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Per. Prythee, put up, Ajax.

Ajax. By Jupiter, Periphas, 'till now I never thought

you a coward.

Per. Nay then

fince my own honour calls upon

[They fight.

me. Take notice, Ajax, that I don't fight for the wo

man.

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Enter Theafpe, Artemona, and Guards.
-Beat down their fwords.

1 Guard. Part 'ein.

[They are parted. 2 Guard. How dared you prefume to fight in the royal gardens ?

1 Guard. Nay, in the very prefence !-For fee, the queen.'

Ajax. 'Tis very hard, Sirs, that a man fhould be denied the fatisfaction of a gentleman.

Theaf. Lord Ajax, for this unparalleled prefumption we forbid you the palace.

Ajax. I fhall take fome other opportunity, my Lord. [Exit Ajax.

Theaf. And as for you, Periphas

Per. Your majefty's rigor can do no less than forbid me the woman.

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Theaf. The woman, Periphas, is the only thing that can reconcile me to your behaviour.

Per. That blundering hero Ajax will have it that I am his rival. The man will be almost as miferable with6 out her, as 'tis probable he might be with her.Oblige us both then, Madam, and let the general be • miferable in his own way.

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Theaf. I could not have imagined that obftinate girl 'could have had any fcruples to the match; but Deidamia tells me he finds her as difficult as you.

• Per. Since you know, Madam, that Pyrrha will have her own way; for both our fakes, and to fave yourself unneceflary trouble, your majefty had better give up this impoffibility,'

Enter Diphilus and Guards.

Diph. To prevent future mischief, my Lord, his majefty puts you under arreft, and commands you to attend him. General Ajax is already in cuftody.

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-'Tis his

pleasure too, that (after you have paid your duty to

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him)

him) you' embark with the troops immediately; and you are not to come afhore again upon pain of his majesty's difpleasure.*

AIR XLVI.

In war we've nought but death to fear,
'How gracious is the fentence!
For that is easier far to bear,

'Than marriage with repentance.
'Begirt with foes, by numbers brav'd,
I'd blefs the happy crisis;

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The man from greater danger fav'd,
The leffer ones defpifes.

Per. Your majefty then, you find, must difpenfe with my promife 'till after the expedition.If the general fhould be fo happy, to bring Pyrrha with him to the camp, perhaps we may like one another better. Diph. The king, Madam, wants to talk to your majefty upon affairs of confequence. You will find him in the royal apartment.

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Theaf. My daughters with Pyrrha have just turned the walk, and are coming this way.You may stay •with 'em, Artemona, till I fend for you.

[Exeunt Theaf. Ter. and Diph.

In the performance, the following air is introduced.

Per. The queen then muft difpenfe with my promife 'till after the expedition.I think myself infinitely obliged to bis majefty.

AIR.

In war, though wounds and death we fear,
How gracious thofe events,

Compared to what the wretch muft bear,

Who marries and repents.

The foes furround in numbers brave,
Soon ends the martial ftrife,

But once by wedlock's chain a flave,
The conteft lafts for life.

• Enter

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Enter Philoe, and Lefbia.

Phil. "Tis horridly mortifying that thefe trades⚫ people will never get any thing new against a birth-day. They are all fo abominably ftupid, that a woman of fancy cannot poffibly have the opportunity of fhewing her genius.

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Lefb. The fatigue one hath of talking to those creatures for at least a month before a birth-day, is infupportable; for you know, fifter, when the time draws fo very near, a woman can think of nothing elfe.

Phil. After all, fifter, though their things are deteftable, one must make choice of fomething or other. I have fent to the fellows to be with me this morning.

Lefb. You are fo eternally fending for 'em, one would imagine you was delighted with their conversation. For thofe hideous stuffs they will fhew us from year to year are frightful, are fhocking. How can a woman have fo ill a taste as to expose herself in a last • year's pattern!

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Phil. Dear Madam, I beg your pardon. Let me die, if I faw you!

