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Show 160 The Provoked Wife. La. F. going.] Nay, you fhan't go one ftep out tf the Room. La.B. Indeed I'll wait upon you down. La. F. N o , fweet Lady Brute, you know I fwoon at Ceremony. La. B. Pray give m e leave. La. F. You know I won't. La. B. Indeed I muft. La. F. Indeed you fhan't. La. B. Indeed I will. La. F. Indeed you fhan't. La. B. Indeed I will. La. F. Indeed you fhan't. Indeed, indeed, indeed you fhan't. [Exit Lady Fan. running. They follow, Re-enter Lady Brute, fola. This impertinent W o m a n has put m e out of humour for a Fortnight What an agreeable Moment hasher foolifh Vifit interrupted Lord, how like a Torrent Love flows into the Heart, when once the Sluce of Defire is open'd! Good Gods! What a pleafure there is, in doing what we fhould not do ! Re-enter Conftant. Ha ! here again ? Conft. Tho the renewing my Vifit may feem a little irregular, I hope I fhall obtain your Pardon for it, Ma-dam, when you know I only left the Room, left the Lady who was here fhou'd have been as malicious in her Remarks, as fhe's foolifh in her ConducL La. B. H e who has Difcretion enough to be tender of a Woman's Reputation, carries a Virtue about him may atone for a great many Faults. Conft. If it has a Title to atone for any, its Preten* fions muft needs be ftrongeft, where the Crime is Love. I therefore hope I fhall be forgiven the Attempt I have made upon your Heart, fince m y Enterprize has been a Secret to all the World but your felf. La. B. Secrecy indeed in Sins of this kind, is an Argument of weight to leffen the Punifhment; but nothing's a Plea, for a Pardon entire, without a flncere Repentance. Conft, The Provok'd Wife^ 161 Conft. If Sincerity in Repentance mnflft. : c for offending no dloyte, L?Zo?ftZTv™ tent as I mould be. But I hope it cannot b reckonM an Offence to Love, where'tis a Duty to adore U. I: T» an Offence a great one/where i, wou'd rob , Woman of all m e ought to be ador'd for, her Virtue thus that scall d fo than 'tis like Vice it felf. Virtue connfts m Goodneis, Honour, Gratitude, Sincerity, and Pity; and not in peeyim, f„arling) ftrait-lac'd Cl" ftity! TrueVntue wherefoe'er it moves, ftill carries an intri£ fick Worth about tt, and is in every Place, and in each to, of equal Value. So is not Continence, you fee : That Phantom of Honour, which Men in every A«e have fo contemn d they have thrown it amongft the women to fcrabble for. & L B . If it be a thing of fo very little Value, why doyoufoearneftly recommend it to your Wives and Daughters ? Conft, W e recommend it to our Wives, Madam be-caufe we wou'd keep 'em to our felves-, and to our Daughters, becaufe we wou'd difpofe of 'em to others. L. B. 'Tis then of fome importance, it feems, fince you can't difpofe of them without it. Conft. That Importance, Madam, lies in the Humour of the Country, not in the Nature of the Thin*. La. B. H o w do you prove that, Sir ? t Conft. From the Wifdom of a neighbouring Nation in a contrary Practice. In Monarchies things go by Whmify, but Commonwealths weigh all things in the scale of Reafon. ° U B. I hope we are not fo very liaht a People, to b»ng up Fafhions without fome ground. F JiT^Jj*? *har does your" Ladyfhip think of a Powder'd Coat for deep Mourning? La. B. I think, Sir, your Sopliiftry has all the EfTeft you can reafonably exped it fhould have t it puz-zles, but don't convince. Y C**ft.Vm forry for it. **• & I'm forry to hear you fay Co. Conft. |
