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Show 126 The Provoked Wife. way, as I thought 1 fhou'd. Lord, what fine Notions of'Virtue do we W o m e n take up upon the Credit of old foolifh Philofophcrs! Virtue's its own Reward, Virtue's this, Virtue's that Virtue s an Afs, and a Gallant's worth forty on't. Enter Belinda. L. B. Good-morrow, dearCoufin. Bel. Good-morrow, Madam, .yo u look PleaS(i th«* Morning. t L. B. I am fo. Bel. With what, pray ? L. B. With m y Husband. Bel. Drown Husbands; for yours is a provoking Fellow : As he went out juft now, I pray'd him to tell me what time of Day 'twas; and he ask'd me if 1 took, him for the Church-Clock, that was oblig'd to tell all t'ifi Panfh L, B. He has been faying fome good obliging things to m e too. In fhort, Belinda, he has us'd m e fo bar-baroufly of late, that I cou'd almoft refolve to play the downright Wife and cuckold him. Bel. That wou'd be downright indeed. L. B. Why, after all, there's more to be faid for't than you'd imagine, Child. I know, according to the ftrift Statute L a w of Religion, 1 Ihou'd do wrong'. But if there were a Court of Chancery in Heaven, I'm fure 1 fhou'd caft him. Bel. If there were a Houfe of Lords, you might. L. B, In either I fhould infallibly carry my Caufe, W h v , he is the firft AggrefTor, not I. Bel. Ay, but you know, w e muft return Good tot Evil. _ . L. B. That may be a miftake in the Translation.-- Prithee be of m y opinion, Belinda; for I'm pofiuvcU in the right •, and if you'll keep up the Prerogative of a W o m a n , you'll likewife be pofitive you are in the right, whenever you do any thing you have a mind to. w 1 (hall play the Fool and jeft on, till I make you begin to think I'm in earneft. H • The ProvoPd WifT. Si7 Bel. 1 (han't take the libtrtv U,J. , • . of any -thing that you denr^o' ^ S e c r e t t l me. L. B. Alas my Dear, I have no Secrets. My Heart cou'd never yet confine m y Tongue • Bel. Jour Eyes you mean; for V m fure I have feen them gadding, when your Tongue has been lockt U D fafe enough. B ur L. B., My Eyes gadding ! Prithee after who, Child ? , Bel. Why, after one that thinks you hate him as much as I know you love him. • L. B. Conftant, you mean. Bel. I do fo. Heal ?*' ^ Wh3t fh0U'd pm fUCh " ,hin3 *'nto >'om' Bel. That which puts things into moft Peoples Head, Obfervation. # r'i V L. B. W h y what have you obferv'd, in the n. n v of wonder r Bel. I have obferv'd you blufh when you met him • force your felf away from him ; and then be out of humour with every thing about vou: In a word never was poor Creature fo fpurr'd' on bv Defne and fo reind in with Fear! ' L, B. H o w ftrong is Fancy ! Bel. H o w weak is W o m a n ! L. B. Prithee, Niece, have a better opinion of your Aunt s Inclination. J xr*''. r?Cf /T> havc a better °Pfni°n of your Niece sUnderftanding. ' L. B. You'll make m e angry. Bel. You'll make m e laugh, L. B. Then you are refolv'd to perfift ? Bel. Pofitively. L. B. And all I can Ay Bel. Will fignify nothing. L. B. Tho I fhould fwear 'twere Mf» Bel. I fhou'd think it true. ht h'Jhv ]??S both fo,'§ive> lW'»e KM* we * |