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Show •au 156 The Provoked Wife. La. B. Pray, why fo ? Heartf. Becaufe I always had an averfion to being us'd like a Dog. Bel. W h y truly, M e n in love are feldom us'd better. La. B. But was you never in love, Sir ? Heartf. N o , I thank Heav'n, Madam. Bel. Pray where got you your Learning then ? Heartf. From other Peoples Expence. Bel. That's being a Spunger, Sir, which is fcarce ho-neft : If you'd buy fome Experience with your own Money, as 'twould be fairlier got, fo 'twould ftick longer by you. Enter Footman. Foot. Madam, here's m y Lady Fancyful, to wait upon your Ladyfhip. La. JS. Shield me, kind Heaven: What an Inundation of Impertinence is here coming upon us ! Enter Lady Fancyful, who runs firft to Lady Brute, then to Belinda, kijfmg 'em. La. F. M y dear Lady Brute, and fweet Belinda! methinks 'tis an Age fince I faw you. La. JS. Yet 'tis but three Days; fure you have pafs'd your Time very ill, it feems fo long to you. La. F. W h y really, to confefs the truth to you, I am fo everlaftingly fatigu'd with the AddrefTes of unfortunate Gentlemen, that were it not for the Extra. vagancy of the Example, I fhou'd e'en tear out thefe wicked Eyes with my own Fingers, to make both m y felf and Mankind eafy. What think you on't, Mr. Heartfree, for I take you to be m y faithful Advifer ? Heartf. W h y truly, M a d a m - I think, every Project that is for the Good of Mankind, ought to be encourag'd. La. F. Then I have your Confent, Sir. Heartf. T o do whatever you pleafe, Madam. La. F, You had a much mOre limited Complaifance this Morning, Sir. Would you believe it, Ladies? The Gentleman has been fo exceeding generous, to tell me of above fifty Faults, in lefs time than it was well pof-fible for m e to commit two of 'em, Conft. TheProvok'dWiff** 1 W Conft. Why; truly, M ^ ^ ^ be fomething familiar with the Ladies. P La. F. H e >s indeed, Sir ; but he's wondrous chari table with it : H e has had the Goodnefs to defion ? " formation, ev'n down to m y Fingers-ends. youdhavehad emftandj- J in an w* My Eyes too he did not like : I manner. How was't you would have directTern ? Thus I think. [staring at him. Then there was fomething amifs in m y Gaite too • I don't know well how 'twas ; but, as I take it he" would have had m e walk like him. Pray, Sir, do'me the Favour to take a turn or two about the R o o m that the Company may fee you He's fullen, Ladies and won't. But, to make fhort, and give you as true an Idea as I can of the matter, I think 'twas much a-bout this Figure in general, he would have moulded m e to: But I was an obftinate W o m a n , and could not re-folve to make m y felf Miftrefs of his Heart, by growing as aukward as his Fancy. & [She walks aukwardly about, flaring and looking ungainly, then changes on a fudden to the extremity of her ufual Affetlation. Heart j. Juft thus W o m e n do, when they think w e are in love with 'em, or when they are fo with us. [Here Conftant and Lady B. tall^ together apart. La. F. 'Twould however be lefs Vanity forme to conclude the former, than you the latter, Sir. Heartf, Madam, all I fhall prefume to conclude, is, That if I were in love, you'd find the means to make' me foon weary on't. La. F. Not by Over-fondnefs, upon m y word, Sir. But pray let's ftop here ; for you are fo much govern'd by lofting, I know you'll grow brutifh at laft. w Bel. Afide.] N o w I'm fure fhe's fond of him : I'll try to make her jealous. Wdu u°r Iny part> l fll0uU be §lad to find fome-body would be fo free with m e , that I might know m y Faults, and mend'em. * La. |
