Tag. When did you hear from your gallant?
Bid. Never since he went to the army.

Tag. How so?

Bid. I was afraid the letters would fall into my aunt's hands, so I would not let him write to me: but I had a better reason then.

Tag. Pray let us hear that too.

Bid. Why, I thought if I should write to him and promise him to love no body else, and should afterwards change my mind, he might think I was inconstant, and call me a coquette.

Tag. What a simple innocent it is! [aside] And have you chang'd your mind, miss?

Bid. No indeed, Tag, I love him the best of any of 'em.
Tag. Of any of 'em! why have you any more?
Bid. Pray don't ask me.

Tag. Nay, miss, if you only trust me by halves you can't expect

Bid. I will trust you with every thing-When I parted with him, I grew melancholy; so in order to divert me, I have let two others court me till he returns again.

Tag. Is that all, my dear? mighty simple indeed.

[Aside Bid. One of 'em is a fine blustering man, and is called captain Flash; he's always talking of fighting and wars; he thinks he's sure of me, but I shall baulk him; we shall see him this afternoon, for he press'd strongly to come and I have given him leave, while my aunt's taking her afternoon's nap.

Tag. And who is the other pray?

Bid. Quite another sort of a man; he speaks like a lady for all the world, and never swears as Mr Flash does, but wears nice white gloves, and tells me what ribbons become my complexion, where to stick my patches, who is the best milliner, where they sell the best tea, and which is the best wash for the face, and the best paste for the hands; he is always playing with my fan, and shewing his teeth, and whenever I speak he pats meso————— -and cries The devil take me, Miss Biddy, but you'll be my perdition.--Ha, ha, ha!

Tag. Oh the pretty creature! and what do you call him,

pra?

Bid. His name is Fribble; you shall see him too, for by

mistake

mistake I appointed 'em at the same time; but you must help me out with them.

Tag. And suppose your favourite should come too

Bid. I should not care what become of the others.
Tag. What's his name?

Bid. It begins with R-h

Tag. I'll be hang'd if it is not Rhodophil.

Bid. I am frighten'd at you! you are a witch, Tag! Tag. I am so, and can I tell your fortune too. Look me in the face. The gentleman you love most in the world will be at our house this afternoon; he arriv'd from the army this morning and dies till he sees you.

Bid. Is he come, Tag? don't joke with me

Tag. Not to keep you longer in suspence, you must know the servant of your Strephon, by some unaccountable fate or other, is my lord and master; he has just been with me, told me of his master's arrival and impatience

Bid. O my dear, dear, Tag, you have put me out of my yawits-I am all over in a flutter.-I shall leap out of my skin-I don't know what to do with myself-Is he come, Tag?—I am ready to faint-I'd give the world I had put on my pink and silver robings to-day.

Tag. I assure you, miss, you look charmingly!

Bid. Do I indeed tho'? I'll put a little patch under my left eye, and powder my hair immediately.

Tag. We'll go to dinner first, and then I'll assist you. Bid. Dinner! I can't eat a morsel-I don't know what's the matter with me-my ears tingle, my heart beats, my face blushes, and I tremble every joint of me-I must run in and look at myself in the glass this moment.

Tag. Yes, she has it, and deeply too; this is no hypocrisy

Not art, but nature now performs her part,
And every word's the language of the heart.

ACT.

ness.

SCENE Continues.

Enter Captain LOVEIT, BIDDY, TAG, and PUFF

CAPTAIN.

O find you still constant, and to arrive at such a critical juncture, is the height of fortune and happi

Bid. Nothing shall force me from you; and if I am secure of your affections

Puff. I'll be bound for him, madam, and give you any security you can ask.

Tag. Every thing goes on to our wish, Sir, I just now had a second conference with my old lady, and she was so convinced by my arguments, that she returned instantly to the lawyer to forbid the drawing out of any writings at all, and she is determined never to thwart Miss's inclinations, and left it to us to give the old gentleman his discharge at the next visit.

Capt. Shall I undertake the old dragon?

Tag. If we have occasion for help, we shall call for you. Bid. I expect him every moment, therefore I'll tell you what, Rhodophil; you and your man shall be lock'd up in my bed-chamber till we have settled matters with the old gentleman.

