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Show 2o8 The Provoked Wife. Heartf. The more time w e take to confider on't, Ma-dam, the lefs apt w e fhall be to commit Overfights; therefore, if you pleafe, we'll put it off for juft nine Months. Bel. Guilty Confciences make Men Cowards ; I don't wonder you want time to refolve. Heartf. And they make W o m e n defperate ; I don't wonder you were Co quickly determin'd. Bel. What does the Fellow mean ? Heartf. What does the Lady mean ? Sir John. Zoons, what do you both mean ? QHeart. and Bel. walk chafing about, Kaf. afide.) Here is fo much Sport going to be fpoiPd, it makes m e ready to weep again. A pox o' this imper-tinent Lady Fancyful, and her Plots, and her French. woman too ; fhe's a whimfical, ill-natur'd Bitch, and when I have got m y Bones broke in her Service, 'tis ten to one but m y Recompence is a Clap ; I hear them tittering without ftill. I cod, I'll e'en go lug them both in by the Ears, and difcover the Plot, to fecure m y Pardon. (Exit Raft Conft. Prithee explain, Heartfree. Heartf. A fair Deliverance; thank m y Stars and my Friend. Bel. 'Tis well it went no farther; a bafe Fellow! La. B. What can be the Meaning of all this ? Bel. What's his Meaning, I don't know ; but mine is, that if I had married him 1 had had no Husband. Heartf. And what's her Meaning, 1 don't know; but mine is, that if I had married h e r - - I had had Wife enough. Sir John. Your People of Wit have got fuch cramp ways of exprefting themfelves, they feldom c omprehend one another. Pox take you both, will you fpeak that you may be underftood ? Enter Rafor in Sackcloth, pulling in Lady Fancyful and Madamoifelle. Kaf. If they won't, here comes an Interpreter. La. B. Heavens! what have w e here ? Kaf. The ProvoVd Wife. \CQ Raf. A Villain L L.1-1. ' -_.„ . ? ,hich Saints in all AgeThU b S S L S " " * *•* All. Rafor / • La'/xr ^h3t me3nf thIs fudden Metamorphofe ? Kaf. Nothing ; without m y Pardon. La. B. What Pardon do you want ?* Kaf. Imprimis Your Ladyfhip's ; for a damnable Lye made upon your fpotlefs Virtue, and fet to the Tune of Spring-Garden. To Sir John.] Next, at m y generous Mafter's Feet I bend, for interrupting his more noble Thoughts with Phantoms of difgraceful Cuckoldom. To Conft.-] Thirdly, I to this Gentleman apply, for making him the Hero of m v Romanci. To Heartf.] Fourthly, your Pardon, noble Sir, I ask, forclandeftmely marrying you, without either bidding of Banns, Bilhop's Licence, Friends C o n f e n t - o r you* Own Knowledge. To Bel.] And, laftly, to m y good young Lady's Clemency I come, for pretending the Corn was fow'd in the Ground, before ever the Plow had been in the Field. Sir John (afide.) So that after all, 'tis a moot Point, whether I a m a Cuckold or not. Bel. Well, Sir, upon condition you confefs all, I'll pardon you m y felf, and try to obtain as much from the reft of the Company. But I muft know then w h o 'tis has put you upon all this Mifchief? Kaf. Sathan, and his Equipage ; W o m a n tempted me, Luft weaken'd m e _ a n d fo the Devil overcame me •, as fell Adam, fo fell I. Bel, Then pray, Mr. Adam, will you make us acquainted with your Eve ? Raf. to Madam.] Unmask, for the honour of France. All. Madamoifelle! Madamoif. M e ask ten toufand Pardon of all de good Company. Sir John. W h y this Myftery thickens inftead of clearing up. To Raf.] You Son of a Whore you, put us out of our pain. Kaf. |
