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Show £i The Conftant Couple. Stand. Ha your Words, like meeting Flints, havs ffruck a Light to fhow m e fomething ftrange - b u t tell m e inftantly, is not your real N a m e Manly * Lure. Anfwer m e firft, did not you receive this Ring about twelve Years ago ? Stand. I did. Lure. A n d were not you about that time entertain'd two Nights at the Houfe of Sir Oliver Manly in Oxfordfhirei Stand. I was, I was. (Runs to her, and embraces her.) The bleft Remembrance fires m y Soul with Tranfport 1 know the reft you are the charming She, and I the happy Man. Lure. H o w has blind Fortune ftumbled on the right! But where have you wander'd fince, 'twas cruel to forfake ine. Stand. The Particulars of m y Fortune were too tedious now; but to difcharge m y felf from the Stain of Difhonour, I muft tell you, that immediately upon m y return to the Univerfity, m y Elder Brother and I quarrell'd : M y Father, to prevent farther Mifchief, pofts m e away to Travel: I writ to you from London, but fear the Letter came not to your Hands. Lure. I never had the leaft account of you, by Letter or otherwife. Stand. Three Years I liv'd abroad, and at m y return, found you were gone out of the Kingdom; tho'none cou'd tell m e whither; miffing you thus, I went to Flanders, ferv'd m y King till the Peace commenc'd; then fortunately going on Board at Amfterdam, one Ship tranfported us both to England. At the firft fight I lov'd, tho' ignorant of the hidden Caufe You may remember, M a d a m , that talking once of Marriage, I told you I was engag'd; to your dear felf I meant. Lure. Then M e n are ftill moft Generous and Brave and to reward your Truth, an Eftate of Three Thoufand Pounds a Year waits your Acceptance; and if I can fa-tisfie you in m y paft Conduct, and the Reafons that engag'd me to deceive all Men, I fhall expect the honourable Performance of your Promife, and that you wou'd flay with me in England. Stand. Stay, not Fame, nor Glory, e'er fhall part us more. M y Honour can be no where more concern'd than here. Enter |