Sir George. That you have as much health, youth, and fpirits Savage. As any choice fpirit

Sir George. Or young gentleman—

Sir Paul. In the whole world!—I'm rous'd! I'm fir'd! and to fhew I'm feafon'd! true English heart of Oak !—allôns !

Savage. (Singing.) "Bring the flask! the

mufic

Sir George. (Singing.) " Joy fhall quickly find

Sir Paul." Let us dance and laugh and sing, and drive old care behind us!"

[Exeunt at Portico

Enter Mrs. DARNLEY.

Mrs. Darnley. Can this be the mansion of elegance and tafte? I meet with nothing but rudenefs and neglect !--I wish I could find Mr. Darnley!-I dare fay, by this time, he is ficken'd of the scene, and anxious as myself, to fee his home again.

Enter DARNLEY from the Portico, half drunk, with Lady Sarah Savage's letter in bis band.

Darnley. Speaking as he enters.) Fill away my boys!-till-Gill while I like a faithful gallant!-gallant! hold, hold, friend Darnley. This letter is to benefit your intereft, not facrifice your honour.

Mrs. Darnley. Heavens !-what do I fee? Mr. Darnley!

Darnley. (Not regarding her.) Yes :---you do; you fee Mr. Darnley.

Mrs.

Mrs. Darnley. Why?what's the matter with you!-what's that letter?

Darnley. This letter?-this is a love letter, my angel,-ha!-why it is!-it is my wife!

Mrs. Darnley. Yes: that wife who in the hour of diffipation you forget-can I believe it?-in a little hour can all our paft attachment-but why am I alarmed?-Fashion may dupe the wicked and the weak, but virtue fuch as his must scorn its empty power.

Darnley. Forget -no never!-and now I look at you-I think I ought to be maffacred for having even for a moment neglected you

Oh Maria!-I have fuch news for youLady Sarah has been fo kind-she has promised to promote me-to befriend you-and in short the has taken a liking to the whole family.

Mrs. Darnley. And why, Harry?

Darnley. Why! ay: there's the rub! but don't be jealous, Maria-I entreat you, don't be jealous!--for by heaven, I love you !---I do fo tenderly that if it were not for my promife, I could find in my heart to return home directly.

Mrs. Darnly. Do; let us begone—the place diftracts me and I fear this high company will corrupt you.

Darnley. High company!-hang it :-if that's all you're afraid of, there's not much danger in this houfe I fancy-but my letter-my word to Sir George-and confider our interest, Maria.

Mrs. Darnley. Oh no-confult our happiness my love; and furely there is none in this tumultuous fcene-we left all joy behind us, in our children and our cottage, Harry; and there alone we shall recover it-come.

Darnley. She's right-the pretty prattler has reafon on her fide and who can difobey-(looks

without,

without,) ha!-Sir George and Lady Sarah in clofe converfation!-they beckon me !-again! Mrs. Darnley. Why do you pause ?

Darnley. I'm in for it-the die is caft!-Maria!-excufe me. (going from her.)

Mrs. Darnley, How! will you leave me, Mr. Darnley?

Darnley. What can I do?-'tis but for a fhort time.

Mrs. Darnley. You must not.

(Laying hold of him.) Darnley. Nay: only for an hour.

Mrs. Darnley. (Letting him go and taking out her handkerchief.)-This is the first time you ever us'd me thus.

Darnley. So it is-now what a pretty fcoundrel I am!-and this is fashionable life is it? -Oh fool! fool! to quit fubftantial peace for artificial pleasure !-don't weep, Maria-I go for our mutual advantage-I go to make our children happy.

Mrs. Darnley. Then ftay with their motherthey never wifh'd that we should part.

Darnley. Nor will we-we've liv'd fo long and happily together, that I would rather lofe the little we have left, than hurt your quiet.(Enter Sir George Gauntlet.) Sir George ftay with her-I'll fee Lady Sarah, entreat her forgivenefs, and return inftantly; for, oh my friend !-my heart drops blood for every tear fhe fheds.

Sir George. P'fha !-remember your interestLady Sarah will foon reconcile your fcruples, and leave me to compofe Mrs. Darnley-nay: take your opportunity you must keep the appointment-I infift-fo begone !-(Darnley exit.) What a fufs here is about a man's leaving his

wife for an hour, when fo many worthy couple would be happy to part for ever.

Mrs. Darnley. Sir George, tell me, where is

he gone? tell me, that I may fly and overtake him!

Sir George. Why can't you guess?

Mrs. Darnley. No, indeed, I cannot.

Sir George. Not that he is gone to Lady Sarah to keep an affignation with her.

Mrs. Darnley. An affignation.

Sir George. In her dreffing-room! at this very hour-the gay fcene has fo alter'd him, that you fee he has left you to keep the appointment. Mrs. Darnley. I'll not believe it!-he is above fuch baseness.

Sir George. Won't you?-then I'll prove it. Mrs. Darnley. I defy you!-he knows the value of my heart too well to trifle with it; and I've known his fo long, that I'll not venture to fufpect it-no-though his friend defames it.

Sir George. Nay then-you remember his hand-writing-here is his answer to the lady's letter-read. [giving her the letter. Mrs. Darnley. (Looks over it.) Ha!—it is too plain-I am deceiv'd-deferted.

Sir George. I was the bearer of that letter, and preferv'd it merely to fhew it you, I thought it the duty of a friend.

Mrs. Darnley. And from the fame duty, you advis'd him to write it.-Oh! I have known you long, Sir George-you are one of those who find no happiness but in marring that of others-who feduce the affections of the husband, the better to betray the honour of the wife! and when you've spoilt all focial and domeftic peace, the

friend you laugh at, and the woman scorn!—I know you well!

Sir George. My dear ma'am, how you mistake! -I meant to oblige you.

Mrs. Darnley. Sir-there is but one way-leave me-nay, I infift

Sir George. I fhall obey.

Mrs. Darnley. I must have ftronger proof before I am convinc'd, and then obferve, Sir George, if his truth weakens, I'll add strength to mine! my conftancy and honour fhall be fo exemplary, that I will fhame him from his follies! make him repent: and when reclaim'd, be proud to fay he is my own again! [Exeunt.

SCENE II.-An elegant Apartment leading to Lady SARAH's Dreffing-Room-the Door in the Flat.

Enter CLARA.

Clara. Yes yes its all over the HouseSir George makes no fecret of the affignation, and I've no doubt but Darnley is now in that room waiting for Lady Sarah Savage-she can't come at prefent-the fervant fays, fhe's gone to the ftables to fee the beafts unharness'd-faith! if fhe'd go to her brother's party fhe'd fee that business already done!-however I'll prevent Darnley's expofing himfelf, and as he is certainly conceal'd in that room, I'll talk to him.-Dear!-here's my guardian again!