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Show f •^i 274 E S 0 P. at her Mouth : and if you would enter by her Senfe of Feeling, 'tis as beaten a Road as the reft. What think you now, Sir ? There are more ways to the Woods than one, you fee. Efop. W h y , you're an admirable Pilot ; I don't doubt hut you have fteer'd many a Ship fafe to Harbour : But I'm an old ftubborn Seaman ; I muft fail by m y own Compafs ftill. Euph. And, by your Obftinacy, lofe your Veffel. Efop. N o ; I'm juft entring into Port 5 well be married to-morrow. Euph. For Heaven's fake defer it fome days longer; 1 cannot love you yet, indeed I cannot. Efop. Nor never will, I dare fwear. Euph. W h y then will you marry m e? Efip. Becaufe I love you. Euph. If you lov'd me, you wou'd never make me miferable. Efop. Not if I lov'd you for your fake ; but I love you for m y own. Dor. afide.] There's an old Rogue for you. Euph. weeping.] Is there no way left 1 muft I be wretched ? Efop. 'Tis but refolving to be pleas'd. You can't imagine the ftrength of Refolution. I have feen a W o m a n refolve to be in the wrong all the days of her Life; and by the help of her Refolution, fhe has kept her word to a tittle. Euph. Methinks the Subject we're upon fhou'd be of Weight enough to make you ferious. Efop. Right: To-morrow Morning pray be ready ; You'll find m e fo : I'm ferious. N o w 1 hope you are pleas'd. [Turning away from her. Euph, Going off weeping, and leaning upon Doris.] Break Heart ^ For if thouholdft, I'm miferable. Dor. to Efop.] N o w may the Extravagance of a lewd Wife, with the Infolence of a virtuous one, join hand in hand, to bsing thy grey Hairs to the Grave. I Exeunt Euphronia and Doris* Ufip. M y old Friend wifties m e well to the laft, I fee. Enter m ESOP. 275 Pnter Learchus ha fitly follow'd by Oronces. Or. Pray hear me, Sir. xi L<lar\iT{*,n Vain *' Vm refolv'd> T tell thee. Moft noble Efip, fince you are pleas'd to accept of my poor OfF-fpring for your Confort, be fo charitable to m y old Age, to deliver m e from the Impertinence of Youth,. by making her your Wife this inftant; for there's a Plot againft m y Life ; they have refolv'd to teaze m e to Death to-night, that they may break the Match to-morrow Morning. Marry her this inftant, lintreat you. Efop. This inftant,' fay you 1 Lear. This inftant; this very inftant. Efop. 'Tis enough ; get all thimzs ready ; 111 be with you in a moment. [Exit Efop.. Lear. N o w , what fay you, Mr. Flame-fire * 1 fnalL have the whip-hand of you prefently. Or. Defer it till to-morrow, Sir. Lear. That you may run away with her to-night;. H a ?»•' Sir, your moft obedient, humble Servant. Hey, who waits there ? Call m y Daughter to m e : Quick. I'll give her her Difpatches prefently. Enter Euphronia. Euph. D'ye call, Sir ? Lear. Yes I do, Minx. Go fhift your felf, and put' on your beft Clothes. You are to be marry'd. Euph. Marry'd, Sir! Lear. Yes, marry'd, Madam ; and that this inftant too. Euph. Dear, Sir 1 Lear. Not a word : Obedience and a clean Smock y Difpatch. [Exit Euphronia weeping. Learchus going off, turns to Oronces.] Sir, your moft Obedient humble Servant. Or. Yet hear what I've to fay, Lear. And what have you to fay, Sir?' Or. Alas! 1 know not what I have to fay ! Lear. Very like fo. That's a fure fign he's in love now. Qr\ |