the only things which affect me, and in those alone But fir George will one day perhaps do me justice.

PHYLL LIS.

Ah, madam! don't wait for that; rather from this day do him juftice yourself. Do all women that are in your cafe die for grief? If that was the fashion, Lard, what a defolation there would be? what a terrible confufion would Paris be in, if all the gentlemen hufbands who give themselves airs like your's, were to make fuch moping melancholy creatures of their wives, that they fhould refolve immediately to fhut themselves up from the world, as your ladyship has done for these two months? The houses of the first fashion would be abandon'd, the finest city in Europe would become a downright defart: but happily they do not all think as you. No, no, reafon and good fenfe manage things better,

MELISSA.

If they lov'd with as much affection as I do, they would entertain the fame fentiments.

PHYLLIS.

Once more! Believe me, madam, we cannot be very fond of a man that is not fond of us. I am far from giving you bad advice against a husband, who neglects you without reason. But if I was in your place

MELISSA.

Why, what would you do?

PHYLL I S.

Certainly every thing that I could, which might preyent me from perceiving his inconftancy. How do you know but that might be a means of reforming him? more than one or two hufbands have been brought back to their duty by this method, as common as it is. But here comes Sir Novelty Fashion; add his advice to mine, and you will find that your difeafe is not totally incurable.

MELISSA.

MELISSA.

What advantage can I expect from the advice of the man in the world I moft defpife? He is the only cause of all this alteration in my husband. Before he came hither, fir George loved me tenderly, I was happy. Sir Novelty is a monfter whom I deteft.

PHYLLIS.

True, but a monster of the most infinuating and dangerous kind.

S CE NE in.

Sir NOVELTY FASHION, MELISSA, PHYLLIS

S IR NOVELTY.

What, always téte à téte with Phyllis, madam! Is it from a perfect hatred of mankind, madam? or are you deeply engaged together on fome inexhaustible subject?

PHYLLIS.

You are in the right, fir, we were upon your panegyric.

SIR

My panegyric

to the conference.

NOVELTY.

O then I think I may be admitted In order to compleat it suffer me to furnish you with some anecdotes of my private life, fome particularities in my way of thinking, which will give you a better idea of me, than you are as yet poffeffed of.

MELISSA.

I hope, fir, you will not forget, among thofe excellent anecdotes, the great pains you have taken to eftrange a husband from me, and make him fly from pleasures to pleasures, at the expence of every duty which he owes me.

SIR NOVELTY.

Ha! what are we there! what a strange opinion now muft you have of me? You will never get it out of your head, but that I have run away with your hufband. But I believe, madam, fir George is so much mafter of himself, as to do whatever he thinks proper. He is fond of gaiety and pleasure what can be more rational? Is it my fault if you don't do as much on your part; if you take a delight in moping over your uneafinefs, which is downright folly and nonfenfe? Indeed, indeed, for a pretty woman, you are the ftrangeft dupe to I don't know what fentiment, fome low, old fashion'd prejudice, really like nothing at all,

yes, 'Egad, like nothing in nature; and which has fuch a ftrong hold upon you, that you yourself will be like nothing in nature, if you don't take great care. Live! madam, live! enjoy the happy occafion of liberty which your husband affords you, and then you will become like all other amiable ladies, who share at leaft one half in the pleasures they give us.

PHYLLIS.

Did not I fay fo, madam? Sir Novelty knows what be does; he perverts the husbands, but it is only for the fake of comforting their wives.

MELISSA.

After the pernicious counsel you have given fir George, fir, I defire no advice from you: and if I condefcend even to fpeak to you, it will be only to load you with the bittereft reproaches.

SIR NOVELTY.

Reproaches! Ha! I understand you. You would. speak of his attachment to the beautiful Laura. Madam, it will be no difficulty to justify myfelf to your ladyfaip in this particular, and when you know how this affair has happened I find, I muft, in fpite of my teeth, YOL. I.

Ꮓ

explain

explain the truth of this bufinefs. That I am a man of gallantry, must be confefled, allow that, madam. But I fhall tell fome difagreeable truths, which I would have eternally hid, left they might fhock your delicacy but you will have it-The ftory then is this.

Sir GEORGE CARELESS, MELISSA, Sir NOVELTY FASHION, PHYLLIS, JEREMY.

SIR GEORGE.

Ah! what are you there, fir Novelty! I have been waiting for you this hour. I had almoft refolv'd to go without you but before I went, I was willing, madam, to enquire after your health. Good-morrow, Phyllis.

MELISSA

No, fit George, 'tis to fit Novelty I owe this vifit, 'twas him you came to look for. Whatever other reafons of complaint I may have against him, here I muft confefs an obligation.

SIR GEORGE. [To Sir Novelty.]

Shall I let you down any where?

SIR NOVELTY.

Me, my dear, my chariot's at the door, and I have a thousand places to call at.

SIR GEORGE.

Well, as you will, I too have bufinefs

Só

leave you with the lady [Goes out, and returns] A propos, [To Sir Novelty] you wont fail in the evening?

Have you forgot already? Heark'e [To Meliffa]

With your leave, madam.

MELISSA.

MELISSA. While he is subifpering Sir Novelty.]

What occafion is there, fir George, for all thefe Tittle fineffes to conceal your route from me? I can but too easily interpret

I

The whole affair, madam, was only concerning a party at the opera.

SIR GEORGE.

That is not yet determin'd, madam.

SIR NOVELTY.

No, no. But women always love to let theit imagination wander farther than it should do. It is a hard piece of work to avoid giving them uneafiness, they are fo ready to create it to themselves.

PHYLL I S..

Sir Novelty does not love that any one fhould interpret too shrewdly.

JEREMY.

Sir Novelty is in the right, 'tis that which raifes all the difturbance in the world; your fhrewd fufpicions, nothing more nor less.

To fhew you, madam, how much you deceive yourself, I'll fup at home this evening, if it will be any pleasure to you.

MELISSA.

You know, fir George, what pleasure that would give me; but you are alfo well affured, I defire it no longer than it shall be reciprocal.