JULIA.

Pr'ythee, dear Camilla, be merry.

CAMILLA.

Alas, my Julia, I already shew more Mirth than I am Mistress of: Unless I could forget my own, and my poor banish'd Father's Injuries, Pleasure can find no Charms for me.

JULIA,

Thou wrong'st me much, Camilla; for, believe me, had thy Father reign'd, and mine been banish'd, so thou had'st still been with me, I shou'd have taught myself to forget him; and so woud'st thou if thy Respect for me bore any Semblance of my Love for you.

CAMILLA.

Well, Cousin, I shall try to forget my own Fortune, and rejoice in yours. Oh Frederick!

JULIA.

You know my Father hath no other Child, and when he dies, to me his Crown descends: Believe me, dear Camilla, you shall wear it, and what Force took from thy Father, Love shall render thee again;—therefore, once more, my dear Coz, my sweet Camilla, be merry.

CAMILLA.

I'm sorry, Cousin, my ill-manner'd Grief shou'd make me troublesome, and here I throw it off: Henceforward

all our Employment shall be to devise new Sports, to make our Time pass on agreeably.

JULIA.

That's kindly said.—Come, pr'ythee, let's about it instantly.

CAMILLA.

With all my Heart. Come then, what think you of falling in Love?

JULIA.

Oh! the best Thing in the World, provided you don't do it in Earnest. Love no Man in Earnest, Child, nor farther in Jest than you may safely, and without a Blush come off of; it may be dangerous.

CAMILLA.

I pray do you invent then; what shall be the Sport?

JULIA.

Marry, we'll sit, and mock Dame Fortune from her Wheel, that from henceforth her Gifts may be distributed more equally.

CAMILLA.

Wou'd we cou'd!—for in my Opinion, the blind Lady is mighty apt to mistake in her Favourites.

JULIA.

Indeed I think so too, and begin to be quite tir'd of her Partiality; but I think she's most apt to mistake in her Gifts to the Ladies.

CAMILLA.

Why so Julia?

JULIA.

Why to those that are fair she seldom gives Virtue, and the Virtuous have rarely a large Stock of Beauty.

CAMILLA.

Nay, now Cousin you are mistaken, and wander from Fortune's Office to Nature's. Fortune reigns in the Gifts of the World, and not in the Lineaments of Nature. And perhaps she may not be so much in Fault neither, for I am afraid a great many of the homely are only virtuous, because they have no Opportunity of being otherwise.

JULIA.

You are keen, Cousin.—But who have we here?— Oh! 'tis Hillario.

CAMILLA.

With his Mouth full of News.