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Show 12 The RELAPSE; or, In my Retirement here with you, I have never thrown one roving Thought that way* But frnce, againft m y Will, I'm dragg'd once more T o that uneafy Theatre of Noife, ^ I am refolv'd to make fuch ufe on'r, As mail convince you 'tis an old caft Miftrefs, W h o has been fo lavifh of her Favours, She's now grown Bankrupt of her Charms, And has not one Allurement left to move me. Am. Her Bow, I do believe, is grown fo weak Her Arrows (at this diftance) cannot hurt you, But in approaching 'em, you give 'em Strength ; The Dart that has not far to fly, Will put the beft of Armour to a dangerous Trial. Lov. That Trial paft, and y'are at eafe for ever y When you have feen the Helmet prov'd, You'll apprehend no more for him that wears it : Therefore to put a lading Period to your Fears, # 1 am refolv'd, this once, to launch into Temptation, I'll give you an EfTay of all m y Virtues, M y former boon Companions of the Bottle Shall fairly try what Charms are left in Wine : I'll take m y Place amongft them, They mall hem me in, Sing Praifes to their God, and drink his Glory ; Turn wild Enthufiafts for his fake, And Beafts to do him Honour; Whilft I, a ftubborn Atheift, Sullenly look on, Without one Reverend Glafs to his Divinity. That for m y Temperance, Then for m y Conftancy-- Am. Ay, there take heed. Lov. Indeed the Danger's fmall. Am. And yet m y Fears are great. Lov. W h y are you fo timorous ? Am. Becaufe you are fo bold. Lov. My Courage fhould difperfe your Apprehenhon*. Am. My Apprehenfions fhould alarm your Courage. Lov. Fy, fy. Amanda ,it is not kind thus to diftruft me n n Am* Virtue in Danger. 13 Am. And yet m y Fears are founded on my Love. Lov. Your Love then is not founded as it ought y For if you can believe 'tis poflible I mou'd again relapfe to m y paft Follies, I muft appear to you a thing O f fuch an undigefted Compofition, That but to think of me with Inclination, Wou'd be a Weaknefs in yourTafte, Your Virtue fcarce cou'd anfwer. Am. 'Twou d be a Weaknefs in m y Tongue £ M y Prudence cou'd not anfwer, If I fhou'd prefs you farther with m y Fears; I'll therefore trouble you no longer with 'em. Lov. Nor mall they trouble you much longer, A little time mall m e w you they were groundless : This Winter mall be the fiery Tryal of m y Virtue ; Which, when it once has paft, You'll be convinc'd 'twas of no falfe Allay, There all your Cares will end.. Am. Pray Heaven they may. [Exeunt Hand m Hand* SCENE, Whitehall. Enter Young Fafhion, Lory, and Waterman. Y. F . / ^ O m e , pay the Waterman, and take the Port- V ^ mantle. Lo. Faith, Sir, I think the Waterman had as good take the Portmantle, and pay himfelf. r. F. W h y fhure there's fomething left in't! Lo. But a folitary old Waiftcoat, upon m y Honour, Sir. r. F. W h y , what's become of the blue Coat, Sirrah ? Lo. Sir, 'twas eaten at Gravefend •, the Reckoning came to thirty Shillings, and your Privy Purfe was worth but two Half-Crowns. Y. F. sTis very well. Wat. Pray, Mafter, will you pleafe to difpatch m e f Y. F. Ay, here, a Canft thou change m e a Guinea ? Lo. afide.l Good. t Wat, |