I would forget I knew you; but you cannot
Be fall'n from so much goodness. I confess
I have no confidence in your husband's virtue;
He has attempted me; but shall hope sooner
To leave a stain upon the sun, than bribe
Me to so foul a guilt. I have no life
Without my innocence; and you cannot make
Yourself more miserable than to wish it from me,
Oh, do not lose the merit of your faith

And truth to him, tho' he forget himself,

By thinking to relieve yourself thus sinfully:

But sure you do but try me all this while.

Mrs Wild. And I have found thee pure: be still preserv❜d

So.

But he will straggle farther

Pen. Cherish hope;

He rather will come back: your tears and
Cannot be lost.

prayers

Mrs Wild. I charge thee by thy love.
Yet be rul'd by me. I'll not be so wicked
To tempt thee in a thought shall blemish thee;
But as thou would'st desire my peace, and his
Conversion, if his wantonness last with him,
Appear more tractible; allow him so much
Favour, in smile and language, that he may not
Think it impossible to prevail at last.

Pen. This may engage him farther, and myself to a dishonour.

Mrs Wild. It shall work our happiness,

As I will manage things; 'tis but to seem:

A look will cost thee nothing, nor a smile,

To make his hopes more pleasing; on my life
Thou shalt be safe both in thy fame and person.

Will you do this for my sake?

Pen. I'll refuse no danger, if I suffer not in honor, To do you any service.

Mrs Wild. I have cast it

Already in my brain; but do not yet

Inquire my purpose: as his folly leads.
Him to pursue you, let me know and I'll
By fair degrees acquaint you with my plot;
Which, built on no foul ends, is like to prosper;
And see, how aptly he presents himself

Pr'ythee

Pr'ythee scem kind, and leave the rest to me.

He shall not see me.

Enter WILDING.

[Exit.

Wild. How now, cuz, was that

My wife went off?

Pen. Yes, sir.

Wild. Let her go; what said she to thee?

Pen. Nothing.

Wild. Thou art troubled!

Pen. Pray, to your knowledge, sir, wherein have I Done injury to you, or her?

Wild. Has she abus'd thee?

I'll go kick her.

Pen. By no means, sir-I steal away your heart, And meet at stol'n embraces ?

Wild. Does she twit thee? I'll kick her like a foot-ball, Sav but the word.

Pen. By no means think upon't; I have forgiven her. You sha' not, sir, so much as frown upon her;

Pray do not, as you love me: we must study

A more convenient revenge.

Wild. How is this?

I pr'ythee, if she has been peremptory,

Which was none of our articles, let me instruct thee
How we shall be reveng'd.

Pen, Sir, I acknowledge

The growth and expectation of my fortune

Is in your love; and tho' I would not wrong her-
And yet, to have my innocence accus'd,

Is able to pervert it. Sir, your pardon ;

I have been passionate: pray love your wife.

Wild. No, no, I'll love thee; indeed, indeed, I will. Is she jealous?

Pen. You know she has no cause.

Wild. Let us be wise, and give her cause: shall's cuz?
Pen. Sir, if I be a trouble to your house.
Your breath shall soon discharye me; I had thought
The tie of blood might have gain'd some respect.

Wild. Discharge thee the house? I'll discharge her,

And all her generation, thee excepted;

And thou shalt do't thyself; by this, thou shalt; [Kisses ber. Ha, she kisses with more freedom! this is better

D 4

[Aside, Than

Than if my wife had pleaded for me.

Pen,

Thou shalt be mistress, wil't thou? come, thou shalt:
She's fit for drudgery.

Pen. Oh, do not say so.

Wild. Then I wo'not; but I love thee for thy spirit,
'Cause thou wilt be reveng'd. Punish her jealousy
The right way: when 'tis done, I would chuse
To tell her; it may kick up her heels another way.
Pen. Tell her what? you make me blush.

Witd. No, no, I'll tell nobody, by this hand, I will not. [Kisses it.] Stay, stay, I have a diamond will become this finger-tis in my drawer above, I'll fetch it strait.

Pen. O, by no means.

Wild. 'Tis thine, 'tis thine, my girl, my soul is thine.

[Exit.

Pen. Indeed Mrs Wilding, this is going a little too far for you there is something so like reality in all I have been doing, that I am more than half in a fever already—this playing with fire is a very foolish thing, but tho' I burn my fingers I must go thro' with it.

Enter WILDING, with a Ring.

Wild. Here it is, Pen, as sparkling as thyself; wear it, and let my wife stare out her eyes upon t.

Fen. I wo'not tak't upon such conditions.

Wild. Take it on any, take it on any

She's come about,

vern

Enter Page.

Page. Sir, master Hazard desires your company at the ta - he says there are none but gentlemen of your acquaintance, Mr Cureless, Mr ittlestock, and Mr. Sellaway. Wild. He must excuse me get you gone.

Pen. Stay, stay, boy-As you love me go, sir-Your master will come. [Exit Page.]-Have no suspicions that I wish your absence; I'll wear your gift, and study to be grateful.

Wild. I'll leave my boy behind-and shou'd my wife be set on gossiping this afternoon, pretend thou, girl, some slight indisposition to keep at home; and when she's gone, let me but know it, and I'll leave the happiest run of dicc to catch a moment with thee.

Pen I want not such strong proofs of your regard; I will not stop your fortune.

Wild.

Wild. Then I'll not leave you now. Pen. You must; indeed you mustyou, I shall not prove ungrateful.

When I can oblige

[Exit.

Wild. Both wind and tide are for me! no talk now of wife's consent, I'll not remove my siege-When I can oblige you!-Oh, 'twas sweetly spoken!-She is my own! I have her sure! quite sure-Now to the tavern and drink to the purpose. [Exit.

SCENE, The Taveru.

Enter HAZARD, ACRELESS, LITTLESTOCK, SELLAWAY, and Drawer.

Hax. More wine.

Acr. Right, noble Hazard, here's to thee.

Haz. Let it come, boy; fill it me steeple high, I am in the vein of mirth, and I ha' cause, as you shall see in due time, Gentlemen, Mr Littlestock, thou art dreaming o' the dice.

Sell. He's melancholy.

Litt. Who, I?

Haz. I'll play the farrier then, and drench thee for the sullens. A health to all our mistresses; we have had 'em single, lets shuffle 'em now together. [Drinks.] Come, let us join a little music to our wine, and if his melancholy stands 'em both, I'll lay all the money in my pocket, which is no small sum, that he has a two-penny cord about him, and will make use of it before to-morrow morning.Come, Tom, give us the gamester's apology, and if these are only qualms of conscience, this song will warm him like a dram,

SONG.
I.

Ye youths of this town,

Who roam up and down,

To eat and to dress all your aim :

Be not squeamish and nice

To make friends of the dice,

All the world plays the best of the game.

Ꭰ ;

See

See how each profession

And trade thro the nation,

Will dupe all they can without shame : Then why shou'd not we

In our turn be as free,

All the world plays the best of the game.

The lawyers a note,

III.

Will squabble and quote,

And learnedly plead and declaim; Yet all this is but trick

The poor client to nick,

For the law plays the best of the game.

To gain bis base ends

Each lover pretends,

IV.

To talk of bis darts and bis flame :

By which he draws in

The poor maiden to sin,

Who is left with the worst of the game.

The prudish coy maid

With bypocrisy's aid,

V.

The foolish fond man does the same

When the fool's in the net,

The prude turns coquet,

And ber spouse has the best of the game.

The patriots so loud,

VI.

Who roar to the croud,

And mount to the summit of fame

Their mouths soon will shut,

Then they shuffle and cut,

And at court play the best of the game.

The