We have been young and giddy ourselves, and we can't expect boys and girls to be old before their time.

Oliv. What generofity! But can you forget the many falfehoods, the diffimulation

Croak. You did indeed diffemble, you urchin you; but

where's the girl that won't diffemble for an husband! My wife and I had never been married if we had not diffembled a little beforehand.

Oliv. It fhall be my future care never to put fuch generofity to a fecond trial. And as for the partner of my offence and folly, from his native honour, and the juft fenfe he has of his duty, I can answer for him that—

Enter LEONTINE.

Leon. Permit him thus to anfwer for himself. (Kneeling) Thus, fir, let me speak my gratitude for this unmerited forgiveness. Yes, fir, this even exceeds all your former tenderness I now can boaft the most indulgent of fathers. The life he gave, compared to this, was but a trifling bleffing.

Croak. And, good fir, who fent for you, with that fine tragedy face, and flourishing manner? I don't know what we have to do with your gratitude upon this occafion.

Leont. How, fir! Is it poffible to be filent, when fo much obliged! Would you refuse me the pleasure of being grateful! of adding my thanks to my Olivia's! of fharing in the transports that you have thus occafioned?

Croak. Lord, fir, we can be happy enough, without your coming in to make up the party. I don't know

what's the matter with the boy all this day; he has got into fuch a rhodomontade manner all this morning!

Leont. But, fir, I that have fo large a part in the benefit, is it not my duty to fhew my joy? Is the being admitted to your favour fo flight an obligation? Is the happinefs of marrying my Olivia fo finall a bleffing?

Croak. Marrying Olivia! marrying Olivia! marrying his own fifter! Sure the boy is out of his fenfes. own fifter!

Leont. My fifter!

His

Oliv. Sifter! How have I been mistaken!

[Afide.

Leont. Some curs'd miftake in all this I find.

[Afide.

Croak. What does the booby mean, or has he any meaning. Eh, what do you mean, you blockhead you? Leont. Mean, fir-why, fir-only when my fifter is to. be married, that I have the pleasure of marrying her, fir, that is, of giving her away, fir-I have made a point of it.

Croak. O, is that all. Give her away. You have made a point of it. Then you had as good make a point of firft giving away yourself, as I am going to prepare the writings between you and Mifs Richland this very minute. What a fufs is here about nothing! Why, what's the matter now? I thought I had made you at least as happy as you could with.

Oliv O yes, fir, very happy.

Croak. Do you forefee any thing, child? You look as if you did. I think if any thing was to be forefeen, I have as larp a look out as another: and yet I forefee nothing.

[Exit.

LEONTINE, OLIVIA,

Oliv. What can it mean ?

Leont. He knows fomething; and yet for my life I can't tell what.

Oliv. It can't be the connexion between us, I'm pretty certain.

Leont. Whatever it be, my deareft, I'm refolv❜d to put it out of fortune's power to repeat our mortification. I'll hatte, and prepare for our journey to Scotland this very evening. My friend Honeywood has promis'd me his advice and affiftance. I'll go to him, and repose our diftreffes on his friendly bofom and I know fo much of his honeft heart, that if he can't relieve our uneafineffes, he will at least share them.

[Exeunt.

ACT THE THIR D.

SCENE, YOUNG HONEYWOOD's houfe.

BAILIFF, HONEYWOOD, FOLLOWER.

Bail.LOOKY,

BailOOKY, fir, I have arrested as good men as you in my time: no difparagement of you neither. Men that would go forty guineas on a game of cribbage. I challenge the town to fhew a man in more genteeler practice than myself.

Honey, Without all queftion, Mr. I forget your name, fir?

Bail. How can you forget what you never knew? he, he, he.

Honey. May I beg leave to ask your name ?

Bail. Yes, you may.

Honey. Then, pray fir, what is your name, fir?

Bail. That I didn't promise to tell you. He, he he. A joke breaks no bones, as we may say among us that practife the law.

Honey. You may have reafon for keeping it a fecret perhaps?

I'm

Bail. The law does nothing without reason. afham'd to tell my name to no man, fir. If you can shew cause, as why, upon a special capus, that I should prove my name-But, come, Timothy Twitch is my

name.

And, now you know my name, what have you to fay to that?

Honey. Nothing in the world, good Mr. Twitch, but that I have a favour to afk, that's all.

Bail. Ay, favours are more eafily afked than grant ed, as we say among us that practife the law. I have taken an oath against granting favours. Would you have me perjure myself?

Honey. But my request will come recommended in fo ftrong a manner, as, I believe, you'll have no fcruple (pulling out his purfe) The thing is only this: I believe I fhall be able to discharge this trifle in two or three days at fartheft; but as I would not have the affair known for the world, I have thoughts of keeping you and your good friend here, about me till the debt is discharged; for which I fhall be properly grateful. Bail. Oh! that's another maxum, and altogether withmy oath. For certain, if an honeft man is to get any thing by a thing, there's no reason why all things should not be done in civility.

in

;

Honey. Doubtlefs, all trades muft live, Mr. Twitch and yours is a neceffary one. (Gives him money.)

Bail. On! your honour; I hope your honour takes nothing amifs as I does, as I does nothing but my duty in fo doing. I'm fure no man can fay I ever give a gentleman, that was a gentleman, il ufage. If I faw that a gentleman was a gentleman, I have taken money not to fee him for ten weeks together.

Honey. Tenderness is a virtue, Mr. Twitch.

Bail. Ay, fir, it's a perfect treasure. I love to fee a gentleman with a tender heart. I don't know but I think I have a tender heart myself. If all that I have loft by my heart was put together, it would make a

but no matter for that.