When a woman jealous grows,

Farewell all peace of life!

Mrs. Ducat. But ere man roves, he should pay what he

Ducat.

orves,

And with her due content his wife.

'Tis man's the weaker sex to fway.

'Tis just and fit

Mrs. Ducat. We too, whene'er we lift, obey.

Ducat.

You should submit.

Mrs. Ducat. But fweet kind husband-not to day.
Ducat.

Let your clack be still.

Mrs. Ducat. Not 'till I have my will.

If thus you reason flight,
There's never an hour
While breath has porver,

But I will affert my right.

Would I had you in England; I should have all the women there rise in arms in my defence. For the honour and prerogative of the fex, they would not suffer such a precedent of fubmission. And so, Mr. Ducat, I tell you once again, that you shall keep your trollops out of the house, or I will not stay in it.

Ducat. Look'ee, wife; you will be able to bring about nothing by pouting and vapours. I have resolution enough to withstand either obstinacy or stratagem. And I will break this jealous spirit of your's before it gets a head. And so, my dear, I order, that upon my account, you behave yourself to the girl as you ought.

Mrs. Ducat. I wish you would behave yourself to your wife as you ought; that is to say, with good manners, and compliance. And fo, fir, I leave you and your minx together. I tell you once again, that I would fooner die upon the spot, than not be mistress of my own house. [Exit, in a passion.

Ducat. If by these perverse humours, I should be fore'd to part with her, and allow her a separate maintenance; the thing is so common among people of condition, that it could not prove to my discredit. Family divisions, and matrimonial controverfies are a

I

kind of proof of a man's riches, for the poor people are happy in marriage out of neceffity, because they cannot afford to disagree. (Enter Damaris. [Damaris, faw you my wife? Is the in her own room? What faid the? Which way went the ?

Damaris. Bless me, I was perfectly frighten'd, she look'd so like a fury! Thank my stars, I never faw her look fo before in all my life; tho' mayhap you may have feen her look fo before a thousand times. Woe be to the servants that fall in her way! I'm fure I'm glad to be out of it.

Ducat. I would have you, Damaris, have an eye upon your mistress. You should have her good at heart, and inform me when she has any schemes a-foot; it may be the means to reconcile us.

Damaris. She's wild, fir. There's no speaking to her. She's flown into the garden! Mercy upon us all, fay I! How can you be so unreasonable to contradict a woman, when you know we can't bear it?

Ducat. I depend upon you, Damaris, for intelligence. You may observe her at a distance; and as foon as the comes into her own room, bring me word. There is the sweetest pleasure in the revenge that I have now in my head! I'll this instant go and take my charge from Mrs. Trapes. [Afide.] Damaris, you know your instructions. [Exit.

Damaris. Sure all makers and mistresses, like politicians, judge of the confcience of mankind by their own, and require treachery of their servants as a duty! I am employ'd by my master to watch my mistress, and by my mistress to watch my master. Which party shall I espouse? To be fure my mistress's. For in hers,

B

jurisdiction and power, the common cause of the whole fex, are at stake. But my master I see is coming this way. I'll avoid him, and make my observations.

Enter Ducat. and Polly.

[Exit.

Ducat. Be cheerful, 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 your's, Polly, are a fufficient fortune for any woman, if the have but conduct, and know how to make the most of 'em.

Polly. As I am your fervant, fir, my duty obliges me not to contradict you; and I must hear your flattery, tho' I know myself undeserving. But fure, fir, 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.

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AIR XIII. The bush a boon 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 !

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

Ducat. I have a mind to have a little conversation with you, and I would not be interrupted. (bars the door. Polly. I wish, fir, you would let me receive my Jady's commands.

Ducat. And fo, Polly, by these downcaft looks of your's, you would have me believe you don't know you are handsome, and that you have no faith in your looking-glass. Why every pretty woman studies her face, and a looking-glafs to her is what a book is to a pedant; she 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 me young again. [Kiffes her.

Polly. How can you be so teazing?
Ducat.

Polly.

Love will excuse my fault.

How can you be so pleasing! [Going to kiss her.

I vow I'll not be naught.

Ducat. All maids I know at first refift.

A master may command.

[Struggling.

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

Nay, fye, let go my hand.

Ducat. 'Tis foolish pride

Polly.

'Tis vile, 'tis bafe,

Poor innocence to wrong;

Ducat. I'll force you.
Polly.

Guard me from disgrace.

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

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

Ducat. Nay, hussy, I'll give you money.

Polly. I despise it. No, fir, 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.

Ducat. I shall humble these saucy airs of your's, Mrs. Minx. Is this language from a servant! from a flave!

Polly. Am I then betray'd and fold!

Ducat. 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!

Ducat. Your fortune, your happiness depends upon your compliance. What, proof against a bribe! Sure, hussy, you belie your country, or you must have had a very vulgar education. 'Tis unnatural.

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When we bid up to their price.

Besides, hussy, your consent may make me your slave; 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.

Ducat. 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 ferv'd by halves. And fo, 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 freedom may be loft, 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. A fwain long tortur'd with disdain.

Can I or toil or hunger fear ?

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

Can wake in peace, and sweetly rest.

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

more it fuffers.

Ducat. What noise is that?

Damaris. [Without] Sir, fir.

Ducat. Step into the closet; I will

mediately to present you to my wife.

[Afide.

call you out im

Don't let bash

fulness ruin your fortune. The next opportunity I

hope you will be better dispos'd.

[Exit Polly.