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Show A 204 The Provoked Wife. Enter Conftant and Heartfree. La. B. Good-morrow, Gentlemen: H o w have you flept after your Adventure ? Heartf. Some careful Thoughts, Ladies, on your accounts, have kept us waking. Bel. And fome careful Thoughts on your own, I be. lieve, have hindred you from fleeping. Pray how does this Matrimonial Project relifh with you ? Heartf. W h y Faith e'en as ftorming Towns does with Soldiers, where the Hopes of delicious Plunder banifhes the Fear of being knock'd on the head. Bel. Is it then poftible after all, that you dare think of downright lawful Wedlock ? Heartf. Madam, you have made m e fo fool-hardy, I dare do any thing. Bel. Then, Sir, I challenge you 5 and Matrimony's the Spot where I expect you. Heartf. 'Tis enough ; I'll not fail. [Afide.] So, n o w I a m in for Hobbes's Voyage; a great Leap in the Dark. La. B. Well, Gentlemen, this Matter being concluded then, have you got your Leflbns ready ? For Sir John is grown fuch an Atheift of late, he'll believe nothing upon eafy Terms. Conft. We'll find ways to extend his Faith, Madam, But pray h o w do you find him this Morning ? La. B. Moft lamentably morofe, chewing the Cud after laft Night's Difcovery ; of which however he had but a confus'd Notion e'en now. But I'm afraid the Valet de Chambre has told him all, for they are very bufy together at this moment. When I told him of Belinda's Marriage, 1 had no other Anfwer but a Grunt: Trom which, you may draw what Conclufions you think fit. * But to your Notes, Gentlemen, he's here. Enter Sir John and Rafor. Conft. Good-morrow, Sir. Heartf. Good-morrow, Sir John. I'm very forry m y Indifcretion Ihou'd caufe fo much Diforder in your family. 4, o4\ The Provoked Wife. 205 Ctnft. Disorders generally 'come from Indifcretions, Sir 5 'tis no ftrange thing at all. * La. B. 1 hope, m y Dear, you are fatisfied there was no wrong intended you. Sir 3. None, m y Dove. Bel. If not, I hope m y Confent to marry Mr. Heart-free will convince you. For as little as I know of A-mours, Sir, I can aflure you, one Intrigue is enough to bring four People together, without further mifchief. Sir J. And I know too, that Intrigues tend to Procreation of more kinds than one. One Intrigue will beget another as foon as beget a Son or a Daughter. Confl. 1 a m very forry, Sir, to fee you ftill feem un-fatisfy'd with a Lady, whofe more than common Ver* tue, I a m fure, were fhe m y Wife, fhou'd meet a better Ufage. Sir J. Sir, if her Conduct has put a trick upon her Virtue, her Virtue's the Bubble, but her Husband's the Lofer. Conft. Sir, You have receiv'd a fufficient Anfwer already, to juftify both her Conduct and mine. You'll pardon m e for meddling in your Family-Affairs; but I perceive I a m the Man you are jealous of, and therefore it concerns me. Sir J. Wou'd it did not concern me, and then I fhou'd not care w h o it concern'd. Conft. Well, Sir, if Truth and Reafon won't content you, I know but one way more, which, if you think fit, you may take. Sir J. Lord, Sir, you are very hafty: If I bad been found at Prayers in your Wife's Clofet, I fhou'd have allow'd you twice as much time to come to your felf in. Confl. Nay, Sir, if Time be all you want; we have no Quarrel. Heartf. I told you how the Sword wou'd work upon him. [Sir John mufes. Conft. Let him mufe; however, I'll lay fifty Pound our Foreman brings us in, Not Guilty. Sir f. Afide.] 'Tis well 'tis very well In fpite of that young Jade's Matrimonial Intrigue, I am |