SCENE, Lady Tossup’s.

    Enter Lady Tossup, and Mrs. Flimsy.

Flim. Madam, the Major desires the Honour of kissing your Ladyship’s Hands.

L.  Toss. The Major, Flimsy! What Major?  Major Bramble; What business can the Major have with me?

Flim. Perhaps, Madam, he’s come to pretend to your Ladyship.  I have often caught him rolling his Eyes at your Ladyship, and several times o’late, he has watch’d above an Hour at the Tabernacle Door to see your Ladyship come out.

L. Toff. It may be so? but he’s old, Flimsy.

Flim. He’s not quite Fifty, Madam, and they say, He has his Health very well.

L. Toss. Nay, he’s rich; but, I hear, he makes Love to Lady Rodomont; if he slights her for me, I shall receive him more candidly to be reveng’d on her for affronting me in the Park—­Pray Flimsy introduce him.

    Enter Bramble.

A Visit, Major, from a Person of your incessant Negotiations, and refin’d Politicks is a Grace so peculiar, that I want Assurance to receive it, and Capacity to acknowledge it.

Bram. ’Tis for my Improvement, Madam, to address a Lady whose superiour Talents so much excel those Politicks, her condescending Goodness pleases to commend in me.  The great Monarch o’France thinks it his int’rest on ev’ry nice point o’State to visit the greater Madam Maintenon.

L. Toss. [aside] Nay, I always read the Votes, and can tell what nemine contradicente means.  I vow the Major’s Oratory is extravagantly well dress’d!  I wonder, Sir, your transcending Abilities are not more taken notice of at Court!  Methinks you shou’d be sent Ambassadour Extraordinary to some magnanimous Prince in Terra Incognita; for I’m certain, you must understand more Languages than were ever heard of.

Bram. Int’rest, Madam, as much depresses true Merit, as a flutt’ring Assurance over pow’rs real Beauty, otherwise my Intellects might shine as much above modern Statesmen as your Ladyship’s Person wou’d out sparkle Lady Rodomont’s.

L. Toss. D’you really think, Major, my Personage more complete than my Lady’s?

Bram. Madam, there’s no more comparison between Lady Rodomont and your Ladyship, than between a dazling Dutchess and a Wapping Head-dresser:  If the surprizing Sight, and continual Idea of your Ladyship had not discompos’d my Thoughts and confounded my Politicks, the Confederates had never taken Lisle.

L. Toss. Indeed, Major, I’m very sorry for it truly [aside].  D’you hear, Flimsy, you will have me lay it on so thick; but I hope ’twill be retaken agen.

Bram. Is your Ladyship disaffected, then, to the Government?

L. Toss. The most of any body, for I have been three times at Court, and they have brought me no Chocolate.