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ploy'd by my master to watch my mistress, and by my mistress to watch my master. Which party shall I espouse? To be sure my mistress's. For in hers, jurisdiction and power, the common cause of the whole sex, are at stake. But my master I see is coming this way.. I'll avoid him, and make my observations. [Exit.

Enter Ducat and Polly.

Duc. Be chearful, Polly, for your good fortune hath thrown you into a family, where, if you rightly confult your own interest, as every body now-a-days does, you may make yourself perfectly easy. Those eyes of yours, Polly, are a sufficient fortune for any woman, if she have but conduct, and know how to make the most of 'em.

Polly. As I am your fervant, Sir, my duty obliges me not to contradict you; and I must hear your flattery, tho' I know myself undeserving. But fure, Sir, in handsome women, you must have observed that their hearts often oppose their interest: and beauty certainly has ruin'd more women than it has made happy.

AIR XIII. The bush aboon Traquair.
The crow or daw thro' all the year
No fowler seeks to ruin;
But birds of voice or feather rare
He's all day long pursuing.
Beware, fair maids, to 'scape the net
That other beauties fell in;
For fure at heart was never yet
So great a wretch as Helen !

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If my lady, Sir, will let me know my duty, gratitude will make me study to please her.

Duc. I have a mind to have a little conversation with you, and I would not be interrupted. [Bars the door.

Polly. I wish, Sir, you would let me receive my lady's commands.

Duc. And fo, Polly, by these downcast looks of yours, you would have me believe you don't know you are handfome, and that you have no faith in your looking

glass.

glass. Why every pretty woman studies her face, and a looking-glass to her is what a book is to a pedant; the is poring upon it all day long. In troth a man can never know how much love is in him by conversations with his wife. A kiss on those lips, would make ine young again. [Kiffes her.

Duc.

AIR XIV. Bury Fair.

Polly. How can you be so teazing?
Love will excuse my fault.
How can you be so pleafing?
I vow I'll not be naught.
Duc. All maids I know at firit refift.

Polly.

A matter may command

[Going to kiss her.

[Struggling.

Polly. You're monstrous rude; I'll not be kiss'd :

Nay, fye, let go my hand.

Duc. 'Tis foolish pride

Polly.

'Tis vile, 'tis base,

Poor innocence to wrong.

Duc. I'll force you.
Polly.

Guard me from disgrace.

You find that virtue's strong. [Pushing him away.

'Tis barbarous in you, Sir, to take the occafion of my neceffities to infult me.

Duc. Nay, huffy, I'll give you money.

Polly. I despise it. No, Sir, tho' I was born and bred in England, I can dare to be poor, which is the only thing now-a-days men are ashamed of.

Duc. I shall humble these saucy airs of yours, Mrs. Minx. Is this language from a servant! from a flave ! Polly. Am I then betray'd and fold !

Duc. Yes, hussy, that you are; and as legally my property, as any woman is her husband's, who fells herself in marriage.

Polly. Climates, that change constitutions. have no effect upon manners. What a profligate is that Trapes!

Duc. Your fortune, your happiness depends upon your compliance. What, proof against a bribe! Sure, huffy,,

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huffy, you belie your country, or you must have had a very vulgar education. 'Tis unnatural.

AIR XV. Bobbing Joan.

Maids like courtiers must be woo'd,
Moft by flattery are subdu'd :
Some capricious, coy, or nice,
Out of pride protract the vice,
But they fall,
One and all,

When we bid up to their price.

Befides, huffy, your consent may make me your flave; there's power to tempt you into the bargain. You must be more than woman if you can stand that too.

Polly. Sure you only mean to try me! but 'tis barbarous to trifle with my distresses.

Duc. I'll have none of these airs. 'Tis impertinent in a fervant, to have scruples of any kind. I hire honour, confcience and all, for I will not be serv'd by halves. And so, to be plain with you, you obstinate flut, you shall either contribute to my pleasure or my profit; and if you refuse play in the bed-chamber, you shall go work in the fields among the planters. I hope now I have explain'd myself.

