y, and
retirement.--Oh, I have lived, sir! lived for myself, not an ungrateful
world, who, should I die a martyr to their cause, would only laugh and
wonder at my folly.

_Lady._ You seem to know the world, Mr Floriville.

_Flor._ No, ma'am, I know little of mankind, and less of myself,--I have
no pilot, but my pleasures;--no mistress, but my passions;--and I don't
believe, if it was to save my life, I could reason consequentially for a
minute together.

_Lord._ Granted:--you have seen every thing worth seeing, yet know
nothing worth knowing;--and now you have just knowledge enough to prove
yourself a fool on every subject.

_Flor._ Vastly well, my lord--upon my word, you improve with your title,
but I am perfectly satisfied, believe me--for what I don't know, I take
for granted is not worth knowing--therefore we'll call another
topic.--I'm in love, my lord.

_Lord._ In love!--with who, sir?

_Flor._ Can't you guess?

_Lord._ No, sir, I cannot.

_Flor._ With one that will please you very much--at least, ought to
please you--you'll be in raptures, dear uncle.

_Lord._ Raptures! and you shall be in agonies, my dear nephew.

_Flor._ You have known one another a long while, yet you hav'n't met for
years--you have loved one another a long while, yet you quarrelled not
an hour ago--you have differed from one another all your lives, yet you
are likely to be friends as long as you live--and, above all, the person
is now in the house.

_Lord._ In this house! let me know who it is this moment, or by the
blood of the Scratches----

_Flor._ One who has charms enough to set the world on fire;--one who has
fortune enough to set a state at war, sir;--one who has talents, health,
and prosperity, and yet not half what the person deserves:--can you tell
now, sir?

_Lord._ No, sir, and if you don't tell this instant----

_Flor._ Then I'll tell you, [_Slaps him on the back._] it's myself, sir!
my own charming self!--I have searched the world over, and I don't find
any thing I like half so well. [_Walks up the stage._

_Lord._ I won't disgrace myself,--I won't lower the dignity of peerage,
by chastising a commoner;--else, you Prince of Butterflies----come, my
lady----look ye, sir--I intend to be handed down to posterity; and,
while you are being lampooned in ballads and newspapers, I mean to cut a
figure in the History of England:--so, come along, my lady--in the
History of England, you coxcomb! [_Exeunt L