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Show I n o The *Difap>pointment \ ory Enter Clara. Clar. M y Lord gone in Difcontent to Travel! and Q poor Lady left in Diftrefs here behind him! Let me ft there are comfortable Applications to be made out oi thefe Doctrines. And if fhe has not the Difcretion ti turn 'em to their right Ufes; I, that a m wifer, am oblia' in Confcience to provide for the Family. • Alb. And 'cis a charitable, Chriftian-like Principle \ thee, Clara. Clar. M y Lord Alberto! Alb. T h e fame, I a m punctual you fee. Clar. And that's an extraordinary Virtue in a y Lover, and ought to be encourag'd in an Age, when poj W o m e n are us'd, juft like your Trees; husbanded oo| out of a Vanity of having the firft ripe Fruit, without tl Defire of tafting of 'em your felves. Alb. N o faith; I a m for enjoying the Fruits ofm Labour, Clara: Befides I have a vigorous, young, craWa Appetite; (with a Digeftion above the fear of CruditiJ thefe forty Years) that muft be fatisfy'd at Home beiori I think of being bountifuf to m y Neighbours. Bui teH m e ! Alphonfo gone to travel. Ha! Clar. Moft feafonably, m y Lord. Alb. T h e n Love and Fortune for m e : Lead on, Cm Clar. W h a t do you mean! Alb. O honeftly, I warrant you, Clar. But confider, m y Lord. Alb. I do, Clara. Clar. M y Lady's Virtue! Alb. And my'Secrecy: There's Virtue for her Virtue Nay, if you go to that, mine is a Cardinal Virtue amon^ the Ladies, and ought to be refpeded in any Court I Chriftendom, where the Love as well as Religion is Ca-tholick. Clar. But m y Lord, you k n o w Decency requires- Alb. And I'll do't as decently as fhe, or any Lady 01 in Reafon, require. Clar To-Morrow may prove more favourable to y M y Lady has but juft heard the N e w s and her TnougUta to-Night will run on m y Lord's Unkindacfs. J The M O T H E R in Fajhion n* Alb Therefore it ft.aH be to Night: O ! 'tis the natural .nftitution of Womankind, ur>on the firft Sufpiaoa of Lover's Inconftancy, to Club with the next Chance- >ltitution leir S/so thaf whfever fads, the Sweet-Meats are pru-mtly order'd to our o w n Table. Alb The Policy is true Machiavel, i'faith, on your iidesj d n o w for a ftronger Teftimony of this within. Clar. O hold, you ruin all eKc. I'll in before, difpofe things to their proper Pisces, and return in an inftanf, r Scandal muft be avoided. < m Alb And 'tis but reafonable; for Reputation is the fair-l Face of Virtue, and will fooneft cheat the World; is brings the Phy/ician his Patients, and the Lawyer his ients; and though one deftroy your Body, and t'other ur Eftate, Opinion juftifies their Knavery, and fecures ir Funftions from Poverty and Contempt. Clara ftays ,g pox! I'mi mpatient I'll e'en enter, and do Errand m y felf. fjBxiti Enter Lorenzo. Ur. 'Twas here I leh Alphonfo: I k n o w not why, me unfeen Power directs m y Steps this w a y. ould I could find the Truth of what I fear: is abus'd: And he's fo near m y Heart, it when I think upon his Injuries, juft Refentment arms within m y Breaft, if m y better felf were wrong'd in him. take another turn to find him yet. [Goes out and Returns, thaps I ftaid too long, and he is gone wait m e at m y Houfe. It muft be fo. Enter Clara and Alberto at the Door. \M. 'Tis hard to leave m y Happinefsfo foon. per. There may be danger in a longer ftay. ' Mb. I muft be fatisfy'd, you fay. tor. Ha! a Man's Voice from Alphonfo's Houfe! V Door too open! there m a y be more in this • .Midnight Thief, or Murderer. I'jj venture fecure him, [Ueyjuftle and dra*, as they are clos'd, Clara enters with a Light, and Exit. So I |