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Show \6 The C O N F E D E R A C Y. Scrivener's Wife ? Come, don't flatter me, don't you think Nature defign'd m e for fomething plm clezec $ Flip. Nay, that's certain ; but on t'other fide, me-thinks, you ought to be in fome meafure content, fince you live like a W o m a n of Quality, tho you are none. Clar. O fy ! the very QiiinteiTence of it is wanting. Flip. What's that ? Clar. W h y , I dare abufe no body : I'm afraid to affront People, tho I don't like their Faces ; or to ruin their Reputations, tho they pique m e to it, by taking ever fo much pains to preferve 'em : I dare not raife a Lye of a Man, tho he negle&s to make love to m e • nor report a W o m a n to be a Fool, tho file's handfomer than I am. In fhort, I dare not fo much as bid m y Footman kick the People out of doors, tho they come to ask m e for what I owe them. Flip. All this is very hard indeed. Clar. Ah, Flippanta, the Perquifites of Quality are of an unfpeakable Value. Flip. They are of fome life, I muft confefs ; but we muft not expect to have every thing. You have Wit and Beauty,* nd a Fool to your Husband : C o m e , come Madam, that's a good Portion for one. Clar. Alas, what fignifles Beauty and Wit, when one dares neither jilt the Men, nor abufe the W o m e n ? 'Tis a fad thing, Flippanta, when Wit's confln'd, 'tis woife than the Rifing of the Lights; I have been fomerimes almoft choak'd with Scandal, and durft not cou^h it up for want of being a Counted. Flip. Poor Lady ! Clar O »• Liberty is a fine thing, Flippanta • it's a great Help in Convention to have leave to fay what one will. I have feen a W o m a n of Quality, who has not had one Grain of Wit, entertain a whole Company the molt agreeably in the World, only with her Malice! But tis in vain to repine, I can't mend m y Condition, till m y Husband dies ; fo I'll fay n 0 more on't, but think of making the moft 0 f tne State I a m in. Flip. The C O N F#IH$ £, KA C%Y, I 7 Flip. That's your belt <yay,> Madam ; and in order to it, pray confider how vou'll get fome ready Money to fet your Baffet-Xable agoing •, for that's necellary. Clar. Thou»faj?$ true ; but vvhat Tricl* I fhall play m y Husband to get fome, I d a n V k n a w : -For m y Pretence of lofingrny Diamond* Necftliue has' put the M an into fuch a Pailion, I'm afraid he won't hear Reafon. Flip. N o matter ; he begins to think 'tis loft in earneft : So I fancy you m a y venture to fell it, and raife Money that way. Clar. That can't be, for he has left odious Notes with all the Goldfmiths in T o w n. Flip. Well, w e muft pawn it then. Clar. I'm quite tir'd with dealing with thofe Pawnbrokers. Flip. I'm afraid you'll continue the Trade a great while for all that. {Jfide. Enter JeiTamin. Jeff. Madam, there's the W o m a n below that fells Paint and Patches, Iron-Bodice, faife Teeth, and all forts of things to the Ladies •, I can't think of her Name. Flip. 'Tis Mrs. Amlet, fhe wants Money. Clar. Well, I han't enough for m y felf, it's an un-reafonable thing (lie fhould think I have any (or her. Flip. She's a troublefome Jade. Clar. So are all People that come a dunning. Flip. What will you do with her ? Clar. 1 have juft n o w thought on't. She's very rich, that W o m a n is, Flippanta, I'll borrow fome Money of her. Flip. Borrow ! Sure you jeft, Madam. Clar. N o , I'm in earneft ; I give thee Commiftlon to do it for me. Flip. M e ! Clar. W h y doft thou ftare, and look fo ungainly? Don't I fpeak to be underftood ? Flip. Yes, I underftand you well enough ; but Mrs. Amleti Clar. |