Lop. Is a husband of twenty thousand crown a year no consideration? Now I think it a very good consideration.

Fred. One way, my lord. But what will the world of such a match?

Say

Lop. Sir, I value not the world a button.

Fred. I cannot think your daughter can have any inclination for such a husband.

D. Lop. There, I believe, you are pretty much in the right, though it is a secret which I never had the curiosity to enquire into, nor I believe ever shall.— Inclination, quotha! Parents would have a fine time on't if they consulted their children's inclinations! "I'll venture you a wager, that in all the garrison "towns in Spain and Portugal during the late war, "there was not three women who have not had an "inclination for ever officer in the whole army; does "it therefore follow that their fathers ought to pimp "for them?" No, no, sir, it is not a father's business to follow his children's inclinations till he makes him. self a beggar.

Fred. But this is of another nature, my lord.

Lop. Look ye, sir, I resolve she shall marry Don Guzman the moment he arrives. Though I could not govern my son, I will my daughter, I assure you.

Fred. This match, my lord, is more preposterous than that which you proposed to your son, from whence arose this fatal quarrel.-Don Antonio's sister, Elvira, wanted beauty only, but Guzman every thing but→→→→

Lop. Money-and that will purchase every thing; and so adieu. [Exit.

Fred. Monstrous! these are the resolutions which destroy the comforts of matrimony.—He is rich and well-born; powerful arguments indeed! could I but add them to the friendship of Don Felix what might I not hope? But a merchant and a grandee of Spain are in consistent names.-Lissardo! from whence came you?

Enter LISSARDO in a riding-habit.

Liss. That letter will inform you, sir.
Fred. I hope your master's safe.

Liss. I left him so; I have another to deliver which requires haste.-Your most humble servant, sir.

Fred. To Violante, I suppose.

Liss. The same.

[Bowing.

[Exit.

Fred. [Reads.] Dear Frederick! the two chief 'blessings of this life, are a friend and a mistress; ' to be debarred the sight of those, is not to live. I 'hear nothing of Antonio's death, and therefore re'solve to venture to thy house this evening, impatient 'to see Violante, and embrace my friend. Your's.

FELIX. Pray Heaven he comes undiscovered.-Ha! Colonel Briton!

Enter Colonel BRITON in a riding-habit.

Col. Frederick, I rejoice to see thee.
Fred. What brought you to Lisbon, colonel

Col. La fortune de la guerre, as the French say. have commanded these three last years in Spain, but my country has thought fit to strike up a peace, and give us good Protestants leave to hope for christian burial; so I resolved to take Lisbon in my way home.

Fred. If you are not provided of a lodging, colonel, pray command my house while you stay.

Col. If I were sure I should not be troublesome I would accept your offer, Frederick.

Fred. So far from trouble, colonel, I shall take it as a particular favour. What have we here?

Col. My footman: this is our country dress, you 'must know, which for the honour of Scotland I make all my servants wear.

Enter GIBBY in a Highland dress.

Gib. What mun I de with the horses, and like yer honour? They will tack cald gin they stand in the causeway.

Fred. Oh, I'll take care of them. What, hoa! Vasquez!

Enter VASQUEZ.

Put those horses which that honest fellow will shew you into my stable, do you hear, and feed them well.

Vas. Yes, sir.

-Sir, by my master's orders, I am, sir, your most obsequious humble servant. Be pleas ed to lead the way.

Gib. 'Sbleed gang your gate, sir, and I sall follow ve. Ise tee hungry to feed on compliments. [Exit. Fred. Ha, ha! a comical fellow.-Well, how do you like our country, colonel?

Col. Why faith, Frederick, a man might pass his time agreeably enough within side of a nunnery; but to behold such troops of soft, plump, tender, melting, wishing, nay, willing girls too, thro' a damn'd grate, gives us Britons strong temptations to plunder. Ah, Frederick your priests are wicked rogues; they immure Beauty for their own proper use, and shew it only to the laiety to create desires and inflame account, that they may purchase pardons at a dearer

rate.

Fred. I own wenching is something more difficult here than in England, where womens' liberties are subservient to their inclinations, and husbands seem of no effect but to take care of the children which their wives provide.

Col. And does restraint get the better of inclination with your women here? No, I'll be sworn not even in fourscore. Don't I know the constitution of the Spanish ladies ?

Fred. And of all the ladies where you come, colonel; you were ever a man of gallantry.

men.

Col. Ah, Frederick ! the kirk half starves us ScotsWe are kept so sharp at home that we feed like cannibals abroad. Hark ye, hast thou never a pretty acquaintance now that thou wouldst consign over to a friend for half an hour, ha?

Fred. Faith, colonel, I am the worst pimp in chris

B

tendom; you had better trust to your own luck: the an women will soon find you out, I warrant you.

Col. Ay, but it is dangerous foraging in an enemy's country; and since I have some hopes of seeing my own again, I had rather purchase my pleasure than run the hazard of a stiletto in my guts. "Egad, I

"think I must e'en marry, and sacrifice my body "for the good of my soul." Wilt thou recommend me to a wife then, one that is willing to exchange her moidores for English liberty? ha, friend?

Fred. She must be very handsome, I suppose. Col. The handsomer the better-but be sure she has a nose.

Fred. Ay, ay, and some gold.

Col. Oh, very much gold; I shall never be able to swallow the matrimonial pill if it be not well gilded.

Fred. Puh! beauty will make it slide down nimbly.

Col. At first perhaps it may; but the second or third dose will choke me.-I confess, Frederick, women are the prettiest playthings in nature; but gold, substantial gold! gives 'em the air, the mien, the shape, the grace, and beauty of a goddess.

Fred. And has not gold the same divinity in their eyes, colonel ?

Col. Too often-"Money is the very god of mar. "riage; the poets dress him in a saffron robe, by "which they figure out the golden deity, and his "lighted torch blazons those mighty charms which 86 encourage us to list under his banner."

None marry now for love, no, that's a jest:
The self-same bargain serves for wife and beast.