_Mel._ [Reading the letter.] _Daughter, receive the bearer of this letter, as a gentleman whom I have chosen to make you happy._ [O Venus, a new servant sent me! and let me die but he has the air of a _gallant homme_!] _His father is the rich lord Cleodemus, our neighbour: I suppose you'll find nothing disagreeable in his person or his converse; both which he has improved by travel. The treaty is already concluded, and I shall be in town within these three days; so that you have nothing to do but to obey your careful father._ [_To_ PALA.] Sir, my father, for whom I have a blind obedience, has commanded me to receive your passionate addresses; but you must also give me leave to avow, that I cannot merit them from so accomplished a cavalier. _Pala._ I want many things, madam, to render me accomplished; and the first and greatest of them is your favour. _Mel._ Let me die, Philotis, but this is extremely French; but yet Count Rhodophil--a gentleman, sir, that understands the _grand monde_ so well, who has haunted the best conversations, and who, in short, has voyaged, may pretend to the good graces of a lady. _Pala._ [_Aside._] Hey-day! _Grand monde! Conversation! voyaged!_ and _good graces!_ I find my mistress is one of those that run mad in new French words. _Mel._ I suppose, sir, you have made the tour of France; and, having seen all that's fine there, will make a considerable reformation in the rudeness of our court: For let me die, but an unfashioned, untravelled, mere Sicilian, is a _bete_; and has nothing in the world of an _honnete homme_. _Pala._ I must confess, madam, that-- _Mel._ And what new minuets have you brought over with you? their minuets are to a miracle! and our Sicilian jiggs are so dull and sad to them! _Pala._ For minuets, madam-- _Mel._ And what new plays are there in vogue? And who danced best in the last grand ballet? Come, sweet servant, you shall tell me all. _Pala._ [_aside._] Tell her all? Why, she asks all, and will hear nothing.--To answer in order, madam, to your demands-- _Mel._ I am thinking what a happy couple we shall be! For you shall keep up your correspondence abroad, and every thing that's new writ, in France, and fine, I mean all that's delicate, and _bien tourne_, we will have first. _Pala._ But, madam, our fortune-- _Mel._ I understand you, sir; you'll leave that to me: For the _menage_ of a family, I know it better than any lady in Sicily. _Pala._ Alas, madam, we-- _Mel._ Then, we will never make visits together, nor see a play, but always apart; you shall be every day at the king's levee, and I at the queen's; and we will never meet, but in the drawing-room. _Phil._ Madam, the new prince is just passed by the end of the walk.