tion of fame,, they would find many would thank them for the bill..

་་

L. Sneer. O lud *)! Sir Peter would deprive us of our privileges.

Sir Pet. Yes, madam; and none should then have the liberty to kill characters, and run down reputations, but privileged old maids, and disappointed widows.

L. Sneer, Go, you monster!

Mrs. Cand. But surely you would not be so severe on those who only report what they hear?

Sir Pet. Yes, madam, I would have law for them too; and wherever the drawer of the lie was not to be found, the injured party should have a right to come on any of the indorsers.

Crab. Well, I verily believe there never was a scandalous story without some foundation.

Sir Pet. Nine out of ten are formed on some malicious invention, or idle representation.

L. Sneer, Come, ladies; shall we sit down to cards in the next room?

Enter a Servant, who whispers Sir Peter.

Sir Pet. I'll come directly

I'll steal away unperceived.

L. Sneer. Sir Peter, you're not leaving us.

-

[Aside. ]

Sir Pet. I beg pardon, ladies, 'tis particular business, and I must But I leave my character behind me. [Exit.] Sir Benj. Well, certainly, Lady Teazle, that lord of your's is a strange being; I could tell you some stories of him would make you laugh heartily, if he was not your husband.

L. Teaz. Oh! never mind that.

This way.

[They walk up and exeunt.] Jos. You take no pleasure in this society.

Mar. How can I? If to raise a malicious smile at the misfortunes and infirmities of those who are unhappy, be, a proof of wit and humour, Heaven grant me a double portion

of dulness.

Jos. And yet, they have no malice in their hearts.

Mar. Then it is the more inexcusable, since nothing but an ungovernable depravity of heart could tempt them to such a practicę.

* Lud, eigentlich eine pöbelhafte Aussprache für lord..

Jos. And is it possible, Maria, that you can thus feel for others, and yet be cruel to me alone? Is hope to be denied the tenderest passion?

I

Mar. Why will you persist to persecute me on a subject on which you have long since known my sentiments.

Jos. Oh, Maria, you would not be thus deaf to me, but that Charles, that libertine, is still a favoured rival.

Mar. Ungenerously urged! but whatever my sentiments, are with regard to that unfortunate young man, be assured, I shall not consider myself more bound to give him up, because his misfortunes have lost him the regard even of a brother

[Going out.]

Jos. Nay, Maria, you shall not leave me with a frown; by all that's honest I swear [Kneels, and sees Lady Teazle entering behind] Ah! Lady Teazle, ah! you shall not stir [To Maria], I have the greatest regard in the world for Lady Teazle, but if Sir Peter, was once to suspect

Mar. Lady Teazle!

L. Teaz. What is all this, child? You are wanting in the next room. What is the meaning of all

[Exit Maria.]

this? What! did you take her for me?

Jos. Why; you must know suspecting the

--

was

quaint Sir Peter

Maria by some means great regard I entertain for your ladyship threatening if I did not desist, to ac

— and I — I — was just reasoning with her — L. Teas. You seem to have adopted a very tender me thod of reasoning pray. do you usually argue on your knees? Jos. Why, you know, she's but a child, and I thought a little bombast might be useful to keep her silent. — But, my dear Lady Teazle, when will you come and give me your opinion of my library *)

and

L. Teaz. Why, I really begin to think it not so proper; you know I admit you as a lover no farther than fashion dietates.

Jos. Oh, no more; every lady is entitled to.

L. Teaz. No further
!

a mere Platonic Cicisbeo, that

and though Sir Peter's treatment

may make me uneasy, it shall never provoke me —

* Nur andere Worte für eine unsittliche Anmafsung, wel

che darunter. verborgen liegt.

Jos. To the only revenge in your power.

L. Teaz. Go, you insinuating wretch but we shall be missed, let us join the company.

Jos. I'll follow your ladyship.

L. Teaz. Don't stay long, for I promise you Maria shan't come any more to hear any of your reasoning.

Jos. A pretty situation I am in

shall lose the heiress.

[Exit.]

by gaining the wife I - I at first intended to make her lady

I

ship only the instrument in my designs on Mária, but don't know how it is I am become her serious admirer.

I begin now to wish I had not made a point of gaining so very good a character, for it has brought me into so many confounded rogueries, that I fear I shall be exposed at last. [Exit.]

SCENE III.

Sir Peter Teazle's House.

Enter Sir Oliver and Rowley.

--

Sir Oliv. Ha, ha, and so my old friend is married at last, eh Rowley, and to a young wife out of the country, ha, ha, ha, That he should buff to the old batchelors so long, and sink into a husband at last.

