lordship; but after I am gone, send an excuse, that I have given you a cordial, and mean to watch that night in person with you.

Chr. His lordship then will find the prologue of his trouble, doubting I have told you of his ruffling.

L. Dupe. And more than that, fearing his father should know of it, and his wife, who is a termagant lady: But when he finds the coast is clear, and his late ruffling known to none but you, he will be drunk with joy.

Chr. Finding my simple innocence, which will inflame him more.

L. Dupe. Then what the lion's skin has failed him in, the fox's subtlety must next supply, and that is just, sweetheart, as I would have it; for crafty folks treaties are their advantage: especially when his passion must be satisfied at any rate, and you keep shop to set the price of love: so now you see the market is your own.

Chr. Truly, madam, this is very rational; and by the blessing of heaven upon my poor endeavours, I do not doubt to play my part.

L. Dupe. My blessing and my prayers go along with thee.

Enter Sir John Swallow, Mrs Millisent, and Rose, her maid.

Chr. I believe, madam, here is the young heiress you expect, and with her he who is to marry her.

L. Dupe. However I am Sir Martin's friend, I must not seem his enemy.

Sir John. Madam, this fair young lady begs the honour to be known to you.

Mill. My father made me hope it, madam.

L. Dupe. Sweet lady, I believe you have brought all the freshness of the country up to town with you.
[They salute.

Mill. I came up, madam, as we country-gentlewomen use, at an Easter-term, to the destruction of tarts and cheese-cakes, to see a new play, buy a new gown, take a turn in the park, and so down again to sleep with my fore-fathers.

Sir John. Rather, madam, you are come up to the breaking of many a poor heart, that, like mine, will languish for you.

Chr. I doubt, madam, you are indisposed with your voyage; will you please to see the lodgings your father has provided for you?

Mill. To wait upon you, madam.

L. Dupe. This is the door; there is a gentleman will wait you immediately in your lodging, if he might presume on your commands.
[In a whisper.

Mill. You mean Sir Martin Mar-all: I am glad he has entrusted his passion with so discreet a person. [In a whisper.] Sir John, let me entreat you to stay here, that my father may have intelligence where to find us.

Sir John. I shall obey you, madam.
[Exeunt women.

Enter Sir Martin Mar-all.

Sir John. Sir Martin Mar-all! most happily encountered! how long have you been come to town?

Sir Mart. Some three days since, or thereabouts: But, I thank God, I am very weary on't already.

Sir John. Why, what's the matter, man?

Sir Mart. My villainous old luck still follows me in gaming; I never throw the dice out of my hand, but my gold goes after them: If I go to piquet, though it be but with a novice in't, he will picque and repicque, and capot me twenty times together: and, which most mads me, I lose all my sets when I want but one of up.

Sir John. The pleasure of play is lost, when one loses at that unreasonable rate.

Sir Mart. But I have sworn not to touch either cards or dice this half year.

Sir John. The oaths of losing gamesters are most minded; they forswear play as an angry servant does his mistress, because he loves her but too well.

Sir Mart. But I am now taken up with thoughts of another nature; I am in love, sir.

Sir John. That's the worst game you could have played at; scarce one woman in an hundred will play with you upon the square. You venture at more uncertainty than at a lottery: For you set your heart to a whole sex of blanks. But is your mistress widow, wife, or maid?

Sir Mart. I can assure you, sir, mine is a maid; the heiress of a wealthy family, fair to a miracle.

Sir John. Does she accept your service?

Sir Mart. I am the only person in her favour.

Enter Warner.

Sir John. Is she of town or country?

Warn. How's this? [Aside.

Sir Mart. She is of Kent, near Canterbury.

Warn. What does he mean? This is his rival. [Aside.

Sir John. Near Canterbury, say you? I have a small estate lies thereabouts, and more concernments than one besides.

Sir Mart. I'll tell you then. Being at Canterbury, it was my fortune once, in the Cathedral church—

Warn. What do you mean, sir, to intrust this man with your affairs thus?

Sir Mart. Trust him? why, he's a friend of mine.

Warn. No matter for that; hark you, a word, sir.

Sir Mart. Pr'ythee leave fooling; and as I was saying——I was in the church, when I first saw this fair one.

Sir John. Her name, sir, I beseech you.

Warn. For heaven's sake, sir, have a care.

Sir Mart. Thou art such a coxcomb—Her name's Millisent.

Warn. Now, the pox take you, sir, what do you mean?

Sir John. Millisent, say you? That's the name of my mistress.

Sir Mart. Lord! what luck is that now! well, sir, it happened one of her gloves fell down; I stooped to take it up; and, in the stooping, made her a compliment.

Warn. The devil cannot hold him; now will this thick-skulled master of mine tell the whole story to his rival!

Sir Mart. You'll say, 'twas strange, sir; but at the first glance we cast on one another, both our hearts leaped within us, our souls met at our eyes, and with a tickling kind of pain slid to each other's breast, and in one moment settled as close and warm, as if they long had been acquainted with their lodging. I followed her somewhat at a distance, because her father was with her.

Warn. Yet hold, sir.

Sir Mart. Saucy rascal, avoid my sight; must you tutor me?—So, sir, not to trouble you, I enquired out her father's house, without whose knowledge I did court the daughter, and both then, and often since coming to Canterbury, I received many proofs of her kindness to me.

Warn. You had best tell him too, that I am acquainted with her maid, and manage your love under-hand with her.

Sir Mart. Well remembered, i'faith; I thank thee for that, I had forgot it, I protest! My valet de chambre, whom you see here with me, grows me acquainted with her woman.

Warn. O the devil!

Sir Mart. In fine, sir, this maid, being much in her mistress's favour, so well solicited my cause, that, in fine, I gained from fair mistress Millisent an assurance of her kindness, and an engagement to marry none but me.

Warn. 'Tis very well! you have made a fair discovery!

Sir John. A most pleasant relation, I assure you: You are a happy man, sir! but what occasion brought you now to London?

Sir Mart. That was in expectation to meet my mistress here; she writ me word from Canterbury, she and her father shortly would be here.

Sir John. She and her father, said you, sir?

Warn. Tell him, sir, for heaven's sake tell him