them, has made you, what my utmost wishes formed, and all my heart has sighed for. Lady T. [Turning to Lady Grace.] How odious does this goodness make me! Lady G. How amiable your thinking so! Lord T. Long parted friends, that pass through easy voyages of life, receive but common gladness in their meeting: but from a shipwreck saved, we mingle tears with our embraces! [Embracing Lady Townly. Lady T. What words! what love! what duty can repay such obligations ! Lord T. Preserve but this desire to please, your power is endless. Lady T. Ohl-'till this moment, never did I know, my lord, I had a heart to give you. Lord T. By Heaven! this yielding hand, when first it gave you to my wishes, presented not a treasure more desirable! Oh, Manly! sister! as you have often shared in my disquiet, partake of my felicity! my new-born joy! see here the bride of my desires! This may be called my wedding-day. Lady G. Sister, (for now, methinks, that name is dearer to my heart than ever) let me congratulate the happiness that opens to you. Man. Long, long, and mutual may it flow Lord T. To make our happiness complete, my dear, join here with me to give a hand, that amply will repay the obligation. Lord T. Oh, Manly, how the name of friend endears the brother! [Embracing him. Man. Your words, my lord, will warm me to deserve them. Enter a Servant. Serv. My lord, the apartments are full of masqueraders And some people of quality there desire to see your lordship and my lady. Lady T. I thought, my lord, your orders had forbid their revelling? Lord T. No, my dear, Manly has desired their admittance to-night, it seems, upon a particular occasion-Say we will wait upon them instantly. [Exit Servant. Lady T. I shall be but ill company to them. Lord T. No matter: not to see them, would on a sudden be too particular. Lady Grace will assist you to entertain them. Lady T. With her, my lord, I shall be always easy -Sister, to your unerring virtue I now commit the guidance of my future days Never the paths of pleasure more to tread, For in the marriage-state the world must own Divided happiness was never known. To make it mutual nature points the way: Let husbands govern; gentle wives obey. [Exeunt. SCENE III. "Opening to another Apartment discovers a great num"ber of people in masquerade, talking all together, and "playing upon one another. Lady Wronghead as a "shepherdess; Jenny as a nun; the 'Squire as a run"ning footman; and the Count in a domino. After 66 some time Lord and Lady Townly, with Lady Grace, 66 enter to them unmasked. "Lord T. So! here's a great deal of company. "Lady T. A great many people, my lord, but no 66 company- -as you'll find- -for here's one now "that seems to have a mind to entertain us. "[A Mask, after some affected gesture, makes up to "Lady Townly. "Mask. Well, dear Lady Townly, sha'n't we see 66 you by-and-by? Lady T. I don't know you, madam. "Mask. Don't you seriously? [In a squeaking tone. "Lady T. Not I, indeed. "Mask. Well, that's charming; but cann't you guess? "Lady T. Yes, I could guess wrong, I believe. "Mask. That's what I'd have you do. Lady T. But, madam, if I don't know you at all, " is not that as well. "Mask. Ay, but you do know me. "Lady T. Dear sister, take her off o' my hands; "there's no bearing this. [Apart. "Lady G. I fancy I know you, madam. "Mask. I fancy you don't; what makes you think you do? "Lady G. Because I have heard you talk. "Mask. Ay, but you don't know my voice, I'm ❝ sure. "Lady G. There is something in your wit and humour, madam, so very much your own, it is im"possible you can be any body but my Lady Trifle. "Mask. [Unmasking.] Dear Lady Grace! thou art "a charming creature. "Lady G. Is there nobody else we know here? "Mask. Oh dear, yes! I have found out fifty al❝ready. "Lady G. Pray who are they? "Mask. Oh, charming company! there's Lady "Ramble-Lady Riot-Lady Kill-care-Lady "Squander-Lady Strip-Lady Pawn-and "the Dutchess of Single Guinea. "Lord T. Is it not hard, my dear, that people of "sense and probity are sometimes forced to seem "fond of such company? [Apart. "Lady T. My lord it will always give me pain to "remember their acquaintance, but none to drop it "immediately. [Apart. "Lady G. But you have given us no account of "the men, madam. Are they good for any thing? "Mask. Oh, yes, you must know, I always find out "them by their endeavours to find out me. "Lady G. Pray, who are they? "Mask. Why, for your men of tip-top wit and "pleasure, about town, there's my Lord-Bite"Lord Archwag-Young Brazen-wit-Lord Tim"berdown-Lord Joint-life-and-Lord Mortgage. "Then for your pretty fellows only-there's Sir "Powder-Peacock-Lord Lapwing-Billy Magpie 66 -Beau Frightful-Sir Paul Plaister-crown, and "the Marquis of Monkey-man. 66 Lady G. Right! and these are the fine gentlemen "that never want elbow-room at an assembly. "Mask. The rest, I suppose, by their tawdry hired "habits, are tradesmen's wives, inns-of-court beaux, "Jews, and kept mistresses. "Lord T. An admirable collection ! "Lady G. Well, of all our public diversions, I am "amazed how this, that is so very expensive, and has "so little to shew for it, can draw so much company ❝ together. "Lord T. Oh, if it were not expensive, the better "sort would not come into it: and because money "can purchase a ticket, the common people scorn to "be kept out of it. "Mask. Right, my lord. Poor Lady Grace! sup. 66 pose you are under the same astonishment, that an opera should draw so much good company. 66 |