Lefb. Our meeting her was lucky beyond expreffion, ⚫ for I never felt fo uneafy a thing as a fecret.

Phil. You know, fifter, we had agreed to trust her with our fufpicions.

Lefb. Yet after all, when a fifter's reputation is con⚫cerned.

• Phil. But is not the honour of a family of greater • confequence?'

Lefb. Though he is a woman and a favourite, I dare fay, if Artemona promifes, whatever the suffers, she will inviolably keep it to herself.

Art. If I had not this quality, I had little deferved Theafpe's friendship.Be affüred, ladies, you may

fafely trust me.

Phil. 'Tis impoffible, fifter, but fhe herself must have obferved it.

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Left. Whatever people have obferved, 'tis a thing, you know, that no creature alive can prefume to talk upon.'

Phil. Deal fairly and openly with us, Artemona.

Have you remarked nothing particular of Deidamia yonder of late?

Art. Of Deidamia!

Lefb. Only look upon her, Madam.

Phil. Well- -what do you think of her?

Leb. Are you blind, Artemona, or dare not you • believe your eyes?'

Art. Her particular intimacy with Pyrrha do you

mean?

Phil. Dear Madam ! -Then I find we must speak, 'first.'

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Lefb. Now, dear Artemona, can any woman alive imapine that shape of hers within the compafs of common modesty ?'

Art. But how can one poffibly have thofe fufpicions ? Phil. She is a woman, Madam; fhe hath inclinations, and may have had her opportunities that we know no6 thing of.'

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AIR XLVII. Minuet of Corelli in the Ninth Concerto.

Phil

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We may refolve to refift temptation;

And that's all we can do ;

For in the hour of inclination

What cou'd-I or you?

But the happy man? There, Artemona, is fill the fecret. Lefb. Though the thing is improbable, 'tis fo monftroufly evident, that it cannot bear a dispute.

• Phil. Then her bofoin too is fo prepofteroufly impudent!-One would think a woman in her condition was not confcious of her own fhame.

Lefb. Or imagined other people could overlook it as ' well as herself.

Phil. Then she is so squeamish and fo frequently out of order.

Lefb. That he hath all the outward marks of female ⚫ frailty must be vifible to all womankind.

Phil. But how fhe came by them, there, Artemona, is ftill the fecret.

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Leb, I must own that, by her particular intimacies

• with

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with that forward creature, Pyrrha, I fufpect her to be her confident in this accident.'

Art. I beg you, ladies, to turn this difcourfe; for Deidamia and Pyrrha are just coming upon us to join the conversation.

Enter Deidamia and Achilles. Lefb. Now I dare fwear that carelefs creature Pyrrha hath not once thought of her clothes.

Art. Nay, dear lady Pyrrha, the thing is not fuch a trifle, for 'tis the only mark of refpect that most people 6 are capable of fhewing. And though that is not your • cafe, I know your gratitude can never omit this public • occafion.

• AIR XLVIII. Tom and Will were Shepherds twain. • Think of dress in ev'ry light;

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''Tis woman's chiefest duty;

Neglecting that, ourselves we flight
And undervalue beauty.

That allures the lover's eye,

And graces ev'ry action;

Befides, when not a creature's by,

''Tis inward fatisfaction.

Ach. As I am yet a stranger, ladies, to the fashions of the country, 'tis your fancy that must determine me.

"Phil. How can a woman of common fense be so unfolicitous about her dress!

Art. Nay, dear lady Pyrrha, the thing is not fuch a trifle.

Lefb. And trust a woman to choose for her! "Tis a temper to be spiteful that very few of us can refift; for we have not many pleasures that can equal that of < feeing another woman ridiculous.

Phil. But you have not, Pyrrha, misplaced your • confidence.

"Enter Servant.

Serv. Your embroiderer, Madam.

• Phil. That woman is everlastingly peftering me for employment. Now can the imagine, that to promote her tawdry trade, I can be talked into making myfel

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