artner.

SECOND LADY
Greatly flattered by your preference; but believe I shall remain single.

THIRD LADY
Shall always acknowledge your politeness; but have no thoughts of
altering my condition.

FOURTH LADY
Always be happy to respect you as a friend; but you must not look for
any thing further.

FIFTH LADY
No doubt of your ability to make any woman happy; but have no thoughts
of changing my name.

SIXTH LADY
Must tell you, Sir, that if by your insinuations, you think to prevail
with me, you have got the wrong sow by the ear. Does he think any lady
would go to pig with him?

OLD LADY
Must beg you to be less particular in your addresses to me. Does he take
me for a Jew, to long after forbidden meats?

MR. H.
I shall go mad!--to be refused by old Mother Damnable--she that's so
old, nobody knows whether she was ever married or no, but passes for a
maid by courtesy; her juvenile exploits being beyond the farthest
stretch of tradition!--old Mother Damnable!

[_Exeunt all, either pitying or seeming to avoid him._]

SCENE.--_The Street_. BELVIL _and another Gentleman_.

BELVIL
Poor Jack, I am really sorry for him. The account which you give me of
his mortifying change of reception at the assembly, would be highly
diverting, if it gave me less pain to hear it. With all his amusing
absurdities, and amongst them not the least, a predominant desire to be
thought well of by the fair sex, he has an abundant share of good
nature, and is a man of honour. Notwithstanding all that has happened,
Melesinda may do worse than take him yet. But did the women resent it so
deeply as you say?

GENTLEMAN
O intolerably--they fled him as fearfully when 'twas once blown, as a
man would be avoided, who was suddenly discovered to have marks of the
plague, and as fast; when before they had been ready to devour the
foolishest thing he could say.

BELVIL
Ha! ha! so frail is the tenure by which these women's favourites
commonly hold their envied pre-eminence. Well, I must go find him out
and comfort him. I suppose, I shall find him at the inn.

GENTLEMAN
Either there or at Melesinda's.--Adieu.

[_Exeunt_.]

SCENE.--MR. H----'S _Apartment_.

MR. H. (_solus_)
Was ever any thing so mortifying? to be refused by old Mother
Damnable!--with such parts and address,--and the little squeamish
devils, to dislike me for a name, a sound.--O my cursed name! that it
was something I could be revenged on! if it were alive, t