Enter a Servant. Serv. Madam, Mr. Frankly. Lady W. He never came more opportunely: desire him to walk in. Enter MR. FRANKLY. Lady W. Oh, Mr. Frankly, the welcomest man alive. Frank. Then I am the happiest, I am sure, madam. Lady W. Ob, fie! is there any one of this company could make you so? Frank. There's one in the company, madam, has a great deal more in her power than I'm afraid she'll part with to me. Soph. Are you this hard-hearted lady, sister? Does this description reach you, pray? [Aside. Char. The power does not describe you, I'll answer for it. [Aside. Lady W. Nay, now you grow particular-You have something to say to one of these ladies, I'm sure. [To Frankly. Frank. I have something, madam, to say to both of them. Soph. Shall we let him speak, sister? Char. Freely. Lady W. Which of these two now, if you were free to choose, could you really give up your heart to? Frank. Oh, madam! as to that, I dare only say as sir John Suckling did upon the same occasion. Soph. Pray, what was that? Frank. He sure is happiest that has hopes of either; Next him is he that sees you both together. Lady W. Perfectly fine-Nor is there more wit in the verses themselves, than in your polite application of them.-Mr. Frankly, I must beg your pardon-I know it's rude to whisper; but you have good-nature; and, to oblige a woman Frank. Is the business of my life, madam.What the devil can all this mean? I have been oddly catechised here-Sure they have not all agreed to bring me to a declaration for one of them-It looks a little like it-But I must be cautious. [Aside. Lady W. Nay, ladies, you can't but say I laid you fairly in his way. [Apart to Sophronia and Charlotte] And yet you see from how palpable a regard to me he has ingeniously avoided a declaration for either of you at least. Soph. Your ladyship won't be offended, if, for a moment, we should suspend your conclusion. Lady W. Not in the least; if suspense can make you happy, live always in it. Char. But pray, madam, let him go on a little. Lady W. Oh, you shall have enough of him.-Well, you are a horrid tyrant, Mr. Frankly. Don't you plainly see, here are two ladies in this company that have a mind you should declare in favour of one of them? Frank. Yes, madam ; but I plainly see there are three ladies in the company. Lady W. What then? Frank. Why then, madam, I am more afraid of offending that third person than either of the other two. Lady W. [To Sophronia and Charlotte] Observe his diffidence, his awe; he knows I love respect. Soph. With submission, madam, I never was familiar with him. Lady W. Come, now, do you both ask the question as I have done, each exclusive of herself. Char. Your ladyship's in the right. [Aside] Sir, without any apology then, I am obliged to ask you, whether it be my lady or my sister you are really in love with? Frank. So, now its plain. [Aside] When either of them ask me, you'll be out of the question I can assure you, madam. Lady W. Ha, ha! Soph. Who's in the question now, sister? Char. If I had put myself in, you would not have been there, I'll answer for him. [Aside. Soph. Then I'll do you that favour, madam. too. [Aside. Soph. You see, sir, the humour we are in: though don't suppose, if I ask you the same question, 'tis from the same motive; but since these ladies have obliged me to it-Which of them is it you sincerely are a slave to? Frank. Since I find your motive is only complaisance to them, madam, I hope you will not think it needs an answer. Soph. I am satisfied. Your ladyship was pleased to mention respect-I think there's respect and demonstration too, madam. [Aside to Lady Wrangle. Lady W. I grant it; but both to me, child. But I will speak once more for all of us-Sir, that you may not be reduced to further ambiguities, suppose we are all agreed you should have leave to declare which of us then your heart is utterly in the disposal of? Frank. Then I must suppose, madam, that one of you have a mind I should make the other two my enemies. Lady W. All your friends, depend upon us. Frank. So were all the three goddesses to Paris, madam, till he presumed to be particular, and rashly gave the apple to Venus-You know, madam, Juno was his immortal enemy ever after. Manet altá mente repóstum Judicium Paridis, spretæque injuria formæ. Lady W. Sir, you are excus'd; the modesty and elegance of your reply has charm'd me. Soph. Now, sister, was this delicacy of his taste and learning shown to recommend himself to me or you, think you? Char. Oh, I don't dispute its recommending him to you. Soph. He thinks it does, depend upon't. see no reason, Char. Though I can hardly think that of him, yet I can't say indeed, he has taken much pains to recommend himself to me all this while.because they are to be respected, forsooth, that I may not be pleased in my turn too. [To herself. Frank. And now, ladies, give me leave to ask you a question. Lady W. You may command us, sir. Frank. Then, whose cruel proposal was it to urge me to a declaration of my heart, when you all knew there was not one of you, from the disposition of whose mind or circumstances I could rope the least favour or mercy. Lady W. Explain yourself. Frank. Why, first, madam, as to your ladyship, you are honourably disposed of; from you my utmost vanity could no more form a hope, than could your virtue give it. And here, [To Sophronia] if possible, my fate were harder still-here I must have to encounter rivals numberless and invincible. Soph. Rivals! Frank. Ay, madam, is not every volume in your library a rival? Do you not pass whole days, nay, sometimes happier nights, with them alone? Old, venerable sages, even in their graves, can give you raptures, from whose divine enjoyment no mortal lover can persuade you. Soph. [To Charlotte] Is this to please you, sister? Char. Truly, I think not he has mistaken the way, at least. Frank. [Turning to Charlotte] And here, madam———— Lady W. Hold, sir; a truce with your negatives, lest they grow too vehement in their affirmation. You have hitherto my esteem; preserve it by your discretion, and force me not to revoke the freedom I have this day given you. Sophronia, I have carried this matter to the very utmost limits of discretion. I hope you and your sister are now delivered from your error; if not, I'll instantly withdraw, and leave you to a full convic[Exit. tion. ine. Frank. I am afraid my lady takes something ill of Soph. Sir, what you have done was from her own desire; and since I partly am the occasion, it is but just I stand engaged for your reconciliation. Frank. Then give me leave to hope, madam Soph. From what pretensions, sir? From any weakness of my behaviour? Hope! Do you consider the licentious and extensive consequences of that odious word? Hope! You make me tremble at the thought. Frank. Madam, I only mean Soph. I know your meaning, sir: and therefore must not hear it. Frank. This is new with a vengeance! [Aside. Soph. You may ow learn to moderate your vanity, and to know yourself. Oh, 'tis a heavenly lesson!E cœlo descendit gnothe seauton. [Exit. Frank. What a solid happiness is now crept into her mind through the crack of her brain!-1 hope you are not going too, madam? Char. I don't know any business I have here. Frank. So-'Egad, I have disobliged them all, I believe. [Aside] You are not out of humour? Char. I don't know whether I am or no. Frank. So cold, Charlotte, after I have had my wits upon the stretch this half hour to oblige you. Char. What, in raising other people's vanity at my expense? Frank. Would you have had me raise their jealousy at the expense of my being well with you? Char. You, that are so dexterous in imposing upon others, may impose upon me too, for aught I know. Frank. Pray, think a little. Is my having made them ridiculous by your own consent, exposing you to them, or them to you? Char. I don't know how the matter's contrived; but I certainly find myself uneasy, and you can't persuade me 1 am not so. Frank. Well, well; since you can't justify your being in an ill humour, it's a fair step, at least, to your coming into a good one. Char. Come, I will not be wheedled now. Re-enter SOPHRONIA unseen, while FRANKLY seems to entertain CHARLOTTE apart. Soph. What can these creatures be doing alone together? "Tis so-her eyes have lost all resentment already. |