Mrs. Lov.  Good Sir Harry, what have you seen so loose in my Behaviour to attack me at this rate?

Sir Har.  Why, look you, Child, do’st thee consider what an Income two hundred a Year is; some Country Gentlemen han’t more to make their Elder Sons Esquires, and raise Portions for eleven awkard Daughters.  Besides, my Dear, thou art but a whiffling sort of a Pinnace, I have been proffer’d lovely, large, First Rate Ladies for half the Mony.  There’s Winny Wag-tail in Channel Row, wou’d have left it to my Generosity; Mrs. Tippet the Furrier’s Wife in Walbrook wou’d have taken five hundred Pound down, and Sufan Sigh-fort the quaking Sempstress had n’t the Assurance to ask me above the rent of her Shop.——­I must tell you, Love, the Nation’s over stock’d with Women, I can have a hundred and fifty Furbuloe Scarf-makers for as many Silver Thimbles; and but last Long Vacation, a very considerable Pleader offer’d me his two Daughters for Six and Eight Pence a Night.

Mrs. Lov.  Sir Harry, this Discourse suits not my Genius, I have a Fortune, tho’ not thousands enough to keep me from that odious thing you’d tempt me to; therefore if you pursue this Humour any farther, I must acquaint my Lady with it.

Sir Har.  Why, then, Madam, do I most devoutly pray to Venus there, and each kind Creature here, that the Men may avoid you, as if you had n’t a Lure about you, that for madness you may turn Gam’ster, lose all your Fortune at Play, and then grow crooked for want of Mony to buy you a new Pair of Stayes. [Exit.

Mrs. Lov.  Was ever any thing so impudent! he’s a charming Fellow tho’, and two hundred a Year is a charming Allowance too.—­But Virtue!  Virtue!—­ Oh! that I had liv’d in good King Some-body’s Days.

    Enter Major Bramble.

Bra.  Madam Lovejoy, your most humble Servant, here’s a Ring that was pawn’d to me for twenty Guineas by a Welch Knight, on his being chose High Sheriff o’the County, and the Mony not being paid in due time, it’s become forfeited; I therefore entreat the Favour of you to wear it.

Mrs. Lov.  Your very humble Servant, Major, they are delicate Stones indeed; but what Service must I do you in return of so great a Compliment?

Bra.  Only that, Madam, of being my Advocate to Lady Rodomont, whose Beauty I have long admir’d, and whose Estate I do profoundly reverence. [Aside.] Nor can I on a just survey of my Person and Parts find the least Obstacle, why her Inclinations shou’d n’t mount like mine, that without much Ceremony or foppish Courtship, we might unite Circumstances, and astonish the World at the Sight of a couple so prodigiously well pair’d.

Mrs. Lov.  Were my Fortune, Major, equal to my Lady’s, my Judgment wou’d be as much admir’d in such a Choice as my Happiness wou’d be envy’d; but my Lady’s of so uncommon a cold Constitution so whimsically gay, and fond of new Diversions, she laughs at ev’ry serious Thought of Love.