NOTORIETY:

A

COMEDY.

ACT I.

SCENE, An Apartment at Sir ANDREW'sTwo Doors open in Flat-Bells ring.

Enter JAMES from Door, and another Servant.

JAMES.

U N-fly-fcamper-Don't you

hear the

company are breaking up ?-Call Lord

Jargon's carriage.

Lady ACID appears at Door, curtfying as if taking leave of fomebody.

Lady A. Good night, my Lord-Delightful man! I am determined he shall be in poffeffion

B

of

of Honoria-if it's only in return for his attachment to me.-James, call up the carriages, and fee the company difpofed of- I'm fo fatigued! -Heigho-Seven o'clock again! I hav'nt been to bed any fooner this fortnight.

Sir ANDREW (without).

Sir Andr. Where are all the fervants?

(Without)

Lady A. Here's my fretful hufband just got up! He's fo old-fashioned, and fo four-He's never pleased, but when others are vexed-and never unhappy, but when his friends are happy.

Enter Sir ANDREW, in Night-Gown and Cap. So, my life!-juft got up, I fuppofe?

Sir Andr. So, my foul-juft going to bed, I fuppofe-What! at the old work-Rout, ball, or concert, heh! Making fools happy with my money?

Lady A. Pfha! you've no idea of life.

Sir Andr. No-but I have of death-It would kill me in a fortnight-Befides, every body laughs at you-Not one of your acquaintancewho, by the bye, have loved and hated each other all round-but, on leaving the room, exclaims—“ Well! it's very fine! mighty grand! But will it laft? Won't there be a crush by and bye?"

Lady A. Ridiculous, Sir Andrew! An't I vifited by every body? Don't all the beaumonde attend Lady Acid's parties?

Sir Andr. The beau-monde! Why, they'll vifit any body that is fool enough to invite them. -Let who will give an expenfive entertainment,

they'll

they'll flock to it, like rooks about a ruin.—But this won't do-It's feven o'clock, and I muft be eating. Here—you Sir (Enter James), bring my breakfail.

James. Breakfast!-What, here, Sir? [Exit. Sir Andr. Yes;-here, Sir.-I am fure the beau-monde (as your Ladyfhip calls them) will have no objection to fomething fubftantial. Poor devils! at thefe fort of parties they get nothing to feed on but fcandal and faro.

Lady A. Provoking, Sir Andrew !-You're always teafing and vexing me; and I infift on knowing what part of my conduct

Sir Andr. Hold-don't fuppofe I fufpect your character.-No-'midft all your gaieties, I ftill believe you to be so constant and honourable, that there's no indulging oneself in finding fault with you.

Lady A. If you don't think fo, your cousin Colonel Hubbub does, or he would never have trufted me with the care of his niece Honoria. -But I leave you to your ill-nature.

Sir Andr. Ay; go to bed-You to your pillow-I to my coffee.

Lady A. Mind me, Sir-If you fee Honoria, give her the advice I defired you. Tell her the Colonel has written for his ward, Mr. Nominal, to challenge that wretch Clairville, and that I fhall do all in my power to give her to Lord Jargon-And fo, good night, moft good-hu. mour'd hufband!

Sir Andr. And fo, good morning, most sweettemper'd wife! [Exit Lady A.] I've made her unhappy, however.-'Gad, I don't know how it is, I like to fee every body's face as long as my

own.-(Breakfast brought in) Here it comesAnd here's the paper. (Sits down, and takes up newspaper.) Now for it !-Now for bad news! "Theatre Royal-New Comedy."-Pfha! making people grin and diftort their faces.-Give me a deep, horrible, agreeable Tragedy"Bankrupts."-Ay, here they are- One"two-three-thirteen."-Come, very well! -that's very well!" Promotions."-There they are with their curft joy again !" Stocks fallen one and a half."-Some lame ducks, however- Marriages-ten."-Well! long life to you, for you'll be as miferable

Enter HONORIA (from Doors).

Hon. Dear Sir, ten thousand pardons-I thought to have found your ward Mifs Strangeways here.

Sir Andr. Sit down, Honoria, fit down-I want to talk to you-Come, take fome breakfast, Hon. Breakfaft!-I hav'n't been to rest yet— You forget the joys of high life, Sir!

Sir Andr. Joys!-She's happy too!-Um! -Silly, ignorant girl, to take pleasure in fuch unmeaning fcenes!

Hon. Pleafure! They give me pain, Sir-mifery.

Sir Andr. Do they? Take fome breakfast. (Offers her fome.)

Hon. What have I been doing to-night, Sir? -Talking to men I deteft, and liftening to women I defpife-mixing with people who have neither feeling, amity, nor fenfe.-This I have done for years, and this I muft ftill perfevere in; for my

education

education has taught me to fmile when I was miferable, and to be fashionable at the expence of my peace.

Sir Andr. Sweet creature! How prettily fhe prattles! Go on.

Hon. Yes, Sir; with a mind naturally attached to domestic happiness, I am compelled to deride all peaceful scenes, because my uncle, the Colonel, who has cruelly delivered me to the care of your wife, Sir-But I interrupt you-I fee I do-I'll keep my forrows to myfelf.

Sir Andr. Don't-don't keep them to yourfelf-I like to hear you talk about forrow and misery; and if you know of any more elsewhere, you'll not offend me by imparting it! But now I think on't, tell me that unlucky ftory of the fellow afcending your window by a rope ladder. Hon. Fellow! Sir Andrew! When you are more respectful, I'll talk to you―till when(Going.)

Sir Andr. (tops her.) Stay-be not offended -I'll fympathize with you, Honoria-I'll give you figh for figh, and tear for tear. Come, make me your confidant, and you fhan't repent it.-Nay, you must-you shall-I do love to hear a tale of woe!

Hon. (fitting.) Oh, Sir! how have I been flandered and defamed! I never knew Mr. Clairville but as a friend-as a protector: that we had fecret meetings I cannot deny; but I was never alone-your ward Sophia was always prefent-and the will witnefs to the world that he was too honourable to make bafe propofals, and I too unfashionable to accept them.

Sir Andr. Go on-I like to hear you, Honoria.