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SCENE XIII.

DIANA, CLARISSA, and afterwards LIONEL.

Dian. So then, my dear Clarissa, you really give credit to the ravings of that French wretch, with regard to a plurality of worlds?

Clar. I don't make it an absolute article of belief, but I think it an ingenious conjecture with great probability on its side.

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Dian. And we are a moon to the moon! Nay, child, I know something of astronomy, but-that that little shining thing there, which seems not much larger than a silver plate, should, perhaps, contain great cities like London; and who can tell but they may have kings there and parliaments, and plays and ope ras, and people of fashion! Lord, the people of fashion in the moon must be strange creatures.

Clar. Methinks Venus shines very bright in yonder

corner.

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Dian. Venus! O pray let me look at Venus ; I suppose, if there are any inhabitants there, they must be all lovers.

Lion. Was ever such a wretch-I can't stay a mo'ment in a place; where is my repose ?-fled with my virtue. Was I then born for falshood and dissimulation? I was, I was, and I live to be conscious of it; to impose upon my friend; to betray my benefactor

and lie to hide my ingratitude-a monster in a moment-No, I may be the most unfortunate of men, but I will not be the most odious;

while

my

heart is

yet capable of dictating what is honest, I will obey its

voice.

SCENE XIV.

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DIANA, CLARISSA, LIONEL, Colonel OLDBOY, HARMAN.

Col. Dy, where are you? What the mischief, is this a time to be walking in the garden? The coach has been ready this half hour, and your Mamma is waiting for you.

Dian. I am learning astronomy, Sir; do you know, Papa, that the moon is inhabited ?

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Col. Hussy, you are half a lunatic yourself; come here, things have gone just as I imagin'd they wou'd, the girl has refus'd your brother, I knew he must disgust her. Dian. Women will want taste now and then, Sir. Col. But I must talk to the young Lady a little. Har. Well, I have had a long conference with your father about the elopement, and he continues firm in his opinion that I ought to attempt it: in short, all the necessary operations are settled between us, and

I am to leave his house to-morrow morning, if I can but persuade the young Lady830

Dian. Ay, but I hope the young Lady will have more sense-Lord, how can you teaze me with your nonsense? Come, Sir, is'nt it time for us to go in? Her Ladyship will be impatient.

Col. Friend Lionel, good night to you; Miss Clarissa, my dear, though I am father to the puppy who has displeased you, give me a kiss; you serv'd him right, and I thank you for it.

AIR.

Col.

O what a night is here for love!
Cynthia brightly shining above;
Among the trees,

To the sighing breeze,

Fountains tinkling ;

Stars a twinkling,

Dian. what a night is here for love!

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Lion.

A. 3.

Col.

A. 5.

What have I done?

Where shall I run,

With grief and shame at once opprest;
How my own upbraiding shun,
Or meet my friend distrest?

Hark to Philomel, how sweet,

From yonder elm.

Tweet, tweet, tweet, tweet.

O what a night is here for love!

But vainly nature strives to move.

Nor nightingale among the trees,

Nor twinkling stars, nor sighing breeze,

Nor murm'ring streams,

Nor Phoebe's beams,

Can charm, unless the heart's at ease.

A& III. SCENE 1.

A Room in Colonel OLDBOY's House.

HARMAN enters

with his Hat, Boots, and Whip, followed by DIANA.

PR'YTHEE, hear me.

Diana.

Har. My dear, what would you say?

Dian. I am afraid of the step we are going to take; indeed, I am: 'tis true my father is the contriver of

it; but, really, on consideration, I think I should appear less culpable if he was not so; I am at once criminal myself, and rendering him ridiculous.

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Dian. Suppose I do, you give me a very ill proof of your love for me, when you would take advantage of my tenderness, to blind my reason: how can you have so little regard for my honour as to sacrifice it to a vain triumph? For it is in that light I see the rash action you are forcing me to commit; nay, methinks my consenting to it should injure me in your own When a woman forgets what she owes herself, a lover should set little value upon any thing she gives to him.

esteem.

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Har. Can you suppose then, can you imagine, that my passion will ever make me forget the veneration -And, an elopement is nothing, when it is on the road to matrimony.

Dian. At best, I shall incur the censure of disobedience, and indiscretion; and is it nothing to a young woman, what the world says of her? Ah! my good friend, be assured, such a disregard of the world is the first step towards deserving its reproaches.

Har. But, the necessity we are under—Mankind has too much good sense, too much good nature—

Dian. Every one has good sense enough to see other peoples' faults, and good nature enough to overlook their own. Besides, the most sacred things may be made an ill use of, and even marriage itself, if indecently and improperly→→→

Gj

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