Cap. Brave. Ha, ha, ha! thou errant man of war -Harkye, friend, there is but one key to all the great men's houses in town.

Cap. Merit. Is it not enongh to cringe to power, but we must do the same to the servants of power?

Cap. Brave. Sir, the servants of a great man are all great men. Would you get within their doors, you must bow to the porter, and fee him too. Then, to go farther, you must pay your devoirs to his gentleman; and after you have bowed for about half an hour to his whole family, at last you may get a bow from himself.

Cap. Merit. Damnation! I'd sooner be a galleyslave. Shall I, who have spent my youth and health in my country's service, be forced by such mean vassalage to defend my old age from cold and hunger, while every painted butterfly wantons in the sunshine? [Colonel Courtly crosses.] 'Sdeath, there's a fellow

now

That fellow's father was a pimp; his mother, she turned bawd, and his sister turned whore; you see the consequence. How happy is that country where pimping and whoring are esteemed public services, and where grandeur and the gallows lie on the same road!

Cap. Brave. But leave off railing, what is your business with his lordship?

Cap. Merit. There is a company vacant in Colonel Favourite's regiment, which, by his lordship's interest, I hope to gain.

Cap. Brave. But pray by what do you hope to gain his lordship's interest?

Cap. Merit. You know, Bravemore, I am little inclined to boasting; but I think my services may speak something for me.

Cap. Brave. Faith, I'm afraid you will find 'em

dumb; or if they do speak, it will be a language not understood by the great. Suppose you apply to his nephew, Mr. Gaywit; his interest with my lord may be of service to you.

Cap. Merit. I have often seen him at Mr. Bellamant's, and believe he would do any thing to serve

me.

Cap. Brav. But the levee is begun by this. If you please, I'll introduce you to❜t.

Cap. Merit. What an abundance of poor wretches go to the feeding the vanity of that leviathan, one great rogue.

SCENE IX.

LORD RICHLY at his house.

L. Richly. Ha, ha, ha!—agreeable! Courtly, thou art the greatest droll upon earth-You'll dine with Lord Lazy will you make me happy too?

me

L. Lazy. I'll make myself so, my lord.

L. Rich. Mr. Woodall, your servant; how long have you been in town?

Wood. I cannot be particular; I carry no almanac about me, my lord; a week or a fortnight, perhaps : too much time to lose at this season, when a man should be driving the foxes out of his country.

Col. Court. I hope you have brought your family to town: a parliament-man should always bring his wife with him, that if he does not serve the public, she may. L. Rich. Now, I think familiarity with the wife of a senator should be made a breach of privilege.

Col. Court. Your lordship is in the right-the person of his wife should be made as sacred as his own.

Wood. Ay, the women would thank us damnably for such a vote-and the colonel here is a very likely man to move it.

Col. Court. Not I; for the women then would be as backward to be our wives as the tradesmen are now to be our creditors.

Wood. To the fine gentlemen of us, who lay out their small fortunes in extravagance, and their slender stock of love on their wenches. I remember the time, when I was a young fellow, that men used to dress like men: but now I meet with nothing but a parcel of toupet coxcombs, who plaster up their brains upon their periwigs.

L. Rich. I protest thou art an arrant wit, Woodall. Col. Court. O, he's one of the greatest wits of his county.

Wood. I have one of the greatest estates of my county; and by what I can see, that entitles a man to wit here as well as there.

Cap. Merit. Methinks this rough spark is very free with his lordship. [To Bravemore. Cap. Brave. You must know this is a sort of polite bear-baiting. There is hardly a great man in town but what is fond of these sort of fellows, whom they take a delight in baiting with one or more buffoons, But now for your business.

L. Rich. I shall see him this morning; you may depend on my speaking about it.

[To a gentleman. Captain Bravemore, I am glad to see you.

Cap. Brave. My lord, here is a gentleman of distinguished services; if your lordship would recommend him to Colonel Favourite.

L. Rich. Sir, I shall certainly do it.

Cap. Merit. There being a company vacant, my lord-My name is Merit.

L. Rich. Mr. Merit, I shall be extremely glad to

serve you-Sir John, your most obedient humble servant.. -Lazy, what were you saying about Mr. Bellamant ?

.

L. Lazy. We were talking, my lord, of his affair, which was heard in our house yesterday.

L. Rich. I am sorry I was not there. It went against him, I think.

L. Lazy. Yes, my lord, and I am afraid it affects him deeply.

Col. Court. Undone, Sir! quite undone.

L. Rich. Upon my soul, Mrs. Bellamant's a fine

woman.

Wood. Then, I suppose if her husband's undone, you'll have her among you.

L. Rich. Woodall, thou'rt a liquorish dog. Thou would'st have the first snap.

Wood. Not I; none of your town ladies for me: I always take leave of women from the time I come out of the country till I go back again.

L. Lazy. Women! Pox on him! he means foxes again.

Col. Court. He knows no difference.

Wood. Nor you either. But hearkye, I fancy it is safer riding after the one than the other.

Col. Court. Thy ideas are as gross as thy per

son.

L. Rich. Hang him, sly rogue- -you never knew

a fox-hunter that did not love a wench.

Wood. No, nor a wench of any sense that did not love a fox-hunter.

L. Rich. Modern, your servant.

Mr. Mod. I would presume only to remind your lordship

L. Rich. Depend upon it, I will remember you.-I hope your lady is well.

Mr. Mod. Entirely at your service, my lord.

L. Richly. I have a particular affair to commu- › nicate to her; a secret that I cannot send by you; you know all secrets are not proper to trust a husband with.

Mr. Mod. You do her too much honour, my lord. I believe you will find her at home any time to-day.

L. Rich. Faith, Modern, I know not whether thou art happier in thy temper or in thy wife.

Mr. Mod. Um, my lord, as for my wife, I believe she is as good as most wives: I believe she is a virtuous woman: that, I think, I may affirm of her.

L. Rich. That thou mayest, I dare swear; and that I as firmly believe as thou dost thyself; and let me tell you, a virtuous woman is no common jewel in this age. But prithee, hast thou heard any thing of Mr. Bellamant's affairs?

Mr. Mod. No more than that he has lost his cause, which he seemed to expect the other night, when he was at my house.

L. Rich. Then you are intimate.

Mr. Mod. He visits my wife pretty often, my lord.

L. Rich. Modern, you know I am your friendand now we are alone, let me advise you. Take care of Bellamant, take a particular care of Bellamant-He is prudent enough in his amours to pass upon the world for a constant husband; but I know him-I know him-He is a dangerous man.

Mr. Mod. My lord you surprise me so, that—

L. Rich. I know you will excuse this freedom my friendship takės: but beware of Bellamant, as you love your honour.

Serv. My lord, the coach is at the door.

L. Rich. My dear Modern, I see the great surprise you are in but you'll excuse my freedom.