my misery.

WILSON. But have our sex surrender'd their prerogative?
Or have I liv'd to see the world revers'd?
You are a man--

ANDREWS. I know not what I am.
Alas! my friend is stranger to these matters!
When once a woman deviates from discretion,
Setting her heart on every vain pursuit,
No husband then rests master of his fate.
Fond love no limit knows to its submission,
Not more than beauty to its thirst for empire,
Whose tears are not less pow'rful than its smiles.
Nay, ev'n dislike, 'gainst reason, oft must yield,
Whilst the mind's quiet is an object priz'd;
So is the sex from its sweet purpose chang'd--

WILSON. Your state then seems quite hopeless of relief?

ANDREWS. O! could I wean her from this one sad vice!
Wipe out this only speck in her rich volume!
Then, all my woes should cease; then, would I write,
In truth's fair characters, her matchless worth,
Nor blush to boast the fondness of my heart.

WILSON. Your love admits some doubt.

ANDREWS. My love of her!-----

WILSON. Ev'n so.
Do you not tamely see her, ev'ry day,
Destroying wantonly her precious health?
But what is more------I shall proceed too far.

ANDREWS. Go on, I am prepar'd.

WILSON. Her reputation--

ANDREWS. Her reputation!

WILSON. I have said it,

ANDREWS. Heav'n!

WILSON. It has not 'scap'd the busy tongue of censure,
Yet let appearances be what they may,
I think she's innocent.

ANDREWS. What, innocent!
Against appearances!--impossible.
All sense disclaims the thought; these neglected,
Neglect of virtue is the sure attendant,
And ev'n the firmest may be then seduced;--
'Tis as the noon-day plain.--Who? who's the villain?
The murderer of my peace? By heav'n! he dies.

WILSON. Madness indeed! all may be mere surmise;
Wherefore, at present it will be most prudent,
To hush the sad ideas of suspicion.
A little time must prove its truth, or falsehood;
Besides, the person charg'd is of high rank.

ANDREWS. O! there's no rank can sanctify such outrage.
Lord Belmour! say--

WILSON. Yes--he--or why that name?

ANDREWS. They nearly are a-kin--and yet of late
His visits have been rather more than usual.
But have you any