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Show w 18 6 The Provoked Wife. To Heartf] Come, Sir, fhall w e go pry into the Se. crets of the Garden ? W h o knows what Difcoveries we may make ? Heartf. Madam, I'm at your Service. Conft. to Heartf. afide.] Don't make too much hafte back ; for d'ye hear I m ay be bufy. Heartf. Enough. [Exit Belinda and Heartfree. La. B. Sure you think m e fcandaloufly free, Mr. Conftant. I'm afraid I fhall lofe your good Opinion of m e. Conft. M y good Opinion, Madam, is like your Cm-elty, never to be remov'd. La. B. But if I fhould remove m y Cruelty, then there's an end of your good Opinion. Conft. There is not fo ftrict an Alliance between 'em neither. 'Tis certain I ihou'd love you then better (if that be poffible) than I do n o w •, and where 1 love, i always efteem. La. B. Indeed, I doubt you much : W h y , fuppofe you had a Wife, and fhe fhould entertain a Gallant. Conft. If I gave her juft Caufe, h o w cou'd 1 juftly condemn her ? La. B. Ah ; but you'd differ widely about juft Caufes. Conft. But Blows can bear no difpute. La. B. N o r Ill-Manners much, truly. Conft. Then no W o m a n upon Earth has fo juft a Caufe as you have. La. B. O , but a faithful Wife, is a beautiful Character. Conft. T o a deferving Husband, I confefs it is. La. B. But can his Faults releafemy Duty? Conft. In Equity without doubt. And where Laws difpenfe with Equity, Equity fhould difpenfe with Laws. La. B. Pray let's leave this Difpute ; for you Men have as much Witchcraft in your Arguments, as Women have in their Eyes. Conft. But whilft you attack m e with ycur Charms, 'tis but reafonable I affault you with mine. La. The ProvoPd Wifu* 18 7 La. B. T h e Cafe is not the fame. What Mifchief we do, w e can't-help, and therefore are to be forgiven. Conft. Beauty foons obtains Pardon, for the Pain that it gives, when it applies the Balm of Companion to the Wound : But a fine Face, and a hard Heart, is almoft as bad as an ugly Face and a foft one ; both very troublefome to many a poor Gentlemen. La. B, Yes, and to many a poor Gentlewoman too, I can affiire you. But pray, which of 'em is it, that moft afflicts you ? Conft. Your Glafs and Confcience will inform you, Madam. But for Heaven's fake (for n o w 1 muft be ferious) if Pity or if Gratitude can move you: [Taking her Hand. If Conftancy and Truth have Power to tempt you : If Love, if Adoration can affect you, give m e at leaft fome Hopes, that Time may do, what you perhaps mean never to perform ', 'twill eafe m y Sufferings, tho not quench m y Flame. L. B. Your Sufferings eas'd, your Flame wou'd foon abate: And that I wou'd preferve, not quench it, Conft. Wou'd you preferve it, nourifh it with Fa-yours 5 for that's the Food, it naturally requires. La. B. Yet on that natural Food, 'twou'd forfeit foon, fhou'd I refolve to grant all you wou'd ask. Conft. And in refufing all, you ftarve it. Forgive me therefore, if fince m y Hunger rages, I at laft grow wild, and in m y Frenzy force at leaft this from you. 1 [Kijftng her Hand. Or if you'd have m y Flame foar higher ftill, then grant me this, and this, and this, and Thoufands more; [Killing firft her Hand, then her Neck] Afide.] For now's the time, fhe melts into Companion. La. B. Afide.] Poor Coward Virtue, how it fhuns the Battel. O Heavens ! let m e go. Conft. Ay, go, ay : Where fhall w e go, m y Charming Angel into this private Arbour Nay, let's lofe no time. Moments are precious. La. B. And Lovers wild. Pray let us ftop here ; at fcft for this time. CmSu |