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Show %<:A The WIVES EXCUSE: Or, Mrs.Fri. A fmall Requeft ; not to ftir abroad, nor be home to any Body, 'till you hear from m e. Mr. Fri. I promife you I won't [£ Mrs. Fri. I dare take your Word: His tamenefs j,; Night, and backwardnefs this Morning, in refenting tfa Blow, fatisfie m e that he is not in a Fever for Fightin 1 don't k n o w tbaf he is a Coward; but having the Reafons to fufpecl him, I thought this was m y beft ^ to hinder him from difcovering himfelf: For if he t betray'd that Bafenefs to m e , I fhou'd defpife him; • can 1 love the M a n 1 muft defpife ? Brother, I fent y o u - - [Springam to Spring. T o make up this Quarrel 1 k n o w , and 1 Co to lend a helping Hand to the Work, I defign to be a cond in the Bufinefs. Mrs. Fri. Y o u muft be m y Second then, for I i& taken the Quarrel upon me. Spring. With all m y Heart, 1 'gad; W e , w h o lire the Summer tor the Publick, fhou'd live in the Win! forM rosu.r Ffr*il.ve As nd the W o m e n , good Captair-- Spring. That's living for our felves, for 'tis not livi without 'em: And a Duel n o w might but interrupt Month of other Bufinefs perhaps, that would be more grceable to m y Conftitution, 1 affure you: Then we to have no fighting it feems ? Mrs. Fri. For Reafons I'll tell you hereafter. Spring. Nay there was no great danger of it; I found out the Gentleman's Lodgings, and Character. fhall ftrike up a Peace before a Bottle to an end. Mrs. Fri. This Challenge muft be deliver'd as fro him: 1 truft the xManagement to you: Only take this Advice, that Mr. Friendall wants your Aihflance with: you muft ftand by him, and oblige the Gentleman make him Satisfaction, without bringing his Perfon danger. Spring. \ underftand you, and he fhall fatisfiehimor Mrs. Fri. See him fatisfy'd, and I'll fatisfie you, i fomething (hall be better to a younger Brother, than fake Mufters of a Winters Quarter. m Cuckolds make Themfelves. 293 m'mtm ] warrant you. [Bxtt< Ms Fti Whatever I think of him, I muft not let him •li-nto the Contempt of the T o w n : Every little Fellow, inc.* will be cenforioufly inquifitive, and maliciouily ,'tv u\wn another Man's Cowardife, out of the pleafure f finding as great a Rafcal as himfelf. H o w defpicahle S i u o n muft that Matrimony be, w h e n the H u s b md «,h-m w e look upon as a Sanctuary for a Woman's H o - L ) muft be oblig'd to the Difcretion and Management fa wife tor the Security of his o w n ! Have a care of inking that way j for in a marry'd State, as in the Pubic W e tie our ielves up, indeed; but to be protected our Perfons, Fortunes and Honours, by thofe very aws that reftrain us in other things; for few will obey. it for the B:nefk they receive from the Government- Enter Servant. Strwnt. Madam, Mr. Lovemore [Goes out. Mrs Fri. Lovemore here! I k n o w he comes to tempt c to rebel; but I'm prepar'd for h i m - G o o d - m o r r o w, r, lovemore. Enter Lovemore. love. I cou'd not expect to fee your Ladyfhip fo ear-y; I come to Mr. Friendall. Mrs. Fri. Miy 1 thank you for the Vifit ? love. I come as a Friend, you m a y be fure, Madam: here your Honour's concern'd, I can't be an Enemy. Mrs. Fri. Not reafonably, indeed, to any M a n that ou'd injure it, fince you are a profefs'd Enemy. love. An Fnemy! Mrs. Fri. Unlefs you will allow no Body to ruin it, but your felf. love. Indeed I would allow no Body to defend it, but my felf, if I had the keeping of it : But a happier Man has that Title, and I can only hope to be a Second in your Service. Mrs. Fri. I thank you for the Service you defign m e ; but that happier Man, as you call him, w h o has the TiStlpe, r iwniglla mm,a iIn'tma inaf riat,id i,t afree egmosn;e faobro uhte ,i ta naldr emadyy Brother Love. Gone, Madam! Oj Mrs. fri. |