Ach. I can't forgive myself for my behaviour. You. muft excuse me, Madam; for absence in converfation is an incivility that I am but too liable to. Art. You know we all rally you upon your being in love, as that is one of its most infallible fymptoms. Thet. I charge you, upon my bleffing; as you expect fame, glory, immortality, obey me. [To Achilles. [Thetis kiffes him. Exeunt Achilles and Artemona. As for his face, his air, his figure, I am not under the leaft apprehenfion; all my concern is from the impetuofity of his temper. Yet, after all, why fhould I fear a discovery? For women have the fame paffions, though they employ them upon different objects. AIR V. A minuet. 'Man's fo touchy, a word that's injurious Or four, or refty, If balk'd of honours, or pow'r, or pelf. He is fudden, he is impatient. What then? Are women lefs fo? Ask almost all fervants what they know • of their mistreffes. He is wilful, testy, and untractable: 'can't thousands of husbands fay as much of their wives? • Then, as for his obftinacy, that can never fhew him lefs a woman. But he hath not that command, of his tongue I could with him: he is too vehement, too fe· vere in his expreffions. In this particular, indeed, few · women take equal liberties to one another's faces; but they make ample amends for it behind each other's backs: fo that, with all these infirmities of man, he may, with the leaft conduct, very well pafs for a finefpirited woman. This reflection hath cured my anxiety, and will make me believe him fecure. Enter Lycomedes. Thet. 'Tis with the utmost gratitude that I return 6 • your your majesty thanks for the honours and hofpitable favours fhewn to me and my daughter. Lycom. You would oblige me more, Madam, if your ⚫ affairs would allow you to accept them longer. Thet. I have prefumed, Sir, to trespass further on your generofity, in leaving my daughter under your protection. I hope Pyrrha's behaviour will deferve it. 'AIR VI. To you, my dear, and to no other. Lycom. Muft, then, alas! the fondest mother • Defert her child? Ah, why this tear? 'She'll in Theafpe find another; • Had you taken her with you, my daughters would have • been miserable beyond expreffion: theirs and her edu-cation shall be the fame. Thet. I beg you, Sir, not to regard my gratitude like the common obligations of princes; for neither time nor intereft can ever cancel it. Lycom. Affairs of confequence may require your prefence. Importunity, upon these occafions, is troublefome and unhofpitable. I afk no queftions, Madam, because I choose not to pry i y into fecrets. Thet. I can only thank, and rely upon your majefty's goodnefs My duty to the queen, Sir, calls me hence, to own my obligations, and receive her com• mands.' [Exit. *Enter Diphilus. Lyc. The princefs Califta hath taken her leave; fhe is but just gone out of the room. Diph. The daughter, Sir, was a moft delicious piece. Lycom. With all her little vixen humours, to my taste fhe is infinitely agreeable. Diph. Your parting with her, Sir, in this eafy manner, is aftonishing-One, too, fo exceffively fond of youLycom. Parting with her, Diphilus! In the reprefentation, the first A&t begins here. Diph. But no prince alive hath fo great a command ⚫ of his paffions. < Lycom. Dear Diphilus, let me understand you. 6 Diph. To my knowledge, you might have had her. Lycom. Can I believe thee? Diph. I really thought the queen began to be a little uneafy; and, for the quiet of the family, (fince the is gone) I must own I am heartily glad of it. AIR VII. John went fuiting unto Joan. How your patience had been try❜d, "What's a mistress and a wife? Joy for moments, plague for life.' Lycom. I am not so unhappy, Diphilus-Her mother hath left her to my care. Diph. Juft as I wished. Lycom. Would fhe had taken her with her! C Diph. It might have been better; for, beyond difpute, Sir, both you and the queen would have been ⚫eafier. Lycom. Why did the truft her to me? Diph. There could be but one reafon. • Diph. 'Twas upon that very profumption you was • trufted. Lycom. Would I could believe thee.' Diph. "Tis an apparent manifest scheme, Sir; and you would disappoint both mother and daughter, if your majefty did not betray your truft. You love her, Sir, you fay. Lycom. To diftraction, Diphilus. Diph. And was the betraying a trust ever, as yet, an ⚫ obstacle to that paffion? What would you have a mother do more upon fuch an occafion? Ladies of her rank cannot tranfact an affair of this kind, but with fome • decorum.' Lycom. But you can never fuppofe Pyrrha knows any thing of the matter. Diph. Why not, Sir? • Lycom. Lycom. From me fhe cannot; for I have never, as yet, made any downright profeffions. Diph. There lies the true caufe of her thoughtfulnefs; 'tis nothing but anxiety, for fear her fcheme 'fhould not take place; for, no doubt, her mother hath • inftructed her not to be too forward, to make you more ' fo.'-Believe me, Sir, you will have no difficulties in this affair, but thofe little ones that every woman knows how to practife to quicken a lover. Lycom. Be it as it will, Diphilus, I must have her. Diph. Had I been acquainted with your pleasure fooner, your majesty by this time had been tired of her. How happy fhall I make her, if I may have the honour of your majefty's commands to hint your paffion to her. Lycom. Never did eyes receive a paffion with fuck coldness, fuch indifference! AIR VIII. Groom's Complaint. Diffembling words, too cruel maid, Whene'er my foul hath breath'd defire, No glance confefs'd her fecret fire; Diph. Though 'tis what the wishes, what the longs for, what the fighs for, refpect and awe are a restraint upon her eyes as well as tongue. I have often told you, Sir, fhe dares not understand you; she dares not believe herfelf fo happy. Lycom. Take this ring, Diphilus. I must leave the rest to your difcretion. Diph. There may be a manner in giving it her, a little hint or fo- but the prefent will speak for itself; 'tis the most fuccefsful advocate of love, and never wants an interpreter. Lycom. Say every thing for me, Diphilus; for I " feel I cannot fpeak for myself. B • Diph. Diph. Could I be as fuccefsful in all my other nego tiations! Yet there may be difficulties,' for, if I miftake not, the lady hath fomething of the coquette about her; and what felf-denial will not thofe creatures fuffer to give a lover anxiety? AIR IX. O'er Bogie. Obferve the wanton kitten's play, Now clawing, Till 'midft her freaks, He from her breaks, Steals off, and bilks the chafe. Lycom. Dear Diphilus, what do you mean? I never 'faw a woman fo little of that character. Diph. Pardon me, Sir; your fituation is fuch, that you can never see what mankind really are. In your • prefence every one is acting a part; no one is himself, and was it not for the eyes and tongues of your faithful fervants, how little would your fubjects be known to you! Though fhe is fo prim and referved before you, fhe is never at a lofs for airs to draw all the young flirting lords of the court about her. 4 Lycom. Beauty muft always have its followers. Diph. If I mistake not, general Ajax too (who is fent to folicit your quota for the Trojan war) hath another folicitation more at heart.-But fuppofe fhe had ten thoufand lovers; a woman's prevalent paf• fion is ambition, which muft anfwer your ends.-The queen is coming this way, and her commands may detain me.I go, Sir, to make Pyrrha the happiest creature upon earth.' [Exit. Enter Theafpe. Theaf. I think the princefs Califta might as well have taken her daughter with her.That girl is fo intolera bly forward, that I cannot imagine fuch conversation can poffibly |