civil, secret sighers, such as never think the fair one "sure till they hear the tag of her lace click, think it "no cause for joy; but I have a soul that wakes, that starts up, at the least dawning cranny of a hope, and "sets my every faculty on fire, She must, she must, "she must be won- -For since I have resolved to "hope, my fancy doubly paints her beauties—Oh, "she's all one fragrant field of charms, to pamper up "the blood of wild desire. "Lord W. Ah, George, what luscious morsels then "must her husband take of her! "Lord G. Why didst thou mention him?-Death! "I can't bear that thought- -Can she love him? -Oh, the verdant vales, the downy lawns of fruit、 "ful bliss, the overflowing springs of cool refreshing "beauty, that happy dog must revel, range, and "sport in! "Lord W. Nay, the woman's a fine creature, that's "certain; it's a thousand pities one can't laugh her "out of that unfashionable folly of liking her hus"band, when here's a man of undisputed honour too, "that knows the world, that understands love and "ruin to a tittle, that would at the least tip of a "wink rid her of all her incumbrances, set her at the very top of the mode, and qualify her for a separate "maintenance in the twinkling of an hackney-coach "window. "Lord G. Can you be a moment serious? “Lord W. Faith, sir, if I am not, 'tis only to make "you so." Lord G. You seem to think this business impracticable. I see Lord W. Why, truly, for any great progress you have made, I don't think but it is: and if you'll take my opinion of the woman, I do think, provided you'll allow there's any such thing in nature, she's one of impregnable virtue: that you can no more make a breach in her honour, than find a flaw in her features. Bate but a little her over-fondness for play, she's the perfection of a good wife. Lord G. Oh, your servant, sir! you own she has a Passion for play then. Lord W. That I can't deny; and what's worse, I doubt she likes it a great deal better than she understands it. I hear she has lost considerably to the Count of late. Lord G. You must know then, that the Count is my engineer: he and I have a right understanding; whenever she plays we are sure of her money. Now he has already stripped her of all her running cash, besides eight hundred pounds upon honour: for payment of which I made him send a downright pressing ietter by me this morning. I observed her a little startled when she read it, and took that opportunity to screw myself into the secret, and offered my assistance. To be short, I addressed myself with so much tender regard to her confusion, that before we parted, I engaged this afternoon to lend her a thousand pounds of her own money to pay him. Lord W. I confess your battery's raised against the only weak side of her virtue. But how are you sure you can work her to push her ill fortune? She may give over play. What will all your advantages signify, if she does not loose to you more than she can pay ? Lord G. Oh! I have an expedient for that tooLook you, in short, I won't spoil my plot by discovering it; a few hours will make it ripe for execution, and then- -but There is no fear that I should tell The joys that are unspeakable. "Lord W. Ha, ha! and so you are really in love, to "the very extremity of passion! "Lord G. Pr'ythee, don't laugh at me. [Affectedly. "Lord W. Don't you think I have heard you with "a great deal of patience? "Lord G. Nay, I know we puppies in love are tire"some." Lord W. And so you think that all this extravagance of your stile and gesture must have convinced me that you really care sixpence for this woman? Lord G. Would you have me swear? Lord W. Ay, come, do a little. Lord G. Why, then, by all the sacred ties of honour, friendship, and restless love, had I but five thousand pounds in the whole world, and nothing else could purchase her Lord W. I dare swear you'd give it every shilling, that you really could love her, though it were only to get rid of your passion for Mrs. Conquest. Lord G. Why, then, look you Lord W. You may swear till you are black in the face; but you love her, her cnly, indeed you do; your passion for Lady Gentle is affected. Not but I grant you'll pursue it, for when nothing's in view you're indefatigable. You are a little uneasy at the smallness of Mrs. Conquest's fortune, and would fain persuade yourself you are in love in another place But, hark'e-you'll marry her-And so, if your chariot's at the door, you shall carry me to White's Lord G. Why, then (except myself) thou art positively the most impudent fellow upon the face of the [Exeunt. earth. ACT II. SCENE I. Continues. Enter LADY WRONGLOVE. Lady Wronglove. -For if the "WHY am I thus uneasy? Sure I am unreasonable "in my temper; I over-rate myself"husband's violation of his marriage-vow is in itself "so foul an injury, whence is it that the law's so spa"ring in its provision of redress? And yet 'tis sure an injury, because just nature makes the pain of "bearing it outrageous. Oh, hard condition! For if "e'en that pain provokes the wife to move for repara"tion, the world's gross custom makes her perhaps a "jest to those who should assist her. If she offends, "the crime's unpardonable, yet if injured, has no " right to compensation. It may be usual this, but "sure 'tis unnatural. D Enter Mrs. HARTSHORN. Mrs. Harts. Madam, the porter's come back. Lady W. Bring him in. Enter Porter. [Exit Mrs. Harts. Well, friend, how far have you followed them? Port. Why, an' it please your honour, they staid, as near as I can guess, about a very little time. Lady W. Whither did they go then? Port. Why, then they stopped a little at the coachmaker's at Charing-cross, and looked upon a small thing there they call a booby-hutch, and did not stay; and so then stopped again at the fruit-shop in CoventGarden, and then just went up to Tom's coffee-house, and then went away to the toy-shop at the Templegate, and there they staid I can't tell you how long, an' please you. Lady W. Did they buy any thing? Port. Yes, a number of things, truly. Lady W. Were they mostly for men's use, or how? Port. Nay, I don't know; such sort of trangams as the gentry use: I remember one was "such" a kind of a small scissars-case 66 as that by your honour's side," my Lord Wronglove bought it. Lady W. So! that was not for me, I am sure. [Aside. Do you know what he paid for it? 2 |