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Show ' W' • •n ^^WIVES EXCUSE: Or, he does6 defervcs > l won't juftifie his Faults, but becaufe have th ROt take that Carc of m c he <h°u,<*. moft not I m y 0 "at r re^ard *<> m y felf I ought ? What I do is for I in n ' ^ a y wriat is Pa^» which, by your hints C o m y° U do fufPe a> l o w n * did h i nct for ^ e to m nrt l 0 R °f your Wit' nor as a Dcbt to him' but his F tt T °rcfeem£ a l o n g Life of Infamy, which in monies I was marry'd to i and therefore fav'd myfdf oy laving him. °ve. Your Conduct every w a y is excellent, but there w * a Mafter-piece indeed, and worthy Admiration. M n Fr/. And wou'd you have m e lofe that Character Worthy your Admiration, which, even you, an Ene ™y> muft praife, w h e n you wou'd ruin ? N o ; what I've done to raife this Character, may be an Argument I w"" oo more to heighten it, to the laft A d of Life. Love. And all for the Reward of being thought too good a Wife to fuch a Husband. b Mrs. Fri. H o w ! you k n o w him then ? Love. Y o u and 1 k n o w him. Mrs. Eri. Fit to bear a W r o n g ? Is that the Reafon of your wronging him ? I want but that j O let m e but be. heve you injure him, becaufe you k n o w you may; and' attempt me, becaufe you think it fafe ; and I will fcorn you low, as ycu do him: Y o u fey you know him: Now, Sir, I k n o w you, you, and your Practices againft us both! Y o u have encourag'd all that has been done, expofing him, only to ruin me. 'Tis neceflary to believe as ill or you as I can : And for the future, 'till you clear your felf Love. I can clear m y felf. Mrs. Fri. I'll think you capable of every thing; of any Bafenefs to advance your Ends; fo leave you to your Triumph. [6% Love. Madam, ftay, 1 muft be juftify'd : This Challenge here has taught m e all I k n o w j made me fufpeft who writ it, and prefume all I have faid to you. Mrs. Fri. Where had you it ? Love Ruffe gave it me. 1 hope you may fonri?« ay knowing it, fince by refigning it into your Hands, I give Cuckolds make Themfelves. 3*3 ip the only Evidence that can rife up againft him- £fh a piece w New?, Madam, wou'd have been wei- !me enough to the Ill-nature of the T o w n ; and I might w e had m y Ends in fuch a Report, had I encouragd ffc, expofing him-: But w h e n I faw h o w near you were nrcern'd, I had no other Pleafure but the Thought of fcrvir.2 y°ui if l have ferv'd you' l a m o v t r - P a l d } lf not' 1 muft ferve on: For I but live to ferve you. Mrs. Fri. M y Employment calls upon me* are not you for Tea ? . t 7*0 Footmen enter with a Service of Tea, and go out with Mrs. Friendall. leve. I find I a m reftor'd; but I w a s rcduc'd to the rieceiTity of a Lie to c o m e into Favour again; but that s Necellity that every M a n of Honour muft fubmit to fometimes, that has any thing to manage with the W o men: For a Lover, that never fpeaks more than the Truth, is never believed to be a Lover: And he that won't lie to his Miftrefs, will hardly lye with her: So let his Honefty reward himj the Lady won't, I dare fay for her. There mud be a cheat upon the Senfe fometimes, to m a k e a peifta Pleafure to the Soul: For if the W o m e n did but always know what really w e arej w e (hou'd not fo often know fo much of them as w e do; But 'tis their o w n Faults i they k n o w w e can't live without'em, and therefore ask more of us than w e have hone&ly to give for the Purchafe. So, Very often, they put us upon DhTimu-lation, Flattery and falfe Love, to c o m e up to their Price. Mrs. Friendall went away a little abruptly: I'm glad fhe did: For that methinks confefles an Obligation which m e has not yet in her Power to return. Enter Wellvile to him. Well Lovemore, your Plot begins to thrive 1 I left Mrs. fyhtly telling Mrs. Friendall every thing between her and Mr. Friendall: I thought fit to acquaint you with it, that you might be prepared: You k n o w beft what Ufe to tarn it to; M y Buiincfs is with Mrs. Sightly. love. I thank you for the N e w s : They're coming this ay, 1 wou'd not have 'era fee us: I muft hover here. [&mn$ Ley, mi Welto -Enter way, 1 w .--... m I |
