neglect this, Sir; we'll make her talk, believe it; or if she will not, we can give out at least, so much as fhall interrupt the treaty: We will break it. Thou art bound in conscience, when he suspects thee without cause, to torment him. Dau. Not I, by any means. I'll give no suffrage to't. He fhall never have that plea against me, that I oppos'd the leaft fancy of his. Let it lie upon my stars to be guilty, I'll be innocent. Tru. Yes, and be poor, and beg; do, innocent; I pr'ythee, Ned, where lives fhe? let him be innocent ftill. Cler. Why, right over-against the barber's; in the house where Sir John Daw lives. Tru. You do not mean to confound me ! Gler. Why? Tru. Does he that would marry her know fo much? Cler. I cannot tell. Tru. 'Twere enough of imputation to her with him. Cler. Why? Tru. The only talking Sir i' the town! Jack Daw! and he teach her not to speak! God b'w'you. I have fome business too. Cler. Will you not go thither then? VOL. III. " Tru. Tru. Not with the danger to meet Daw, for mine cars. Cler. Why? I thought you two had been upon very good terms. Tru. Yes, of keeping distance. Cler. They fay, he is a very good scholar. Tru. Ay, and he fays it firft. A fellow that pretends only to learning, buys titles, and nothing elfe of books in him. Cler. The world reports him to be very learned. Tru. I am forry, the world fhould fo confpire to belie him. Cler. Good faith, I have heard very good things come from him. Tru. You may. There's none fo defperately ignorant to deny that: Would they were his own! God b'w' you, gentlemen. [Exit haftily. Manent Dauphine, Clerimont, Boy. Cler. This is very abrupt! Dau. Come, you are a ftrange open man, to tell every thing thus. Cler. Why, believe it, Dauphine, Truewit's a very honeft fellow. Dau. I think no other; but this frank nature of his is not for secrets. Cler. Cler. Nay then, you are mistaken, Dauphine: I know where he has been well trusted, and difcharg'd the truft very truly, and heartily. Dau. I contend not, Ned; but, with the fewer a business is carried, it is ever the fafer. Now we are alone, if you'll go thither, I am for you. Cler. When were you there? Dau. Last night; and such sport has fallen out! Daw does nothing but court her; and the wrong way. He would feduce her, and praises her mo defty; defires that she would talk and be free, and commends her filence in verfes; which he reads, and swears are the best that ever man made. Then rails at his fortunes, ftamps, and raves that he is not made a privy-counsellor, and call'd to affairs of ftate. We are invited to dinner together, he and I, by one that came thither to him, Sir La-Foole. Cler. Oh, that's a precious mannikin! Dau. Do you know him? Cler. Ay; and he will know you too, if e'er he faw you but once, tho' you fhould meet him at church in the midst of prayers. He will falute a judge upon the bench, and a bishop in the pulpit, a lawyer when he is pleading at the bar, and a lady when she is dancing in a masque, and put her out. He gives plays, and fuppers, and invites his guests to 'em aloud out of his window, as they ride by in coaches. He has a lodging in the Strand on purpose: Or to watch when ladies are gone to the China houses, or the Exchange, that he may meet 'em by chance, and give 'em prefents, fome two or three hundred pounds' worth of toys, to be laugh'd at. He is never without a fpare banquet, or sweet-meats in his chamber, for women to alight at, and come up to for a bait. Dau. Excellent! What is his Chriftian name? I have forgot. Cler. Sir Amorous La-Foole. Boy. The gentleman is here that owns that name. Cler. 'Heart, he's come to invite me to dinner, I hold my life. Dau. Like enough: Prithee let's have him up. Cler. Shew him in, boy! [Exit boy.] I'll make him tell us his pedigree, now; and what meat he has to dinner; and who are his guests; and the whole courfe of his fortunes, with a breath. Enter La-Foole. La-F. Save dear Sir Dauphine! honour'd master Clerimont! Cler. Sir Amorous! you have very much honoured my lodging with your prefence. La-F. La-F. Good faith, it is a fine lodging! almoft, as delicate a lodging as mine. Cler. Not fo, Sir. La-F. Excufe me, Sir, if it were i' the Strand, I affure you, I am come, Mafter Clerimont, to intreat you to wait upon two or three ladies, to dinner to-day. Cler. Where hold you your feast ? Dau. Tom Otter's? What's he? La-F. Captain Otter, Sir; he is a kind of gamester, but he has had command both by fea and by land. Dau. Oh, then he is an amphibious animal. La-F. Ay, Sir; his wife was the rich chinawoman, that the courtiers visited so often; that gave her rare entertainment. She commands all at home. Cler. Then, he is captain Otter. La-F. You fay very well, Sir; fhe is my kinfwoman, a La-Foole by the mother-fide, and will invite any great ladies, for my fake. Dau. Not of the La-Foole's of Effex? La-F. No, Sir, the La-Foole's of London; a very numerous family. Cler. Now he's in. La-F. They all come out of our house, the La |