LAUR A.

I do you but justice. You shall fee I will fing the duet you gave me last.

Come, fit you there then.

[ Here follows a Duett. 1

LAUR A.

Apropos, favours, fir George! have you never thought of partaking thofe favours, by a mutual connexion under the influence of Hymen?

SIR GEORGE.

Oh yes, madam, I can hardly have liv'd fo long, without having entertain'd that agreeable idea.

LAURA.

Tell me now, fir George, tell me honeftly, what scheme of matrimony have you form'd.

SIR GEORGE.

What scheme, madam? That's a very delicate question.

L A URA.

I have my reasons for putting it.

SIR GEORGE.

Surely fhe does not know

L A U R A.

[Afide.]

That agreeable idea, to ufe your own expreffion, notwithstanding all my philosophical fortifications against it, has made great incurfions into my mind. Now, I should be glad to know, if your thoughts on that subject fuit with mine at all.

SIR

GEORGE. [Embarrassed.]

Madam, all I can say is, that I am a man, made like the reft, to follow the fashion, and not trouble myself much with reflexion.

LAUR A.

What, would you take the oath requir'd on such an occafion, with a determin'd defign of never keeping it? Come, come, fir George, you don't think at all.

SIR GEORGE

When I say this, madam, 'tis not from any sensation that I have within, that I should ever act unconformable to the rules of honour. But what is marriage after all? an union from the motives of intereft and decency, with a woman we can't get rid of. In spite of whatever happens, they are link'd to each other for life. The certainty of which, as it is mutually abused on both fides, makes them neglect even the endeavour of pleafing; from hence proceeds a coolness and indifference, each sticks to their own party, follows the torrent of the world, and ends by being totally careless of each other, as far as the world will permit them, which requires no more than an external complaifance.

LAUR A.

How, fir! And is all the happiness marriage is fuf ceptible of, reduc'd to this point?

SIR GEORGE.

I beg your pardon, madam, I forgot to mention one confequence, which is children, neceflary indeed to preserve eftates to us, which, without them, we might be oblig'd to restore.

You fpeak to me furely of people who come together without any principle of affection. But how would you behave yourself to an amiable lady, whose beauty and talents could engage your affections, and who should make your happiness her first pleasure ?

VOL. I.

K k

SIR

SIR GEORGE.

Madam, I fhould adore her. Fashion then could have no power over me.But do wives commonly dedicate their excellent and agreeable talents to their hufbands, for any continuance ?

LAURA.

If the neglects them in his eyes, 'tis because he appears to be no longer affected with them, and that others, lefs indifferent, behold her with more justice.

SIR GEORGE.

No, madam, I know ladies of the ftricteft virtue. I have seen more than one dreffed up with every grace, and adorned with every excellent qualification the evening of her marriage, and yet eight days after throw afide all those qualities fhe poffeffed, which might please her husband. The hufband, you will think, perhaps, has no right to complain; fhe does no more for another than for him; but he does not endeavour to please him more than any other. In fhort, this very man, with the beft difpofition in the world towards loving his wife paffionately and fincerely for his whole life, finds this very wife fo little attentive to exert the faculties fhe has to appear amiable, that a diftaste arifes in his mind againft his will, and from one, the best calculated to honour, love and marriage, in the fame object, he becomes the most diffipated and inconftant in the whole world.

LAURA.

Now, fir, from the lively and animated way you have expreffed your fentiments, one might almoft guess you yourself had been in the cafe of one of these hufbands But that I know is impoffible.

SIR GEORGE.

A little knowledge of the world, madam, will teach us as much from the example of others, as from our own experience.

LAURA:

LAURA.

Oh, that's not always true. However I am glad to fee we are fo well agreed. Let's drop the argument. I am afraid this ferious tone grows tiresome.

you had e'en better go to the opera.

SIR GEORGE.

Can any conversation with

tire fome ?

I think

you, madam, ever become

LAURA.

I always take great care to change it before that moment can happen. I love my friends for themfelves. Make yourself easy, fir George, the baron's box was mere pleafantry: I fhall be at home, and fhall expect you to bring me the news from the opera.

SIR GEORGE.

On that condition, madam, I take my leave. [Exit.

No, madam, your converfation has given me great pleasure.

LAUR A.

You have now heard, in as fhort a time as poffible, the method we fhould take to amufe ourselves, and engage the men. Shifting by turns from caprice to gaiety, gaiety to reafon, reafon to fentiment; that's the whole fecret, and that's the train every woman, who wishes to pleafe, fhould follow.

MELISSA.

I have fo well comprehended the leffon, that I defire nothing more towards reclaiming my husband; and really I begin to reproach myself for my own inconftancy. I must sure have been very infipid, but I will put your receipt to the tryal this very evening..

LISET TA.

You have a fcholar, madam, which does you honour, for fhe has heard every thing with attention.

LAURA.

I was extremely glad to question fir George on the fubject of matrimony. His advice cannot be fufpected, and he has owned honeftly he should behave like the reft of the husbands, if he had a wife who neglected all the means of pleafing him. Yet as he is a gentleman, of probity and honour, I make it a particular cafe to

him.

MELISSA.

I think as you do, madam, from the justness of his answers.

LAURA.

You delight me exceedingly The good we hear others fpeak of those we love, inhances the opinion we have already conceiv'd of them. As your confidence in me, renders you deferving of mine in return, I will not conceal from you, that I defign to unite myself with him in a lawful alliance; he will make any woman who deferves him, happy, if fhe will be at the pains of endeavouring to please him. But, blefs me, you change colour, madam! I am furpriz'd

MELISSA.

'Tis nothing at all, madam, only a little faintnefs, that will foon be over.

LISET TA.

The lady has been fo long confin'd, without daring hardly to breathe, or speak a single word, perhaps that Conftraint has overpowered her.

MELISSA.