forced to promise him I would meet him to-day, to get rid of him.

Good. Faith, gentlemen, let us all go dine at my house: I have snubbed him of late, and he'll hardly venture that way so soon again: at night I'll promise you good company; my wife (for I allow her for my own sake what freedom she pleases), has sent for the fiddles to come.

Tru. Goodvile, if there be any such thing as ease in matrimony, thou hast it: but methinks, there's as it were a mark upon married men, that makes them as distinguishable from one of us, as your Jews are from the rest of mankind.

Good. Oh there are pleasures you dream not of; he is only confined by it that will be so; a man may make his condition as easy as he pleases.-Mine is such a fond, wanton ape, I never come home, but she entertains me with fresh kindness: and Jack, when I have been hunting for game with you, and missed of an opportunity, stops a gap well enough.

Tru. There's no condition so wretched but has it's reserve: your spaniel, turned out of doors, goes contentedly to his kennel; your beggar, when he can get no better lodging, knows his own warm bush; and your married whore-master that misses of his wench, goes honestly home, and there's madam wife.-But, Goodvile, who are to be the company at night?

Good. In the first place, my cousin Victoria, your idol, Jack Truman; then, Mr. Valentine, there will be the charming Camilla: and another that never fails upon such an occasion, the inimitable lady Squeamish.

Tru. That indeed is a worthy person, a great critic forsooth: one that censures plays, and takes it very ill she has none dedicated to her yet; a constant frequenter of all masquerades and public meetings, a perfect coquette, very affected, and something old.

Val. Discourses readily of all the love-intrigues of the court and town, a strange admirer of accomplishments and good-breeding, as she calls it; a restless

dancer: one that by her good-will would never be out of motion.

Tru. How, Valentine! you were once a great admirer there; have a care how you speak too harshly of your mistress, though the business be over. You stand well with the ladies yet, and are held a man of principles.

Good. That indeed is a fine creature. Your old harassed stager has always some such resty whore-master or another, whom she makes the best of her despair withal; and after being forsaken by half the town besides, comforts herself in her man of principles. But now I think on't, we delay too long. I'll go before and prepare: gentlemen, you'll be sure to follow! Tru. Sir, we'll not fail to wait on you.

[Exit Goodvile. Boy! is the coach ready? Valentine! I have had the oddest adventure this morning-ha-Malagene!

Enter MALAGENE.

How came he hither?

Mal. Jack Truman, Monsieur Valentine, bon jour.Was not that Goodvile I met coming in-ha?

Val. Yes, he parted hence but now.

Mal. Faith, I'll tell ye what, gentlemen, Goodvile's a very honest fellow as can be, but he and I are fallen out of late, though faith 'twas nothing of my seeking. Tru. No, I'll be sworn for thee, thou lov'st thyself better.

Val. Pray what was the matter, Malagene?

Mal. Why I was advising him to look after things better at home: the fellow has married a young wife, and there he lets her make balls and give entertainments. I was very free with him, and told him of it to the purpose; for faith I should be sorry to see any ill come on't, very sorry.

Tru. But hark ye, Malagene, Goodvile's a sort of a surly companion, and apt to have so good an opinion of

himself, that he is able to manage affairs without your advice: he might have been very severe with you upon this occasion.

Mal. Severe with me! I thank you for that with all my heart; that had been the way to have made a fine piece of work on't, indeed; hark ye, (under the rose) he's sweetly fitted with my cousin though.

Val. Pray, sir, speak with more respect: we are his friends, and not prepared to relish any of your satire at present.

Mal. O lord, sir, I beg your pardon; you are a new acquaintance there, I remember, and may design an interest. Faith, Ned, if thou dost, I'll never be thy hindrance, for all she's my kinswoman.

Tru. The rascal, if he had an opportunity, would pimp for his sister, though but for the bare pleasure of telling it himself.