Polly. My freedoın may be lost, but you cannot rob me of my virtue and integrity and whatever is my lot, having that, I shall have the comfort of hope, and find pleasure in reflection.

AIR XVI. Afwain long tortur'd with disdain.

Can I or toil, or hunger fear ?

For love's a pain that's most severe.
The flave with virtue in his breast,

Can wake in peace, and sweetly rest.

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But love, when unhappy, the more virtuous it is, the

more it fuffers.

Duc. What noise is that?

Damaris. [Without.] Sir, Sir.

[Afide.

Duc.

Duc. Step into the closet; I will call you out imme-. diately to present you to my wife. Don't let bashfulness ruin your fortune. The next opportunity, I hope, you will be better dispos'd.

[Exit Polly,

Dam. Open the door, Sir. This moment, this mo

ment.

Enter Damaris.

Duc. What's the matter? Was any body about to, ravish you? Is the house o'fire? Or my wife in a paffion?

Dam. O Sir, the whole country is in an uproar! The pirates are all coming down upon us; and if they should raise the militia, you are an officer you know. I hope you have time enough to fling up your commiffion.

Enter ift Footman.

1st Foot. The neighbours, Sir, are all frighted out of their wits; they leave their houses, and fly to yours for protection. Where's my lady, your wife? Heaven grant, they have not taken her!

Duc. If they only took what one could fpare

ift Foot. That's true, there were no great harm done.

Duc. How are the musquets ?

1st Foot. Rusty, Sir; all rusty and peaceable! For we never clean them but against training-day.

Dam. Then, Sir, your honour is fafe, for now you have a just excuse against fighting.

Enter 2d Footman.

2d Foot. The Indians, Sir, with whom we are in alliance, are all in arms: there will be bloody work to be fure. I hope they will decide the matter before we can get ready.

Enter Mrs. Ducat.

Mrs. Duc. O dear husband, I'm frighten'd to death! What will become of us all! I thought a punishment for your wicked lewdness would light upon you at laft.

Duc. Presence of mind, my dear, is as necessary in dangers as courage.

Dam. But you are too rich to have courage. You should fight by deputy. "Tis only for poor people to be brave and desperate, who cannot afford to live.

Enter Maids, &c. one after another.

1st Maid. The pirates, Sir, the pirates! Mercy upon

us, what will become of us poor helpless women! 2d Maid. We shall all be ravish'd!

ft Old Woman. All be ravish'd !

2d Old Woman. Ay to be sure, we shall be ravish'd; all be ravish'd!

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1st Old Woman. But if fortune will have it so, patience is a virtue, and we must undergo it.

2d Old Woman. Ay, for certain, we must all bear it, Mrs. Damaris.

3d Foot. A foldier, Sir, from the Indian camp, defires admittance. He's here, Sir.

Enter an Indian.

Ind. I come, Sir, to the English colony, with whom we are in alliance, from the mighty king Pohetohee, my lord and master, and address myself to you, as you are of the council, for fuccours. The pirates are ravag⚫ing and plundering the country, and we are now in arms, ready for battle, to oppose them.

Duc. Does Macheath command the enemy.

Ind. Report says he is dead. Above twelve moons are passed fince we heard of him. Morano, a Negro villain, is their chief, who in rapine and barbarities is even equal to him.

Duc. I shall inform the council, and we shall foon be ready to join you. So acquaint the king your master. [Exit Indian.

Serv.

AIR XVII. March in Scipio.

Brave boys, prepare.

Ah! ceafe, fond wife, to cry.
For when the danger's near,

We've time enough to fly.

Mrs. Duc. How can you be disgrac'd!

Serv.

For wealth secures your fame.
The rich are always plac'd
Above the sense of shame.

[To the men.

[To ber.

Mrs.

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