Capt. Do what you please with me.

Bid. You must not be impatient tho'.

Capt. I can undergo any thing with such a reward in view: one kiss and I'll be quite resign'd—and now shew me the way. [Exeunt. Tag. Come sirrah, when I have got you under lock, and key, I shall bring you to reason.

Puff. Are your wedding cloaths ready, my dove? the certificate's come.

Tag. Go follow your captain, sirrah-march-you may thank heav'n I had patience to stay so long.

[Exeunt Tag and Puff.

Enter

Enter BIDDY.

Bid. I was very much alarm'dfor fear my two gallants should come in upon us unawares; we should have had sad work if they had; I find I love Rhodophil vastly, for tho', my other sparks flatter me more, I can't abide thoughts of 'em now— I have business upon my hands enough to turn my little head; but egad my heart's good, and a fig for dangers- -let me see, what shall I do with my "two gallants? I must, at least part with 'em decently; suppose I set 'em togther by the ears?. -The luckiest thought in

the world! For if they won't quarrel (as I believe they (won't I can break with 'em for cowards, and very justly dismiss 'em my service; if they will fight, and one of 'em should be kill'd, the other will certainly be hang'd, or run away; and so I shall very handsomely get rid of both -I am glad I have settled it so purely.

Enter TAG.

Well, Tag, are they safe!

Tag. I think so, the door's double-locked, and I have the key in my pocket.

Bid. That's pure; but have you given them any thing to divert 'em,

Tag. I have given the captain one of our old gloves to mumble; but my Strephon is diverting himself with the more substantial comforts of a cold venison pasty.

Bid. What shall we do with the next that comes?

Tag. If Mr Fribble comes first; I'll clap him up in my lady's store-room; I suppose he is a great maker of marmalads himself, and will have an opportunity of making some critical remarks upon our pasty and sweat

meats.

Bid. When one of 'em comes, do you go and watch for the other, and as soon as you see him, run.in to us and pretend it is my aunt, and so we shall have an excuse to Jock him up till we want him.

Tag. You may depend upon me, here's one of them

Enter FRIBBLE.

Bid. Mr Fribble your servant.

Frib. Miss Biddy your slave-I hope I have not come upon you abruptly; I should have waited upon you soon

er,

er, but an accident happen'd that discompos'd me so, that I was obliged to go home again to take drops.

Bid. Indeed you don't look well, Sir.-Go, Tag, and do as I bid you.

Tag. I will, madam.

[Exit. Tag. I have set my maid to watch my aunt, that we may'n't be surpriz'd by her.

Frib. Your prudence is equal to your beauty, miss, and 1 hope your permitting me to kiss your hands will be no impeachment to your understanding.

Bid. I hate the sight of him. [Aside.] I was afraid I should not have had the pleasure of seeing you; pray let me know what accident you met with, and what's the matter with your hand?

Frib. Well, I vow, Miss Biddy you're a good Creter, I'll endeavour to muster up what little spirits I have, and tell you the whole affair— -Hem!-But first you must ive me leave to make you a present of a small pot of my lip-salve; my servant made it this morningthe ingredients are innocent, I assure you; nothing but the best virgin-wax, conserve of roses, and lilly of the valley water,

Bid. I thank you sir; but my lips are generally red, and when they a'nt I bite 'em.

Frib. I bite my own, sometimes, to pout 'em a little, but this will give shem a softness, colour, and an a agreeable moister. -Thus let me make a humble offering at that y shrine, where I have already sacrific'd my heart.

[Kneels and gives the pot. Bid. Upon my word that's very prettily express'd; you are positively the best company in the world-I wish he was out of the house.

[Aside.

Frib. But to return to my accident, and the reason why my hand is in this condition-I beg you'll excuse the appearance of it, and be satisfied that nothing but mere necessity could have forc'd me to appear thus muffled before you.

Bid. I am very willing to excuse any misfortunes that happens to you, Sir. [Curtsies. -thus it was

Frib. You are vastly good, indeed, Hem! You must know, Miss, there is not an animal in the creation I have so great an aversion to, as those hackney-coach fellows As I was coming out of my

lodgings,