SCENE I.

_An Apartment._

_Enter_ JUSTICE BALANCE _and_ PLUME.

_Bal._ Lookye, captain, give us but blood for our money, and you shan't want men. Ad's my life, captain, get us but another marshal of France, and I'll go myself for a soldier.

_Plume._ Pray, Mr. Balance, how does your fair daughter?

_Bal._ Ah, captain! what is my daughter to a marshal of France? we're upon a nobler subject; I want to have a particular description of the last battle.

_Plume._ The battle, sir, was a very pretty battle as any one should desire to see; but we were all so intent upon victory, that we never minded the battle: all that I know of the matter is, our general commanded us to beat the French, and we did so; and, if he pleases but to say the word, we'll do it again. But pray, sir, how does Mrs. Sylvia?

_Bal._ Still upon Sylvia! for shame, captain! you are engaged already--wedded to the war: victory is your mistress, and 'tis below a soldier to think of any other.

_Plume._ As a mistress, I confess--but as a friend, Mr. Balance----

_Bal._ Come, come, captain, never mince the matter; would not you seduce my daughter, if you could?

_Plume._ How, sir? I hope she is not to be seduced.

_Bal._ 'Faith, but she is, sir; and any woman in England of her age and complexion, by your youth and vigour. Lookye, captain, once I was young, and once an officer, as you are, and I can guess at your thoughts now by what mine were then; and I remember very well that I would have given one of my legs to have deluded the daughter of an old country gentleman like me, as I was then like you.

_Plume._ But, sir, was that country gentleman your friend and benefactor?

_Bal._ Not much of that.

_Plume._ There the comparison breaks: the favours, sir, that----

_Bal._ Pho, pho! I hate set speeches: if I have done you any service, captain, it was to please myself. I love thee, and if I could part with my girl, you should have her as soon as any young fellow I know; but I hope you have more honour than to quit the service, and she more prudence than to follow the camp: but she's at her own disposal; she has five thousand pounds in her pocket, and so--Sylvia, Sylvia! [_Calls._

_Enter_ SYLVIA.

_Syl._ There are some letters, sir, come by the post from London; I left them upon the table in your closet.

_Bal._ And here is a gentleman from Germany.--[_Presents_ PLUME _to her_.] Captain, you'll excuse me; I'll go read my letters, and wait on you. [_Exit._

_Syl._ Sir, you are welcome to England.

_Plume._ You are indebted to me a welcome, madam, since the hopes of receiving it from this fair hand was the principal cause of my seeing England.

_Syl._ I have often heard that soldiers were sincere; may I venture to believe public report?

_Plume._ You may, when 'tis backed by private insurance; for I swear, madam, by the honour of my profession, that whatever dangers I went upon, it was with the hope of making myself more worthy of your esteem; and if ever I had thoughts of preserving my life, 'twas for the pleasure of dying at your feet.

_Syl._ Well, well, you shall die at my feet, or where you will; but you know, sir, there is a certain will and testament to be made beforehand.

_Plume._ My will, madam, is made already, and there it is; and if you please to open that parchment, which was drawn the evening before the battle of Hockstet, you will find whom I left my heir.

Syl. _Mrs. Sylvia Balance._ [_Opens the Will, and reads._] Well, captain, this is a handsome and substantial compliment; but I can assure you I am much better pleased with the bare knowledge of your intention, than I should have been in the possession of your legacy: but, methinks, sir, you should have left something to your little boy at the Castle.

_Plume._ That's home. [_Aside._] My little boy! lack-a-day, madam! that alone may convince you 'twas none of mine: why, the girl, madam, is my serjeant's wife, and so the poor creature gave out that I was the father, in hopes that my friends might support her in case of necessity.--That was all, madam--my boy! no, no, no!

_Enter a_ SERVANT.

_Serv._ Madam, my master has received some ill news from London, and desires to speak with you immediately; and he begs the captain's pardon, that he can't wait on him, as he promised.

_Plume._ Ill news! Heavens avert it! nothing could touch me nearer than to see that generous, worthy gentleman afflicted. I'll leave you to comfort him; and be assured that if my life and fortune can be any way serviceable to the father of my Sylvia, he shall freely command both.

_Syl._ The necessity must be very pressing that would engage me to endanger either. [_Exeunt severally._