Mrs. Duc, Let honour fpur the flave,
To fight for fighting's fake:
But even the rich are brave

Duc.

When money is at stake.

Be fatisfy'd my dear, I fhall be difcreet. My fervants here will take care that I be not over-rafh, for their wages depend upon me. But before I go to councilcome hither, Polly; I intreat you, wife, to take her into your fervice,

Enter Polly.

and use her civily. Indeed, my dear, your fufpicions are very frivolous and unreasonable.

Mrs. Duc. I hate to have a handfome wench about me. They are always fo faucy!

Duc. Women, by their jealoufies, put one in mind of doing that which otherwife we should never think of. Why you are a proof, my dear, that a handfome woman may be honest.

Mrs. Duc. I find you can fay a civil thing to me ftill.

Duc. Affairs, you fee, call me hence, And fo I leave her under your protection.

すら

[Exit.

Mrs. Duc. Away, into the other room again. When I want you, I'll call you. [Exit Polly.] Well, Da maris, to be fure you have obferved all that has paffed. I will know all. I'm fure fhe's a huffy.

Dam. Nay, Madam, I can't fay fo much. But
Mrs. Duc. But what?

Dam. I hate to make mischief.

AIR XVIII. Fig-it-o' Foots

Better to doubt

All that's doing,

Than to find out

Proofs of ruin, que

What fervants hear and fee,

Should they tattle,bonomusig91

Marriage all day would be

Feuds and battles are ad

A fer

A fervant's legs and hands fhould be under your com. mand, but, for the fake of quiet, you should leave their tongues to their own difcretion.

Mrs. Duc. I vow, Damaris, I will know it.

Dam. To be fure, Madam, the door was bolted, and I could only liften. There was a fort of a bustle between them, that's certain. What past I know not. But the noise they made, to my thinking, did not found very honeft.

Mrs. Duc. Noifes that did not found very honeft, faid you?

Dam. Nay, Madam, I am a maid, and have no experience. If you had heard them, you would have been

a better judge of the matter.

Mrs. Duc. An impudent flut! I'll have her before me. If the be not a thorough profligate, I shall make a difcovery by her behaviour. Go call her to me.

[Exit Damaris and returns with Polly. In my own house! Before my face! I'll have you sent to the house of correction, ftrumpet. By that overhoneft look, I guess her to be a horrid jade. A mere hypocrite, that is perfectly white-washed with innocence. My blood rises at the fight of all ftrumpets, for they are smugglers in love, that ruin us fair traders in matrimony. Look upon me, Mrs. Brazen. She has no feeling of fhame. She is fo ufed to impudence, that fhe has not a blush within her. Do you know, Madam, that I am Mr. Ducat's wife?

Polly. As your fervant, Madam, I think myself happy.

Mrs. Duc. You know Mr. Ducat, I fuppofe. She has beauty enough to make any woman alive hate her. [Afide

AIR XIX. Trumpet minuet.

Abroad after miffes most hufbands will roam,

Tho' fure they find woman fufficient at hoine.
To be nos'd by a ftrumpet Hence, huffy, you'd best,
Would he give me my due, I would give her the rest.

I vow, I had rather have a thief in my houfe. For to be fure fhe is that befides.

Polly

Polly. If you were acquainted with my misfortunes, Madam, you could not infult me.

Mrs. Duc. What does the wench mean?

Dam. There's not one of these common creatures, but like common beggars, hath a moving story at her finger's ends, which they tell over, when they are maudlin, to their lovers. I had a sweetheart, Madam, who was a rake, and I know their ways very well, by hearfay.

Polly. What villains are hypocrites! for they rob those of relief, who are in real diftrefs. I know what it is to be unhappy in marriage.

Mrs. Duc. Married!

Polly. Unhappily.

Mrs. Duc. When? where ? to whom?

Polly. If woman can have faith in woman, may my words find belief. Proteftations are to be fufpected, fo I fhall use none. If truth can prevail I know you will

pity me.

