glafs. Why every pretty woman ftudies her face, and a looking-glafs to her is what a book is to a pedant; fhe is poring upon it all day long. In troth a man can never know how much love is in him by conversations with his wife. A kifs on those lips, would make me young again. [Kiffes her.

I vow I'll not be naught.

Duc. All maids I know at first refift.

A mafter may command

Polly. You're monftrous rude; I'll not be kiss'd:

Nay, fye, let

Duc. 'Tis foolish pride

Polly.

Poor innocence to wrong.

Duc. I'll force you.

Polly.

Guard me from difgrace.

You find that virtue's ftrong. [Pushing him away.

'Tis barbarous in you, Sir, to take the occafion of my neceffities to infult me.

Duc. Nay, huffy, I'll give you money.

Polly. I defpife it. No, Sir, tho' I was born and bred in England, I can dare to be poor, which is the only thing now-a-days men are afhamed of.

Duc. I fhall humble these faucy airs of yours, Mrs. Minx. Is this language from a fervant! from a flave! Polly. Am I then betray'd and fold!

Duc. Yes, huffy, that you are; and as legally my property, as any woman is her husband's, who fells herfelf in marriage.

Polly. Climates, that change conftitutions. have no effect upon manners. What a profligate is that Trapes!

Duc. Your fortune, your happiness depends upon your compliance. What, proof against a bribe! Sure,

Č 2

huffy,

huffy, you belie your country, or you must have had a very vulgar education. 'Tis unnatural.,

Befides, huffy, your confent may make me your flave; there's power to tempt you into the bargain. You must be more than woman if you can stand that too.

Polly. Sure you only mean to try me! but 'tis barbarous to trifle with my diftreffes.

Duc. I'll have none of these airs. 'Tis impertinent in a fervant, to have fcruples of any kind. I hire ho nour, confcience and all, for I will not be ferv'd by halves. And fo, to be plain with you, you obftinate flut, you shall either contribute to my pleasure or my profit; and if you refufe play in the bed-chamber, you Thall go work in the fields among the planters. I hope now I have explain'd myself.

:

Polly. My freedom may be loft, but you cannot rob me of my virtue and integrity and whatever is my lot, having that, I fhall have the comfort of hope, and find pleasure in reflection.

AIR XVI. A fwain long tortur'd with difdain.

Can I or toil, or hunger fear?

For love's a pain that's most ferere.

The flave with virtue in his breast,
Can wake in peace, and sweetly rest.

But love, when unhappy, the more virtuous it is, the

more it fuffers.

Duc. What noife is that?

Damaris. [Without.] Sir, Sir.

[Afide.

Duc.

Duc. Step into the closet; I will call you out immediately to prefent you to my wife. Don't let bashfulnefs ruin your fortune. The next opportunity, I hope, you will be better difpos'd. [Exit Polly, Dam. Open the door, Sir. This moment, this mo.

ment.

Enter Damaris.

Duc. What's the matter? Was any body about to ravish you? Is the house o'fire? Or my wife in a paffion?

Dam. O Sir, the whole country is in an uproar ! The pirates are all coming down upon us; and if they fhould raise the militia, you are an officer you know. I hope you have time enough to fling up your com

miffion.

Enter ft Footman.

1ft Foot. The neighbours, Sir, are all frighted out of their wits; they leave their houfes, and fly to yours for protection. Where's my lady, your wife? Heaven grant, they have not taken her!

Duc. If they only took what one could spare

ift Foot. That's true, there were no great harm done.

Duc. How are the mufquets?

ft Foot. Rufty, Sir; all rufty and peaceable! For we never clean them but against training-day.

Dam. Then, Sir, your honour is fafe, for now you have a just excuse against fighting.

Enter 2d Footman.

2d Foot. The Indians, Sir, with whom we are in alli ance, are all in arms: there will be bloody work to be fure. I hope they will decide the matter before we can get ready.

Enter Mrs. Ducat.

Mrs. Duc. O dear husband, I'm frighten'd to death! What will become of us all! I thought a punishment for your wicked lewdnefs would light upon you at

laft.

Duc. Prefence of mind, my dear, is as neceffary in dangers as courage.

Dam. But you are too rich to have courage. You fhould fight by deputy. 'Tis only for poor peo C 3 ple

ple to be brave and defperate, who cannot afford to live.

Enter Maids, &c. one after another.

Aft Maid. The pirates, Sir, the pirates! Mercy upon us, what will become of us poor helpless women! 2d Maid. We fhall all be ravish'd!

ft Old Woman. All be ravish'd !

2d Old Woman. Ay to be fure, we fhall be ravish'd; all be ravifh'd!

ift Old Woman. But if fortune will have it fo, pati ence is a virtue, and we must undergo it.

2d Old Woman. Ay, for certain, we must all bear it, Mrs. Damaris.

3d Foot. A foldier, Sir, from the Indian camp, defires admittance. He's here, Sir.

Enter an Indian.

Ind. I come, Sir, to the English colony, with whom we are in alliance, from the mighty king Pohetohee, my lord and master, and address myself to you, as you are of the council, for fuccours. The pirates are ravaging and plundering the country, and we are now in arms, ready for battle, to oppose them.

Duc. Does Macheath command the enemy.

Ind. Report fays he is dead. Above twelve moons are paffed fince we heard of him. Morano, a Negro villain, is their chief, who in rapine and barbarities is even equal to him.

Duc. I fhall inform the council, and we fhall foon be ready to join you. So acquaint the king your mafter. [Exit Indian.

Serv.

AIR XVII. March in Scipio.

Brave boys, prepare.

Ah! cease, fond wife, to cry.
For when the danger's near,
We've time enough to fly.

Mrs. Duc, How can you be difgrac'd!

Serv.

For wealth fecures

your fame.

The rich are always plac'd

Above the fenfe of fhame.

Mrs. Duc. Let honour fpur the flave,
To fight for fighting's fake:
But even the rich are brave

Duc.

When money is at stake.

Be fatisfy'd my dear, I fhall be difcreet. My fervants here will take care that I be not over-rafh, for their wages depend upon me. But before I go to councilcome hither, Polly; I intreat you, wife, to take her into your fervice,

Enter Polly.

and ufe her civily. Indeed, my dear, your fufpicions are very frivolous and unreasonable.

Mrs. Duc. I hate to have a handfome wench about me. They are always fo faucy!

Duc. Women, by their jealoufies, put one in mind of doing that which otherwife we should never think of. Why you are a proof, my dear, that a handfome woman may be honest.

Mrs. Duc. I find you can fay a civil thing to me ftill.

Duc. Affairs, you fee, call me hence, And fo I leave her under your protection. [Exit.

Mrs. Duc. Away, into the other room again. When I want you, I'll call you. [Exit Polly.] 'Well, Damaris, to be fure you have obferved all that has paffed. I will know all. I'm fure fhe's a huffy.

Dam. Nay, Madam, I can't fay fo much. But-
Mrs. Duc. But what?

Dam. I hate to make mifchief.

AIR XVIII. Fig-it-o' Foot.

Better to doubt
All that's doing,
Than to find out

Proofs of ruin.

What fervants hear and fee,

Should they tattle,

Marriage all day would be
Feuds and battle.

A fer.