and disasters; I lost in my earlier infant: this makes me perhaps over-cautious to preserve the second bounty of Providence to me, and be as careful as I can of this child.-You'll pardon me; my poor girl, sir, is as valuable to me as your boasted son to you. Mr Sealand, why I wish my son had her. Mr Seal. There is nothing but this strange lady here, this incognita, that can be objected to him. Here and there a man falls in love with an artful creature, and gives up all the motives of life to that one passion. Sir J. B. A man of my son's understanding cannot be supposed to be one of them. Mr Seal. Very wise men have been so enslaved ; and when a man marries with one of them upon his hands, whether moved from the demand of the world, or slighter reasons, such a husband soils with his wife for a month perhaps-then good b'w'ye, madam-the show's over-Ah! John Dryden points out such a husband to a hair, where he says, And while abroad so prodigal the dolt is, |