are his eternal torment-He reddens, fighs, and (as much as is consistent with such a bluftering foldier's valour) languishes whenever you are near her.'

Theaf. You may fafely own your paffion, Periphas; for I know you think her agreeable.

Art. Befides her being the fashionable beauty of the court (which is fufficient vanity to make all the young ⚫ fellows follow her) you, of all mankind, in gratitude, ought to like her. I know all of them envy the par⚫ticular diftinction fhe fhews you.

Theaf. I am convinced of her merits;' and your marrying her, I know, would make you both happy. Per. Let me perifh, Madam, if I ever once thought

• of it.

Theaf. Your happiness, you fee, hath been in my 'thoughts-I take the fettling this affair upon myself.'

Per. How could you, Madam, imagine I had any views of this kind? What, be a woman's follower, with intention to marry her! Why, the very women themfelves would laugh at a man who had fo vulgar a no⚫tion of gallantry, and knew fo little of their inclinations: the man never means it, and the woman never expects it; and, for the most part, they have every other view but marriage.

Theaf. But I am ferious, nephew, and infist upon your promife.

" AIR XL. No fooner had Jonathan leap'd from the boat.

• What are the jests that on marriage you quote?
All ignorant bachelors cenfure by rote;
Like critics, you view it with envy or spleen.
You pry out its faults, but the good is o'erfeen.

• Per. 'Tis not in my power, Madam; 'tis not in my inclinations. A foldier can have but one inducement to marry, (and a woman may have the fame reafon too✈ which is, the opportunities of abfence.

Theaf. You know, nephew, you have promised. • Per. But fuppose I am already engaged.

Theaf. That will be another merit to her.'

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Per

Per. 'Tis impoffible, Madam. In a day or two, you know, I am to fet out for the campaign.

Theaf. A lady of her romantic fpirit can have no objections to following the camp.

AIR XLI. Love's a dream of mighty pleasure.

• Soldier, think before you marry;
• If your wife the camp attends,

You but a convenience carry,

For (perhaps) a hundred friends.
If at home fhe's left in forrow,
• Abfence is convenient too;
Neighbours now and then may borrow
• What is of no use to you.

Theaf. I, indeed, feared Pyrrha might have started fome difficulties; but if you rightly confider the propofal, you can have none.

Per. What is the caufe of the war we are now engaged in? Does not the fate of Menelaus ftare me in the face?'

Theaf. I will have no more of your trifling objections, Periphas; and, as to your part,' from this time, I will look upon the affair as happily concluded. All that now remains to be done, is with Pyrrha. I have left her to Deidamia's management; and, without doubt, her good offices must prevail; for you can never have • a better advocate. But fhould the girl be perverse and ⚫ obftinate 'Tis impoffible. For however her heart is already engaged, no woman alive can refist the ambition of fuch an alliance.'

Think, Oh, think! that love and glory
Fire at once the gallant breaft,

Claiming equal empire o'er you;
Each ball plume the hero's creft.
Mars hall make thee fam'd in ftory.
Cupid, Cupid, make you bless'd.

[Exeunt Theafpe and Artemona.

Per.

Per. Had I fo little tafte of liberty as to be inclined to marry, that girl is of fo termagant a fpirit-The bravest man must have the dread of an eternal domestic war. In a tongue-combat, woman is invincible, and the husband must come off with fhame and infamy; for though he lives in perpetual noife and tumult, the poor man is only ridiculous to his neighbours. How we ever get rid of her? Hercules conquered the feven-headed hydra; but his wife was a venomed fhirt that stuck to him to the laft.' We have but one inducement to marry, (and the woman may have the fame reafon too) which is, the opportunities of abfence; tho', indeed, a lady of Pyrrha's romantic difpofition may have no objection to following the camp. *

can

Enter Ajax.

Ajax. This rencounter, Periphas, is as I wifhed. The liberties you have taken-you know what I mean-when my honour is concerned-an indignity, and all that"Tis not to be put up; and I must infift upon an explanation-There is a particular affair, my Lord' Per. Your accofting me in this particular manner, Lord Ajax, requires explanation; for, let me die, if I comprehend you.

Ajax. Death, my Lord, I explain! I am not come here to be asked questions. 'Tis fufficient that I know the affront, and that you know I will have fatisfaction.-So, now you are answered.

Per. I can't fay much to my fatisfaction, my Lord; for I can't fo much as guefs at your meaning.

Ajax. A man of honour, Periphas, is not to be trifled withal.

Per. But a man of honour, Ajax, is not obliged, in courage, to be unintelligible.

Ajax. I hate talking; the tongue is a woman's weapon. Whenever I am affronted, by the gods, this sword is my only answer.

Per. 'Tis not, Ajax, that I decline the difpute, or would, upon any account, deny you the pleasure of fighting; yet (if it is not too much condefcenfion in a

In the reprefentation, Air XLL. is introduced here.

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man

man of honour) before I fight, I would willingly know the provocation.

Ajax.

AIR XLIII. Maggy Lawther.

What is all this idle chat?

• Words are out of season.
• Whether 'tis or this or that,

The fword fhall do me reafon.
Honour call'd me to the task ;
• No matter for explaining:
'Tis a fresh affront to afk

• A man of honour's meaning.

Be it as it will, Periphas, we have gone too far already to retract.' You know, I fuppofe, of my pretenfions to a certain lady. Now are you satisfied?

Per. If you had her, my Lord, it had been much 6 more to my fatisfaction. I admire your courage.

my

'AIR XLIV. Lord Frog, and Lady Moufe.

Oh, then, it seems you want a wife!
Should I confent,

You may repent,

And all her daily jars and strife

You may on me resent.

Thus ev'ry day and ev'ry night,

If things at home fhould not go right, • We three must live in constant fight. Take her at all event.

Ajax. Hell and furies! I am not to be rallied out of

refentment.'

Per. Now, in my opinion, 'tis flinging away your courage, to fight without a caufe; though, indeed, the men of uncommon prowefs, by their loving to make the most of every quarrel, feem to think the contrary.'

Ajax. You are not fo fure of the lady, Periphas, as you flatter yourself; for whenever I am a rival, by Jove, tis not her confent, but my fword, that must decide the question.

Per. Sure never a rival (as you will call me) had a • better reason for fighting than I have at prefent; for

if

if I am killed, I fhall be out of danger of having the

woman.

Ajax. If I fall, Pyrrha may be yours: you will then deferve her-Till then

Per. So he that conquers, as a reward, I find, is to be married-Now, dear Ajax, is that worth fighting for?

Ajax. Your paffion for that lady, Periphas, is too public to bear difpute.'-Spare your jokes; for my courage wants no farther provocation. Have not I feen you whisper her, laugh with her? And, by fome particular looks at the fame time, 'twas too evident that you were laughing at me.

Per. Looks, Ajax !

Ajax. Yes, looks my Lord; and I never did, or will take an impertinent one from any man.

Per. Impertinent one!

Ajax. Furies! this calm mockery is not to be borne. I won't have my words repeated.

Per. Such language, Ajax, may provoke me.

Per.

• Ajax.

I to my honour will ne'er be wanting.
Will you do me right?

What means all this ranting?

Cease your joking,

'Tis provoking.

I to my honour will ne'er be wanting.

Talk not, then, but fight.

'Give then by action
Satisfaction.

• Per. I'm not in awe, Sir.

Ajax. Death! will you draw, Sir?

• Tittle-tattle

Is a battle

• You may fafer try.

Per. Yet, firft, I'd fain know why.'

Ajax. Draw, Sir.

Per.