Mal. Now when he comes home, will she be hanging about his neck, with O Lord, dear! where have you been this morning? I can't abide you should go abroad so soon, that I can't: you are never well but when you are with that wicked lewd Truman, and his debauched companion, young Valentine: but that I know you are a good dear, I should be apt to be jealous of you, that I should,-ha, ha.

Tru. Sir, you are very bold with our characters, methinks.

Mal. I, shaw! your servant; sure, we that know one another may be free: you may say as much of me, if you please. But no matter for that, did you hear nothing of my business last night?

-ha. Tru. Not a word I assure you, sir. Pray how was it? pr'ythee let him alone a little, Valentine.

Mal. Why, coming out of Chatolin's last night, (where it had cost me a guinea club, with a right honourable or two of this kingdom, which shall be nameless) just as I was getting into a coach, who should come by but a blustering fellow with a woman in his hand, and swore, damn him, the coach was for him; we had some words,

and he drew; with that I put by his pass, closed with him, and threw up his heels, took away his toledo, gave him two or three good cuts over the face, seized upon Damozel, carried her away with me to my chamber, managed her all night, and just now sent her off;-faith, amongst friends, she was a person of quality, I'll tell you that.

Tru. What! a person of quality at that time o'the night, and on foot too?

Mal. Ay, and one that you both know very well, but take no notice on't.

Val. Oh, sir, you may be sure we shall be very cautious of spreading any secrets of your's of this naturelying Rakehell; the highest he ever arrived at was a bawd, and she too banished him at last, because he boasted of her favours.

[Aside.

Mal. Nay, not that I care very much neither: you may tell it if you will: for I think it was no more than any one would have done upon the same occasion—

ha

Tru. Doubtless, sir, you were much in the right. But, Valentine, we stay too long: 'tis time we were going.

Mal. What, to dinner? I'll make a third manwhere shall it be?

Tru. Sir, I am sorry, we must beg your excuse this time, for we are both engaged.

Mal. Whoo! pry'thee, that's all one, I am sure I know the company; I'll go along at a venture.

Val. No, but Malagene, to make short of the business, we are going into company that are not very good friends of your's, and will be very uneasy if you be there.

Mal. What's that to the purpose ?—I care as little for them as they do for me; though on my word, sparks, of honest fellows, you keep the oddest company sometimes that ever I knew.

Tru. But, sir, we are resolved to reform it, and in order thereunto, desire you would leave us to ourselves to-day.

Mal. No but I'll tell you, go along with me;

I have discovered a treasure of pale wine-I assure you 'tis the same the king drinks of what say you Jack? I am but for one bottle or two; for faith I have resolved to live sober for a week.

Tru. Pr'ythee, tormentor, leave us; do not I know the wine thou drinkest is as base as the company thou keepest. To be plain with you, we will not go with you, nor must you go with us.

Mal. Why, if one should ask the question now, whither are you going? ha!

Val. How comes it, Malagene, you are not with your two friends, Caper and Saunter?-you may be sure of them; they'll eat and drink, and go all over the world with you.

Mal. How canst thou think that I would keep such loathsome company? a brace of silly, talking, dancing, singing rascals: 'tis true, I contracted an acquaintance with 'em, I know not how; and now and then, when I am out of humour, love to laugh at and abuse 'em for an hour or two-but come what will on't, I am resolved to go along with you to-day.

Tru. Upon my word, sir, you cannot- -Why should you make so many difficulties with your friends? Mal. Whoo! pr'ythee leave fooling-You would shake me off now, would you? But I know better things. The sham won't pass upon me, sir; it won't, look you.

Tru. Death! we must use him ill, or there is no getting rid of him. Not pass, sir?

Mal. No, sir.

Tru. Pray, sir, leave us.
Mal. I shan't do't, sir.

Tru. But you must, sir.

Mal. May be not, sir.

Tru. I am going this way.

Mal. So am I.

[Walking off.

Tru. But, sir, I must stay here a little longer.

Mal. With all my heart; 'tis the same thing, I am

not in haste.