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Show 3 6 The Conftant Couple. Par. But I think, M a d a m , your Anger fhou'd be onlycon-fin'd to the Author of your Wrongs. Lure. The Author ! Alas, I know him not, which makes m y Wrongs the greater. Par. Not know him ! 'Tis odd, M a d a m , that a M a n fhou'd rob you of that fame Jewel you mention'd, and you not know him. Lure. Leave Trifling ; 'tis a Subject that always fours my Temper: but fince, by thy faithful Service, I have fome reafon to confide in yrur Secrefie, hear the ftrange Relation. Some twelve, twelve Years ago, I liv'd at m y Father's Houfe in Oxfordjhire, blcft with Innocence, the ornamental, but weak Guard of blooming Beauty : I was then juft Fifteen, an Age fatal to the Female Sex; Our Youth is tempting, our Innocence credulous, Romances moving, Love powerful, and M e n are - - Villains. Then it hapned, that three young Gentlemen from the Univerfity coming into the Country, and being benighted, and Strangers, cali'd at m y Father's: He was very glad of their Company , and offer'd them the Entertainment of his Houfe. Par. Which they accepted, no doubt: Oh ! thefe ftrouling Collegians are never abroad, but upon fome Mifchief. Lure. They had fome private Frolick or Defign in their Heads, as appear'd by their not naming one another, which m y Father perceiving, out of Civility, made no enquiry into their Affairs; two of them had a heavy, pedantick, Univerfity Air, a fort or difagreeable Scholaftick Boorifhnefs in their Behaviour ; but the third ! Par. A y ! the third, M a d a m ; the third of all things, they fay, is very Critical. Lure. He was but in fhort, Nature cut him out for rny undoing ; , hefeem'd to be about Eighteen. Par. A fit Match for your Fifteen as cou'd be. Lure. He had a genteel Sweetnefs in his Face, a graceful Comehnefs in his Perfon; and his Tongue was fit to footh loft Innocence to ruine. His very Looks were witty, and his exprefhve Eyes fpoke fofter, prettier things, than Words cou'd frame. Par. There will be Mifchief by and by; I never heard a W o man talk fo much of Eyes, but there were Tears prefently after. Lure. His Dif ourfe was directed to m v Father , but his Looks to m e . After Supper I went to m y Chamber, and read LajJ.^va, then went to Bed, and dreamt of him all ™go,M/,y, rinp iLeo vm e.t he MorMniy ngF,a tahnedr wmaasd ef oV ewreflels p,l efaosf'edl Cwloidnetvfhpe heri--s |