Mrs. Duc. Her manner and behaviour are fo particular, that is to say, fo fincere, that I must hear her story. Unhappily married! That is a misfortune not to be remedied.

Polly. A conftant woman hath but one chance to be happy; an inconftant woman, tho' fhe hath no chance to be very happy, can never be very unhappy.

Dam. Believe me, Mrs. Polly, as to pleasures of all forts, 'tis a much more agreeable way to be incon→ ftant.

AIR XX.

Polwarth on the Green..

Love now is nought but art,
'Tis who can juggle best;

To all men feem to give your heart,
But keep it in your breast.
What gain and pleasure do we find,
Who change whene'er we list!

The mill that turns with every wind
Muft bring the owner grist.

Polly;

Polly. My cafe, Madam, may in these times be look'd upon as fingular; for I married a man only becaufe I lov'd him. For this I was look'd upon as a fool by all my acquaintance; I was used inhumanly by my father and mother; and, to compleat my misfortunes, my hufband, by his wild behaviour, incurred the fentence of the law, and was feparated from me by banishment. Being informed he was in this country, upon the death of my father and mother, with most of my Imall fortune, I came here to feek him.

Mrs. Duc. But how then fell you into the hands of that confummate bawd, Trapes?

Polly. In my voyage, Madam, I was robb'd of all I had. Upon my landing in a ftrange country, and in want, I was found out by this inhuman woman, who had been an acquaintance of my father's: fhe offer'd me at firft the civilities of her own house. When the was inform'd of my neceffities, fhe propofed to me the fervice of a lady; of which I readily accepted. 'Twas under that pretence that the treacheroufly fold me to your husband as a miftrefs. This, Madam, is in fhort the whole truth. I fling myfelf at your feet for protection. By relieving me, you make yourself easy.

Mrs. Duc. What is't you propose?

Polly. In conniving at my efcape, you fave me from your husband's worrying me with threats and violence, and at the fame time quiet your own fears and jealoufies. If it is ever in my power, Madam, with gratitude I will repay you my ranfom.

Dam. Befides, Madam, you will effectually revenge yourself upon your husband; for the lofs of the money he paid for her will touch him to the quick.

Mrs. Duc. But have you confidered what you request ? We are invaded by the pirates: the Indians are in arms; the whole country is in commotion, and you will every where be expos'd to danger.

Dam. Get rid of her at any rate. For fuch is the vanity of man, that when once he has begun with a woman, out of pride he will infift upon his point.

Polly. In ftaying with you, Madam, I make two, people unhappy. And I chufe to bear my own misfortunes, without being the cause of another's.

Mrs.

Mrs. Duc. If I let her escape before my husband's return, he will imagine fhe got off by the favour of this buftle and confufion.

Polly. May Heaven reward your charity.

Mrs. Duc. A woman fo young and handsome must be expos'd to continual dangers. I have a fuit of clothes by me of my nephew's, who is dead. In a man's habit you will run fewer rifques. I'll affifst you too for the prefent with some money; and, as a traveller, you may with greater fafety make enquiries after your husband.

Polly. How fhall I ever make a return for fo much goodness?

Mrs. Duc. May love reward your conftancy. As for that perfidious monster, Trapes, I will deliver her into the hands of the magistrate. Come, Damaris, let: us this inftant equip her for her adventures.

Dam. When he is out of the house, without doubt, Madam, you will be more eafy. And I wish she may be

fo too.

Polly. May virtue be my protection; for I feel within me hope, chearfulness, and refolution.

AIR XXI. St. Martin's Lane.

As pilgrims thro' devotion
To fome fhrine purfue their way,
They tempt the raging ocean,
And thro' defarts stray.
With zeal their hope defiring,
The faint their breast infpiring
With chearful air,
Devoid of fear,

They every danger bear.

Thus equal zeal poffeffing,

I feek my only bleffing.

O love, my honest vow regard!

My truth protect,

My steps direct,

His flight detect,

A faithful wife reward.

[Exeunt.

END of the FIRST ACT.

ACT