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Show 42 The R E L A P S E ; or, trivial to the other, the Danger wou'd not quite fo much alarm you. Aman. Fy, fy, Berinthia, you wou d indeed alarm me, cou'd you incline me to a Thought, that all the Merit of Mankind combin'd, cou'd fhake that tender Love I bear my Husband : N o , he fits triumphant in my Heart, and nothing can dethrone him. ler. But fhou'd he abdicate again, do you think you fhou'd preferve the vacant Throne ten tedious Winters more in hopes of his return ? Aman. Indeed I think I fhou'd. Tho I confefs, after thofe Obligations he has to me, fhou'd he aban. don m e once more, m y Heart wou'd grow extremely Urgent with m e to root him thence, and caft him out for ever. Ber. Were I that thing they call a flighted Wife, fome body fhou'd run the Rifque of being that thins they call a Husband, Aman. O fy, Berinthia, no Revenge fhou'd ever be taken againft a Husband : But to wrong his Bed is a Vengeance, which of all Vengeance Ber. Is the fweeteft, ha, ha, ha. Don't I tall madly ? Aman. Madly indeed. Ber. Yet I'm very innocent. Aman. That I dare fwear you are. I know how to make Allowances for your Humour : you were always very entertaining Company •, but I find fince Marriage and Widowhood have fhewn you the World a little, you are very much improv'd. Ber. afide.] Alack a day, there has gone more that that to improve me, if fhe knew all. Aman. For Heaven's fake, Berinthia,. tell me what way I fhall take to perfuade you to come and live with m e? Ber. W h y , one wray in the World there is ad but one. Aman. Pray which is that ? Ber. It is to aflure m e - - - I fhall be very wel come* Virtue in Danger. 4 ? 'Aman. If thaf be all, you fhall e'en lie here tonight. Ber. To-night ? Aman. Yes, to-night. Ber. Why, the People where I lodge will think me mad. Aman. Let 'em think what they pleafe. Ber. Say you fo, Amanda ? W h y then they fhall think what they pleafe : For I'm a young Widow, and 1 care not what any body thinks. Ah, Amanda, it's a delicious thing to be a young Widow. Aman. You'll hardly make m e think fo. Ber. Phu, becaufe you are in love with your Huf-band : but that is not every Woman's Cafe. Aman. 1 hope 'twas yours at leaft. Ber. Mine, fay ye ? N o w I have a great mind to tell you a Lye, but I fhou'd do it fo awkardly, you'd find m e out. Aman. Then e'en fpeak the Truth. Ber. Shall I ? Then after all I did love him, rAmandai as a N u n does Penance. Aman. W h y did not you refufe to marry him then ? Ber. Becaufe m y Mother wou'd have whipt m e. Aman. How did you live together ? Ber, Like Man and Wife, afunder: He lov'd the Country, I the Town. He Hawks and Hounds, I Coaches and Equipage. He Eating and Drinking, I Carding and Playing. He the Sound of a Horn, I the Squeak of a Fiddle. W e were dull Company at Table, worfe a-bed. Whenever we met, we gave one another the Spleen ; And never agreed but once, which was about lying alone. Aman. But tell m e one thing truly and fincerely. Ser. What's that ? Aman. Notwithstanding all thefe Jars, did not his Death at laft extremely trouble you ? Ber.. |