A fervant's legs ånd hands fhould be under your command, but, for the fake of quiet, you should leave their tongues to their own difcretion.

Mrs. Duc. I vow, Damaris, I will know it.

Dam. To be fure, Madam, the door was bolted, and I could only liften. There was a fort of a bustle between them, that's certain. What paft I know not. But the noise they made, to my thinking, did not found very honeft.

Mrs. Duc. Noifes that did not found very honest, said you?

Dam. Nay, Madam, I am a maid, and have no experience. If you had heard them, you would have been a better judge of the matter.

Mrs. Duc. An impudent flut! I'll have her before me. If the be not a thorough profligate, I shall make a difcovery by her behaviour. Go call her to me.

[Exit Damaris and returns with Polly. In my own house! Before my face! I'll have you sent to the house of correction,. ftrumpet. By that overhonest look, I guess her to be a horrid jade. A mere hypocrite, that is perfectly white-wafhed with innocence. My blood rifes at the fight of all ftrumpets, for they are smugglers in love, that ruin us fair traders in matrimony, Look upon me, Mrs. Brazen. She has no feeling of fhame. She is fo ufed to impudence, that fhe has not a blush within her. Do you know, Madam, that I am Mr. Ducat's wife?

Polly. As your fervant, Madam, I think myself happy.

Mrs. Duc. You know Mr. Ducat, I fuppofe. She has beauty enough to make any woman alive hate her.

AIR XIX. Trumpet minuet.

Abroad after miffes most husbands will roam,

[Afide.

Tho' fure they find woman fufficient at home.
To be nos'd by a ftrumpet! Hence, huffy, you'd best.
Would he give me my due, I would give her the rest.

I vow, I had rather have a thief in my houfe. For to be fure she is that befides.

Polly

Polly. If you were acquainted with my misfortunes, Madam, you could not infult me.

Mrs. Duc. What does the wench mean?

Dam. There's not one of these common creatures, but like common beggars, hath a moving story at her finger's ends, which they tell over, when they are maudlin, to their lovers. I had a sweetheart, Madam, who was a rake, and I know their ways very well, by hearsay.

Polly. What villains are hypocrites! for they rob thofe of relief, who are in real diftrefs. I know what it is to be unhappy in marriage.

Mrs. Duc. Married!

Polly. Unhappily.

Mrs. Duc. When? where? to whom?

Polly. If woman can have faith in woman, máy my words find belief. Proteftations are to be suspected, fo I fhall ufe none. If truth can prevail I know you will pity me.

Mrs. Duc. Her manner and behaviour are fo particu lar, that is to fay, fo fincere, that I must hear her ftory. Unhappily married! That is a misfortune not to be remedied.

Polly. A conftant woman hath but one chance to be happy; an inconftant woman, tho' fhe hath no chance to be very happy, can never be very unhappy.

Dam. Believe me, Mrs. Polly, as to pleafures of all forts, 'tis a much more agreeable way to be inconftant.

AIR XX.

Polwarth on the Green.

Love now is nought but art,
'Tis who can juggle best;

To all men seem to give your heart,
But keep it in your breast.
What gain and pleasure do we find,
Who change whene'er we list!
The mill that turns with every wind
Muft bring the owner grist.

Polly.

Polly. My cafe, Madam, may in these times be look'd upon as fingular; for I married a man only because I lov'd him. For this I was look'd upon as a fool by all my acquaintance; I was ufed inhumanly by my father and mother; and, to compleat my misfortunes, my hufband, by his wild behaviour, incurred the fentence of the law, and was feparated from me by banishment. Being informed he was in this country, upon the death of my father and mother, with most of my fmall fortune, I came here to feek him.

Mrs. Duc. But how then fell you into the hands of that confummate bawd, Trapes?

Polly. In my voyage, Madam, I was robb'd of all I had. Upon my landing in a strange country, and in want, I was found out by this inhuman woman, who had been an acquaintance of my father's: the offer'd me at first the civilities of her own house. When the was inform'd of my neceffities, the proposed to me the fervice of a lady; of which I readily accepted. 'Twas under that pretence that the treacheroufly fold me to your husband as a mistress. This, Madam, is in short the whole truth. I fling myself at your feet for protection. By relieving me, you make yourself eafy.

Mrs. Duc. What is't you propose?

Polly. In conniving at my escape, you fave me from your hufband's worrying me with threats and violence, and at the fame time quiet your own fears and jealoufies. If it is ever in my power, Madam, with gratitude I will repay you my ransom.

Dam. Befides, Madam, you will effectually revenge yourself upon your husband; for the lofs of the money he paid for her will touch him to the quick.

Mrs. Duc. But have you confidered what you request? We are invaded by the pirates: the Indians are in arms; the whole country is in commotion, and you will every where be expos'd to danger.

Dam. Get rid of her at any rate. For fuch is the vanity of man, that when once he has begun with a woman, out of pride he will infift upon his point.

Polly. In taying with you, Madam, I make two people unhappy. And I chufe to bear my own misfortunes, without being the cause of another's.

Mrs.

1

Mrs. Duc. If I let her escape before my husband's return, he will imagine fhe got off by the favour of this buftle and confufion.

Polly. May Heaven reward your charity.

Mrs. Duc. A woman fo young and handsome must be expos'd to continual dangers. I have a fuit of clothes by me of my nephew's, who is dead. In a man's habit you will run fewer rifques. I'll affist you too for the prefent with fome money; and, as a traveller, you may with greater safety make enquiries after your husband.

Polly. How fhall I ever make a return for fo much goodness?

As

Mrs. Duc. May love reward your conftancy. for that perfidious monster, Trapes, I will deliver her into the hands of the magistrate. Come, Damaris, let us this inftant equip her for her adventures.

Dam. When he is out of the houfe, without doubt, Madam, you will be more easy. And I wish she may be fo too.

Polly. May virtue be my protection; for I feel within me hope, chearfulness, and refolution.

AIR XXI. St. Martin's Lane.

As pilgrims thro' devotion
To fome shrine pursue their way,
They tempt the raging ocean,
And thro' defarts stray.
With zeal their hope defiring,
The faint their breaft infpiring
With chearful air,
Devoid of fear,

They every danger bear.

- Thus equal zeal poffeffing,

I feek my only bleffing.

O love, my honest vow regard!

My truth protect,

My steps direct,

His flight detect,

A faithful wife reward.

[Exeunt.

END of the FIRST ACT.

ACT

If

ACT II.

SCENE, The View of an Indian Country.
Polly, in Boy's Clothes.

AIR XXII. La Villanella.

HY did you fpare him,

WHY

WO'er feas to bear him,

Far from his home, and conftant bride ?
When papa 'peach'd him,

If death had reach'd him,

I then had only figh'd, wept, and dy'd!

my directions are right I cannot be far from the vil lage. With the habit, I must put on the courage and refolution of a man; for I am every where furrounded with dangers. By all I can learn of these pirates, my dear Macheath is not of the crew. Perhaps I may hear of him among the flaves of the next plantation. How fultry is the day! the cool of this fhade will refresh me. I am jaded too with reflection. How restless is love! [Mufic, two or three bars of the dead march.] My imagination follows him every where, would my feet were as fwift; the world then could not hide him from me. [Two or three bars more.] Yet even thought is now bewilder'd in pursuing him. [Two or three bars more.] I'm tir'd, I'm faint. [The Symphony.