Mrs. Lov. It is because I do like him, Betty, that I do take such a resolution. Betty. Why, do you expect, madam, the colonel can work miracles? Is it possible for him to marry you with the consent of all your guardians ? Mrs. Lov. Or he must not marry me at all: and so I told him; and he did not seem displeased with the He promised to set me free; and I, on that condition, promised to make him master of that freedom. news. Betty. Well! I have read of enchanted castles, ladies delivered from the chains of magic, giants kill'd, and monsters overcome; so that I shall be the less surprised if the colonel should conjure you out of power of your four guardians; if he does, I am sure he deserves your fortune. the Mrs. Lov. And shall have it, girl, if it were ten times as much-For I'll ingenuously confess to thee, that I do like the colonel above all the men I ever saw :-There's something so jantée in a soldier, a kind. of je-ne-sçai-quoi air, that makes them more agreeable than the rest of mankind.-They command regard, as who shall say, We are your defenders. We preserve your beauties from the insults of rude and unpolish'd foes, and ought to be preferr'd before those lazy indolent mortals, who, by dropping into their fathers' estates, set up their coaches, and think to rattle themselves into our affections. Betty. Nay, madam, I confess that the army has C engrossed all the prettiest fellows-A laced coat and a feather have irresistible charms. Mrs. Lov. But the colonel has all the beauties of the mind as well as the body.-O all ye powers that favour happy lovers, grant that he may be mine! Thou god of love, if thou be'st aught but name, assist my Fainwell ! Point all thy darts to aid his just design, And make his plots as prevalent as thine. [Exeunt. ACT II. SCENE I. The Park. Enter Colonel finely drest, three Footmen after him. Colonel. So, now if I can but meet this beau!-Egad! methinks, I cut a smart figure, and have as much of the tawdry air as any Italian Count or French Marquée of them all. Sure I shall know this knight again— Ah! yonder he sits, making love to a mask, i'faith. I'll walk up the Mall, and come down by him. [Exit. Scene draws, and discovers Sir PHILIP upon a Bench, with a Woman mash'd. Sir Phil. Well, but, my dear, are you really constant to your keeper ? Wom. Yes, really, sir.Hey-day ! Who comes yonder? He cuts a mighty figure. Sir Phil. Hal a stranger, by his equipage keeping so close at his heels.—He has the appearance of a man of quality.-Positively French, by his dancing air. Wom. He crosses, as if he meant to sit down here. Sir Phil. He has a mind to make love to thee, child. Enter Colonel, and seats himself upon the Bench by Sir PHILIP. Wom. It will be to no purpose if he does. Sir Phil. Are you resolved to be cruel then? Col. You must be very cruel indeed, if you can deny any thing to so fine a gentleman, madam. [Takes out his Watch. Wom. I never mind the outside of a man. Col. And I'm afraid thou art no judge of the inside. Sir Phil. I am positively of your mind, sir, for creatures of her function seldom penetrate beyond the pocket. Wom. Creatures of your composition have, indeed, generally more in their pockets than in their heads. [Aside. Sir Phil. Pray what says your watch? mine is down. [Pulling out his Watch. Col. I want thirty-six minutes of twelve, sir. [Puts up his Watch, and takes out his Snuff-box. Sir Phil. May I presume, sir? Col. Sir, you honour me. [Presenting the Box. Sir Phil. He speaks good English-tho' he must be a foreigner. [Aside.]-This snuff is extremely good, -and the box prodigious fine; the work is French, I presume, sir. Col. I bought it in Paris, sir-I do think the workmanship pretty neat. Sir Phil. Neat! 'tis exquisitely fine, sir. Pray, sir, if I may take the liberty of enquiring-What country is so happy to claim the birth of the finest gentleman in the universe? France, I presume. Col. Then you don't think me an Englishman? Col. I am sorry for't. Sir Phil. Impossible you should wish to be an Englishman! Pardon me, sir, this island could not produce a person of such alertness. Col. As this mirror shews you, sir. [Puts up a Pocket Glass to Sir Philip's Face. Wom. Coxcombs! I'm sick to hear them praise one another. One seldom gets any thing by such animals; not even a dinner, unless one can dine upon soup and celery. Sir Phil. O Gad, sir ?-Will you leave us, madam? Ha, ha! [Exit Wom. Col. She fears 'twill be only losing time to stay here, ha, ha!-I know not how to distinguish you, sir, but your mien and address speak you right ho nourable. Sir Phil. Thus great souls judge of others by themselves-I am only adorn'd with knighthood, that's all, I assure you, sir; my name is Sir Philip Modelove. Col. Of French extraction? Sir Phil. My father was French. Col. One may plainly perceive it-There is a certain gaiety peculiar to my nation (for I will own myself a Frenchman) which distinguishes us every where-A person of your figure would be a vast addition to a coronet. Sir Phil. I must own I had the offer of a barony about five years ago, but I abhorr'd the fatigue which must have attended it. I could never yet bring myself to join with either party. Col. You are perfectly in the right, Sir Philip,-a fine person should not embark himself in the slovenly concern of politics: dress and pleasure are objects proper for the soul of a fine gentleman. Sir Phil. And love Col. Oh that's included under the article of plea sure. Sir Phil. Parbleu il est un homme d'esprit. I must embrace you-[Rises and embraces.]—Your sentiments are so agreeable to mine, that we appear to have but one soul, for our ideas and conceptions are the same. Col. I should be sorry for that. [Aside.]—You do me too much honour, Sir Philip. Sir Phil. Your vivacity and jantée mien assured me, at first sight, there was nothing of this foggy island in your composition. May I crave your name, sir? Col. My name is La Fainwell, sir, at your service. Sir Phil. The La Fainwells are French, I know; tho' the name is become very numerous in Great |