Rowl. But let me beg of you, Sir, not to rally him upon the subject, for he cannot bear it, though he has been married these seven months.

Sir Oliv. Then he has been just half a year on the stool of repentance. Poor Sir Peter! But you say he has entirely

given up Charles never sees him, eh?

Rowl. His prejudice against him is astonishing, and I believe is greatly aggravated by a suspicion of a connection between Charles and Lady Teazle, and such a report I know has been circulated and kept up, by means of Lady Sneerwell, and a scandalous party who associate at her house; where, I am convinced, if there is any partiality in the case, Joseph is the favourite.

Sir Oliv. Ay, ay, I know there are a set of mischievous prating gossips, both male and female, who murder characters to kill time, and rob a young fellow of his good name, before he has sense enough to know the value of it: But I am not to be prejudiced against my nephew by any

such, I promise you
false or mean I shall compound for his extravagance.

No, no, if Charles has done nothing

Rowl. I rejoice, Sir, to hear you say so; and am happy to find the son of my old master has one friend left however. Sir Oliv. What! shall I forget, master Rowley, when I was at his years myself; egad, neither my brother nor I were very prudent youths, and yet, I believe, you have not seen many better than your old master was.

Rowl. 'Tis that reflection I build my hopes on- and my life on't! Charles will prove deserving of your kindness. But here comes Sir Peter.

Enter Sir Peter.

Sir Pet. Where is he? Where is Sir Oliver?

Ah,

my dear friend, I rejoice to see you! You are welcome indeed you are welcome to England a thousand and a thousand times!

Sir Oliv. Thank you, thank you, Sir Peter glad to find you so well, believe me.

Sir Pet. Ah, Sir Oliver!

saw each other

and I am

It's sixteen years since we many a bout we have had together in our time! Sir Oliv. Ay! I have had my share. But what, I find you are married- hey, old boy! Well, well, it can't be helped, and so I wish you joy with all

you

my heart.

Sir Pet. Thank you, thank Yes, Sir Oliver, I have entered into that happy state but we won't talk of

that now.

Sir Oliv. That's true, Sir Peter, old friends should not begin upon grievances at their first meeting, no, no, no. Row. [Aside to Sir Oliver] Have a care, Sir; don't touch upon that subject.

Sir Oliv. Well,

wild young rogue.

-

so one of my nephews, I find, is a

Sir Pet. Oh, my dear friend, I grieve at your dissappointment there - Charles is, indeed, a sad libertine — but no matter, Joseph will make you ample amends speaks well of him.

Sir Oliv. I am very sorry to hear it; he has too good a character to be an honest fellow. Every body speaks well pshaw then he has bowed as low to knaves and fools, as to the honest dignity of genius and virtue. Sir Pet. What the plague! are you angry with Joseph for not making enemies?

Sir Oliv. Why not, if he has merit enough to deserve

them.

Sir Pet. Well, we'll see him, and you'll be convinced how worthy he is. - He's a pattern for all young men of his age. He's a man of the noblest sentiments. Sir Oliv. Oh! plague of his sentiments

If he salutes

me with a scrap of morality in his mouth I shall be sick directly. But don't however mistake me, Sir Peter, I don't mean to defend Charles's errors; but before I form my judgment of either of them, I intend to make a trial of their hearts, and my friend Rowley and I have planned something for that purpose.

Sir Pet. My life on Joseph's honour.

Sir Oliv. Well, well, give us a bottle of good wine, and we'll drink your lady's health, and tell you all our schemes. Sir Pet. Allons donc.

Str. Oliv. And don't, Sir Peter, be too severe against your old friend's son Odds my life, I am not sorry he bas run a little out of the course - for my part, I hate to see prudence clinging to the green suckers of youth; 'tis like ivy round the saplin, and spoils the growth of the tree.

[Exeunt.]

ACT III.

SCENE I...

Sir Peter's House.

Enter Sir Peter, Sir Oliver, and Rowley.

Sir. Pet. Well, well, we'll see this man first, and then have our wine afterwards. But Rowley, I don't see the jest of your scheme.

Rowl. Why, Sir, this Mr. Stanley was a near relation of their mother's, and formerly an eminent merchant *) in Dublin he failed in trade, and is greatly reduced; he has applied,

*) Merchant, ein Kaufmann, der sich nicht mit dem Einzelverkauf beschäftigt, sondern im Grossen handelt, assekurirt, Wechselgeschäfte treibt u. s. s.พ. Die geringern Kaufleute hei fsen tradesmen, Ladenhändler.